Croatia - Plitvice National Park

I booked this photo workshop with Tatra photography having seen it advertised on Lee Pengelly, the landscape photographer's website. It was the first holiday I booked for 2011 and I found I had to 'squeeze' in Australia before it! I arrived back from Australia on Monday 9th May and was off up to Surrey on 11th ready for the early start on 12th from Gatwick. Flew to Zagreb and met by Matt from Tatra photography and Lee. Together with the rest of the group - Mike, John, Pat, Marie, Gail, and Carol we were driven to our hotel near to Plitvice National Park. After lunch and a rest we were out in the landscape shooting.

Thursday's photos





On Friday we walked around a circular route stopping at all the beautiful sights.



Red makes an appearance.


This mallard joined us to listen to Lee's tutorial


Pat and John taking a photo





On Saturday, we took the same circular route in order to take anything we had missed the previous day.





We spent some time at this spot on Friday but I failed to see the triangle shapes in the water leading to the triangle in the rock until we returned on Saturday. Marie and Mike spotted the same image.



Our accommodation was very comfortable, the food excellent and no single person supplement. Plus there was plenty to shoot from the hotel. By the time I went back to grab my camera, these horses were just about to be let out of their paddock so I only managed a couple of quick shots.

The sign is warning that the snakes could bite. I never saw one.





The last day - we said goodbye to Gail who had another 5 days in Croatia and was going off to the coast. On our way to the airport we stopped off at the waterfall village - Rostock?


I know the iris is a little too big to go in the window frame but it saved on two photos and the frame needed something beautiful in it.



I was taking this photo so I could identify the bird. When it moved, I realised it was a baby - I think a Jay.


Would I recommend this workshop - most definitely. I have booked on the Bavarian one in November and will try and fit in one with Lee at Silverscene Photography in UK.

Perth and Coral Bay

I travelled from Townsville to Perth on 21st April to join my friends Anne and Rod on their bi annual trip to Coral Bay. I was serenaded with fireworks on the evening I arrived. Well I can pretend it was for me but they were from the nearby Burswood casino which was obviously having an event. We left the next day, Good Friday, driving up to just past Overlander. We met up with fellow campers - in a caravan, Chris and Phil. Anne and I slept in the boat while Rod was in the swag. Then on the next morning to Coral Bay. We spent the day putting up the tents and generally putting the campsite in order.



The convent in Northampton on the way to Coral Bay

Sunset from the Overlander roadhouse

A nest in the toilet where we camped

Another nest - an ant's -where we camped


Some of the wildlife around the camp at Coral Bay

Gould's monitor. The first one we saw on the first day. The other one posed in a tree by the toilet block.


Crested pigeon

Honeyeater - these would regularly come down to eat your breakfast


We spent Easter Sunday on Rod's boat "Bali Hai". I had beginner's luck and caught the first fish. A 6 kilo ish Red Emperor. My thanks to Phil who baited my line for me and gave me the instructions to pull it in. On Easter Monday we were up early to join others at the dawn service for Anzac day before the day's fishing. A few more photos of the first three days of fishing.

My first catch

Rod's tiger shark. It looks bigger here.

The third day's catch of 6 red emperors

After a day's fishing the next best thing is to gather around the filleting tables to view the catches.

Phil's double header which was just after Rod's double header.


Anne, Chris and I had a day off from fishing while the boys went out fishing with Glenn, another friend who was at Coral Bay with his wife Karen and daughter Gemma. Anne and I booked up for our whale shark trip and Coral Bay adventures.



With the whale shark trip we had a free coral viewing on the glass bottom boat. This jelly fish was the only photo worth putting on the site.


The next day we took a trip to Yardie Creek on the 4WD track. Spotted kangaroos and emus - my first sight of emus in the wild.



Rod, Phil and Anne



I thought I would get away without seeing anything of the Royal Wedding but Australia seemed to have just about as much of it on the media. After some snorkelling, Anne and Chris settled down to watch the ceremony on the TV. Phil, Rod and I went off to see the turtles. Unfortunately, Phil got his new 4WD stuck on the beach. Sorry Phil, but I had my camera with me so I had to record your mistake! Rod and Phil went off for help, leaving me with the car. I managed to flag down some rescuers too and the car was saved from the incoming tide. We all arrived back to see the Royal couple coming out of the church.



Anne drove me to Yardie Creek so we could spend more time in the Cape Range National Park. This time we went on sealed road via Exmouth.

Corellas outside the tourist information at Exmouth

Pied Butcher bird eating a dragonfly

Yardie Creek

Osprey who has decided she likes having her photo taken so can usually be found in this spot.

Rock wallaby. There are only about 36 living here.




On our way back we stopped at Turquoise Bay for some snorkelling then on to the lookout for this view of the bay to Exmouth.

The sunset was spectacular on the way back - this was the reflected light of the sunset with termite nest in foreground.


It was the big day on 1st May. Anne and I were hoping to see and swim with a whale shark. We were to be disappointed as it failed to be spotted. We had 3 snorkels, the last being with two manta rays. Unfortunately, no clear shots of the ray. Luckily we were given a free trip which we booked the next day. We were very lucky and managed 5 swims with the whale shark. Luckily we were given a free CD of the photos taken by Amber, the marine photographer on board. I will put them on the next post so you can see what a whale shark is really like!

Small ray spotted on our first snorkel


The whale shark


Two reef sharks spotted on our last snorkel. I seemed to be only one who failed to see the turtles - luckily Amber managed to get them.



So to the last two day's fishing. They were slow days but still a good haul.

Rod 'instructing' Phil



Anne's double header - the second corbia which was caught but put back. We ate Rod's corbia earlier in the week - delicious.



On the last day, Anne, Rod and I finally went to see the turtles at sunset but without going on the beach. Unfortunately we only saw a couple of turtle heads due to the low tide. I practised taking Anne and Rod in the sunset. Spot the kangeroo in the sunset!







A couple of photos taken at a lookout on the way back to Perth



A few of lovely, gorgeous Sasha Bella and Lewis.







On the last day, I finally managed to spot and photograph the white cheeked honeyeater, Rod had photographed the day before. Two were spotted and hopefully they will be frequent visitors.



I finished my blog and realised I had left off Red who accompanied me to Australia. I have also added a sunset over Coral Bay.