Colour My World Collection

Colour My World Collection

Chrissy Downunder

Playing around with my disco balls, mirrors, candles, circles and sequins with different shutter speed settings to create some spacey looking photos.

There are 13 more photos in this collection.


Be sure to check out the slideshow here:



"Learning Photography with Neil Creek"

Badger Creek ~ Healesville

Badger Creek ~ Healesville by Chrissy Downunder

Click HERE to see the SLIDESHOW

If you click on the individual photos you will be able to see more information about each one of them. Be sure to check out the Lyrebird picture too .. My dad Frank sent me a really cool documentary clip on YouTube about the Lyrebird with David Attenborough.

1. Reflections, 2. Ferned Framing ~Badger Creek, 3. Tall Trees at Badger Creek, 4. Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, 5. Badger Creek ~ Healesville, 6. Rockery ~ Badger Creek, 7. Moss ~ Badger Creek, 8. Natural Beauty ~ Badger Creek Reserve, 9. Ferns Forever, 10. Fungi that caught my Eye, 11. Badger Creek ~ Healesville, 12. The Lyrebird is the world's best impersonator., 13. Through the trees ~ Badger Creek

I took all these photos at Badgers Creek in Healesville, Victoria.

Peter and I have enjoyed a few trips there now and they are all very memorable days. We usually try to get there before midday as it can be quite busy if you want to grab a spot on one of the bbq's including a big round communal one which is always popular if you are one who likes to meet and chat with others. We have met and enjoyed others at this bbq. A lot of people like to stand around this bbq to keep warm too. It throws out a lot of heat.


1. Peter and Chrissy at Badger Creek, 2. Parrots at Badger Creek, 3. Badger Creek Reserve Carpark, 4. Fungi 2, 5. Kookaburra's, 6. Peter at the BBQ ~ Badger Creek, 7. Crimson Rosella, 8. Badger Creek Reserve Picnic Area, 9. Fungi 3, 10. Through the Trees at Badger Creek, 11. Kookaburras at Badger Creek, 12. Ferns n Trees at Badger Creek, 13. Crimson Rosella at Badger Creek

After having our BBQ we then wander along a track which takes you through some of the most amazingly beautiful forest and creek areas I have ever come across.

I was a Scout Leader during the time my boys we growing up in Queensland and I have visited and camped in some really nice bushland and forest areas in my time but Badger Creek would have to be one of my favourites.

I was happy with the set of photos I took which are from July 2007 and during winter here in Australia.

Highly reccommended for a great day out with nature. BBQ facilities and picnic grounds available for public use, but I must stress .. on the weekend .. get there early on a nice day.
A great place to visit, take in and chill out for the day .. especially for photographers .. amateur and professional alike. Wonderful lush areas of trees ferns etc to capture.

Check out more if you like on: MY WAYN
Slideshow and Album

More info about Badger Creek Weir here:
Aussie Heritage
Total Travel - Victoria - Yarra Valley

The Mosaic was created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Leaves on Lines

Focus on Leaving by Chrissy Downunder

A garden chair which is positioned under the liquid amber in our front garden. I love the contrast, focus, reflections and parallel lines in this shot.

I'm 'Learning Photography with Neil Creek'

Up to no good

Up to no good by Chrissy Downunder

Fun for some .. scary for others. I guess it all depends on whether or not you read Steven King novels like my partner Peter does. :o

I love my clowns and I have a few randomly hanging around in my garden. This one looks like he's been into some mischief.

You can read more about my clowning around HERE

Flickr Flasher

Flickr Flasher by Chrissy Downunder

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

My brain needed to relax after a long week of working and setting up a new online business.

All that reading has got my brain on overload so I started playing around with Flickr toys, relaxing and having a bit of fun.

I made this one with the Badge Maker in Big Huge Labs.

Pink Cherry Blossom

This photo was taken in my garden.

More information about this tree here on ABC Gardening.

The cherry blossom (Sakura) is a well-known and ubiquitous symbol of Japan, are represented on all manner of consumer goods, including *kimono, stationery, and dishware. Cherry blossoms are an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in art, and are associated with both *samurai and kamikaze. There is at least one popular folk song, originally meant for the shakuhachi (bamboo flute), titled "Sakura", as well as a number of pop songs.

Sakura (桜 or 櫻) is the Japanese name for ornamental cherry trees, Prunus serrulata, and their cherry blossoms. Cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) come from a different species of tree.

You can read more here:

Japanese Lifestyle - Garden

* Kimono
* Samurai

Beatles Buddies

Beatle Buddies by Chrissy Downunder

Kim Shurman is a professional and very talented Chalkboard Artist in Perth, Australia. Kim also conducts chalk and pastel art classes.

This is one of his creations ... a chalkboard drawing of 'The Beatles' he gave Peter as a birthday gift in 2004. Peter is a big fan and loves this drawing.

They have been close friends for 43 years (1965) Best mates in high school they grew up together in Perth, Australia.

He is in Melbourne on vacation this week and popped over for dinner, a few drinks and a catch up with Peter last night.

The guys were having a drink while discussing this piece so I got my camera out and started clicking away.

Kim Shurmans personalised art gallery

Learning Photography with Neil Creek

Neil Creeks Blog

Clowns on Stage

Clowns on Stage
Chrissy Downunder

I love clowns. Here are a few of them.

I started collecting them around 20 years ago when I myself was a professional performing clown on the Sunshine Coast in QLD.

Looking at my clowns brings back fond and fun memories.

More about the history of clowns and clowning.

PS. I don't read Steven King novels or watch his movies :)

Learning Photography with Neil Creek

I liked how the composition of this photo turned out. I realise this pic is a little grainy and can't wait for my Canon! I used the window frame as a natural border and the curtains seemed to fit in well and make it look like they are on stage.

Neil Creeks Blog

Your 1st DSLR .. How did you feel?

Photo is of me using my Dad's Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Discussion of Flickr:

Learning Photography with Neil Creek

I'm interested to know how others were feeling and the level of their anticipation about having their first new DSLR's.

My Dad cruised into town this week (from Tassie) and had his Canon 400D with him. I tried really hard to greet him with much excitement and enthusiasm as I did while spotting his camera sitting on the back seat of his car, knowing that I too will be the proud owner of one soon.

Over the last day or two he has checked out what I have been up to lately with my photography and was quite impressed with the photos I have been taking with my little Ricoh CaplioR4 point n shoot.

For the last year I have been dreaming about owning one like his.

He sees the passion I have developed over the last 6 months …. so this morning he announced to me he feels I should have one sooner than October (my birthday) which has been a promised combined gift from him, Peter and my two grown up sons.

I am soooo excited and it feels like when I was a young teenager dreaming and thinking about my first true love …

.... do you remember those feelings of waking up every few hours through the night and the first thing that pops into your head is your new lover?

Does this sound like I have a problem I need to see a therapist about?

I can't sleep .. I can't eat .. I'm dreaming day and night about this camera and it consumes my thoughts constantly .. for heaven's sake :) ..... Do I need to see a therapist perhaps or is this a normal reaction and emotion felt by people passionate about photography? Lol

I'm hoping to have photos for this weeks challenge 'HAPPINESS' with my new camera. ..... The order is in and I will have one within the week!

Jimi Hocking - Blues Machine

Jimi Hocking - Blues Machine

I took these photos on one of our blues nights out recently of our favourite blues performer.

Jimi Hocking who is a songwriter, singer and guitarist of the highest calibre, the electric love child of T-Bone Walker, BB King and Jimi Hendrix.

He struts the stage with his band, playing his ‘showy’ guitar style while pulling all the classic stunts ... behind the head ... the duck walk ... even the splits!

Jimi’s affinity with the guitar started as a boy when his father, Kevin Hocking (a well known pianist and composer) realised that Jimi was more interested in Chuck Berry than his piano lessons, and so presented him with a primitive acoustic guitar for Christmas. These humble beginnings led to an ongoing career in music, with Jimi playing electric guitar, acoustic guitar and mandolin.

Read the rest of Jimi Hocking's Bio

A video for 'Skinny White Boy', a song considered by many to be Jimi's signature tune, hits YouTube.


If all that ain't enough, Jimi has also written music for film and TV, and played for many other artists in a career now spanning 25 years. He continues to write, record and perform with astonishing enthusiasm.

Jimi Hocking on YouTube

Beaconsfield Gold Mine Shaft

Beaconsfield Gold Mine Shaft
Chrissy Downunder

Took this photo in 2007 when I visited The Beaconsfield Grubb St Historical Gold mine Museum.

I liked the old rustic look of the wall and the window arches.

The Grubb Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum is adjacent to the Beaconsfield Gold Mine, which you can see from a viewing platform.

This is the site where, in April 2006, a rock fall trapped three miners one kilometre underground. Miner Larry Knight was tragically killed, and the subsequent rescue of Brant Webb and Todd Russell, who remained trapped for 14 days, became known worldwide as the ‘Great Escape’.

The Grubb Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum is located at Beaconsfield, northern Tasmania.

The Museum is located within two restored heritage buildings on the site of the 19th century Tasmanian gold mine. The rich Tasman reef was discovered here in 1877, and until its closure in 1914, the mine produced gold worth AUD450 million in today’s value. The museum features an extensive collection of mining memorabilia, artefacts and machinery.

Explore the Grubb Shaft Mine; see the iron smelter, water wheel and working model of the mine's dewatering pump, one of the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. You can also visit the miner's cottage, local store and the old Flowery Gully School.

Beaconsfield is a 30-minute drive north of Launceston (43 kilometres/27 miles) in the Tamar Valley.

Low Head Lighthouse

Low Head Lighthouse
Chrissy Downunder

This photo was taken from Greens Beach looking across at the Low Head lighthouse in the distance.


Quite picturesque I thought and I was happy with how I captured the rolling waves.

More information about Low Head in Tasmania

Low Head Lighthouse

Fuchsia

Fuchsia
Chrissy Downunder

Taken in my garden.

ABC Gardening
Plant Profile: Fuchsia

Traits: Sun, Shade, Hedge, Container, Birds

This genus belongs to the evening primrose (Onagraceae) family and comprises around 100 species of shrubs and small to medium-sized trees.

They can be evergreen or deciduous, spreading or climbing, and all come from Central and South America, except for a few that are native to New Zealand and Tahiti. With their stunning flowers and lush foliage, fuchsias offer tremendous ornamental qualities, and are ideal for hedges, containers, and hanging baskets, or trained on espaliers.

Many thousands of hybrids and cultivars have been raised. In their native habitat, the American species are pollinated by hummingbirds.

Flowering Season: Summer, Autum, Spring

Appearance

Mostly climbing or spreading shrubs, fuchsias have deep green, heavily veined leaves that grow in whorls on the stems.

The pendulous flowers have long tubes with flared sepals and often contrastingly colored petals, mostly in shades of red, white, pink, and purple, as well as bicolored.

The garden hybrids usually have rounded flowers with a skirt of large sepals around an often double corolla. Fleshy berries, usually with many seeds, follow the flowers.

Clivia

Clivia
Chrissy Downunder

Information from ABC Gardening

Traits: , Shade, Feature, Ground cover, Container, Birds

This genus in the amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae) family is made up of just 4 species of perennials from southern Africa. While these plants are best suited to warmer conditions, and can tolerate only the lightest of frosts, they can be enjoyed as container plants in cooler climates.

The stunning flowers come in vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange, and are followed by equally vibrant and showy berries, which extend the ornamental season of these plants.

The genus was named for Lady Charlotte Clive, Duchess of Northumberland, who was the granddaughter of Robert Clive of India (general and colonial administrator).

Arum Lily

Arum Lily
Chrissy Downunder

The common name is ARUM LILY

Flowers/Seedhead:

Flower stem about as high as the tops of the leaves. Upper half to three quarters of flower spike (spadix) is male and lower part female. Flowers late winter to summer.

Description:

Robust clump-forming, perennial herb to 1.5 m high. Plants with tuberous underground stems (rhizomes) and fleshy white roots. Leaves with blade 15–50 cm long and 8–25 cm wide, on fleshy stalks 40–110 cm long. Fruit green or yellow, about 1 cm wide; seeds yellow-orange, about 3 mm wide.

Family: Araceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of South Africa.

Clematis

Clematis
Chrissy Downunder

Known by many as virgins bower or travelers joy.

The 200 species in this genus belong to the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family and encompass a wide range of forms.

Mainly climbing or scrambling, though sometimes shrubby or perennial, deciduous or evergreen; flowering at any time and in any colour; occurring in both northern and southern temperate zones and at higher altitudes in the tropics there seems to be a clematis for any season and place.

The name virgins bower comes from a German legend that Mary and Jesus sheltered under clematis during their flight into Egypt from the massacre of the innocents.

Flowering Season: Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring

Flower Set

Garden Set

Eyes Wide Open

Eyes Wide Open
Chrissy Downunder

Thinking about this weeks challenge 'Self Portraits" over at:

Learning Photography with Neil Creek

.... This is a fill in ..

I will be taking better pics for the challenge this weekend .. ☺

Neil Creeks Blog

Hibiscus

Hibiscus
Chrissy Downunder

Hibiscus

Taken in my garden.

Traits: Sun, Coastal, Feature, Hedge, Container

Information from ABC Gardening

A member of the mallow (Malvaceae) family, this genus contains over 200 annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or trees. They are widely distributed throughout warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions of the world.

The epitome of tropical plants, they feature lush foliage and large flamboyant blooms in vibrant colors. In their native regions, these plants were grown not only for their great beauty, but also for their edible leaves and flowers.

Hibiscus species are relatively easy to grow, and while often used as a colourful stand-alone feature in the garden, some species can be trimmed to shape and make effective hedging or screening plants.

Flowering Season: Summer, Autum, Winter, Spring

Royal Exhibition Building - Melbourne

Royal Exhibition Building - Melbourne

Chrissy Downunder

Royal Exhibition Building
is situated in Carlton Gardens just across the Melbourne museum. It is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the world's oldest remaining exhibition pavilions.

A World Heritage site is defined as a place that is important to all peoples of the world.

The Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens is the first non-Aboriginal cultural site in Australia to win World Heritage listing. It joins our nation’s other World Heritage listings, which include Aboriginal cultural sites such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta, and the continent’s many natural heritage areas—from Kakadu in the north to the Tasmanian Wilderness, from Shark Bay (Western Australia) to the Great Barrier Reef off the eastern coast.

Rotating Parallel Lines

Rotating Parallel Lines

Chrissy Downunder

Late on this night I was still thinking about this weeks challenge: 'Parallel Lines' for:

Learning Photography with Neil Creek

Neil Creeks Blog

Saturday night .. chilling out after a busy week .. we were listening to music and had this small disco globe on. While looking at the lights spinning around the room and having 'parrallel lines' on my mind .. I saw them. ☺

With another drink in my left hand ... my camera in my right.

This is what I came up with .. I 'WAS' parall-etic by this stage :o

Earlier this day