Random Fridays: I’m glad they’re small!

These blue crabs look pretty scary, but they’re only about the size of the end of my finger. I didn’t even spot them initially while walking along mud flats at Ettalong at low tide — it was the plop-plop-plop of millions of tiny feet that caught my attention. The more I looked, the more I was astonished. There were hundreds of thousands of these things! For those of you of a scientific bent, they are Mictyris longicarpus (light-blue soldier crab) I think.

As the heading says, I’m glad they are small. And not looking for a fight!

The next two shots give an idea of the numbers:

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Random Fridays: Gotta get the shot

I didn’t know whether to laugh at this young man’s foolhardiness or applaud his dedication. This is in Bouddi National Park, which is north of Sydney — stunning, as you can see, but not worth risking one’s life to capture a photo.

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Sculpture by the Sea 2015

dust – Norton Flavel

The annual outdoor display of sculptures is on again in Sydney. With artworks dotted for 2km along the coast from Tamarama Beach to Bondi Beach, this free two-week event is hugely popular.

There are over 100 artworks on display — but don’t worry, I didn’t photograph every one. 😉

A few sculptures that caught my eye

ashes to ashes – Kim Perrier

bath – Vince Vozzo

bjf13 – Ben Fasham

city dreams – Gao Xiaowu

fun! – Naidee Changmoh

intervention – Mike Van Dam

kakashi – Zilvinas Zempinas

man on ball – Wang Shugang

man on ball – Wang Shugang (Sculpture by the Sea)

listen time passes – Barbara Licha

tree spirit eggs – Mark Eliott

undulation – Benjamin Storch

quotidianity the brothers – Fabio Pietrantonio

These “sculptures” were created by Mother Nature — eroded sandstone.

Nature’s sculpture

Nature’s sculpture

A few other things that caught my eye

I deliberately took a day off work so I could avoid the crazy crowds on a weekend, but look at all the people on the path! I’ve put this post in my Strolls around Sydney category because, believe me, a strolling pace is as fast as it’s possible to move.

Hordes of art lovers (or in this case, hordes of completely uninterested teenage students)

Please keep to the left.

It’s important to stay hydrated and safe in the Sydney sun (when the sun actually shines, that is — it’s been very wet here for the past few days!). There was free water …

Grab a glass of water

Top up your bottle here

… and free sunscreen.

Free sunscreen station.

This woman is taking advantage of the free sunscreen.

And someone has to keep the artworks looking clean!

Keeping it clean.

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Bench with a view: Coogee and Clovelly

Late afternoon, Coogee Beach.

You know the saying: every dark cloud has a silver lining. My particular dark cloud for the past two days has been having to endure a “corporate team-building event”, a peculiar mix of stultifying boredom and the stress brought on by the need to hide such boredom. My silver lining was that the event was held at a hotel in Coogee, which is a beach suburb just a few kilometres south of where I live. Free (at last!!) at 4:45pm today, I headed home along the coast path, savouring the treat of a weekday walk as the sun set.

I knew there were a number of benches en route, but not until I started to photograph them did I notice that they were not all the same. Wooden benches, metal benches, art benches — all with a view. Just the thing for another post for HeyJude’s Benches with a View!

A bench with very long legs! Late afternoon, Coogee Beach.

This couple was more interested in each other than in the view from their bench.

This bench looks down on Gordons Bay, a popular swimming, snorkelling and diving spot.

A row of sinuous metal benches at Clovelly.

Near the lifeguard station, Clovelly.

I had hoped for a more dramatic sunset, but the peacefulness of my last shot almost makes up for the lack of drama.

Watching the sun set, Clovelly.

Bench with a view: Ettalong Beach

Along the Esplanade, Ettalong Beach.

Ettalong Beach is north of Sydney (see map at end of post). The entrance to Broken Bay is bracketed by Box Head on the north and Barrenjoey Head on the south (Barrenjoey  is visible on the right, above). The ocean spreads its fingers into Pittwater and Brisbane Water, and into the Hawkesbury River, creating a watery wonderland ideal for weekend escapes full of boating and sailing, fishing and swimming — or for just sitting on a bench to admire the view. For April, Jude’s Bench Series looks at benches with a view.

This woman has found a bench with a view.

Another bench with a view. If boats and water and trees aren’t your thing, you can always admire the swirling patterns of the sandstone.

Same bench as in the previous photo, but with a view of rain!

Suspended – between earth and sky

Just for a moment, these people hang between earth and sky, touching nothing. Gravity being what it is, though, you know they’ll come crashing down!

(I thought it was time for more colour and fun, after my last two rather sombre black-and-white posts.)

A skateboarder at Hyde Park, Sydney.

This man stood on the edge of the cliff for ages, urged to jump by his friends already in the water. This is the moment he finally went for glory. Bronte Beach.

Bodysurfer jumping into the ocean, Bronte Beach.

Acrobats practising at Bondi Beach. I don’t what I admired more — his strength, or her balance!

Here is another photo of the acrobats – she is standing on one foot on his hands!

In search of an angel

I spent last evening in a cemetery. An odd way to fill two hours after work on a Wednesday, I grant you. But it was a lovely summer evening, and I wanted to find a particular angel memorial. I thought I knew where it was. I was wrong, as it turned out! I didn’t find the memorial, and I ran out of daylight because I kept stopping to take photos. The dramatic sunset was an unexpected photographic bonus.

(click any image in this gallery to see full size)

Currawong on a cross.

There’s something very poignant about this headless figure.

Ivy growing on a memorial.

The polished marble strip on this family tomb reflects two memorials and the sunset.

I considered removing the helicopter, but I like the jarring modern touch it adds.

This is my second post from Waverley Cemetery, here is the first.