Wooden pier supports slowly being eaten away.
These rotting wooden pier supports are in Pyrmont, Sydney.
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Random Fridays: Pier Pylons
Pyrmont
Random Fridays: Blue Trees
Trees painted blue, Pyrmont (Sydney)
Blue trees. Okay, something about that is just wrong. Wrong … but certainly eye catching!
Seriously, though: ‘The Blue Trees’ is an environmental art installation that draws attention to global deforestation by turning living, breathing trees bright blue, demanding we notice them before the planet’s old forests are gone for good. Artist Konstantin Dimopoulos uses a biologically safe, water based colourant. [from the blurb beside the trees]
Blue tree, orange umbrella.
Random Fridays: Still Life with Sunnies
Sunglasses and wine glasses
Back to the Pyrmont & Mudgee festival for this shot (Blue Trees and Gin were also taken on this afternoon). Good wine, good gin, and lots of photo ops, all on a perfect sunny day in autumn. What more could you want?
The Changing Seasons – Sydney: May
May in Sydney this year has been warm, dry and sunny. As changing seasons go, autumn is looking a lot like summer!
Smoke gets in your eyes (and your hair, and your lungs, and your drying laundry … )
Hazard reduction smoke blankets Sydney
Sydney is flanked on three sides by national parks (and an ocean on the fourth), which means a LOT of trees — which all pose fire dangers during hot, dry summers. So in autumn and winter, “hazard reduction” is carried out. On the day I took these shots around the harbour, the pre-emptive fires were in the Blue Mountains, some 125 km (80 miles) to the west. A weather phenomenon called an ‘inversion’ helped to keep the smoke sitting over the city.
It did make for days of glorious sunsets and sunrises, and interesting skies.
Smoky skies over the harbour bridge, 3pm
Hunters Hill Arts Festival
Festival of Art
My goal on the smoky May Saturday was an arts festival in Hunters Hill, the smallest local government area in Metropolitan Sydney. Founded in 1861, it is one the oldest European-settled areas on the north side of the harbour and retains a number of large and impressive stone mansions. For the past 60 years, this Sydney suburb has held an annual arts festival.
Display in one room of Vienna Cottage. Built in 1871, this was a typical tradesman’s cottage with four rooms in the main building and another small detached building.
Nicole Hunt – Ready for my Close-up (detail) – $930
Keiko Matsui – Stuff Meeting – $5500
Jennifer Linz – Sleeping Girl – $1400
The Town Hall is the largest venue. The original building was built in 1866.
The Town Hall is the largest venue. The original building was built in 1866.
Night comes early now
After the smoky ferry rides and the arts festival, and a friend’s birthday drinks, it was time to head home. It gets dark early now, and looking at this deserted train station you’d be forgiven for thinking I’d been out partying until the wee hours of the morning. However, it was only an extremely respectable 6:30pm when I took this photo.
Waiting for the train, Erskineville station, 6:30pm
Mother’s Day
An occasion firmly associated with May.
Mother’s Day
An afternoon of wine in the sun
Mudgee comes to Pyrmont
Mudgee is a renowned wine producing area 265km north west of Sydney. I don’t know what the connection is between Mudgee and the harbourside suburb of Pyrmont, but I heartily approve of this festival! What a marvellous way to spend a sunny autumn afternoon.
Crowds of chilled out Sydneysiders in search of the perfect glass of wine.
Crowds of chilled out Sydneysiders in search of the perfect glass of wine.
Red wine, and white! My two favourite kinds.
Red from Mudgee
White from Mudgee
A good time was had by all. 🙂
Cheers! Raise a glass
Markets in May
Markets in May, Martin Place
I walk along Martin Place to get to/from my office and the trail station, so it’s easy to keep up with the ever-changing program of events on this pedestrianised street in the heart of the Central Business District. During May, a different Sydney market set up each Thursday. A great excuse to escape the office for a while.
Dreamcatchers and perfumes
Flowers and stalls
Tea
Honey at the market
Season Markers
It’s not even possible to pretend that sunlight is still hitting the west end of Martin Place at 5:30pm.
Over at Sandringham Garden in Hyde Park, the 1pm shadow gets longer and longer. The wisteria is still looking lush and green.
Whew, and that’s it for a busy May! Despite the sunny days, winter is definitely coming. Nights are chilly (dropping below 10C/50F) and I’ve swapped my light bedding for my snuggly down/feather duvet, and sweaters and jackets (and even scarves!) are the fashion statements now.
I’ll be away from Sydney for most of June, so next month I think I’ll opt for the version of the challenge that only needs one photo. 🙂
