2017 Zetland

Zetland, is the last suburb in our alphabet of Sydney (that said, it continues to be a project in no particular order); it is also the first suburb that Maxine and I have photographed this year! Lunch was planned at the Grounds of Alexandria and with Zetland conveniently placed as the neighbouring suburb it was lovely to be zipping through its 39 streets on a sunny day. In this place, which at one time was thought to be the smallest suburb in Australia, we found the dintinct style of the old and across the road the brand spanking new! We were lucky to fall into conversation with a local resident who grew up in Zetland. She told us of the changes she's observed in the small suburb to which she has recently returned to look after her father. The Victoria Park area has seen the bulk of this change. From swamp - to race course - to car manufacturing plant - to naval stores depot - to the purpose-built modern towers of gentrification. This part of Zetland is quietly going about it's way with families and young professionals Planning to create a new and vibrant culture.

The Zetland Hotel @ Green Square

On Elizabeth Street

Zetland... Under Construction

A Reflection of Nature

Car Industry-  Old and New

Coco and...

Local Resident

Zetland is the archaic spelling of Shetland and was named after the Earl of Zetland.  It has changed from swampy marshes that sit in the land of the Eora people to soaring architectural structures that dominate the skyline. And here upon a wall, in a quiet unassuming spot, is this curious young woman who keeps sole watch as this place takes on a whole new lease of life.

snap it {admire}

What's not to admire in a daughter who has been so diligent in revising for exams this week. Her work ethic is incredible and one that is beyond her fourteen years. She even took these notes to the Sydney FC match on Saturday. Why you may ask... well, to do a bit of revision at half time of course! 

Link with snap it {admire} at Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love

snap it {splash}

Two mums thought they'd teach four daughters a thing or two about skimming stones! The girls realised we were too skilled and decided to make a bigger splash by hurling rocks! 

Link with snap it {splash} at Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love

Making a splash at Lake Burrendong, NSW 

snap it {three}

This week, on a three day trip to the beautiful Hunter Valley, I saw lots of 'three'! 

Link to snap it {three} at Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love

Vine leaves segmented into three sections...

a triplet of barrels...

 a trio of brilliant red poppies...

 three seats along a shady sandstone wall on an 1830's verandah...

and finally three o'clock was just chiming on the Dalwood House sundial... just in time!

snap it {colourful}

Colour is in abundance as Spring takes hold!

Link to snap it {colourful} at Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love

Space

It was interesting to go through my collection of photographs and discover that I spend so much time filling the frame that I sometimes forget to consider how space can actually enhance the quality of an image and emphasise the subject. I'll be making a point of exploring this further with my photography and adding  to my 'toolkit'.

I begin then, with Space itself and a photo I took of a lunar eclipse back in 2008. 

With the sky as space, the theme continues in the picture-postcard-blue that provides a background for cherry blossoms, a lighthouse picnic and a pub sign.

It is all too easy to take portraits and place your subject slap bang in the centre; however, off to one side can really break up the predictability and emphasise character.

Textured backgrounds can really bring out a subject, and the more you see of that gravelly, rocky and brick space the more interesting the subject can end up looking.

Finally, a scene that is mostly space. It's sometimes hard to imagine that you could capture the elements of a landscape if most of what is photographed is space. You usually expect to see it filled with well, 'scenery'. But sometimes less is more - and more space is the key. I think in this photograph it just works so well.

Link to Kat Eye Studio

snap it {bright}

The bright colours of tapas were the flavour of the day when we booked into a tapas class at MUMU Grill in Crows Nest. The chorizo and marinated prawns, plus a splash of sangria went down a treat!

Link to  {snap it bright} at Faith, Hope and a whole lotta love

snap it {shiny}

Father's Day on Sunday saw us back at Lake Parramatta. My youngest daughter has always had a unique take on appropriate footwear for different occasions. Her choice of shiny, sequinned 'bush walking' shoes are no exception to her quirky rule of thumb when it comes to what she thinks is OK to wear!

Link to snap it {shiny} at Faith, Hope and a whole lot of Love

snap it {new}

New friends are often hard to come by when taking photographs in public places. Most people are really suspicious and treat photographers with a bit of apprehension... sometimes downright rudeness! But not this little girl and her siblings. They enjoyed trying to get in my way then hide from my camera. Their imaginations ran away with them as they pretended that I was some stranger trying to 'steal' them with my lens... eventually I obliged and joined their fun, trying to capture them with my shots! (Their parents were close by and happy to let them engage in some harmless play)

Link to snap it {new} at Faith, Hope and whole lotta Love

snap it {straight lines}

A glorious sunny Sunday led to a walk in the park and the opportunity to snap!

Link to snap it {straight lines} at Faith, Hope & a whole lotta Love

Bending a Straight Line

The straight lines of the rungs were different lengths thus creating a curved line... and yes, I did climb the ladder!

The posts on the wooden bridge are starting to look a bit tired and have completely fallen apart in places. This was a section of it not cordoned off with orange plastic webbing.