Rebecca O'Grady Photographics

EVA AND DENETH 12TH NOVEMBER 2011

2012-01-08T03:54:00.000-08:00

ROCKHAMPTON WEDDING,

KAREN AND CRAIG WEDDING 11TH NOVEMBER 2011

2012-01-08T03:34:00.000-08:00

CAPRICORN COAST WEDDING, MECURE RESORT, YEPPOON,

SHOOTING ANJA 30TH OCTOBER 2011

2012-01-08T03:19:00.000-08:00

CASSIE AND SIMON 29TH OCTOBER 2011 YEPPOON WEDDING

2011-12-03T12:06:00.001-08:00

Fun is what this wedding was, simple, easy, light, life loving and happy sums it up. CEREMONY-: Capricorn Resorts little white chapel on a spring saturday.

ROCKHAMPTON WEDDING JESSICA AND ANTHONY 15TH OCTOBER 2011

2011-11-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

When Jessica rang and said she was now getting ready at the Denison Boutique Hotel I was very excited, this a beautiful hotel and makes for the most beautiful photos,

MADDI AND PAT AIRLIE BEACH WEDDING 8TH OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

So it's an Airlie Beach wedding this weekend 6 hour drive each way, boss let me out of work early and by 9.oopm friday night we had arrive in town, 7.00 am I have Ed and my bestie Maree driving me around town looking for you know those special places, which is a little hard to explain to the non light seeing folk, couple of strong coffees and where set for the best day,

So the day came to an end all to soon, we ate and drank, the fresh sea breeze blew through the restaurant, Maddie stood and with the most beautiful voice sang to her man, not a dry eye in the house, but all the time in my mine was this, and I am still giggling,

you two Rock, whooooowowoo (sound) LOL.

My Sister is Pregnant 25th September 2011

2011-10-31T05:26:00.000-07:00

So Raquel's coming home for the weekend and she is 20 weeks pregnant, so now I just sit and wait for the weather, up each morning at 5.00 am look out the window, nope back to bed, Tuesday it was, head out the window, NOW, this is the day, quick phone call get on that hill, storm rain and wind, prefect,

ROCKHAMPTON WEDDING ERIN AND WAZZA 1ST OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-16T03:07:00.000-07:00

Goldston House is just a beautiful place to hold a garden wedding, So this was were Erin and Wazza with there close friends and family chose to hold theirs,

ROCKHAMPTON WEDDING TERRI-LYNNE AND RHETT 24TH SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-10-15T04:13:00.000-07:00

Married under the tamron tree at the garden is becoming my favourite destination, it has the most pretty light, it put on it's best behaviour for Terri-Lynne and Rhett,

ROCKHAMPTON WEDDING CJ AND AJ 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-10-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

CJ AND AJ'S WEDDING17TH SEPTEMBER 2011 One word sums up this family awesome, what a fun loving group, great weather and could not have asked for a nicer day,

Thanks guys I had the best time, www.rebeccaogrady.com

Capricorn Coast Wedding Erin and Shaun 10th September

2011-09-29T03:59:00.000-07:00

A wedding with a little bundle of joy on the way, such a gentle and relaxed family, totally enjoyed the day, two beautiful souls joining and a day to match,the light turned it on, the sky was blue and a little wedding on the dune was held,

Yeppoon Wedding Kelly and Brad 9th September 2011

2011-09-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

What a fun loving couple, had me giggling all afternoon, in a garden late one friday afternoon at Cap Resort,

Rockhampton Wedding, Danielle and Ray 3rd September 2011

2011-09-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

Heritage Village Church, horse carriage and a family I already knew, just a little excited I have to tell you.

www.rebeccaogrady.com

Rockhampton Wedding, Paula and Aaron 13th August 2011

2011-09-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

Big family wedding, full on and lots of fun, what an awesome day, tears and laughter, kids and flowers, food and drinks, bright and colourful, what a day to be part of,

Hannah and Colin 20th August 2011

2011-09-08T04:22:00.000-07:00

What a great couple up from Armidale to get married with there family, Hannah the sweetest young lady you would ever meet and Colin a fun football (broncos) fan. Just new it was going to be a good day when the first question Colin asked was, "Can I bring my football when we take photos", "Well why not weddings are surposed to be fun", and the colours for the day maroon and yellow are there any other colours.

Danielle and Jamie August 20th 2011

2011-09-08T04:03:00.000-07:00

So it seams that you can really only be in one place at a one time, something I must look in to, it is becoming a problem all to often, So when former work mate Danielle rang to ask if I could shoot her wedding I didn't want to say no, and I was already booked, after a couple of calls to my mate Sharon, she agreed to shoot and I would edit, great team work,

Brisbane 31st July

2011-09-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

Next in line where the Guthrie Children, off to the park we went to spend an hour capturing Tom and Grace.

Brisbane Weekend Away July 30th 2011

2011-09-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

So after weeks of prep, sorting out lights, nannies, and timing, the weekend had finally come. It was time to photograph the Cugola Family, which is no mean feat with 5 kids and 3 under the age of two and a half, I have to tell you this is one amazing mother, she works very hard to get these photos, will do cart wheels to get them smiling,
So first we have Quinton, he is a quite lad, not that he could probably get a word in with the three little ones, but watch him he is not to be reckoned with, 2nd in australian championship under 8's Jiu Jitsu,

Then there is Paige, we all know she is my favourite I have been photographing this kid for years, the camera just loves her, and is all to willing to work for bribes,

Next in line is Austin a little lost in the middle sorting his way out though life and is going to be the naughty one, but hey that smile is going to let him get away with murder, he is SO cute.

Last but by no means forgotten are the twins, Hannah and Addison, could you get two more different girls, quite little Addison a pretty little girly girl, gentle, soft, completely special and sweet.

Hannah, a total RAT, so full on it is amazing, right there in your face, loud, happy, so full of never ending energy, stopping for nothing, that's our Hannah, look out world for here she comes I hope your ready, the following 5 shots where taken over a 1 mintue span and captures the craziness of this kid, which I just can't help but love, she is such a big personality, LOVE HER.

Kaitlyn and Ash 16th July 2011

2011-08-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

Wonderful day a little overcast, Henderson Park is a beautiful private location for a wedding and it's very special, and a wonderful romantic couple topped of the perfect wedding,

Kyra and Dan Wedding 12th June 2011

2011-07-05T02:13:00.000-07:00

Married in a nightclub, sounds different, should be fun, it was, I love weddings, trash the dress, and 4wds, yep that will be fun,

,

Hong Kong to Cebu and Return 2011

2011-05-24T05:31:00.000-07:00

Day 1
So when Bob invited us to his wedding we both looked at each other and said let’s do it, so we are, When we travel it never starts well we are usually so tired from the weeks leading up to leaving we end up just throwing things in a bag at the last minute and racing out the door, nothing has changed, 9 o’clock the night before we left I was at my parents place with all the mail that needed posting. But we make it we always do, up and at it at 5.00am to get to the Rocky airport on time the first day was a blur way to much food and a good on time run through to Hong Kong, we had booked the airport motel

The Marriott, where so clever I have died and gone to heaven beautiful room, beautiful bed and I could live in the bathroom marble from top to bottom, and all the necessity for life like showers caps to put over your camera cause it’s raining, and we hadn’t had enough food so at 10pm Ed took me to dinner, I am so lucky, more food, Padi Thai for me and pizza for Ed he’s such a aussie. Back at the room and Ed is standing there with a big grin on his face he reckons they knew you where coming with a coffee plunger and beans in his hand, I grinned morning looks fine now,

Had my padi thai a long hot shower, in my new in love with bathroom and now I have coffee life is good and so is the bed.

Day 2
Up at sunrise looking out the window Hong Kong looks real pretty, I might make me some coffee, and then nick downstairs, cause there is free Internet in the lounge got keep up with facebook and emails you know, Ed is still getting up takes him forever, We decide to catch the train, which is a good idea till you need a ticket, that is always a problem, the little man at the train station must have been killing himself laughing looking at us while we tried to get a ticket out of a machine written in Chinese, never works for me and I can’t find the english button we give up and ask the little dude how to get a ticket and guess what! he sells them, he could have mentioned that we where the only people at the whole station not like he couldn't’t see us, we walked off giggling to each other, cause then we couldn't’t get the card to work, we really wanted to put our card in the machine not just scan it, so little dude finally got up and started yelling about the yellow box, I could see the yellow box it is right there on top of the walk way but nowhere to put the card , turns out you just wave it over the top, off we went poor little man, I got to tell you the train is wonderful, clean and fast, we head to Hong Kong Island for the day, I find a Starbucks, Ed grabs breakfast, and then it rains, while walking around we find out it is maids day off and there all out shopping so we shopped with them this is crazy there is thousands of them but we are a foot taller so at least we can see where we are going it is like a sea of maids, funny funny stuff, today we catch the plane to Cebu, turns out that is where all the maids come from. Cebu is crazy I can hardly wait to get out there with my camera, it’s going to be fun, a bit like Bali 30 years ago,

Day 3 and 4
Shopping today don’t ask me why but we shopped all day, I did get a new pair of shoes, and a couple of dvd’s, while waiting for the shuttle bus I sat out front on the foot path and took some shots of the people on transport, not much in the way of road rules here I got to tell you, big waves from the locals as they drive into town,
5.30pm and off to a bridal shower with me for a massage and facial with 12 other girls and a
2 very large pizzas biggest things I have every seen,

Day 4

The girls are going shopping downtown today which from what I can gather is a lot different to uptown, take out your earrings they will rip them out, take off all jewellery be very careful of your camera, and take your phone out of your pocket and put in in your bag, this should be an experience, and it was, left the camera at home that would be like someone taking my left arm, probably should have taken it but OH well, the two local girls looked after me well, kept me safe, we walked through food stalls, clothes stalls any number of dvd and phone shops, talked to a man selling a monkey for about 20 aussie dollars, spent a little got a lot, The boys are doing their bucks party tonight heading out to a local bar, I am not even game to ask some things are best not known as long as they end up back here before sunrise, So I am doing dinner by myself it is a huge buffet to much food is what it is breakfast lunch and dinner, I will be the size of two houses by the time we get home, anyway had diiner and then meet Mohamed, a local lad that is studying law and selling units to make a living, we talked for about 2 hours while we played on the net, things are not good in this country, the average wage is $5 aussie per day for 8 hours, the cost of living is cheap the quality of living is poor, this lads biggest dream is to go to Hong Kong for a weekend, the cost for this is about $500 aussie and that includes everything for his weekend, not to much to ask, his mate is studying nursing so he can move to Australia and be a nurse, we have a shortage he has been told, he nearly fell over when I told him the wages for a nurse in australia, but that our cost of living is much higher, Ed came home about 11pm with stories that had me giggling crazy night at drag queen girly bar with very drunk aussie boys, why do they do this to themselves the night before they get married.

Day 5

It's the wedding day this will be the best day, about 1pm I find out me and Ed are now in the bridal party and need to to be there by 3.00pm for a practice run, this is not like Australia where you all just walk down the isle this is called a bridal march and there is about 15 people involved, then I got to get my hair and makeup done, that was fun I have spent years watching and photographing this and now it's my turn bit embarrassing I have to tell you cause I am so not a hair and makeup girl, anyway I am just going with the flow at this time, spent the afternoon watching the photographers at work and have some new ideas. The wedding was amazing most enjoyable wedding I have ever been to it was like a big festival of games and fun loved it and so glad we came.

Diving for sea cucumbers

Local Taxi

Local village on Bohol lsland

Smallest monkey in the world

Chocolate Hills

Bohol backpackers,

So today we took oursleves on a tour,to the town of Carcar, works out for our 5 hour tour we get our own driver and tour guide and lunch as well. We headed down the coast learnt all about the the old building, drank some coconut wine,went for a ride on a water buffalo or carabao, and a three tricycle, also Ed help weave a basketand weaving got to take it home, finally we got to go to the markets they where both wet and dry markets with whole roasted baby pig,fish, chicken and meat, it was wonderful,We cant go to the markets in Cebu the locals are telling us they are not safe,someone will put a knife through us to take our camera, so we are going north tommorrow to a local fishing village and another market,

Well we had the best tour guide so we booked her for today, Being me I have reorganised to whole tour guide to take me to the best spots for longer like the local fishing village to watch the boat unload and two markets,We spent 5 hours snapping away today we where ready with a pocket of coins we had people lining up to get photos taken, other where just happy to give a smile and wave to take photos the kids where running after "hey mrs you take my photo" there such are happy people, cause this is a poor country make you appreciate what we have in Australia,

KELLY AND EHLIE 14TH MAY 2011

2011-05-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

Capricorn International Resort, in a cute little white chapel on a sand dune, the picture is magic, a place where this family of 5 became one, there was this feeling of happiness through the day, one this one little cute kid called Jaz that keep me going all day she was the funniest little darling you ever meet with big round eyes and a cheeky little face, funny, she had me laughing all day,

KATRINA AND RODNEY 7TH MAY 2011

2011-05-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

Capricorn Resort perfect weather and a perfect day for a wedding, Katrina and Rodney where married on the edge of the dunes looking over the ocean and islands, beautiful.

Mellissa and Brent 30th April 2011

2011-05-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

Ceremony and reception was held at Seaspray Resort, and I have to tell you riding around in golf buggy's is fun, and the boys made sure of it, packed the esky and straped it to the back and off we set. To much fun,

Natasha and Stewart's Wedding 23rd April 2011

2011-04-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Wonderful warm sunny day, a perfect day to be married at Capricorn Resort, in a cute little white chapel on a sand dune, I love when you go to a wedding and in the bridal party there is always a character and in this party it was the groom keeps everyone giggling all afternoon, it also makes for very special photos, Oh! I love weddings there so beautiful,

The magic of the dress, lace from top to toe, beautiful,

It was an early start for Natasha's wedding 5.30am start hotcross buns and cappuccino where the order of the day, we stood on the veranda and watched the sun rise to start there wonderful day,

Capricorn Coast Weddings are very special,

Melinda and Peter 12th April 2011

2011-04-18T15:29:00.001-07:00

Heron Island it has been on the bucket list since I was a little tacker, while walking through the airport Peter rang please come take our photos I was so excited I clicked my heals together, which is no mean feat if you have meet me, well the day came I had little or no sleep (to excited)set off to Gladstone early, the weather had I mentioned the weather well it was glassed out not a ripple on the water, magic, I reckon you would call it, stayed that way for the three days, Gods country, what a very natural place,
Melinda and Peter in love deeply a very special couple in a very special place, Perfect,

Joanne and David Wedding 9th April 2011

2011-04-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

And so the call came from Sharon to give her a hand with Joanne and David's wedding I jumped at the chance, it's fun being the backup photographer drops the pressure off and you can sit back and have some fun.

Jaimie-Lee and Matthew Wedding 26th March 2011

2011-03-30T01:34:00.000-07:00

A fine day finally, there is not many of them as late but the sun shined for this great couple. Jaimie and Matthew where married on Jaimie's parents property at Westwood, Jaimie arrived by small plane taxied by her dad,

And did the sunset let us down, No not at all lit up the sky in all it's glory we stood on the ridge waiting for it to happen and it did.

KIRSTY AND JAMES 19TH MARCH 2011

2011-03-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

What a great couple casual as they come, just happy to be getting married, so when it started raining 2 hours prior to their garden wedding, without a thought or care they just moved it to Beaches Bistro Restaurant, "Just tell me where to turn up to." Kirsty said down the phone, and than she and her girls went about getting ready,
Getting ready at The Coast Motel, might I add they are beautiful rooms big and clean and beautiful light, we then headed off to Beaches to get married, followed by a quick trip to the car park of Echlon to get out of the rain it was near dark at this stage, then on cue the lights came on God loves me.

Great day rain or not.

Sarah and Darren 1st January 2011

2011-02-05T02:25:00.000-08:00

Nice way to start the New Year, an afternoon beach wedding, with a fun couple that just wanted to get wet.

Had the best time with this couple, soaked them to the skin,

Jenna and Leigh 18th December 2010

2011-01-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

Beautful, is the only way to explain this wedding, close family and friends at Jenna mum and dad's farm, which is looking it's best with all the rain, dams full, hills are green, sky is blue, esky's are full, it's time for a wedding.

Beautiful.

Cherie and Trent's Wedding 12th December 2010

2011-01-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

Hot and wet, that's what it was, but did this stop my bride no way, what fun this wedding ended up being. The day started out hot real hot by the afternoon it was wet real wet.

So down it came we got soaked, with camera gear shoved up our shirts we ran for the hills. We didn't make it wet to the core, so what does a bride do when there wet, well my bride did her bridal waltz in it, with her bridal party, then found a large puddle and sat in it, that's my girl.

Loved it what a day.

Nicole and Kent's Wedding 18th November 2010

2011-01-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

They say never work with kids or animals. When Nicole came to see me the only thing she really wanted from her wedding day was some nice photos of her kids, well weddings are big days for the ones getting married let alone the little one who have no clue whats happening, when it was time to photograph the kids it just was not going to happen,

What did happen was I went back the next day let them play in the park and snapped as they played, Mission accomplished.

For Nicole and Kent they got one of the best sunset I have seen all year it was wild.
It rained and it was windy, but when the sun set it was truly amazing.

The Reception was held at the Lagoon Restaurant at Capricorn Resort, and looks great as the lights sparkle accross the pool,

Holidays November 2010

2010-12-07T01:47:00.000-08:00

Yeppoon to Melbourne and Back.

DAY ONE
So it is going to be a big couple of days as we try to get to the mountains,(you know the big one the Victorian alps) as quick as possible. Day 1 starts with a 4.30am rise and I have been warned that there will be no stopping for photos and I can put my camera in the back and leave it there, Packed and in the car and gone by about 5.00am good start,

the man then tells me we need to put air in the shockies we only get to Kemp Beach, for those not in the know about 1 km from home and everyone out again, now there is a bit to be said about men, and this is one thing they seem to forget all the time, (keep your women happy) so when my man mentioned we now need air in the tires I am thinking cool BP it’s on the way out of town I can get a coffee, BUT where does my man head, yep! MOBIL, not a coffee machine in site there, when he turned the corner heading in their direction, I with my what the hell are you doing voice said “Where the heck are you going” “Mobil” he reckons, “why” with that what are you on about tone, “BP has coffee”. Well the penny that just hit him in the head near knocked him out, as we drove into BP me with my smiling face and Ed with his where are the air pumps, I am out and off to get coffee,
There is no stopping we arrive to get Lisa’s cupboard at Caramel’s about 2.00pm we have had a good run, That is about to come to a sudden end, Note to self do not travel south the Gold Coast on the same day 35000 teenage kids are doing the same thing, 4 hours it took to get to Byron Bay, highlight of the trip listening to the truckers on the uhf picking out the cool girls in cars, as we travelled at about 5km per hours for 80 ks.

Arrived at Lisa’s about 7.30pm with four happy little faces smiling out the window, big hugs from all, makes me melt when they look up and call, “ hello Becky” and push past to Grandad, there just so cute they fall in his arms and get big cuddles,
Dinner wood fire pizza and a red, god I love holidays not saying another thing about that let you imagination run amuck,

Day 2
Laying in bed look up in time to see a little face standing at the door waving, “morning” and she disappears, took some happy snaps, woofed down some breakfast, in the car big wave and off to Sydney,
Well I now know why dogs stick their heads out the window, they are really just yelling let me out of this car I am over it. Another 9 hours in the car and we are in Sydney, thank god we have done the long bit of our trip, now Ed he is a smart man after we arrive at Lane Cove National Park and set up our camp thinks we should grab the cameras and head down to the river and take a few shots, see he knows I am happiest with a camera in my hand, we well I spent the afternoon playing with light as in sparkled through the trees, after the sun set we dragged our bones back up the hill, I grabbed a wine while Ed cooked up a BBQ diner sat under the stars, I looked at Ed and said “I might go to bed” he looks back weird “It only 7.00pm” right better have another wine then that’s a bit early. Now I feel like we are on holidays.

Squiggle Gum there so pretty

I really like the way the light played.

Day 3
Like the other two except today we layed in a bit, reckon I will make a coffee, up and at it again, pack her all up, shower …… and shave, Ed fed the locals some apple,

all in the car and of to Canberra, as luck would have Margaret and Mike had just returned from Europe and where still in the theme of things so it was red wine cheese cold meats and crusty rolls for lunch.

Now the fun stuff begins, Oh sorry visiting Relly’s is fun as well not just as much as taking photos in the high country, you see I work myself into a tail spin about this kind of thing. Another 2 hours down the road and we are setting up camp

beside the prettiest river filled with rainbow trout bouncing out of the river to catch something flying by, Ed did assure me you can’t catch these with your bear hands that I had been watching too much of Bear Grills on telly, I had also wondered why no one was swimming cause it was the middle of November, “go walk in there Ed reckons” so I did, idiot, frig holy crap the only thing missing was an Ice berg couldn't’t feel my toes for nearly an hour, note to self don’t do stupid crap Ed suggests,

Day 4
So begins the lonely life of a photographer, alarm goes off at 5.00am, which is 4am if you live in queensland and god damn it's cold, down to the river for sunrise, did I mention it is really cold 3 degrees. And I am wet shoes and jeans all wet, and the tripod is so freezing I can't handle it,

the sun comes up grab the shots scream home back into bed to warm up under two dooners and blanket takes a good hour. Ed is no fun really hates it when you put cold feet on him I am such a bitch. LOL.
Today we are going to Falls Creek to camp, takes us all day to get there, we stop to look at everything on the way.

We have also agreed that we are very good at picking the worst rest areas for lunch you can bet there will be a better one just up the road, we do it every time, as we sit on the end of a log cause some goose put the BBQ table in the sun.
As we climb the mountain I am starting to get a little excited, You know what! we saw brumbies real live ones a stallion and 2 mares I can cross that of the list, MAN I was so excited, I really get sick of Ed telling me I have to wait till the car stops before I get out, he is no fun.

We arrived at the camp grounds at about 5 pm but its day light saving down here so the sun doesn’t go down till 8 pm so we toddled around and set up camp we are the only ones here the whole camping area to ourselves on top of the mountains,

we are surrounded by little purple and yellow flowers and snow gums. Turning the radio up really loud and running around naked every time someone pulls into the camping area seems to be working they pull back out and leave again. Flies why in god’s name do all the flies in the world live in Victoria it must drive them nuts. Fly spray my friends they have invented it you need to use it, Ed made me a hot shower and I am a happy girl, first time we have camped without a supplied shower, we are now one step closer to the great outdoors. A couple of wines and dinner and alarm set, bed.

Day 5
Alarm goes off at 5.pm I bounce of bed, well see that’s a lie I drag my bones out cause its cold and dark but I have just sat in a car for 3 days to take pictures of Wallace Hut, so off I go Ed just stands there looking hoping I come back in one piece. Really thinking thank god that’s gone peace and quite at last. The sun is rising if I miss this I will not be happy any more, hot shower or not. 7k drive followed by a 700m sprint down the hill, sprint if you believe that you don’t know me no sprinting is coming out of this body unless someone yells fire, even then I doubt it, get there just as the sun puts its head over the horizon , It all happens in 10 mins and it’s over.

I can go home and back to bed, 700m sprint downhill now turns into a 700m crawl back up, note to all people going to Wallace Hut today there is no toilet paper I flogged it there is none at our camp grounds sorry about that, now I feel like a proper highland petty theft Ned that’s the new name, At camp the great man is still in bed I am standing at the end of it with a big smile “got you a present” standing there with my new flogged toot rolls. He’s not even asking,
So we pack some lunch and of we set off for the day, see I really don’t care what we do between sunrise to sunset I just need those 2 hours to work a little magic. I am living with an idiot, so we get to the top of Mount Mc Kay and where does the bright one head, Oh! Straight over the side of the mountain, why! You ask oh he is going to get me a bottle of snow, god you gotta love him, comes back with a bottle of snow, smile from ear to ear, then he is off over the other side of the mountain he goes again and then in true 21st century style rings me, lord knows why I can hear him yelling from where I am, “ come down where he is waving” he has found a large patch snow, lucky I need to work off breakfast, so we play take a few happy snaps and drag our butts back up the mountain.

Today we found snowy river creeks, waterfalls,(with the national park exercise regiment built in 700m up hill) cabins all down hill which means going back is a workout thanks to National Parks Australia cause they really could put the damn car park right there near the cabin,

and our brumbies again, there stars our brumbies and stand around to get their pictures taken, I am standing there thinking can ya do some brumby stuff, rear or bit or something eating grass is not going to cut it. Right so there not playing the wild horse thing and we move on. Sunset time and I am really over the beautiful blue sky thing give me the mongrel sky any time. Nope not my day, got a couple of shots and its dinner time, Note to self next time you shower check to see if the water is hot, that goes down as a superman shower, faster than the speed of light. Ed made a huge fire warm as toast needed to be after the shower. Dinner was the famous sausages (well that’s what the sign in the front of the shop said). Ed’s a sucker for sausages, still trying to work out what they are famous for, really, it was not for the taste, maybe it was for the fact you can burn the crap out of them and still eat them. Tomorrow I am sleeping in cause I am really tired.

Day 6
So I was sleeping in but I woke up anyway, I not just gunna lie here so up I get, stuck my head out the door and good god there is storm clouds. No one is up at 5.00am on the highlands so no one will know that I went in my pjs to take photos cause the sun was nearly up, I am so just going, shoes and jumpers and I am in the car and gone. Rabbits had I mentioned the rabbits, lucky they killed all the foxes cause now there are millions of rabbits, not as many as the flies but still a lot, and when I am in a hurry they really need to not run on the road, I don’t kill animals and playing dodge with the stupid bunny at 5.00am in the morning is not good for my nerves, about 5ks up the road and there is the spot, A rock and purple flowers, OH! It is awesome a great sunrise, see I should never sleep in, today was my lucky day, I danced my happy jig I knew it was a good morning,

got home about 8.00 and parked down the hill doesn’t seem to be much movement in our camp, holidays or not only 13 year old kids need that much sleep, and it’s still snoring, I just sit there and wait typing this,

half hour and a voice from the deep“ You out there”, “yep”.
Today we are going to Mount Hoffam piece of crap windy hole, yep won’t need to go back there, we did stop by a little town called Omeo, I just love it when kids in little towns serve you. “Can I have a short black coffee” I ask, “No problems” he reckons, first he grabs the wrong cup, ok so now I know it’s going to be a bun fight (cause I am in a bakery), so he fills it right to the top, and I know I am not drinking it, turns to hand it to me I am looking at him “nope that is a long black”, he reckons “oh! I will tip some out “, “no you need to start again” I am telling him,
“but that will cost you for another coffee” he tries to tell me, “listen to me I am not paying for another coffee, I didn’t order what you just made, now you need to make me the right coffee, if you didn’t know how to make it you should ask me, I drink it”, boss turns up seems I am now getting my coffee, lesson to all, don’t mess with my coffee or camera. In saying all this Omeo is a very cute little town and I would like to go back again. There are times when tourist attractions just shouldn’t be but hey you never know if you don’t go, so of into this Chinese mine site we go, me starting on the choc fudge slice from Omeo “this is horrible” I explain to Ed, “let me try” he reckons, takes a bit and hands it back not saying anything, now everyone knows I have a problem with food, so at this stage I think if I keep it I will eat it, crap or not, so I pitch it out the window, Well hell! you should have seen the look on Ed's face, man, you would have thought I had pitch out a full block of Cadbury, lord he went on forever, so I assured him I would pick it up on the way back but heck now he doesn’t want it, just can’t please some people.
So we pass a sign that said Mount Kosciusko so in we turn and after 10 mins looking at the sign trying to work out which lump was the Great Mountain of Aussie, a guy gets out of his car and reckons it’s that one over there in the mist, lucky he helped I would still be there, but that’s crossed off the list I’ve seen it now. Off to Mt Hoffam about Mt Hoffam not going back there probably looks better when its white, but now it’s just a cold windy hole, took to pictures got back in the car, took 10 mins to push the door open against the windy, and I have Ed telling me I am a sook.

Now we head down to Bright what a truly pretty little town that is. We head off to the info center miss the turn off around the block we go again, get back to the info center and miss it again, geezz I got me a bright one hear, lucky we are in Bright he reckons, so back we go around the block again, so now I have seen all of Bright 53 times. A deer farm,” look ED a deer farm”, by the look I guess where are not going to the deer farm, We head back to Falls Creek to do the sun set, and there are our mares no stallion but there are the girls Ed grabs a couple of shots. I am wondering where the man went probably off poaching someone else misses. The sun doesn’t seem to set so well on the highlands and it is cold with that done we head home,

Now I warned the butcher after last time about tough meat, note to me don’t do it again, well I made a curry korma. Curry and wood fired toast sounds fine for camping food, 2 hours it stew for but do you think you could eat it, no, not a hope, we sucked out the juice and through it at rabbits damn near killed a couple, not that I would, though I do like a bit of rabbit.

Day 7
So up I get again at 5.00am and off down the road today is the last morning for me to get the sunrise. I reckon I will go back where I was yesterday and move around a little today I am setting up the laptop to make sure I get it right. At this stage the highland people must think I am a little nuts, (Ed does), I am sitting on top of the in a bed of purple flowers thinking I love my life, there is a giant storm brewing out the back of me, and a sunrise that I just can’t seem to do justice there is 7 layers of mountains in front of me and I am only getting 3 the light is not as unbelievable as yesterday but I am sitting there thinking I am the only one watching this and it’s special and now just show me some light it happens for only about five minutes and it’s all over,

time to head back to camp, Ed will be up and packing, Oh! There is my stallion on the side of the road, turns out my star is a chicken shit without his women and high tails it out of their as I pull up, he's not so tough after all, back at camp Ed’s got that only been up 10 mins stagger going on, I pull up “not been up long hey” I reckon, with that don’t know what you’re talking about look “yep hours” he is so lying. A bit of breaky and packing up today and heading to Craig’s Hut, (How life can go from wonderful to sucks you wait and see).

We are on the road by about 8.30am which I might add is really good. Now we are right into gourmet food trails, they really want people to do these trails or they wouldn’t advertise them so well, first stop the local cherry van, then the Milawa Cheese factory, YUM we pull up at the front door, won’t need lunch after this town, OH! taste testing gods greatest invention, you just have to love people that have cheese for $40.00 a kg and then they just give it to you, Nice, with our arms full and the car loaded off to the mustard factory, walked just in time to see some idiot grab a mouthful of hot English mustard, near wet myself watching him dance around the floor while it burnt the hair out of his nose. FOOL, I also love free entertainment and this is priceless, with more arm fulls and full bellies we head back to the car, short conversation about weather we should go to Brown Brothers 200 yards back down the road, we opt for straight for Craig’s Hut, In to Mansfield petrol, bread and coffee off up the hill to Mount Sterling and there on the post road closed to Craig’s Hut see told you life sucks, 6 years I have been waiting to get back here and now some idiot closed the road, what is that, so I never believe things that aren’t going my way I ringing and she telling the sign is right, now you know I am just a little pissed, NOT, I am really not happy if I had a dummy it would be spat 100m, Ed bravely suggest we could go into Melbourne early and go to Eucha on Monday I agree, paddle streamers are fun, so now I am looking for somewhere to stay happy with the paddle steamer idea, I remember this caravan park down the road that had the best bird life and cause I am not one to miss an opportunity off we set, passed a smoke house that is going to get the once over in the morning. Got my bag of birdseed from reception and I am set for the morning.

Day 8
I don’t know why I got up so early but it’s way too dark, so I sit in the camp kitchen and type here, now I have to tell you this place is set on a dam and it’s a bit low this morning cause if there is one thing I like after camping it’s a shower, wash the hair and warm up and just stand there and soak till the dirt is gone, used a good 3000 litres. There is with no doubt there's a lot of birds in this park, last time we had king parrots, they arrived and on cue this morning when they turned up we got a little excited snapped away for half an hour, then we had to packed up I really have trouble doing this,

I can’t wait till I am old enough to just drive around and look at stuff you know the grey haired people. Today we are going to drive through Marysville and see how they are getting on these days, well screw you Australian Government you need to get your butts up there and get these people’s lives but on track, 18 months later and the main street is not even rebuilt, I was so wild, how dare we leave people like this they didn’t ask for a wild fire to run them over, and it needs to be put back how it was all cute and all, the little chocolate shop just had a front fence, the servo had two bowsers and no shop, it was very sad.
So into Melbourne we go and there at the door where two cute little faces come in Becky and Grandad, had a ton of fun took a mountain of photos, So then the man says we need to go collect some parts for a car, that's just great I am thinking, come to Melbourne and now we are going for parts, right!, so I am sitting in the car waiting for the parts and my man to come back, I start to think I wonder where we are, out swings the map a bit of dective work and I have the suburb, and just up the road is Brighton beach, Ok! that needs a look at and then there is St Kilda pier and that will need a look at as well, Ed bounces back in the car, “Do you know where we are” I start to say, “No tell me” he says back with that, here we go, Brighton Beach is so pretty it has these cute little bath boxes. Today these little boxes have a monster storm brewing in the background, so down to the beach we head, taking photos in all my glory, I look up just in time to see Ed not even looking in the right direction I am wondering what he’s up to, looking up the beach further I can see the attraction it’s blonde and in bikini’s and coming our way, “your suppose to be taking pictures of the houses” looking straight at him, “I am going to just wait a little,” then as this blonde beach babe walks in front of the camera he snaps and snaps, looking at him I reckon “what are you doing”, foreground interest he starts, “well you wouldn’t want to miss that would you”, “guess you wouldn’t”. Then he starts “she really wanted her picture taken she walked right pass me” he starts “whatever” back at him. (It will come back to bit him). Old people should not wear togs like life savers, it should be the law and that is all I am saying about that. It’s just not right and it is, Nope, I am not saying anymore.

Of to St Kilda Pier and the storm has really built up right over the city, we walk all the way to the end of the pier and back snapping the whole way some amazing stuff, Ed assures me that other people are allowed on the pier and it is not just mine, would be easier if the name was Ken Duncan and they just shut things for me but they don’t, you have to stare them out till they get the idea, I had thought that hitting them with my tripod and pushing people in the water might work but Ed wouldn’t help he is such a none joiner, back at the car we throw the camera gear in the car and then go for a walk around the baths just as we are walking past the health spa Ed reckons “look at that tool” I think the word was, I didn’t really hear, there was a body to be prayed to, thanks god for that moment. Back to reality it's raining back to the car and home.

Spent 4 days in Melbourne did the markets and the city, took a lot of photos of the kids, took on a strong respect for people taking baby photos, man I struggled with that, little kids I love them but babies thats another story.

and so then it rained and rained and rained, we got home just, chasing closing roads all the way up the coast, looking back I loved the mountains, might head back when there covered in snow.

Fairy Tales in the Forrest.

2010-11-09T03:13:00.000-08:00

So there are days when you just want to shoot for fun, when Dani came up with a great idea lets put some girls in cute little outfits and have a bit of fun. Well I had been looking for the chance to have a little fun after the end of the Spring bride season. So when this offer came up as you can guess I was in boots and all.

Shari and Scott 15th October 2010

2010-11-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and it's wet oh! is it wet, today was to be a bluff top wedding with the reception on the roof of Villa Mar Corlina, but that is not what took place, It's funny how things turn out and I sit there watching them unfold, this was a small family wedding, Shari and Scott came to me because they have this cute little VW car that they have been doing up for the last couple of years, it is there pride and joy and they wanted it in there wedding and photos, a big landscape with the beach, island, car and them, one great photo to hang on there wall, not your normal wedding photos, just this one photo,
So on there Friday it rained, I was sitting there thinking what will we do and then it happened 4.30 pm on clue it stopped, it stopped raining, I could not believe it, it had been pelting all day, and now it stops, I looked at Scott, Scott looked at me, and then we both looked at Shari, "Get in the car lets do this thing". We had the spot, we had the practise, now we just need to get there before the sun went down, while there was some light in the sky,

As we pulled up I could see the sky lighting up, to say we where rushed would be an understatement 15 mins we got, we had a couple of extra people hanging around everyone got a job, and yes I believe we nailed it.

By the time we left the beach it was dark, I was flat out seeing the couple walking hand in hand up the beach, but we got the photo, we got there landscape with there little car,

Ammy and Mark 9th October 2010

2010-11-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

You know I go to weddings to take photos for couples, and every time one person in the party is a star, the character, the I am the actor, there is aways one you just have to work out which one that is, this time it was the groom he was a funny bugger, see I have this little rule and it goes like this, after the ceremony when the family photos are done yes you can have beer, bring your drinks with you and just put them down when you are in the photo or behind you back or in this case behind your wife's back, Mark was not letting go of that beer, cracks me up.
So it was a windy Saturday lunch we all meet at the beach,

Ammy and Mark have the cuties kids,

Amanda and Sof 25th September 2010

2010-11-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

I rolled over early Saturday morning and it was pelting down wet, wet, wet, it had been for days you think it would stop for brides on Saturdays, but it doesn't it does rain on Saturdays to make wedding photographers better at there job, we have to try harder to find light, its there you just have to look harder or make it yourself.
So today was Amanda and Sof's wet wedding day, a Greek wedding I was a little excited about this, after a quick scout around town looking for dry spots we headed to the Leichart Hotel, I had dropped in to say hello the night before, and there it was a red couch, wow! that would be fun.

And so it rained all day, and then just as all the brides in Rockhampton came out of there churches it stoped for 1 Hour 30 minutes the sunshine happened, and then as then sun went down the rain came back, there where brides everywhere we looked 5 I think we counted its September it's bride month, and there we all where grabbing the sun.

What a beautiful church,

Now it would be an understatement to say that Sof made me work for every photo but what happen while he was mucking up was a chemistry between Amanda and Sof that went straight down the camera lens. It truly was amazing, I was standing there snapping away while Sof played around not one bit interested in my ploys for him to stand here, move there, this young lad had just married the love of his life and she was standing there in this beautiful dress looking just magic, and well he just wanted to play with her and so he did, and well I just snapped and snapped, It worked.

and then he danced, he danced his Greek dance for his new wife, and I just stood there gobbed smacked that I was the lucky one capturing this.

So I headed home, thinking to myself how lucky I am to spend time with people on there wedding days, what started as a wet Saturday ended up to be a great day.

Holly and Hamish Wedding 18th September 2010

2010-10-28T04:59:00.001-07:00

Keppel Island "Poor Me"
This is just the kind of wedding I like, or need, you climb on a boat go to an island and get stuck there till the boat leaves the following afternoon, ARRRR! poor me. It was 12 months ago when Holly's best friend rang to ask if I was free on this day, I was, lucky me, an island wedding and a weekend away all in one package, all went to plan except that my wedding offsider Sam, twisted her knee the day before and couldn't walk, "what to do, what to do" Plan B, mmmmmmmm, no plan b I hadn't needed plan b so far so it wasn't quite finished, Then a thought "Ed!" He is a good plan b, how will I get him to come to Keppel for the weekend, Ed's is not much of a wedding person, (note there is no ring on my finger), least of all when he will have to help me carry all my gear on the boat, off the boat, accross sand dunes, and into a cabin, Cause see Holly and Hamish are getting married at sunset, so with studio lights in tow for family photos after dinner and clothes, cameras, tripods ext, we where going to need a trailer, LOL.
Well it turns out we have the best weather, the best sunset, the very best dress, and a great lot of people, and they where here for a party. Great red wine did I mention they had my favourite red wine what a wedding, stuck on an island with Ed, my camera, a beautiful wedding, and finished of with a wine and we got invited to join them for dinner, prefect.

Emma and Jon Burke Friday 13th August

2010-10-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

It's a Friday the 13th Wedding, keeping with the theme it's a little red and black affair, and a great family affair, the room was buzzing with family coming and going hairdressers and makeup, we where all at Rosslyn Bay Inn,the receptionwas at Beaches Wedding room, Emma and Jon where getting married in the gardens,

Kabra Mud Races 17th July 2010

2010-10-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Come take some photos at the mud races they said, well Ok! that sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday, Got a little excited about it through the week worked myself in to a tail spin, did a bit of research to find out what was required from a mud racing photographer, you know the stuff, the do's and don'ts, "don't go on the track, don't get it the way, and please don't get run over there is to much paper work to fill out if you do," yep I have heard it all before, Like I really would like to be hit by a motor vehicle hurtling towards me at a racing speed. So Saturday morning arrived through the gear in the car and of to Kabra I headed, found the boss lady who gave me the run down, "don't go on the track" yeah yeah I got that bit, then to my great surprise she said " but you can go out there in that box right out there in the middle of the race if you like" my little eyes light up, COOL!!! I am so there. So off I toddled, standing in my little box RIGHT in the middle of the action, this dude walks up to me and says "haven't been here before hey!", with my, I am really I can't believe I got this spot look on my face, "ARR No!" "Hope your good at ducking" he reckons, whatever is going through my brain, look at where I am standing this is a photographers dream spot. So the day started, the first lot of cars came out, thought in head now was "SHIT" I did learn real quick to duck, got covered in mud from head to toe camera gear took two days to clean, But Oh! the photos, worth it, you bet.

What a day, I did look like a pig in a stye by the end of the day, this was not normal mud, this was black thick stick to everything mud, like I am not your normal "Oh I just broke a nail" kind of girl.

It"s Gordan Jovic Weekend July 10th 2010

2010-10-27T04:50:00.000-07:00

Well if there is one thing I really like it is input, I can't get enoungh of it, I read every night in bed, I podcast while walking on the treadmill every morning, I do TAFE courses, input, input, input. So when Sharon rang to tell me she had a man called Gordan coming to do a workshop it stirred up a little interest, with about Oh! 1 minute checking out this guys website I was in boots and all, So the weekend turned up and off I went wondering how it would pan out, well I have to tell you it was all I hoped it would be, he did not hold back telling us everything we needed to get our photography business going, programs and how to use them, lights and how to work them, people and how to style them, wonderful, wonderful weekend, Thanks Gordan.

These are the weekends that just make you better at what we do.

So It's Kathleen 21st Birthday

2010-09-14T00:42:00.000-07:00

Well she was my wedding offsider for a couple of years whinged and complained about the amount of stuff I made her carry and never fed her it was fun to just listen to her whining the whole day, I feed her Maccas on the way home I such a great friend, then she up and moved to Gladstone to start nursing, still comes back every now and then to help me out and have a coffee and chat, this weekend was her 21st Birthday, fancy dress, wasn’t happening for me it's not really my thing I am a bit square, but we went anyway just to eat her food, took a few snaps for her, ate her cake and drank her drinks, had a great night and headed home as the young ones made a bee line for the nightclubs, I guess there was a few sore heads the next day.

And if there is two things Kathleen loves it is her grandparents

Caroline and Narcisse 19th June 2010

2010-09-13T00:13:00.000-07:00

Caroline and Narcisse 19th June 2010
What a day, this was the most wonderful experience I have ever had on a wedding day, nothing went to plan, it rained, we ran late all day, but Caroline and Narcisse’s families where so excited for them to be married the whole day was just magic.
From Africa they had come to start new lives in Australia, their lives have had some dramatic changes, this wedding was touched with African tradition that made for a real special day. As a wedding photographer taking still life photos it was hard to capture the sounds and smells of the day, the music and dance on the day was something I will remember for along time.

The week before the wedding Caroline and her friends came up to the gardens to have some fun with the camera.

Carolines had the most beautiful dress the detail was unbelievable.

This wedding was a massive family affair,

An Afternoon With Jasmin

2010-07-22T04:15:00.000-07:00

The weekend finished with a couple of hours shooting Jasmin, she was such good fun and was willing to try some new things I have been wanting to try, we ended up with some great photos and some new experiences for me.

Rockhampton Show

2010-07-22T03:40:00.000-07:00

Well it's Rockhampton Show time this makes for a busy couple of weeks mounting and packing photos, "what to enter that is the big question", so with that decision made photos packed and delivered, we wait for judging night to see the outcome, It was a pretty good outcome I might add.

Champion Mono of The Show, and 1st in the People Mono

2nd in the People Mono,

3rd in the People Mono,

1st Open Mono,

and this makes Beck a happy girl.

The Spooners

2010-07-21T03:52:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful family, a photographers dream twin boys, a family shoot, fun, small problem these little boys can run, and so they did with me hot on there heals for a few photos.

So The Time Has Come

2010-07-21T02:59:00.000-07:00

I know this is probably very sad, most people drive around in the car listening to the radio. Not me! I listen to podcasts on photography on my ipod,"I know sick" but hey it's 20mins to work and back it's all learning.
Anyway to cut a long story short this guy was on the podcast saying how he had been a photographer all his life and he had never taken photos of his parents, OMG! I thought, neither have I, I should dad 83 years old, so spent a week wondering "who is my dad what is the essence of my dad" with some thought I decided we should take him to the biggest church in Rockhampton, he's a church man my dad spends more time in the church than he does at home, through you would never know it if you have meet me, so far removed, I mentioned my intention and I can say he was a little excited must have asked me 10 times what should he wear, got himself all done up and came into work just to check if what he had on was OK, made me smile. So of we went one Wednesday afternoon to take his picture in this very large cathederal.

Spent a couple of hours in the church before he hit me up for lunch, old people gota love them, we now have some great shots for all the family.

Anita and Brendan 8th May 2010

2010-05-28T19:36:00.001-07:00

So it's been a busy 3 weeks for me today is Anita and Brendans wedding at Capricorn International Resort. Backing me up is Sharon Mahoney from These Are The Days Photography, this little chapel is not easy to photograph in, with limited room around the alter it takes two photographers to get the right angles, my day started at the hairdressers about 10.00am, we all know I love to photograph kids and someone had mentioned that this couple had a two of the cutest little girls.

Amelia at the hairdressers with mum.

Makeup time.

Getting ready, putting on the bling,

Beautiful Bride.

Wedding Cake was a stunner as well.

Little Lilly was not quite sure what the fuss was about so she just went along with the day, cute as a button.

A special moment on a very special day.

Joanne and Mark Wedding 1st May 2010

2010-05-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

Joanne and Mark came to see me about her wedding photos about 18 months ago, I new then it was going to be a great day she was such a happy and joyful person.

We went to Rosslyn Bay Harbour Marina for photos followed by Kemp Beach,

Jade and Travis Wedding Tannum Sands 24th April 2010

2010-05-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

4.30 am, It's still dark I am wondering what the weather will bring as it has been raining for the last couple of days, quick coffee and off to Tannum Sands to photograph the wedding of Jade and Travis, they are being married today on the beach at 2.30pm, as the sun starts to come up the skies are clear and looks like a nice day.
Hairdressers at 8.00am starts the day,

Beautiful light flowing through the window made the wedding attire look stunning,

Jade was a beautiful bride and looked just stunning, the whole wedding had been themed around the beach and was just lovely,

Married at 2.30pm on the beach on such a great day made for great photos.

Jade and Travis are a fun loving couple and where all to happy for a few muck around shots. Makes me giggle everytime I look at this photo.

"Photographing Summa"

2010-04-20T02:44:00.000-07:00

So the time has come Summa is blooming into a beautiful young woman and it is time to take her up the beach for a photo session, Now it is hard to know what to do with a teenager, after a bit of thought I decided that she enjoyed the beach and her board and this should be portrayed in her photos, for this is who she is,

But there is also no point taking a girl to the beach if you can't put her in a fairy outfit. So after a bit of time with the board it was time to muck around and thats what we did. We put a fairy in the ocean.

And what is it with mothers of girls and plaits all her mother wanted to do all afternoon was plait her hair, so she was told to hold a flash and paddle out there into hip deep water. Evertime she mentioned plaits she when out another foot deeper soon stopped by the time she was up to her waist.

Get away from the hair, a fun afternoon.

Holidays March 2010

2010-04-05T02:39:00.000-07:00

Fraser Island, Byron Bay, Ipswich,

DAY 1
Today is the first day of our 2 week vacation, we are heading to Harvey Bay today to meet up with a long lost auntie I have not seen for 30 years,
we recently meet on Facebook and just so happened we would be in Harvey Bay on the same day, so off we head on our holidays packed to the roof with everything we could possible need, I don't think we made it to the corner store and Ed was out and off to get a drink, back in the car, Kemp Beach was our next stop, what the heck are we doing now and the stink coming out of the camper trailer could only be a bad thing, Yep the brakes are stuck on,well I would have just hit them with something, but not Ed, you have to pull everything out of the car to get the right tool for the job,
with that sorted, off to the repco shop for a new part, later much did I know, I was to become the apprentice mechanic of the year.
Clean sailing ahead all the way to Gin Gin quick lunch stop and a lot of fuel it's a thirsty little sucker our car when you wack a whooping big camper on the back, an in to Harvey Bay about 3.30 pm,
Now let me tell you going camping when there is a strong wind warning and a cyclone brewing of the coast is never good, so like smart people we opted for the beach front caravan park (not smart really), and set about setting up our camper, trying to hold on to everything as it was trying to blow down the park doesn't seam to make me a happy camper, SO! I Have been told.
Then my moment of brilliance we are going to fix the brakes, my job is to pump the brake handle while Ed layes under the trailer yelling "in out" with the odd "is it in or out" of cause this just about had me in stitches,
So with that fixed off to dinner we went to meet my auntie, it is amazing how much she looks like my mum, it all went well had a get time and thanks to face book we can now stay in touch. Sleeping in a camper van in a strong wind warning turns out is not good, I am also not good with no sleep, Ed however could sleep on a barb wire fence and happily snored his way through the whole night, he would live to regret is actions the next day, grumpy and tried that's me.

DAY 2
Now we will attempt to pack up the trailer in a strong wind warning, and then my very smart Ed thought it best if first we find me a good strong coffee.
of to the supermarket to buy bread, you know the one Captain Mighty bread no taste, but when camping for a week stays soft and looks like bread but doesn't go mouldy it has so much crap in it,it's a campers dream, bread when you really don't have bread, so of to the barge, did I mention there was a strong wind warning, well the God thought he might just had rain to that as well, so of to the barge in our strong wind warning and rain, and What! Ed needs to stop for a drink again, Nope I am not getting out of the car go get your own drink, back he comes, wet and happy, sitting at the barge, keeping a positive out look the Sky's will be amazing, I am just not sure how to take pictures in the rain yet, but I guess I will work it out,

We get on to Fraser and it is truly the most beautiful place, when I die I hope heaven is like this, I know this week will be amazing, we arrived at Cathedral beach caravan park about lunch time, we eat, with that out of the way we setup for the week, OK what time is it 2.30pm lets see how long it take to put her up, I know everything is a game, an hour later and where sitting thinking good job, Lets go driving, off to the wreck for sunset pictures,

So ends our first day on Fraser

DAY 3
5.30 am, I roll over the sun is starting to lighten the sky, its high tide at 6.30 am and you can't drive on the beach, so it's walking today off to the beach I go,
to take some sunrise pics, now its about a 500m walk from our camp down hill so coming back will not be good, but I know Ed will come get me, the clouds and rain and waves made for some great shots, foreground interest that's was a bit light on but I managed, however the rain that was on the horizon was now on me I was sure Ed would come flying down the hill in his red chariot, NOPE didn't happen now I am wet and cold, and walking home in the rain up hill, not happy Jan, did I mention there is a very strong wind that was now a wet strong wind, but all those months of walking on the tread mill at a 6 rise I near sprinted up that hill, not that I would run some people are just not meant to run that is me I just don't have the style for it,

Coffee I need coffee lucky I packed the coffee grinder, I know don't start on me you really can camp with a coffee grinder. So after waiting like what seem for ever for the tide to change we packed a bit of lunch for later and headed of north for today's run. Cloudy and stormy sky's are photographic dream, but every time we stepped out of the car the wind near knocked us over, Its a man thing I think one must stop to look at strange things the ocean has left from the high tide, I mean how long can you look at an old petrol tank, a while it seams. Off up the beach first stop Waddy's Point out of the car armed with all the camera gear I can carry, I know they built boardwalks for people to walk on but the wind was doing it's up most to blow us of it, now I also know that the people that built them are not photographers or they would know that the best point to view this cliff top is not where they put this walkway it's over there where I have to climb down the side of the boardwalk and down near the edge of the cliff. With ED starring in my general direction and me ignoring him of I headed to get the best shot. I think I am happy with myself and effort.

Now another thing I learnt today is to steer the car while ED drives, at this time he has his head and camera out the window taking pictures of eagles in flight, "yell"! he said to me if we need to slow down, Oh! I am sorry who is the one that takes pictures around here ah! "me" and I am the one steering. So of down the beach we go him happily clicking away, me steering finally the eagle leaves and where of again, Ocean Lake that's where heading good bird life it said. What bird life none we could see, homeward bound and are about 3 km from the lake, we, well I, spot a turtle in the ocean, I think its dead, Ed assures me it is not, out of the car for a closer look, my goodness it is a fresh water turtle in the ocean and he is not real happy with himself, what the heck are you doing here, I look at Ed can we take him back to the lake, with that discussed look on his face geezz here we go again, and me with the look like try telling me no, he agrees, so now where saving a turtle, cool, back to the lake to let the little fellow go, at this stage he is not so sure about water but with a little time of he went looking very happy that some idiot had picked him up, and had not been pushed back in the ocean. At this stage of the day it is very clear that backpackers in 4wd make up most of the population on Fraser, and must do their 80 km per hour cause they can, they are everywhere there are more of them then dingos and are possible a bigger nuisance then the dingo. They move in mass every attraction on Fraser is covered in them, they live in the dunes there are eight per vehicle, and all have cameras and stand around in batches taking photos of everything that moves or doesn't example a very large boat wreck. They have no clue what is going on around them and just stand in front of you while you take photos saying sorry. Eli Creek is invested with them, if possible steer well clear all though Ed seems to think watching 18 to 22 year old running around in bikinis is very interesting some people are easy pleased.

But today I got great photos, the sky was amazing, so to bed with me alarm set for 5.00am and tomorrow is another day.

DAY 4
There goes the alarm it's 5.00am, get up woman, if you want sunrise pictures of that big boat, it will be rushed as high tide is 7.30am, getting dressed by mobile phone light has always been a challenge, 5mins and I in the car and gone, "hope I didn't wake the whole camp", at the beach the tide is up higher than I thought it would be, do I give it ago, Yes of I head, I get to the boat and the sun is not up yet the cloud on the horizon is stopping that, 20 mins is all I have and I will have to turn back,

damn there is an white bellied sea eagle, man what to do, take the boat pictures you nutta, so I do and some great shot I got, I think, did I tell you I need glasses cause I can't see, is all touch around here. Trying to be good 20 mins back in the car and of up the beach I can see eagles on the horizon, the sun is still not up, I stoped at the coloured sand for a couple of minutes but still no sun, of I go chasing eagles at the front of our ramp I thought no use going home yet Ed's still snoring. wouldn't know it here comes the White bellied 3 actually and there getting into an all out brawl in mid air seem the ramp is the boarder line and one as crossed the mark well this is a photographers dream get in to it guys, click click,

note to self, get a faster card when I get home, missed a few shots cause the camera doesn't read fast enough, grabbed a few of the red chariot at sunrise and headed home.

Coffee next port of call. Now Iam heading up the hill to home, I wonder if this thing is surpose to be in 4wd low, I should play with a few buttons and see if I can work it out, the flashing green light is probably not a good sign but at this stage I have know clue if it is in or out of gear but its going in a forward direction which is less distance I have to walk if it gets bogged, let me tell you this little red chariot knows I hate to walk and has not put a foot wrong, up the hill she drags me, from a distance our camp looks a little quite no obvious sign that the lazy snoring one is up,so I pull up about 3 camps up and leg it the rest of the way. and yes he is still snoring, well it will be while before coffee, about 1 hour later a little head pops up "how long you been back" coffee time get that pot boiling, now fraser is a great island except at high tide you are stuck for two hours, so at this stage our nieghboor has worked out we take photos clever man that, so he is letting us in on all the wildlife as it turns up, there's 2 goanna over there and hear comes a dingo,handy man our neighboor,

also has fine taste in music which he plays each night to the whole camp lucky he goes to bed at 7.30 each night.
So of we set where going to do the blue track today, it becomes obvious that road mantaince is not high on the things to be fixed around here, so a nice slow day we have,through some beautiful rain forest to lake allom which has the most amount of turtles I seen also has and a toilet block that you need to be a mountain goat to get to, the sign didn't say take a cut lunch and put on your hiking boots,

so of we head down the track not much more to see, we came across a beautiful patch of rain forest,wouldn't it be great to sit here and eat lunch and we did, we sat in the rain forest and listened to the crickets doing the mexican wave, as one cricket started and all the rest joined in,

I now know why Happy Valley is call such, they sell fresh bread
happy ED, and coffee Happy Beck, of to the beach we head all happy little campers, there on a rock is a bobby, no not a female backpacker, it's a bird from the outer reef, STOP!!!! the CAR I yell, I am out as it comes to a sliding halt Ed's still trying to work out what the heck is happening, come on get your camera, I click away for so long he finally works out this a special moment and joins me, the little bird sitting there quite happy to be the center of my universe,

next on the agender is a dingo down at the waters edge now you are not aloud to mess with these animals and I am not sure exactly how far mess with means so where taking pictures of this one cause the light is wonderful the ocean is in the background and it's a perfect moment.

In the car and of up the beach Ok whats next on the nature tour yep right on que Eli Creek and backpackers in bikinis is this nature, yes, according to Ed it is so we stop for a nature fix, with that done where of up the beach again,
white bellied eagle coming up now I am not sure if feeding the wildlife includes buying fish and throwing them at eagles but we are getting very good at this, now you need to be able to run and I am not good at running, this should be known, the idea is you setup your camera wait for an eagle to come down the beach run up the beach and through the fish and run like hell back to take the photo of the eagle picking up the fish, it works out 50% of the time I don't make it back before the fish is gone, it also works out that eventually I get very grumpy and Ed usually takes over in the car, he drives up the beach drops the fish out the window and I take the photos, and that is why he gets to come on holidays he is a very useful person to have around.

its been a long day and we head home.

DAY 5
5.00am again and the alarm goes off, up I get again, down the beach, lucky I need a toilet stop and pull up to find I did'nt unplug the fridge before I left the camp, I smile, you know the naughty smile, wondering how many people I woke up on my way out this morning possible pulled the anex off the camper and I know the plug was sitting on the ladder, Oh well I guess I can only be in trouble from about 15 people, the sunrise at the boat was worth getting up for and then the eagles fronted on demand as I drove home before the tide came in.

Works out! by the look on the music man next door that dragging a ladder and table with 2 chairs accross a campsite with a powercord will wake him up, as well as Ed, as he goes to retrive all the items I tried to take to the beach with me at 5.00am.

March flys had I mentioned that there are more of them than backpackers, the thing is you can kill march Flys, Ed has decided to have is own competition to see how many he can kill in one week with a rolled up newpaper, the tide has turned, a thought was, maybe we could get to Eli Creek before the backpacker buses, as we drove down the beach not a car could be seen parked within cooee of the creek, QUICK!!!! hurry there is no one here QUICK!!!! so of up the boardwalk we toodled at the end it looked to good and with no one around off came the jeans and in I got. Man it was so clean and fresh and my skin was so soft, all these years I wondered whats with walking in a half filled creek, now I know, crossing that one of the bucket list.

Of down the beach we head and look whats sitting there its our booby from yesterday today he day he doesn't look so good, he is sitting in the middle of the beach not a good spot for a bird, taking on 4wds as they roar up the beach, anyway he happily sat there why I took a heap more pictures of him., when I can't get him to face the right way I drag ED from the car to do handstands to make it look at me, poor old ED.

Back in the car he hops and ED gives me that look of Ok that's enough now get in the car. I bid farewell to my little friend and get in, time to get going. Today we are going to do the middle of the island we head of to Wabby Lake lookout, what is it with National Parks that the car park is always at the top of a hill and you walk down to the lookout and climb back to the car or vice a verse a what are the the excerise department, anyway at least it was worth the walk. It's one beautiful lake, turn up just in time to watch a backpacker do cartwheels down the hill into the lake we both had a giggle, kids! amazing we don't kill more of them really,

To get to this great lake from the beach is a 1.6km walk over a sandblow we opted for the 16km followed by the 10 min walk, good plan for those not swimming. I got to tell you the roads are as rough as, the average speed was 20km per hour, crap I tell you. Of to Kingfisher we go nothing has really changed here still the same old thing no Bakery anymore, Lake Makenzie is next for lunch, no you can't make lunch at the lake according to the sign only in the car park, dingos must be dumb, the lake is still the most amazing colour you have every seen and the edges of the lake are
compeletly covered in that special breed of animal called the backpacker those that aren't at Elli Creek

Not really sure what gets ED so interested in backpackers.
There all here, all 600 of them, they barsk in the sun, Ed it seams is very happy in these areas, so of up the lakes edge I got looking for a photographic spot that doesn't include a million people, Oh my goodness there is a cutie of the male type standing twirling a batton on the waters edges, "hey mate" can I take your picture, he manages to drop his batton and smiles, ARRR! you cutie little thing.

It is now to late for central station so we head of home, cause you have to stop
at the boat for a few shoots as I get the death stare for Ed Ok I am coming, about 2 km from home here is our booby again about 10km from where he was this morning sitting right in the middle of the beach as the sun goes down he has his little head under is wing going to sleep, who the heck would sleep on a beach that has traffic like a highway on it, My booby that who I look at Ed and he knows it is not good, just as I am about to say what are we going to do 5 cars come screaming up the beach Ed pulled in front of our bird so they would not run him over we tried to feed him pilchids but he wouldn't eat he was not well at all, what can we do, ED agree he was not well,leave him there he is sick and maybe as the tide come in he will fly away. this is the last time we see him a live.

Sorry little bird we didn't save you.

Day 6

5.00am up I get, I know my bird will be dead on my way to the boat I look for him he is where we left him and now he is dead, poor little fellow.

Off to the boat set up my gear and 20 min epic, and did the light show begin about the same time as the rain, sitting in the car watching this happen I could not believe the timing of the rain sitting in the car while it pissed down, then a thought I smart man told me to buy some zip lock bags before I went I could set my gear in zip lock bags and wait for the rain to stop now I am on my knees leaning over the back to get gear in to bags I am so clever with every thing in bags out in the rain I get set up tripods and light stands I keep looking at the sunrise knowing I can't get it cause it's raining, and then it stopped, Ok I know I shouldn't run it is not a good look but hell you should see this sunrise. I did run you should see the shots (you wont there in the special file called comp) yippy nailed it 3 days of getting up at 5.oo am got it I was so happy danced a little jig, (I really do do some silly stuff when on one is watching) down there at the boat me myself and I, happy happy happy. good day bad day, lost my bird nailed the sunrise, home to Ed soaking wet and freezing cold, worth it, you bet, coffee time, bacon and eggs Eds cooking up a storm go Ed.
Today we ae doing the south lake track, did I mention the strong wind warning OH! well that has now turned in to a cyclone nice holiday, at the moment it would now blown the udder of a jesery milking cow, trying to hold a tripod down is not easly, got to wonder why there where no dingos on the beach today not that dumb after all. As usual the roads where enough to shake the boobs of your chest this would be no mean feet if you have seen my chest, the first lake we stopped at was Boomanjin the book read beautiful tannim lake, wrong, beautiful pigs arse,

once again national parks had given me my excerise down the stairs only knowing full well down meant up on the way back, welcome to a hole that was brown water and not beautiful at all wish I had writtin the book, I would write bloody ugly lake go if you have nothing else to do,the really amusing thing about this lake was the german backpackers in the cage on the foreshore they looked like zoo animals in there inclosurer to save them from dingoes there where no feeding times on the fence so we moved on. Next Lake Birrabeen

now this my friends is a beautiful lake, like McKenzie is blue and white and stunning, we got to the stairs,stopped and looked out, stunned! not a backpacker to be seen I let out a yippy and walked down on the sand and there they where bus loads of them at the other end of the lake. Still in all was a great lake, Oh! look Ed it's raining over there, Ed turns and heads up the sand, "where you going" I look at him heading up the stairs just as he starts to say, "raining over there can only mean one thing, get in the car", down she came, there I go again running with a body not ment to run, up stairs even, "hey Ed"! look, I am running upstairs, but he is long gone, sitting in the car like the perverbal happy pig in sh_t. Laughs as I get in though bit slow there, "Whatever". Never was good at being beaten, By now it's lunch time and we are going to Central Station I have been waiting for years to do the boardwalk, lunch first only cause it is raining and brush walking in the rain is not something I am keen on, cameras don't like to get wet and Ed whinges the whole way when it's raining, sook, the board walk was beautiful the creek as clear as, shame we did it so fast I could have spent hours there

but the sun was getting low and it takes about an 90 mins to get home, thats before we stop for eagles and dingos and the crappy bread bakery, note to self don't buy bread from Erong, 4.30 and where home, make a coffee, we hang around for awhile what now, personally it was not something I would come up with, lets see Ed thinks, we should walk through the bush for 15 mins climb to the top of a big sand blow have a look around and walk back, does that sound like me, No! so not to whine of we set, with a torch just incase it was dark when we get back, up the god damn sand dune,

and I am talking a big mother of a thing would be 500m to the top, but did I conplain, you bet I did whinged the whole way, coming back down no problem. Happy and singing. got home before dark, dinner hot shower and into bed, the showers here are the best in the whole world, yes we do have shower comps when on holidays and these are the best we have ever had there hot, the pressure is unreal.

Day 7
Like all the other days alarm goes of at 5.00am I rolled over the wind is blowing its butt off, should I or shouldn't I, Oh get up you;ll just lay here awake, up and off to the boat, its a crappy morning so I think I will try my off camera flash again, now this is a big boat and I have decided that I can not light her up with 3 flashes so I am going to try for just the water as it come over the side, one problem is that the tide is coming in and I have to keep moving back, after about a
hour of doing this I have worked out the camera setting have the flashes and stands in the right spot and start to get a few good shots, I am standing there clicking away as a wave comes over the side of the boat followed closely by a second and then a third holy F*^%#@!!! heck! I get to my flash just as it starts to topple, the thongs I have on are now broken and are up near my ankles I have my camera and tripod in one hand water up to my thighs and as I go to grab my flash over it goes in the water, yes at this stage I have started to swear, alot to I can tell you. I dive for the flash and grab it from the water and run for the car pitching my usless thongs in the ocean because that is wear all thongs end up anyway, I grab a towel and dry of my lense it seams then flash, ok the cactus attached to the flash has water pouring out of it and I pretty sure it is not long for this life, Ok thanks god rain on me now, I throw all the other gear in the back and jump in the
car and head for Ed he can fix most things,

Just so you get the idea this amount of water came in in 3 minutes.

Thank heavens he's up and gets to work quickly with his air compresser blowing out all the water, leave them in the sun now to dry and keep your finger crossed, Oh hes a smart man, " What where you thinking" He looks at me, " thinking I wasn't it was 5.00am I have had no coffee 7 hours sleep, no thinking happening here", after a couple of hours in the sun the cactus started to work again but not sure how long for salt water does horrible things to computer stuff.

Today we are going fishing at waddy point now this is a beautiful place, except for the wind which is now blowing at some 30 knots. But still its lovely, Ed starts fishing I am of for a walk, its very easy walking up a beach when there
is a 30 knot windy blowing you from behind, but at some stage you need to turn around and come back, possible should have crossed my mined before I got so far down the beach, I have now decided that I am having dumb day,

When I get back Ed has had a brain storm and thinks we might move up in the corner out of the wind where everyone else is parked, go Ed,

Now I think I might have a fish so of I set to feed the fish after feeding them 2 worms and by now I soaking wet and a little burnt sitting under tree is more appelling, Ed returns from his fish feeding and decides it luch time. Heading for home we come accross a man and his wife that are bogged we stop to give a hand and down to the axles goes the red chariot bogged, finally Ed get to use those orange things tied to the roof and they work a treat we are out in know time he careers of down the hill leaving me to walk carrying these orange things that live on the roof, on our way home there is a lot of stuff been washed up on the beach now and this leads to some afternoon fun taking pictures of bottles with barncels and stopping for all kinds of weird things, we are home by 5.00 and spend 1 hour on the beach waiting for some passing eagles and watch some crazy man fishing, I have never
seen anyone run down the beach cast his line and then run back very weird and very entertaining, back to camp and there is no one anywhere we hit the showers early and sit back for the night,

Day 8
5.00 am Ok! so now I am nuts but if you don't getup you may miss something, so up I get and down the beach in the dark, nuts I am thinking to myself it's pissing down rain and I can't even get out of the car, so I busy myself getting flashs and lenses set up for when it stops cause I am getting go at that by now, one thing I know for sure is, crap weather makes for great skies in photos so I will sit it out and be ready as soon as it stops, 2 flashes setp with cactus attached, sitting on tripods bugger the cheap light stands, going for the heavy stuff after my light stand hit the drink yesterday, sitting in the car in middle of the beach waiting for the rain to stop, yes I am sucked at this stage, it's a tough life taking photos but there is nothing quite like standing on a 90km long beach at sunrise by yourself taking it all in, over to my right is a fat arse dingo, don't tell me know ones feeding him he looks like someones pet he is so fat he takes a quick look at me and heads for the bush, today I get some great shots with the flash lighting up the water as it splashes over the boat, today as the waves hit the tripod I hold my breath but the tripod does the job, by now the weather is turning to real crap which is worse than just crap,

so I head home also those little backpackers are starting to get up, at home Ed is sitting reading the paper and I suggest that maybe would should packup and leave as the weather is only getting worse, and head into brisbane, well Ed bounces to his feet and starts to pack didn't have to mention that twice, a couple of hours later and where heading of down the beach

by Fraser Island its been fun.

On to the barge across the water and of the other side it over the best holiday I have ever had we are now in Rainbow Beach I am still wet and now getting cold it is still raining well pouring, Ed looks at me better go for coffee first hey, told you he was a smart man, into the main street and off to the first café, know I don’t think I have mentioned this but Ed has a pie fetish so while I get my coffee he is almost running to the bakery a week without a pie is a long time for my man and it is obvious to me he is in a deep need I smile as he bee lines straight for the bakery.
Then the car wash there is so much sand in the car I am sure we have brought back our own sand dune, It is still pelting down rain but we are still going to the car wash it a male thing I think, if you have a red car it must shine, and the tires need pumping back up from driving on the sand, I still can’t believe we are washing the car in the rain F%%^*# stupid idea, I say nothing, now I really am soaking wet and freezing cold and just a little pissed. In the car and off to Brisbane we get in about 7.00pm, now I do have a very short fuse when I am tired, that’s a female thing , so when we get to our campsite and someone has set up their tent half way across our site I am a little noisy about it, and then this young man comes over to see if we are ok, well I got to tell you I just melted, he is about 19 years opened his mouth and he is French and OH so pretty, we are fine I assure him you just go sit back over there and I will be fine, so now the scenic in this caravan park is as good as Fraser, and it’s all the tent next door, ED misses out, poor old ED,

We set up our camper that’s about 2 mins and then decide we don’t feel like cooking and head of to the pub for dinner, the next morning Ed is going to the 4wd drive show thingo at the show grounds and I am going to take some photos of my sisters new babies. After dinner is showers and into bed.

Day 9
Today I have to stop counting the days as we are now over half way through our holiday and the days go to fast, wish I never had to go home.

Now it is a well know thing that my sister and brother in law breed beautiful children, I don’t know why they just have a knack for it, so when she told me nine months ago that she was having twins I danced my little jig, yep that’s the one, the same jig as on Fraser my happy happy happy jig, now I am getting two beautiful babies, one problem they are not identical you would have thought she would have got that right, you just can’t trust some people to get it right, she did at least get the girl thing right, and this is where I am off to today to take pictures of Angies family,

The Girls,

Austin well this is the cutest kid you have ever meet. and cheeky

Quinton is just easy, sit there, look like this, smile like this, your done,

But Paige, I have won so much stuff with her photos, but man she is hard work, wont stand still for longer than 30 seconds, runs away, but when you get it, the camera just loves her,

Photographing Alex

2010-01-23T20:10:00.000-08:00

For the last six months I have been promising my niece I would take some photos of her, but you know how it is you get busy and put things of, but last week-end she mentioned that she was going back to Brisbane to live, Goodness a opportunity to take photos was slipping away for me, so I grabbed the camera and of we went, had a ton of fun and took some shots.

So after these photos we both decided that we could maybe play dress ups the following week-end and have a girls arvo taking wedding photos, the results where brilliant, David Harbutt of http://www.davidharbutt.com.au/ came for a run down from Rockhampton and Nicole a friend from work came along as our helper,(VALS) for those in the know, the dark and winding weather was perfect for what we where trying to achieve.

If you think she got out of it that lightly and just had to stand there telling us how hot she looked, well we had some very bad news for her.

Enter one drowned bride,

Rachel and Llywelyn Wedding

2010-01-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

Rachel and Llywelyn where married at Goldston House on a rainy wet afternoon, and are so in love, it was truly a beautiful ceremony. I also would like to thank Geoffery Sinclaire of

www.geoffreysinclair.com.au for being my second photographer, he has a brilliant eye for catching those special moments,

During the wedding there was a sand pouring ceremony, which is a keepsake for life.

Goldston House has the most beautiful gardens for weddings and is a large B & B in George St Rockhampton http://www.goldstonhouse.com.au/

Rachel and Llywelyn reception was held in the upstairs room of the Allenstown Hotel which is a great venue is air conditioned and has a great veranda, they had the best cake.

What a great afternoon thanks for letting me take your wedding photos.
www.rebeccaogrady.com