A Magical Valley

This is a simple roadside snapshot looking over the eastern end of the Piccadilly Valley, South Australia. This whole area is one of the most picturesque and fertile spots in the ranges, a high valley lying east of Mt Lofty, and in its western parts, over toward Summertown and Uraidla, home to market gardens and vineyards. This photo was taken in the late afternoon of June 3^rd, 2018, and one might be forgiven for thinking this was Europe, rather than the Antipodes. Imported northern species mingle with the native flora in the cool of altitude and the damp of early winter, creating a spot with an undeniable magic. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

Ancient Places

 

Here is a photo I lined up to use way back in 2009 before the blog went on the back burner. This photo looks and is a simple one, it's strength lies more in what it is, and where it is. This is a view across the Wiltshire countryside to the town of Salisbury, denoted by the Medieval cathedral which has always marked out the town. The view is from the ramparts of Old Sarum hill fort—and that's where it gets doubly interesting. Old Sarum was a fortified hilltop from ancient times, and was castellated by the Normans. Little remains of it, and what there is was reworked in modern times to suggest some sort of order to tourists passing through, The cesspits are recognisable, as are the foundations of the chamber in which Henry II slept—the last king recorded as ever spending a night at Old Sarum. I visited on my road trip westward from London in the early winter of 2006, my first overseas trip, and can remember even now the sharp chill of the day. From the sun angle, you can see it's late in the day, about the last stop before the coach headed back east. The soft, almost milky quality to the light seen here was pretty much what it looked like on the day, The image has been straightened up, contrast and colour balanced, and sharpened a touch. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

Framing the Sunset

Sunsets have an enduring appeal and every one is subtly different, which makes them perpetual fodder for the photographer on the lookout. This is part of a set taken at Flinders University, looking west to the sea, on the evening of February 13^th, 2005—I was on my way home, walking down from the ridges to get the bus, and this magnificent cloudscape just begged to be photographed. The framing is simple but exploits the juxtaposition of the linear, built environment with the organic expression of nature—the trees, yes, but the sunset itself is nature at its most aloof to human doings. This part of the university no longer exists, it was redeveloped many years ago, which makes such images something of a time capsule. The image is squared up a little with custom rotation, and slightly balanced for colour and contrast. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

City Panorama

Last year I had hard drive troubles and needed to use a data recovery service, which took me for the first and only time into Adelaide's tallest building, the old Westfield tower (formerly the State Bank building), soon to be eclipsed by new developments, I believe. The company had offices on the 31^st floor, pretty much at the top, and when dropping off my hard drive for forwarding to the workshop I had the chance to see the city from up there. This was shot through plate glass, and was one of only two frames to avoid major reflections. The view is directly westward, and the time was late morning. April 7^th, 2022; smartphone shot—Leagoo M9. Photo by Mike.

Reflections in a Tranquil Pond

After thirteen and a half years, “Digital Kosmos” is alive and well. New posts will be appearing irregularly, so check back for a wealth of photography from Australia and overseas!

Here we see one of Adelaide's best-kept secrets, Himeji Gardens, on South Terrace, part of the South Parklands. Adelaide is twinned with many cities around the world, including Himeji, Japan, and these gardens celebrate that relationship with a traditional Japanese water garden, including a dry Zen garden, a bridge over the pond, bamboo wall architecture, and many imported species. One can enjoy quiet moments here, as the surroundings encourage a contemplative spirit, and a half hour on an airy afternoon is known to recharge one's batteries for coping city life once more. I took this image on the 9^th June, 2012. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.