Photography

 TRAVEL 2015

I was lucky enough to score a place at a conference held at the Monash University Tuscan campus in Prato near Florence, Italy. Our presentation – entitled Rights in Records By Design – was prepared jointly by Dr Joanne Evans and Associate Professor Jacqui Wilson of Federation University and myself. Joanne and I did the presentation with useful commentary by Professor Sue McKemmish.

Tuscany is a wonderful part of the world. My wife and I know it well from previous visits – one of which was a short working holiday on a farm near Anghiari where I wrote and she sketched.

This time we decided to take a short break in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. It was a real eye-opener. While there have been cities on or near this site in the Persian Gulf dating back millennia, the discovery and exploitation of oil in the 20th century has created a flourishing 21st century city.

Today, Abu Dhabi is a prosperous city with broad boulevards, tall office and apartment buildings,  glitzy shopping malls,  international hotels (one is built as part of  a Formula 1 racetrack), fine cultural institutions – and traffic congestion.

The lobby of our hotel in Abu Dhabi
The lobby of our hotel in Abu Dhabi

The most dazzling architectural landmark is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, one of the most one of the most opulent architectural treasures of contemporary UAE society — if not in the world.

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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

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Interior of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Abu Dhabi has more than 2,000 well-maintained parks and gardens which flourish in what was essentially desert. The plentiful water is almost wholly groundwater or desalinated.  

We were told there is no unemployment and we certainly met migrant workers from a number of countries.

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In Italy with the conference paper well prepared Liz and I had time to spend under the Tuscan sun. Here I will let the pictures tell the stories. Starting with Siena. Find me a more beautiful city!

Siena - the square
Siena – the square

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Some views inspire the artist in Liz Moore-Golding
Some views inspire the artist in Liz Moore-Golding

Siena

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A camera slips in the pocket and you can snap away at will; but the true artist uses ingenuity and patiently sits wherever she can. 

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Siena near the fontebranda.

A day trip to the world-heritage listed San Gimignano inspires more photos (me) and sketches (Liz). 

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San Gimignano from the wall

The small city of Lucca was the best surprise. It was still recovering from an international festival of comics and cartoons (evident in the shot of the furniture shop window). The ancient wall built to protect the city from invaders now makes a splendid walking/jogging/cycling track.

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Orto botanico

More of Liz’s art work here and here 

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And now on to another walled city, Prato, where I was the guest of Monash University which has a stylish campus.  Pope Francis hit town at the same time – two francs for the price of one!

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And after the Pope had gone it was time to work!

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♣♣

TRAVEL 2014

To attend a conference in Sweden from Australia was not a venture to be taken lightly. The distance is formidable (not to mention the cost). With a partner recovering from a serious operation, the journey had to be taken in manageable stages.

Early morning fitness session near University St
Early morning fitness session near University Station

All of the above justified combining business with a bit of self-indulgence.  We have taken the showboat – or slowplane – with stopovers in Hong Kong, Oxford and London, and, from there, to Scandinavia.

Over the next little while I want to share some of the more interesting photographs taken with my pocket camera and/or Liz’s iPhone, a remarkably good camera that tucks even snugger in the pocket or purse.

HONG KONG

Traditional values around one corner; new values around the next
Traditional values around one corner; new values around the next

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The umbrella movement protesting against China's rigging of future elections ended the day after our second visit. Hundreds of thousands of photos like this make an instant archive
The umbrella movement protesting against China’s rigging of future elections ended the day after our second visit. Hundreds of thousands of photos like this make an instant archive
The streets have been cleared but...
The streets have been cleared but…

 OXFORD

Oxford is at the other pole. Nothing much changes for this university city.
Oxford is at the other pole. Nothing much changes for this university city.

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It continues to attract new generations of students
It continues to attract new generations of students

GREENWICH

The Cutty Sark at Greenwich - nought degrees of longitude
The Cutty Sark at Greenwich – nought degrees of longitude

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Some things close for the winter; but life goes on
Some things close for the winter; but life goes on

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LONDON

A truly complex city: how can a few images capture its essence? But try these.

Lunchtime at the V & A Museum but only if you have your brolly and waders
Lunchtime at the V & A Museum but only if you have your brolly and waders
The old and the new jostle for space
The old and the new jostle for space
Apple market at Covent Garden
Apple market at Covent Garden
Where else could you select a glass of wine off the shelf but at Marks & Sparks?
Where else could you select a glass of wine off the shelf but at Marks & Sparks?
A paper bag shop near the East End markets. the third generation owner was so generous to a couple of blow-ins
A paper bag shop near Spitafields Market in the East End. The third generation owner was so generous to a couple of blow-ins taking an interest
Modern London: stick your phone under your beanie while you multi-task
Modern London: stick your phone under your beanie while you multi-task
And if you have to wait for the ferry, recharge your battery
And if you have to wait for the ferry, recharge your phone’s  battery
It rains at Borough Market but this pub
It rains at Borough Market but this pub has found a solution – its very own umbrella revolution

In the shops and markets, you can buy almost anything you want – and some other things too…

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Ah, how we remember the good old days when people were respectful!
Ah, how we remember the good old days when people were respectful! And children were barred from pubs, but dogs were not!

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STAVANGER, NORWAY

The preoccupations are the same at this time of the year
The preoccupations are the same at this time of the year
And a torchlight procession will be fun down the ages
And a torchlight procession will be fun down the ages
Further work when at home with all the tools
A quick pen-and-watercolour sketch from the window of our friend’s house in Stavanger – Elizabeth Moore Golding

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A wealthy nation which taxes the exploitation of its natural resources to pass on benefits to the citizens...a quaint idea in Australia
A wealthy nation which taxes the exploitation of its natural resources to pass on benefits to the citizens…a quaint idea in Australia

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COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Visiting "our Mary" at the Royal Palace.
Visiting “our Mary” at the Royal Palace.
Some tourists are impertinent
Tourists are sometimes akin to terrorists
"Keep one point five metres away or else..."
“Keep one point five metres away or else…”
Even a bigot has a right to a rubbish bin
Even a bigot has a right to a rubbish bin

LUND, SWEDEN

Must be a university nearby!
Must be a university nearby!
Miss Fisher's Murders are all the more mysterious in Swedish
Miss Fisher’s Murders are all the more mysterious in Swedish
The fabulous Skissernas Museum where the process is as important as the end product
The fabulous Skissernas Museum where the process is as important as the end product

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 TIME TO GO HOME

Your'e at Heathrow ready to come home. A few hours to spare...A local bus gets you to Windsor. Some things never change...or do they?
Your’e at Heathrow ready to come home. A few hours to spare…A local bus gets you to Windsor. Some things never change…or do they?
You get home where the neighbours have been looking after our goldfish. A remarkable transformation has occurred
You get home where the neighbours have been looking after our goldfish. A remarkable transformation has occurred

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