Mt Kosciouzko Part 2

A return to the top. Just more wind.

In November of 2017, myself and a few friends trekked down to Jindabyne to climb Mt Kosciouzko. It was a great little weekend getaway and a welcome bonding experience with people I love. So, why not do it again?

Our trip was, again, from a Friday to a Sunday in early November. Meeting up with my friends early Friday to make the 5 hour drive, we began in good old Campbelltown. Our first stop was in Goulburn, before heading onto Cooma and then eventually Jindabyne itself.

The trip got us down there just after 3pm and we decided to grab food before heading to our accomodation. We got the essentials for the hike on Saturday, made sure we got the super essential weekend supply of beer and made our way to the house.

Boy was it nice. A chalet just outside of Jindabyne with fireplace, spa, kitchen, plenty of bathrooms and the best addition, a sauna. It was great. We loved the place, it helped make the weekend that much better.

Figuring we were staying in a house with an oven, we decided to have a baked dinner. Lamb, potatoes, pumpkin, veggies. It was going to be good.

Then the oven decided it didn’t want to work.

“No worries!” we thought, “why not just grill everything up on the stove top?” No that didn’t feel like cooperating either. We thought we’d have to grab a pizza or something. But after a check through the cupboards, we found an electric fry pan. Our chef for the weekend found, with the help of Google, the instruction manual and discovered we could cook a roast in that! The day was saved. And while it wasn’t the most roasted of roast dinners, it was great none the less. Having a meal with friends and family reminds you of what’s really important in life.

After a late night sauna and some fine whiskey, we retired for the night to get an early start for the next day.

Waking up early Saturday, we grabbed some breakfast before heading to Charlotte’s Pass. We were worried as the day before we weren’t able to see a lot of, if any snow. But as we came closer to our destination we saw more and more patches of the stuff and it was lovely.

What wasn’t lovely was the wind.

I’d never dealt with so much wind and was not ready for how strong it was. And it continued to grow stronger and stronger as we climbed up.

The hike itself is 18km long from Charlotte’s Pass. 9km up and 9km down. It’s a beautiful walk, and easier than you expect. We kept going along, taking in the sights, throwing snowballs, sliding on snow and taking photos. We eventually got to Seaman’s Hut about 6km up and stopped off for a quick break and to warm up. There’s a small amount of provisions in the hut so we took some wine and chocolate, adding a few snacks of our own as compensation.

Once we warmed up we continued to the top with a new surge of energy and a little wine in us. The snow thickened and grew as we climbed further and closer to the top. The wind gained strength and as we got into the clouds it was almost too much to handle. But we came here for a reason and the elements weren’t going to deter us now.

The five of us ascended and the last small stretch was filled with slippery snow and wet socks but we didn’t care. We just needed to reach the top.

And we did! We’d scaled the mountain and conquered it once more, some of us for the first time. We captured a photo for the memories and had a quick food break before starting the trek back to the car.

After a solid 6 hours of walking, talking and photo taking, we made it back to the car and set back to our holiday stay. It was a great day and we capped it off with more beer, pizza and a sauna.

The sauna was well needed. The heat soothed our aching muscles and calmed us down to a point of pure bliss. It was great. We continued on with the night with some more whiskey and a few rounds of the excellent Windjammers before setting off to bed.

I woke up early the next day and got the most out of the sauna before we left. It was extremely energising and refreshing to start the day sweating myself stupid in a steam filled box. Once that was done, we all packed up our things, threw it in the car and headed out for some bacon and eggs.

Our trip home included a detour into Canberra to meet up with a mate, have a burger and a chat before continuing home. It was sad to drop everyone off back where we started and bid our farewells.

A weekend of good friends, fresh air and a relaxing time were well needed. Last time I climbed the mountain, it felt like a major accomplishment, and a weight lifted off my shoulders due to a lot of things going on in my life at that time. This time I didn’t have the weight lift off, mainly due to life becoming a bit more clearer, but it provided a moment of reflection on where I had gone in the past year. Had I grown since last year? Had I regressed? What had I learnt and more importantly, where will I be going?

The answers to those questions might not be clear, or even make sense, but I was happy, healthy, and had people in my life to help me continue on my path. And in the end, maybe the answers weren’t what mattered.

Brendan

Redfern/City Circle

I had the chance to catch up with my partner in crime the other day.

It'd been a while since we'd seen each other and had the chance to go for a shoot, but fortunately our schedules lined up and we were able to catch up. We decided we'd try to get some photos around Redfern and eventually work our way to the city. With a few coffee and beer stops in between.

My day had started on a poor note. Work the night before had ended late and I was running on fumes from the get go. My first coffee of the day was strong but gave me some energy in the reserve tanks to get going. I'd also been excited to wear a new pair of shoes but being the idiot I was, I hadn't worn them in, which would prove terrible later.

It was a very unusually warm winter day, and it made for good walking weather. We met at Redfern Station, just casually exploring the area for a while, getting some shots. I'd never really explored Redfern so it was interesting to check it out. 

We made our way towards Central, before stopping for a coffee in Surry Hills and a chat. Basking in the sun we talked for a while before the photo itch came up again and we were on our way. I always enjoy shooting in the city. There's always opportunities around to get some good shots, even if I'd been in the area 100 times before. There's always a steady flow of people milling in and out so it lets you get some fresh scenes.

At this point my feet were killing me. Why'd I wear these shoes today?

From Surry Hills we made our way around Museum and St James, down towards Town Hall. We stopped into a pub to grab a beer and chat a bit more. At this point the sun had started to disappear behind some clouds and the heat from before had all but gone. We sipped the last of our beers before heading out.

People had started to rug up and we slowed our pace to an even more casual speed towards Circular Quay then up to the Rocks. It didn't matter where we went we seemed to be fighting a sea of people enjoying the sights of Sydney. 

The beer had started to slow us down a bit too much so we grabbed one last coffee before we parted ways at Wynyard Station. My shooting buddy headed off to work and I'd jumped on the first train home to go rest and recover from the night before.

I arrived home and kicked off my shoes. Instant relief. I grabbed a beer, looked through my work that day and grabbed an early night. At the end of it all, it was a really good day and reaffirmed why I love doing this.

Brendan

Paige & Casey

Sometimes it's good to step out of your comfort zone.

I had to step out of mine the other week, having not only my first paid gig, but also taking shots and working with a kid. Now I have taken shots of other people's children, but never in such a professional manner, with the express purpose of having some nice photos for them to appreciate and share.

I was lucky then, that the people I was working alongside were lovely, accommodating and just as nervous as I was. We both helped each other and at the end of the day, we got some great stuff out of it all.

So who were the people I took shots with? Casey is someone I work with at my job and she's fantastic. She asked me to take photos of her daughter, Paige. I was very happy to do so, welcoming the challenge but more importantly, help create some lasting memories for Casey, Paige and her family. I've worked with Casey for about 2 years or so. Paige on the other hand, I had only met once before and unfortunately it was early and she was pretty crook so she wasn't in the best of spirits. 

This time though, I got to get to know her better and see what a great and interesting kid she is. 

We met at Mt Annan Botanical Gardens, located in South Western Sydney and a beautiful place to shoot. Fortunately the weather decided to play nice and it was sunny and just a bit of wind. We all had no idea where to begin, so we walked around for a while, trying to find spots and sights. 

Eventually we found a good place to begin and the nerves really kicked in for me. I hadn't ever really asked people to pose for me or follow specific instructions when it comes to photography and I think it showed at first, with my very specific instructions being "Ummm...just look at the camera and smile"

Those nerves quickly wore off, and we all got into the swing of it. Paige got into it, knowing how to strike a pose, with Casey directing too. I was more fluid in what I was doing and I felt more comfortable as the day went on. 

We had a few outfit changes, location changes and more, but after about 2 hours we called it a day, everyone happy and satisfied with how it all went.

Like I said earlier, I had never done anything like this before, but I was very lucky to work and shoot with Casey and Paige. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with it all. I got dragged out of my comfort zone, but I'm extremely happy I did. Seeing Casey's reaction when I handed over the photos to her made the entire experience worth it and I can't wait to do more. It's why I love photography.

Brendan

A Weekend of Returns - Hikes and Abandoned Breweries

On the weekend of April 21st - 22nd, I spent the weekend revisiting some places I'd been before, but managed to see them in a new light.

Saturday was a day of hiking with the group, taking us back to a hike I had done before, Mt Kuring-Gai to Berowra. This hike is great because it can all be done with no need to drive. You can jump on the train and go from one station to the next. 

This day though would test me. 

I'd had a late night at work, finishing at 1:30AM. I needed to be up at 6AM and catch the train to North Sydney to meet the crew, so I tried to force myself to sleep which as you can probably guess didn't end up going so well. The alarm buzzed me awake at 6AM and my body was already running on reserve energy. On a train I went and to North Sydney I would go.

Meeting up at about 8AM, myself and the rest of the fellas grabbed a hearty breakfast, I filled up on caffeine and we jumped back onto the train towards Mt Kuring-Gai. Our walk was pretty normal, the weather was nice, the company was good and the sounds of nature filled our ears.

About halfway through, we reached a sign that halted our plans. There was back burning in Berowra and it was too dangerous to go ahead. We had two choices we could make. 

Either head back the way we came, or go towards another different direction we had seen many people file in and out from. After some lunch, we decided to head to the new direction, thinking we'd be back sooner rather than later. 

Turned out that wasn't the case at all.

We walked back towards Hornsby, on what seemed to be the beginning of the Great North Walk. We had no real indication of where this walk would take us to, or when we'd finish. We'd eventually reach an area that'd grant us reception on our phones and a quick look at Google Maps showed us we were near a fire trail. All we had to do was walk through some scrub and into a relatively unknown path. 

Unsure if our decision was wise or even able to pay off, we took he chance and forged ahead. Luckily for us it worked, and we had successfully shaved an hour off our trek and towards Asquith Station we went.

The hike itself was great, and even though it went in a direction we didn't know was going to even happen, it was still a great day as usual. 

On Sunday, along with my lovely lady, we visited the Mittagong Maltings. I've written about it before, so I won't go into to much detail. It was nice to revisit the place with a few new lenses and a better idea of what to expect.

The great thing about this place is the way the light spills in no matter what time of the day it is. It creates unique settings and opportunities. Exploring the floors is treacherous but the pay off is worth it.

We spent a good hour or so wandering around exploring the building before deciding to leave. I was happy with the trip and so was my lady. And the best part was we both managed to grab photos that we were very happy with. 

All in all, my weekend was adventure filled with what makes life great. I can't wait to explore more and grab some photos. I hope you enjoy them too!

Golden Stairs - Mt Solitary

"A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day".

That's been on a landscape photo hanging in my parent's house for about 15 years and it's so ingrained in my memory that it's hard not to think about on a particularly bad day. Although in this case, it was taken a lot more literally than what was meant. 

On the last day of March, myself and a few friends went for a hike in the Blue Mountains. We've been hiking at least once a month for the past year now, and it's something I look forward to with a lot of anticipation. We've hiked along the coast, inland, in the mountains and more. My favourite aspects are the disconnect with the outside world, where for a few hours, your phone has no reception, all you hear is nature and you connect with what's really important. 

There's a valley behind all that mist. And about Three Sisters too.

This particular hike started just past the Three Sisters, at a set of stairs called the Golden Stairs. The Golden Stairs were something we'd walked past in a previous hike and were told it was pretty intense. We'd soon realise intense was an accurate description. 

At 9AM we began, and where the usual beautiful and picturesque views of the valley would usually be, was replaced with a solid wall of fog and mist. We couldn't see more than two metres in front of us. It was rainy and slippery but that hadn't stopped us before. A short 15 minute trek down the steep stairs and we were onto Mt Solitary. A thought entered our minds when we reached the bottom that we all verbalised. 

"Those stairs are going to be a pain in the ass to climb back up".

We continued on with the hike, chatting away and catching up, the sun slowly coming out and the fog vanishing into the air. The light came through the canopy and was a welcome sight. After a good hour we reached the base of Mt Solitary and looked at how immense it was. We soldiered on, climbing over trees, stepping over dips, cracks and rocks on the ground.

The Crew

Mt Solitary stands at an impressive 950m tall and it was no small effort. It involved a lot of climbing but the view was very much worth it. And just like magic, all the fog was gone at the top. It was perfect timing.

We sat at the top of the mountain, had lunch and talked for a while, admiring the view and the company. It was completely serene and beautiful. After a good half hour or so, we packed up and made the trek back to the inevitable. 

The heat had started to pick up and we stayed quiet for a while. I think we all made the decision to try and conserve some energy before the last battle. 

Figuring out the next step.

At the base of the stairs we took a quick drink break and saw a sign that read, "Golden Stairs, 800m to top, 45 mins". We kind of panicked at that but thought we could very easily beat it. It became a challenge. We said we could do it easily in 25-30 minutes. We were being conservative. We started to climb and realised why they said 45 minutes. 

Being the smart men we are, we barely stopped, determined to prove safe advice wrong. As we blasted through it, our legs slowly became jelly, but our minds stayed strong and determined to win. In the end it took us just over 20 minutes to reach the top, but we almost killed ourselves doing it. 

The morning was pretty damp but cleared up very well.

The sun had well and truly taken over the day at this point and the true beauty of the area was in view. On either side of where we parked, we saw every shade of green as the tree covered valleys spread out for miles. We admired the view before jumping in the car and headed home.

All in all, it was a beautiful day, filled with lots of contrasts and it made for a memorable hike. Oh yeah, I managed to grab some photos too. Check them out!

Taking in the sights.

Brendan.

Updates and Thoughts

Hello everyone, it's been a while.

This blog post is focusing on two different things. 

1. What's been happening since my last post.

2. Some thoughts about my work, approach to it all and what's next.

So since the last time I posted any sort of update, back in September, a fair bit has happened. I've slowly been working on my photography ventures, whether it's been the online store, or personal projects. Some of it is slow going, some of it is making steady progress.

In terms of things that tie into photography, travel and new adventures, there's been a few things of note.

In November, along with a few people I love, climbed Mt Kosciuzsko.  We started our walk at Charlotte's Pass, crossing over the Snowy River and up to the peak. The mountain and it's surrounds were covered in snow and it was a beautiful sight to behold. Reaching the peak of the mountain felt like a true accomplishment. Looking out over the highest point in Australia, I was overcome with emotion, feeling like it was culmination of a lot of things happening in my life at the time.

Other hikes came in the form of a few trips in the Royal National Park. One of those trips created a few photos that seemed to really resonate with a fair few people, and now those are up on my store.

I also turned 28 so that was pretty decent.

That leads to my most recent adventure. For a fourth time, I visited Japan. I'm sure if you know me you are probably sick of hearing of me talk about Japan, but for those unfamiliar, I love the place. I love the food, the culture, the atmosphere and how vibrant and unique it all is. From one street to the next it's anyone's guess what you'll see. 

I stayed in the country for 10 days, going from Kyoto, to Tokyo. I visited the surrounds, trying to explore parts I hadn't previously visited. It was great as usual, but it helped me in a lot of ways. I'd felt for a while that my work was unfocused, that I had no real projects or goals to hit. I made sure while I was over there, I got it all out and focused on a few targets. I won't go into detail, but I made sure to hit them all. I feel like by the end of the trip I'd grown personally and professionally. It was becoming clear what I wanted out of this craft.

I have been updating my Instagram page with some photos of my trips and hikes, so make sure to check it out and give me a follow if you haven't already.

So that's it for what's been happening. The only thing left is to tackle is some thoughts and feelings about photography. Let's start with some gripes, and end on the positives. 

I do not enjoy being as overly self critical about my work as I am. I understand it's a problem that plagues every person who does any sort of self expression or artistic endeavour, but it doesn't make it any easier. The amount of times where I'll look at something I've done and just trash it numbers in the thousands at this point. Lately, I've tried to be less harsh in that respect but it can seep up from the cracks from time to time. 

My online store, in all honesty, needs some work. And I will be working on improving it. I have a few new prints to go up soon that I believe are better representations of where I am and what I think people will be happy to see. 

I find the art of self promotion hard. Too little and it's hard to be seen in a sea of people. Too much and no one wants to see you in that sea. It's tricky, but I feel like I'm slowly figuring it out. 

One negative that became a positive over the past few months directly relates to a new mind set and view I've gained. For the longest time, I would take photos and my first thoughts would usually be, "Will people like it?". I would never think about whether it was actually a well constructed, interesting or even good photo.

This happened for years, and it wasn't until the past few months that I've slowly come around to a new and better way of thinking. One that has I believe, drastically improved my flow and the content of my work. What I've realised is I need to take photos that I like, that I want to take.

It may seem weird and obvious that that is the answer, but I always want to make work that resonates and appeals to people. I believe that my work from my realisation onwards strikes more of an emotion and thought than before. 

I am happy with my work than ever before, and I hope you see that.

28, Still Alive, But Very Happy.

Brendan.