Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

As the end of 2009 draws near let's hope that it is spent with your loved ones. I am really looking forward to 2010 :)

People come from all over the suburbs to see house Xmas lights; these people do a fabulous job of entertaining their families and neighbours every year.

In Australia we dont seem to celebrate the festive season as much....... maybe because of the warm weather and lack of snow. So when I see people embracing the season it is very endearing.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year everyone!!!

2 x Silver awards at the International Aperture award comp

Well I woke up this morning with some fantastic news, I won two Silver awards at the 2009 International Aperture Award Competition.

While a first prize result would have got me some huge Xmas spending money, I have to be happy with two silvers considering it is a worldwide competition offering $88,000 in prize money and drawing over 10,000 entries from around the globe.

Ralph "Skippy the painter" Gilbert

I dropped in to catch up with Ralph "Skippy the painter" and show him the photos I took of him the first time we met. I had my camera with me and ended up getting much better photos of him the second time around. I feel these images capture his personality, his passion for life and his love for this country.

Ralph, an ex Spanish Foreign Legion veteran is the now the

most patriotic Australian I know. Make sure you check out the video too.

Cherries?

Roadside Van

Forgotten roadside van

"There's more to living than being ALIVE" - Shale

Shale, 17 lives in a caravan on her parents property on the South Coast of NSW. Click on the video to hear why...

More from Rustic Caravan Park

Sea Life on Paradise Row

Thirty years ago Margaret created her first theatrical garden "Wonder Woman". Over the year she has been entertaining the locals by expressing her creativity through her gardens.

Margaret sets her theme and then starts collecting items, with the help of some locals to create her masterpieces. Her last and final effort "Sea Life on Paradise Row" was a smorgasbord of underwater visual delights and I was glad I was there to capture the scene.

Margaret "Rick Stein" the Lobster after proudly escaping from the lobster trap

Margaret relaxing with some underwater friends.

Hawaii

I told my wife Liliya that on our honeymoon in Hawaii I wouldn't be thinking about photography or work. The first week was fine, sitting by the pool in Maui drinking countless Chi-Chi's and listening to 200kg men play the ukulele while singing "somewhere over the rainbow".

The 2nd week we arrived in Oahu, and I noticed how many people were taking photos. It was incredible, everywhere I looked people had their cameras out and it wasn't long before I gave in to the temptation and started a little series on "people taking photos". I got a few strange looks in the process too :)

Hawaii

Hawaii