I love going on photography and travel adventures, seeing new places and all that they have to offer. During a trip to the USA & Canada in 2018 I also found such joy and energy from reflecting upon and writing about my experiences. Thus, I felt compelled to begin blogging about my travel adventures. My travels in these two countries took me to places full of people with vision, mission and leadership that not only changed lives but also, in many ways, changed the course of history. Whilst not all my future adventures may perhaps be so grand, I’m looking forward to sharing them with you in order that you too may be inspired to live your dreams, travel more and grow more closely connected to our earth, its peoples and the rich blessings that God has bestowed upon us all.
2019 was an exciting year of new photographic opportunities, both abroad and at home, exploring some wonderful places. I ticked off some bucket list items as well as returned to places where I hadn’t been for many a long year.
The following photos, whilst not necessarily the most perfect from a technical standpoint, illustrate the variety and enjoyment I’ve received from this creative pursuit over the past 12 months. Enjoy, and looking forward to all that 2020 will have to offer!!
Spent an enjoyable week in New Caledonia and whilst there visited the Isle of Pines, an exceptionally beautiful location with white sandy beaches and lagoons of clear blue water. Just had to take something of an iconic shot.
Another from the New Caledonia Trip - this little atoll has amazing snorkeling and swimming as well as the iconic lighthouse from where this photo was taken. Somewhat iconic - but hey, gotta be done sometimes! :)
Just loved the contrast here of the old jetty foundations against the brilliant blue of the bay and the gentle lapping of water around the old foundations.
This coastline is vast and rugged with amazing cliffs which then plunge into deep coastal valleys. The contrasts here in this tropical island are amazing. Also loved the way the light was playing on the cliff face as the clouds went by.
This canyon is truly prehistoric and I just loved the variation between rocky outcrop and deep lush jungle growth.
I was wowed by the trees in the mid-ground of this photo, their shape and look against the tall cliffs behind. Gave me a real sense of prehistoric jungles.
This was a bucket list location of a lifetime. I’ve always been an avid astronomer and to finally be on top of Mauna Kea, at 4,207m (13,803 ft) above sea level, was amazing and fulfilling. Love the sun star and the three main domes across the middle of the frame
This one is simply about the composition. Enjoyed the challenge and patience of waiting for the right moment when someone on a Segway rode through the shot and I could capture them at this spot.
This tree was fascinating with its limbs going everywhere as if reaching out to swallow up some kind of prey.
Part of our Island Tour, we went to the Byodo-In Temple which is located at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In Temple in O'ahu is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan.
Thought I captured it nicely
I loved the framing of this shot with the trees on either side and below giving a window like feature to the tree and vines beyond. The afternoon colour was quite peaceful and calm.
Capturing sunrise can be difficult - primarily the getting up :). So was wonderfully pleased to capture this view which took some planning, patience and a bit of luck, especially with the smoke haze which had dogged me on each of the prior two mornings.
This one is all about the detail. With all the smoke was struggling to capture much during my time at Shoal Bay. Was interested in experimenting with B&W as well as creating detailed images of various plant life in the area. Loved the perfection and detail found in this palm frond.
In the middle of the fire emergency during November. It seemed surreal - where was I - Australia or some other country in a desert and smoke swept part of the world. There was very little colour and the sky was white with smoke. Sand went for miles. Just capturing, I hope, the feel of the afternoon.
Just loved the simplicity of this scene. A small family group sitting under a tree and watching the sun set through smoke haze. Peaceful and calm, yet surreal in a way too when the sun ought still to have been bright and yellow. The old tree connects well with the smoke haze in the distance.
Whilst not an exceptionally difficult shot this one makes the cut due to the planning. I’d been at home and realised an awesome sunset was likely. Grabbed the camera, checked out my photo apps and decided to head for Woolwhich. I wasn’t dissapointed. :) Also nice to try some long exposure photography to smooth out the water.
Iona - Highland Village
Whilst not the first place I visited the Highland Village in Iona (https://highlandvillage.novascotia.ca) was certainly the most impressive from a story perspective. The Baile nan Gàidheal | Highland Village is an outdoor living history museum that tells the story of Gaelic settlement in Nova Scotia. My visit to this place was moving and inspiring as I soaked in the struggle, perseverance and hope filled desire for a better future. Here’s the overview in story form - enjoy!
Scotland
In the 1700’s poor Scottish farmers worked as tenants for their landlord. Subsistence farming, high taxes and stone homes were all that could be afforded and hoped for in life. Cooking was done over a peat bog fire that filled the house with smoke, they ground their own flour and often only had two simple doors on either side of the house for ventilation. The whole family slept in a large wooden cabinet like structure that gave some protection from the cold and damp.
It was a hard and bitterly fought life, eeked out of nature by farming potatoes, harvesting seaweed and trying to grow simple crops. This put a huge burden on them as most were not landholders but indentured labour to the stewards of the land meaning most of their crops and produce went to the owners with little left for themselves.
They looked for a better way of life and with the opening up of the Canadian colonies many moved to Nova Scotia. The elderly however suffered as they were the ones left behind.
First Log Cabins
The first settlers to make a home in Nova Scotia found it a hard life, but there was hope! They could claim their own land and hold title over it as landlords. The native Indians were initially helpful and shared the land, though over the century this relationship became less amicable and rights were disputed – and denied. During the early years though, the stone and mud huts of Scotland were replaced by log cabins which were more spacious and enabled more efficient use of fire and their cooking ability improved. Land tenure was achieved by proving capability to secure, farm and house your family.
One lady, in competition with her relatives for a certain piece of land walked the 50 miles to Sydney, NS, through the night, just to make sure she got her claim. Much to her joy she beat her relatives for, they too, had headed off in the evening bound for Sydney. However, they stopped for a drink at friends place and were delayed, enabling her a welcome victory.
The 1800’s
As the century moved on schooling began, as did improved means of agriculture and making of garments using wool and flax. The beating of the flax and stretching the linen was a whole community endeavor. Each person would bring their flax or linen and processing was done amongst much singing and food.
End of the Century
By the end of the 19th century towns were growing and many young men, rather than work the farms, would go off to find work in the mines or in the fishing fleets. Thus labour became harder to find in the farming communities and the poorer would offer to work for wages in lieu of having their own farms. Life was tough for the seafarer’s with many perishing at sea in storms or the dangerous nature of the work.
Up till this point Gaelic was still the major language of the area, however, with the move to the towns and cities the Gaelic culture was slowly starting to be eroded.
20th Century
By the 1920’s modernisation had found its way into Nova Scotia. Ovens and many other items were purchased from store catalogues that would arrive in the post. Once ordered the items were delivered and installed much like today. The language and culture were becoming more and more difficult to hold onto as times progressed with most of the young having moved away to the cities and towns.
Yes, a victory of sought had been won – people had worked hard over many generations to carve out a new life of hope and sufficiency. However, like many victories it came at a cost – culture and language got swallowed up as their world expanded and changed.
Today
The Highland Village, and the Gaelic festival held every October around Baddeck, NS, is a wholehearted attempt to reclaim the Gaelic language and culture. I truly found this living heritage village an inspiring and moving testament to past achievement and future hope that, along with becoming wealthier and healthier, these people are able to recover and rejoice in a culture and language goes back countless centuries.