When the lights turn red on St Georges Terrace..

If you've been reading the blog for a while you will know that one of my very favourite places to sit and people watch in the city is on St Georges Terrace. Once the Shingle Inn now Eat House this spot couldn't be more perfect, especially at mid-day when hungry office workers stream out of the skyscrapers on the terrace in search of lunch. I really enjoy street photography but think I need more practice :) any tips? Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

 

L'énorme boule de Noël..

In the city last week to check out the Christmas decorations it was impossible to miss the enormous Christmas tree bauble in the Hay Street Mall. Was looking forward to seeing it lit up on Friday night but it wasn't.. check out all those tiny bulbs, wonder which one was faulty :) Who remembers having to spread out the lights for the Christmas tree at home to find the dodgy bulb? Leaving the city I spotted the trio of ladies below, the princess with her feet up wearing sneakers made me smile :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe... 

From Neon to Negative..

 Perth artist Drew Straker well known for his incroyable neon glow technique.. 'white lines under a transparent colour' seen here, is also master of the negative, above. White only on black to give an almost negative effect. Excellent choice here, the black and white suits the grey, slightly shabby wall with rusty window grills of the Chatsworth Deli, now a florist, on Beaufort Street perfectly.. whereas a colourful mural could have looked out of place don't you think? I hope your week is off to a good start, happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world..

Purple rain..

On the way home from a birthday party yesterday we stopped along one of the many jacaranda tree lined streets in Applecross, home each year in November to the Rotary Jacaranda Festival. I didn't make it to the festival on Saturday but wanted to take at least one shot, and this is it :) of the jacarandas before their flowers fall in a shower of purple rain. The jacaranda tree looks gorgeous standing alone but even more spectacular when creating a purple arbour don't you think? Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

Hazy day.. or reflection?

If the glass is clean and the window big enough sometimes it's hard to tell! One of the best things about modern architecture is the reflective opportunities they offer. Here workers coming out of the 40 storey skyscraper Exchange Plaza at midday in search of sustenance :) reflected in the window of the relatively new Mary Street Bakery on St. Georges Terrace.. must admit I didn't realize this was a taxi rank before.. learn something everyday! Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

Visit James to see more Weekend Reflections here..

Twilight Hawkers Markets..

In the city last night to meet Aimee after work for dinner at the Twilight Hawkers Markets in Forrest Place. Come in early she said, it gets busy.. oh really, just a bit! By the time I took these shots from afar I had devoured a bellini from Monte's Grill and a creme brûlé from Just Creme Brulees.. parfait! To my American readers I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Happy weekend, take care and stay safe..

Alley Oop in the city..

'You can't win unless you learn how to lose'.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.. 

Snapped a couple of quick shots yesterday of the two above shooting hoops as we were leaving Elizabeth Quay heading back to the CBD. Although there was a difference in age the older gent was holding his own.. made me think of the expression 'it ain't over till the fat lady sings' :) That's the Esplanade behind, a mixture of old and new architecture. Can you guess which I prefer, especially as the 1920's Art Deco facade was preserved, check out some interior shots here.. fabulous! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

The Lighthouse..

The last time you saw the lighthouse at Hillarys Boat Harbour it looked like this. Now without wrapping and scaffolding it is back to its pristine white and yellow, looking splendid under the blue sky.. loved that the yacht sailed quietly into the shot just as I clicked! Described as a small lighthouse in a big marina it stands at 24m high with a viewing platform, seen below, at 5m.. that's plenty high enough for moi to catch the view. I hope the lighthouse remains tag free for many years to come. Into the city later today to take some street shots, it's been a while :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

The Big Blue Head!

 The Japanese say you have three faces, the first face you show the world, the second face you show your closest friends and family, the third face, the truest, you never show anyone..  

I have passed and looked at this many face-faceted :) three metre high sculpture sitting under the tall eucalyptus trees on the corner of Loftus and Vincent St. so often without stopping. When we passed there a few days ago and I saw that he is now sporting a pretty fancy crocheted beanie and scarf I felt it was a sign that this was the time! 'Beseech' aka the big blue head, was created by Ken Sealy for the Town of Vincent. The artist's statement 'Beseech watches and waits, activating the space by creating tension through expectation and anticipation.' The BBH might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoy seeing him when driving by. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...

Special delivery!

Just around the corner from last weeks fabulous mural and most appropriately painted on the Subiaco Post Office during the Paint Subi Project by Dominican born American artist Evoca1. The mural depicting 'a young postal worker delivering parcels alongside a black swan' has a distinctly WA feel to it. Loved the whimsical touch of paper planes flying alongside too :) Subi just got a much needed boost! Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world...

Sunrise, sunset.. and Christmas!

Inevitable! I turn my back for a minute and the city goes all Christmassy :) Thankfully Aimee was there to capture some of the highlights. Instead of the usual Christmas parade this year the Christmas Lights Trail can be followed each night right up until 25th December. Here just a few of the photos Aimee captured on Friday night during the first night debut. Hoping to take our Sydney famille to see the lights when they arrive for Christmas. How was your weekend? Mine was super hectic.. but in a good way! Happy Monday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. merci beaucoup Aimee for allowing me to use your photos!

Swirling Surround..

This is a bit of a cheat reflection :) it's not in Perth.. yet! We were lucky enough to be in Sydney last month for Sculpture by the Sea on Bondi Beach. The sculpture here titled 'Swirling Surround' by NSW artist B. Jane Cowie looked amazing. I'm sure it will look equally fabulous reflecting under the hot blue sky during Sculpture by the Sea on Cottesloe Beach in February 2018. Hope you have a happy and colourful weekend, take care and stay safe...

Visit James to see more Weekend Reflections here...

It's all in the way you see it!

 I took this shot in Kings Square in the city about a month ago. When I looked it last night I noticed a few things. Although the window cleaner is giving me the thumbs up he doesn't look too happy about it.. the lad coming around the corner is surprised to see me there, the security guard in the background wants to but doesn't have the energy to come over and tell me that I shouldn't be taking pics here and if you look closely you will see the first buds of spring coming out on the tree. Meanwhile the person in the pink jacket is oblivious to the drama unfolding around him/her :) If you are desperate enough look hard enough you can find a story in every image oui! Thumbs up it's Friday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. If I made you smile my work is done :)

Animal behaviour..

Grrr! Only kidding.. even though it looks as if he's hogging the water bowl he was a gentle soul. After an early morning 6km walk along the coast road I probably looked as excited about my coffee as these two did about water, but hopefully not with my tongue hanging out quite so much :) The colours in the below shot are exactly as they were, no touch-ups, I feel incroyably lucky to live beside such a glorious coastline. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn, then always be a unicorn!

I bet there is not a little girl anywhere who doesn't love a pony, and when that pony transforms into a unicorn.. that's when the magic begins! My five year old great niece loves animals with a passion so it was inevitable that there would be four footed creatures of some sort along for the ride, or in this case giving the rides, at her birthday party in the park.. and naturally a multi-coloured tutu is the perfect unicorn riding gear :)

Some unicorn horns are perkier than others :) After the rides tiny hands were tentatively held out for the unicorns to snuffle up their carrot rewards! The young ladies from 'Ponies for any Occasion' were wonderful with the girls, what a fun job they have! Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. 

Okuda San Miguel.. four levels of Spanish fabulouso!

So new the paint is still wet.. how seriously cool is this! Last Wednesday arriving in Subiaco for a meal we found Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel beginning work on this super colourful geometric Australian themed mural on a four storey apartment block, finished over the weekend.. just one in a series of murals by local and international artists during the week long 'paint Subi project' supported by Perth street art champions FORM. A smallish endeavour for Sr. Miguel who usually works on buildings 10-20 floors high. Check out some of his murals from around the world here, incroyable! Working from 7 to 12, lunch at the beach and back to work from 4 to 7pm was how the artist beat the Perth heat.. it's a hard job but someone has to do it right :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world..

Kaleidoscope Festival..'Birds of Lumos'.

 

 My favourite illumination at the Kaleidoscope Festival was the Birds of Lumos aka Rowie and her chick. The artists Amigo and Amigo have 're-imagined these rare animals, Rowi has the body of a light globe representing the egg, a beak with nostrils and wears sight enhancing goggle's - unlike most nocturnal birds Kiwis have very poor eyesight. The result is an otherworldly light sculpture that invites the audience to consider our role in restoring the health of endangered animals and the natural environment'. You can see from the children's faces in the last shot that I was not alone in finding Rowie and chick a delightful pair! Hope you had/are having a good weekend.. can you believe we are so close to Christmas again, how the heck did that come around so fast! Happy Monday, take care and stay safe...

Kaleidoscope Festival..

"You have to find what sparks a light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world"..

 

It's been hot in Perth since we arrived back from Sydney, around the early 30C.. when I think about that, I realize that by the end of summer a 30C day will be considered a cool day :) On Thursday evening we went to the opening of the Kaleidoscope Festival in Joondalup. The dramatically lit grass trees above, and the entrance to an array of hearts.. broken, cupid etc. all perfect for posing below..

One of the giants from the Fantastic Planet..

A sea of will-o-the-wisps..

Below walking through the 'light forest', thousands of strands of fibre optic cable. Not the easiest shots to catch but so much fun trying :) Show you my favourite of the festival tomorrow. Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. huge catch-up today!