Seaside
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When you live in Portland, Vic, you are surrounded by the sea on 3 sides. There are beaches of sand and shingle, there are cliffs and capes, jetties and breakwaters, ships and sail boats, fish and birds, shallow water, surf and the great southern ocean. You don't lack photo opportunities.

The seaside is fascinating and an endless source of shots because it is always changing. It is also a natural partner to the sky. When you put the two of these together you can see that you will never get exactly the same shot on any following day.

There is also the marvelous affinity water has for photographs. It can be reflective or opaque, textured or flat, rolling or broken into foam. it has a glistening sinuous quality that makes a photo a winner. As you can see below, it makes a wonderful picture all on its own, even without a subject to compliment.

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Picture Canon A610
7mm (35mm)
f/4
1/1250 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Yellow Rock Shingle" (Cape Nelson, 2006)

Like many photographers I love a study in texture.

This shot was just too good to pass up, so I held the camera facing down and pressed the shutter. The only consideration was to move so that my shadow didn't appear in the shot.
Picture Canon A610
29mm (140mm)
f/4.1
1/500 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Spirit On The Waters" (Portland, 2006)

I just took a few pictures of the water inside Portland harbour, just because I liked the colour, but I was amazed at what I had captured when I saw it on the computer.

There are ripples inside the ripples. Ripples so fine that you don't normally see them with the naked eye.

A real study in texture. I don't know about you but I love this picture.
Picture Canon A610
11mm (52mm)
f/4
1/800 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Grappling Hooks" (Portland, 2006)

These rusty iron grappling hooks, marooned on the rocks below the high tide mark just had to be captured. With the wet and dry rocks, and the seethe of the sea it makes an interesting picture.
Picture Canon A610
22mm (104mm)
f/4
1/400 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Black Sand" (Portland, 2006)

The study in contrasts here is obvious.

You can get an idea how bright the sun was by the contrast in brightness between the wet and dry rocks.
Picture Canon A610
10mm (46mm)
f/4
1/1250 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Perfect Blue" (Portland, 2006)

Again, a study in 3 textures and colours. (4 if you count the sky).

It was such an idyllic sight as I stood on the sand here that I had to take the shot. I didn't even realise that there was a boat and sea birds in the frame until post-processing, when I was able to center them in the crop. It must have been fate.
Picture Canon A610
13mm (60mm)
f/4
1/200 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Cape Nelson East" (Cape Nelson, 2006)

I find the greying and loss of detail in distant landscapes very unattractive and so don't often attempt such shots. However I took this one on spec and was pleased with the result. Perhaps the air was unusually clear this day?

The strata in the headland in the middle distance is beautifully clear with only a slight mistiness detectable and the sea is pretty much perfect.
Picture Canon A610
29mm (140mm)
f/4.1
1/60 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Kelp On The Rocks" (Portland, 2006)

The glistening wet kelp on the wet and dry rocks on an overcast day makes a perfect midtone shot. Zoom in for the full detail.
Picture Canon A610
7mm (35mm)
f/4
1/1250 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"White's Beach" (Descartes Bay, 2006)

A rather attractive but little frequented beach just had to be photographed. The sun was in front of the camera but was coming in and out of the clouds, so generally waited until it was behind them. I walked around and tried this shot from various spots. This was the best.
Picture Canon A610
29mm (140mm)
f/4.1
1/1250 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Basalt Shelf under Seethe" (Descartes Bay, 2006)

I love the effect that water creates as it covers things and this shot is no exception. Look at the full image and zoom right in to see the full effect of the water as it seethes over this unyielding basalt platform. The level of detail is incredible. Man what a camera!
Picture Canon A610
8mm (41mm)
f/4
1/1250 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"White's Dune" (White's Beach, 2006)

Yet another study in contrasting colours. The cream of the dune, the green of the vegetation and the blue of the sky. I don't know about you but it works for me.

With the sun behind and nothing moving, this type of shot is easy to get, so long as you focus properly, but you have to SEE it first!
Picture Canon A610
29mm (140mm)
f/4.1
1/60 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Petrified Forest Detail" (Cape Bridgewater, 2007)

Cape Bridgewater's Petrified Forest is not a forest at all, but merely a series of calcified sand columns. Still they are different and unusual and worth photographing. This shot shows the detail in the formations. Check the weathering. There is also a cushion bush, one of the few plants that can survive in this harsh terrain.
Picture Canon A610
13mm (60mm)
f/4
1/125 sec
ISO Auto
P Mode

Full Size

"Seal Cave" (Cape Bridgewater, 2007)

This is the western approach to Cape Bridgewater's famous seal cave, home of a colony of Australian Fur Seals. The bright green of the grassy cliff looks great against the slate blue of the sea, and check out the amazing strata detail around the cave mouth. The seal viewing platform can be seen at the top.
Picture Canon 400D
Tamron 70-300
300mm (480mm)
f/5.6
1/3000 sec
ISO 400
A Mode

Full Size

"Emerald Wave" (Yellow Rock, 2008)

Yellow Rock is home to the best waves around Portland. I took the 400D there and got this shot although it wasn't really pumping that day. Hopefully in the future I'll get some better shots on a better day.

If you want to catch the fine detail in a breaking wave you do need a high shutter speed.
Picture Canon 400D
Canon 50 f/1.8
50mm (36mm)
f/11
1/500 sec
ISO 400
A Mode

Full Size

"Yellow Rock Beach" (Cape Nelson, 2008)

Canon's "Nifty Fifty" produced some excellent shots (when the camera managed to focus properly) and this was one of them.

Yellow Rock is a scenic area and there is much to photograph, however when faced with such an area the question will always be "What to leave out?". I tried various focal lengths, going wider to include more, but found this shot the best as it didn't try to cover too much; just the beach.
Picture Canon 400D
Tamron 70-300
119mm (190mm)
f/11
1/750 sec
ISO 400
A Mode

Full Size

"Basalt in the Swell" (Cape Nelson, 2008)

There are few better sights (IMO), than the great swell of the Southern Ocean crashing against the basalt of Cape Nelson. The deep sea-green of the ocean, the brilliant white of the foam and the sombre darkness of the implacable rock.

I had to move to the edge of the cliff and zoom in to get what I wanted. Zoom in and look at the sea as it boils and seethes around these rocks.
Picture Nikon D60
Nikon 18-55 VR
26mm (39mm)
f/8
1/100 sec
ISO 100
A Mode

Full Size

"Yellow Rock" (Cape Nelson, 2008)

Here is the famous eponymous rock. I have many shots of it but going with the "keep it simple" philosophy I present this one.

It's perhaps not quite as sharp as I would wish (although quite acceptable) but it is the rock and nothing else, and it contrasts beautifully with the azure sky.
Picture Nikon D60
Nikon 18-55 VR
24mm (36mm)
f/8
1/160 sec
ISO 100
A Mode

Full Size

"Sandstone Outcrop" (Cape Nelson, 2008)

Again it's all about contrast: The rough stone against the liquid sea and smooth vegetation. The white against the blue and green.

The shadows are a little strong, possibly it would have been better earlier in the day, but I love that rich blue!
Picture Nikon D60
Nikon 18-55 VR
55mm (83mm)
f/8
1/20 sec
ISO 100
A Mode

Full Size

"Sea Grass" (Portland, 2008)

Again I love photographing stuff under shallow water, in this case: sea grass.

I just stood on some rocks and took the shot. Amazing how the camera manages to focus...