As a photographer, I am not one to focus on any one subject like loads of other photographers do. Instead, if something catches my eye, I try to capture it through my camera lens.
It had been years since I had driven down, The Great Ocean Road. The last time I didn't have time to stop and see all the places that dad used to take us on Sunday afternoon drives but this time I wanted to take my time and re-explore some of my childhood memories. I was headed to my mothers 83rd birthday but was taking a couple of extra days to camp out and see if I could capture some of the places that I remembered as a kid, all those years ago, sitting in the back seat of the Kingswood Holden on our Sunday drives.
As usual, I was unorganised and didn't leave on time. By the time I got anywhere near where I could start taking photos, night was fast approaching and I needed to find somewhere to set up camp. I looked for free camp grounds via uncle google and found one up in the hinterlands of The Great Otway National park, so headed for the hills, only to get there after dark and had to set up camp by torch light missing any chance of getting any photography done, because I couldn't get organized enough to leave at a timely hour.
Early next morning, I had a terrible nights sleep but always do the first night out camping, I packed up and headed out. After a few stops in the Otway's for photos, I headed for the coast and my memories of a kid, going for drives with the family, along a incredible coastline. I knew I could capture some of those memories, even if my family were no longer with me, so with determination, I drove towards the Port Campbell national park to find the spots i remembered so well.
I had intended on setting up my camp, then taking a drive and going to the places I remembered and happily take my time doing so but, the night before, as I had discovered, the tent I had been given, had no ropes or fly that went with it. Luckily I always carry ropes and had bought a small tarp I had intended using as a ground sheet but now had to use it over the tent to keep it waterproof and needed my car as a anchor point, to set it up over the tent. One end tied to a tree, the other to the car and the tarp put over the rope with the tent underneath it and the corners pegged down so the tarp had some room under it. The unfortunate thing was it meant I couldn't set up and just take off and get the best light for capturing those childhood memories. So, another nights sleep, without getting any worthwhile shots but at least I slept better this time and woke later than I had intended so was late hitting the road but at least I was headed in the right direction, at last...........
The first place I pulled up at was The Otway lighthouse but I had gotten there in the middle o the day and that just made all the white buildings, including the lighthouse, stark and bright without any real contrast. I did get a few photos that I might some day try to do something with but apart from reading up on some of the history of the place, I had little appeal to me and besides, on getting there, I had no recollection of ever being there with the family so we either hadn't gone that far or, I had fallen asleep, which I often did back then, and completely missed it all.
After about a hour of wandering around, I was getting tired and decided to head towards the place i was going to set up camp for the night. So I got in the car and started the drive out from the lighthouse but as I came around a blind corner, I almost ran into another car that was parked half on the wrong side of the road. I thought there must have been a accident because there was about 5 cars there and everyone was out of them and mingling on the side of the road. It was then I realised that they were all on the other side of the road with cameras and phones out and pointing up into a tree. It was no accident, instead, it was a Koala, happily munching down gum leaves and everyone who was passing it was just pulling up and stopping, most without parking safely, to get a fast photo in case the Koala moved on and they missed it. Being a country guy from Australia, I knew that was not about to happen so parked safely and casually strolled to where the Koala was and grabbed a few photos myself. It is not often you get the chance to get a photo of a wild Koala so close to the road and this guy didn't care about all the attention he was getting a couple of meters above everyone, He just kept munching away on those leaves and was the perfect marsupial model.
Now I have the old memories and new ones of the adventure that it took to capture the photo to give me back my memories. Ok, Dad, Mum, the brother and sisters were not there when I caught the moment, but in a strange way they were anyway, tucked away in the corner of my mind, it was cool sharing that space with them all after losing, both Dad and my baby sister, so many years ago.
Production and Shipping Time:
Glossy Photo Paper: 5 days for printing, 5 days for shipping.
Ready-to-Hang Canvas: 5 days for printing, 5 days for shipping.
SHIPPING DETAILS
There are 4 ways to print these images.
1) Premium Glossy Photo Paper are high quality, professional paper-prints.
Sharp, Vivid and rich Color sets this apart from a casual photo print.
You'll feel like you're there.
Premium Glossy Photo Paper will last a long time.
This option is available in 8x10 inches, 11x14 inches or 16x20 inches.
They are designed to be placed in a glass frame, which can be purchased separately (starting at a few dollars at your local Target or online).
2) Ready to Hang Canvas are ready to hang right out of the box with zero assembly required. Ultimate convenience.
Gorgeous finished look. It comes out of the shipping box finished and ready to hang with a simple nail in the wall.
Canvas Prints are a well-known, high-end way of displaying photographs.
1.5 inch thick wooden stretcher-bars that give it shape, in the same way an oil painting is traditionally assembled. There are no staples or ugly lines visible on the sides (very important).
Estimated delivery time for printing, assembling, packing and shipping is around 10 days.
3) Ready to Hang Canvas (split into 3 panels)
This is for larger pieces, and the photograph is split into 3 even panels, 3 separate canvas panels which put together make a single large image.
This gives a modern look, and allows spectacularly large sizes on your wall!
4) Acrylic Prints. Note, Acrylic prints currently available to US and Canadian customers only.
Create eye-catching home décor with modern acrylic prints. Light refracts through the museum-quality acrylic bringing vibrancy and depth to your photos. The .22" thick clear acrylic produces superb image quality from edge to edge and absolutely stunning, brilliant color!
UV resistant ink prevents fading.
