G’day folks. Years ago, I would never have envisaged writing about depression from first-hand experience. Well, I am and I hope by doing so it may prompt others to action. Last year it was suggested to me by a couple of family members that I see my General Practitioner. It’s good that those close to me could see a change in my health and make that suggestion. Being a bloke who thinks that everything will sort itself out, in this instance it hasn’t. Recently, I made a move and made an appointment with my GP. My situation is still being assessed, however I’m very much looking forward to a healthier me. I’ve had eight sessions with a psychologist to date and things are going okay. Thankfully, I still have enough marbles floating around inside my cranium to realise that there’s got to be some changes enacted by me to become healthier. Anyway, enough of me. I’m happy to talk about depression with anyone here, whether it be publicly on this journal or privately via bubblemail. My motivation is to raise awareness and provide information to those who feel they may need advice. A few things I’d like to mention which may assist: Australia’s national depression initiative, beyondblue, is an organisation which provides information about depression to consumers, carers and health professionals. A beaut port of call for those thinking of taking that first step for assistance. / www.beyondblue.org.au There’s an excellent book authored by Dr Sarah Edelman titled: Change your thinking which deals with positive and practical ways to overcome stress, negative emotions and self defeating behaviour. Available for purchase online at Borders. Highly recommended. / www.borders.com.au It’s Movember. This is where we can all raise awareness about men’s health issues, encourage one another, and help those organisations which can do with support. I’m taking part in the Movember initiative this year, and for the first time in my life I’ll be growing a moustache. As someone who knows first-hand what depression is like, I feel that using my clean shaven face and knowledge can help and inspire others. If you’d like to support me during Movember, click on my Movember link or graphic to donate or leave a comment. Thanks for reading folks. And fellas, go for it. Good luck. Darren Stones at Movember – http://au.movember.com/mospace/240833 Share this page with your social network:
After our Dad died in 2002, my eldest brother’s form of therapy was to pick up his guitar and start writing songs. One of the first he wrote was titled “The Pinnacle” in honour of our Dad who used this term to refer to himself and get everyone’s attention! / / After writing an incredible body of work, he realised that he needed a band behind him to really fill the song with the energy & life it deserved. He enlisted the help of fellow muso Dads from his daughter’s primary school, and they became “The Late Starters”. Today, his band is called The Heartstarters and they perform regularly all over Victoria. Most recently they did the Yarra Valley proud with a gig in their hometown of Healesville at the “RISE Bushfire Relief Concert”.
Marlboro Man © Vicki Ferrari Visions of Australia! Taken back in 1988, on a cattle station in North Queenland. At the time, there was some dusty work going on in the cattle yards in the late afternoon. This is a scan of an 8×12 print from one of my original portfolios. / This was taken with Minolta SLR. Purchase Card / Purchase Framed Print / /
Taken in an early morning shoot at Merewether beach a few kilometers south of the center of Newcastle, NSW. Shot with my Sony A700
Took this image at the local grand final on Thursday Island in the Toores Strait. Match was played between the Dragons and the Roosters, and this player made a break away late in the game to score the winning try. Most of the oposition team were exhausted and looked on in despair whilst this player went on to win the game for his team.
Blacksmith making a horse shoe. AS IS Canon 50D # - / at-night: : : :
As I was wandering through the city, camera in hand and ready to shoot anything and everything even vaguely urban, (living in the country I don’t get much chance), I spotted this fellow busking on a street corner and simply had to take a photo. His playing was pretty amazing too, so hope he was well rewarded for his efforts!
Nikon D80 / Tamron 11-18 / Faith Reef, off Bowen.
A Bondi beach surfer admiring the waves at sunset. Featured in the group “Australian Travel Photography and Writing”
I recommend buying this in the Medium size Laminated print / This is a homeless man I saw on a photowalk in Sydney city / What you can see in the back ground is Luna park the famous recreation park Canon 50D / 17-200mm EF-S Featured in “Australian Travel Photography and Writing” on 05/11/09 Some of my other work /
This entertainer was part of yesterday’s Melbourne Cup Parade. Dressed in top hat and tails, and wearing a stick-on moustache that evokes Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy fame) he is without doubt the best-dressed cyclist I’ve ever photographed. Using a 300mm lens in a crowd is always an interesting experience. Why? Because the longer the lens, the further away from your body is the camera’s centre of gravity. Hence, you have to concentrate harder on your own sense of balance and the steadiness of your shoulders and hands, in order to produce crisp, clear images. I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 70-300mm lens. F5.6, 1/750 sec, ISO 200, 300mm. Featured in AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY, November 2009. Featured in WHICH WAY, November 2009. 120-1017
Taken at the Granites Just Outside Mount Magnet, Western Australia
Jump Sequence. / Yorkeys Knob beach, FNQ, Australia. Camera Model Canon EOS 30D / Shooting Date/Time 7/11/2009 2:07 PM / Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/2500 / Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3 / Focal Length 300.0 mm Proceeds from the sale of this will go to the AuCaDo Rescue Fund to help Australian Cattle Dogs in need.
Slang term used here for Jetstar. / Happened to be flying over when we were at the beach yesterday photographing the kite surfers.
Pentax K20D digital SLR used / with a 70-300mm lens / Port Arthur in Tasmania
Andamooka Opal Fields.October 2009.
An ordinary city building in Melbourne’s CBD is transformed by the reflected glow of a late-autumn sunrise. It’s not a building I would normally shoot, but even a steel-and-concrete office block suddenly (and briefly) takes on a whole new character when the angle of the sun is just right. This was shot in 2008. *I do not crop, enhance or post-edit post-edit my images in any way. This was shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 70-300mm lens. F9.5, 1/750 sec, ISO 200, focal length 300mm. 73-3924
Up at 5am for another shot of my favourite little jetty. / It never ceases to amaze me the beauty I see at this delightful little beach. Montagu, NW Tasmania Nikon D90 / Sigma 10-20mm / 30 second time exposure before sunrise. featured in A View Somwhere… 8th November 2009
Just near the start of the National Pass walking track at the Valley of the Waters at Wentworth Falls is a detour which provides this stunning view of the valley. / Seeing this site was definitely a “Wow” moment for me & once again it was a view I had missed despite having done this walk several times. The swirling mist & light rain provided an everchanging view & made it difficult (or impossible) at times to avoid getting small droplets of water on the lens. This is the Blue Mountains National Park in Australia.
After dinner on Melbourne Cup day, my wife, son and I headed to Docklands for some shots for a client. This is of the Dockland Apartment blocks. Sony DSLR Alpha 350 / F-Stop 8.0 / Exp Bias +0.7 step / Exposure 25 sec / ISO Speed ISO-100 / Focal Len 35mm (52mm)
Details: / Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II / Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM / Exposure: 2554 sec / Aperture: f/8 / Focal Length: 24mm / ISO Speed: 400 / Accessories: Manfrotto 190XB Tripod, Manfrotto 322RC2 Heavy Duty Grip Ball Head, Canon RC1 Wireless Remote / Date and Time: 05 November 2009 10.22pm
During a recent working visit to Albury John Vandevan and I took a little photo safari to Woolshed Falls near Beechworth. / John hard at Work Whilst John was shooting the power shots I couldn’t let him have all the fun. I line up this shot and just managed to squeeze it all into the 50mm frame. Nikon D300 / Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 D
This male White-fronted Chat was chilling out with some nice girl Chats on the banks of the Greenough River, north of Mullewa in Western Australia. ‘Shot’ with a Canon EOS1000D with a 150-500 @ 500 handheld.
Australian Travel Photography and Writing
We aim to display high quality Australian travel photography and writing to a worldwide audience. Our photographs are for sale as RedBubble products and we’re also endeavouring to be published. We invite you to view our works and become a member of the group. Thank you for visiting. Welcome.
General enquiries:
General enquiries can be directed to group host Darren Stones via email.
Group initiative to aid Australian charity Aussie Helpers
The Australian Travel Photography and Writing group is currently calling on all group members to donate one of their own 2010 RedBubble manufactured calendars to the Australian charity, Aussie Helpers.
To donate and learn more about this initiative, read the group message here:
Donate your calendar to Aussie Helpers
As donations are received from our group members, their names and donated items will be added to this forum topic as recognition for their generosity:
RedBubble members who donated their own 2010 calendar to Aussie Helpers
This initiative is supported by RedBubble.
2010 Australian Travel Photography themed calendars for sale
For unique and high quality Australian travel photography themed calendars to purchase, click on the various thumbnail images below for larger previews and pricing. The calendars featured here are the superb work of our Australian travel group members. Please support them by making a purchase.
Melbourne Cup challenge results
Congratulations to Janette Rodgers, Carey Edwards, and David McMahon for their placings in our recent Melbourne Cup challenge.

1st Place – Cup Day Excitement by Janette Rodgers

2nd Place – Rex The Punter by Carey Edwards

3rd Place – Saturday Night Diva – This Jockey Has A Head Start - by David McMahon

Group Patron: Greg Barton
Editor, Australian Traveller magazine
www.australiantraveller.com
Group sponsors information
Group sponsors I Sponsor information I Group challenges
Welcome to the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group.
Members – please note the amount of works allowable to this group per day:
This group doesn’t accept highly manipulated photographs.
We are accepting bush poetry with an Australian theme.
Works submitted to this group must have a clear and accurate description informing of the location. Works that are not suitable for this group will be rejected or removed.
Group launch date: 28/12/08
This description is subject to change without notice
Sydney – New South Wales
Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Blue Mountains, Sapphire Coast, Wollongong, Newcastle, Katoomba, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Bourke, Murray River, Murrumbidgee River, Hawkesbury River, Darling River, Batemans Bay, Merimbula, Hay, Deniliquin, Wentworth, Griffith, Illawarra, Tathra, Eden, Bega, Candelo, Cooma, Jindabyne, Tumut, Cootamundra, Parkes, Forbes, Grenfell, Bowral, Moss Vale, Berry, Kiama, Ulladulla, Moruya, Queanbeyan, Cobar, Broken Hill, Young, Gundagai, bombala, Pambula, Bermagui, Menindee, Mungo, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, West wyalong, Temora, Leeton, Junee, Finley, Balranald, Hillston, Ivanhoe, Wilcannia, Nyngan, White Cliffs, Central Tilba, Tibooburra, Ballina, Dorrigo, Bellingen, Nambucca Heads, Sawtell, Kempsey, Armidale, Port Stephens, Narrabri, Gilgandra, Coonabarabran, Tenterfield, Hill End, Lismore, Murwillumbah, Brunswick Heads, Moree,
Melbourne – Victoria
Great Ocean Road, Otways, Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Murray River, Gippsland, Bendigo, Great Alpine Road, Twelve Apostles, Ballarat, The Grampians, Daylesford, Yarra Ranges, Phillip Island, Bright, Torquay, Lorne, Loch Ard Gorge, Beechworth, Mildura, Queenscliff, Bells Beach, Lakes Entrance, Mount Dandenong, Sale, Bairnsdale, Wilsons Promontory, Mallacoota, Cann River, Orbost, Omeo, Traralgon, Morwell, Moe, Yarram, Mansfield, Mt Hotham, Leongatha, Korumburra, Wonthaggi, Cowes, Hastings, Mornington, Portsea, sorrento, rosebud, Cape Schanck, Frankston, St Kilda, Healesville, Warburton, Eildon, Shepparton, Benalla, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Rutherglen, Yarrawonga, Numurkah, Horsham, Seymour, Mt Beauty, Myrtleford, Corryong,
Brisbane – Queensland
Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Caloundra, Maroochydore, Noosa, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Longreach, Mount Isa, Birdsville, Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef,
Adelaide – South Australia
Barossa Valley, Hahndorf, Coober Pedy, Flinders Ranges, Ceduna, Murray River, Murray Bridge, Mount Gambier, Port Pirie, Whyalla, Glenelg, Oodnadatta, Birdsville Track, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Semaphore, Brighton, Victor Harbor, Fleurieu Peninsula, Port Elliot, Cape Jervis, Port Noarlunga, Aldinga Beach, McLaren Vale, Henley Beach, Robe, Kingston SE, Beachport, Keith, Renmark, Gawler, Yorke Peninsula,
Perth – Western Australia
Fremantle, Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury, Albany, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Kartha, Port Hedland, Broome, Halls Creek, Kunnanurra, Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Rottnest Island, Nullabor, Gibson Desert,
Darwin – Northern Territory
Uluru, Kata Juta, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Jabiru, Katherine, Simpson Desert, Macdonnell Ranges, Yulara,
Canberra – Australian Capital Territory
Parliament House, National Carillon, Lake Burley Griffin, Mount Ainslie, Floriade, Balloon Fiesta, Black Mountain Tower, War Memorial, Anzac Parade, Captain Cook Memorial Waterjet,
Hobart – Tasmania
Salamanca Place, Mount Wellington, Constitution Dock, Freycinet, Coles Bay, Launceston, Port Arthur, Devonport, Burnie, Strahan, Cradle Mountain, Burnie, Cataract Gorge, Queenstown, Tasman Peninsula, Bridport, Nubeena, Eaglehawk Neck, Sorell, Richmond, Ross, Tasman Bridge, New Norfolk, Maria Island, Swansea, Bothwell, Bicheno, Scottsdale, St Helens, George Town, Stanley, Smithton, Rosebery, Zeehan, Lake St Clair,
People, Portraits, Environmental Portraits, Groups, Landscapes, Mountains, Snow Scenes, Deserts, Coastal, Rainforests, Underwater, Rivers, Waterfalls, Lakes, Outback, Cities, Cityscapes, Buildings, Famous Places, Sacred Places, Interiors, On The Streets, After Dark, Special Events, Festivals, Parades, Photojournalism, Processions, Performances, Markets, Food, Art, Craft, Macro, National Parks, Australian National Parks, Sunrise & Sunset, Wildflowers, Wildlife
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