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June 2005 – Rescue of 100+ False Killer Whales at Geographe Bay, Western Australia.

I heard the helicopter that day in June (2nd) above my house and knew something must be amiss. I grabbed my camera and headed for the beach to investigate. I wasn’t prepared for my emotional reaction to the scene that greeted me. These mammals were strewn about as far as the eye could see along the shoreline.

One of them died and its believed it was ill and perhaps the reason for the mass beaching. All the rest were saved and it was a mighty effort by the local people of Busselton and CALM Officers. Especially since they were all aware of impending bad weather so there was a sense of urgency in their efforts.
“False Killer Whales” are dolphins of course.

Great stories! Don’t forget to post them in your journals too if you like. They’re worth sharing with your watchlist!

I don’t know that I’d class it as “my best” shot, but it has a story behind it that is always in my mind. From the day we took it to the shelter to this day I donate a box of necessities every month to the shelter. This little “pest” really brought home the fact that I couldn’t leave “to others” to do the things I wasn’t willing to do, so now I’m a willing supporter of animal charities. Right now, this image is on loan to the Bush Fires appeal account on RB (Phoenix-Appeal).

The story of this adorable little waif can be read here

This shot was taken on a family trip to the beach last Easter sunday- it was meant as a little interlude to keep the kids from eating all of their easter eggs in one go and spending the rest of the day feeling “crook”, as you colonial types like to call feeling unwell. As I was taking this shot (with my little sony compact), a pair of serious snappers rolled up-lenses, tripods, filters and remote releases were deployed and more than a few sneering looks were sent over in my direction at little old me and my “inferior” equipment. If I learnt nothing else that day, I learnt something to last me a lifetime- up to a point, equipment doesn’t matter, it’s what you do with it that stands the test of time.

for pauline
Save Me

so enjoying these stories, thank you posters ;)

Just going to repost pauline’s image here:

Ooo great idea Karin! – And Roy i love your Photo! :)

I would have to go with this as my favourite image!

its probably not technically my best work – but to me it was inventive, so my current favourite shot is normally the newset technique i am using :)

This one was interesting as i was out on the beach trying to think of new ideas… so i got the zoom lens out and laid on the floor – the result was so much better then what i was hoping for! (It looks like a really rough day! – but actually those waves are only a few inches tall! :) – and i am still finding Sand everywhere!!! :)

i luv the stories, keep ‘em coming puleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze ;)
all are wonderful :)

A Fresh Start

Three years ago I was reunited with my sister, Joann, of many long lost years. I never thought I would see the day that my sister would be holding my little baby, Maddely. She missed out on so much of my other children’s tiny days. Now, I have given her a fresh start of being an Aunt. Sadly, my sister cannot have children and my baby makes her feel on top of the world. This photo will always have a special meaning. A meaning that comes with more happier and loving days ahead.

This little lady was sitting on the pavement in Venice, while most of the crowd were gathered around a young couple who had laid down and covered themselves in birdseed and consequently pigeons, the little girl was oblivious to everyone else, just intent on the pigeons who had come to get some seed. This is one of my favourite shots from our trip.

oops, I blew the story link for my post…rats :(

I’ts here

This is by no means what I consider to be my best shot, but it was a pivotal moment in my photography. It was the first time that I had set up a shot – not just snapped away at what was there! Although the pp’ing and blown out bits have me cringing now, and besides the fact it’s my boy – it is still a pretty special shot!

Bush Trail Ride
this is an image that has stumped me!
I am a Writer predominantly but 20 years ago I actually turned to art to get out of a dark place in my life
I was going to paint my demons away but instead chose to paint what I was longing for & missing …. and that was the freedom of horse-riding in the bush ….. so I painted that instead!
(I’m most stunned that I photographed it well! lol)
When my watchers saw this image I was swamped with people faving & commenting It has clocked up over 60 views in an hour …. for a writer that is overwhelming!!!
Then someone asked why I hadn’t made it available to buy – I never thought it was good enough for others to want to buy a copy of!
But they insisted so I released it for sale and it sold!
I feel like a great master artist now … someone who has posters & cards for sale in an Art Gallery shop!
Thank you RB …. I have never felt so affirmed validated or valued in my whole entire life! ♥

and this is the other painting I did at that same dark time

Creative Mind

I’m not sure why I started this …. possibly trying to paint my father a hydrangea picture for his birthday, but it soon became something else.
I look at this now and still think that it explains my mind at it’s creative explosive best! and it gives me peace to have something to show others …. this is how I see my mind working!

Thank you again RB for this has almost the same number of views as my Bush Trail Ride and has also sold a card! Thus validating me as an artist! Woooooooooohoooooooooooo!!!! :O)
Chookas! X♥X

PS Sorry for being a hog lol but I couldn’t choose! lol ☺

I also would like to add my poem I wrote to my sister when we reunited! This is for the above A Fresh Start

My Gift
When we reunited, more of my life began to unfold.
You gave me peace,
more hope and more stories to be told.

You make me smile.
You give me inspiration.
You make me laugh.
You give me a good life.

You play music in my heart.
You make me feel better when talking to you,
especially the times I felt torn apart.

It’s not just about the words you speak,
the sound of your voice lifts me on my feet.

The essence of a perfect gal
is my definition of an exordinary pal.

You are outstanding,
rare,
singular,
funny,
unique,
remarkable,
astounding,
fantastic,
incredible,
impressive,
giving,
odd,
bizarre,
amazing,
strange,
wonderful,
unforgettable,
weird,
and last but not least,

You are the best sister anyone could have.
You are a gift,
I appreciate you,
I adore you,
I love you so much.

..so inspiring, even for an artist like myself who mainly paints and rarely takes photos…..the images and stories here are soul food ;)

Gracey – look how many comments made on your kitten pic compared to comments on other pics made (not just the pics on this thread)
Im going to take loads of pics of my kitten now before he gets too big!
Some beautiful pictures and storys here
x

thats my favorite shot taken at the moment (it may change later) for obsivious reasons as its my daughter at her first try on for her wedding dress

Last Summer in France

These are lovely guys. If you do want to write them up as journals, tag them with ‘best shot’ and I’ll link to them from the general discussions thread here

It’s not necessarily my best shot but it was a great day – we worked this model so hard that day and she shared with us that day her intention to ask her boyfriend for his hand in marriage. By the way… He said YES!! (and unbeknownst to her, he was also preparing to ask her for her hand in marriage! She beat him to the punch!)

Great challenge Nat. Here’s one that I love:

This is Cradle Mountain – a serene park in Tasmania. I’m not a morning person but on this morning I willed myself to rise early and was rewarded with a morning of quiet magnificence. For me this image takes me back to that time and place. It takes me away from grime and chaos. It takes me to a place of quiet simplicity – and the soul needs these places of rest.

This little fella

and here is why

for me it is

It’ so hard to pick a favorite, but after a long dark winter I have to choose for one, Rising Up
As the new blooms of springtime can bring so much joy to the souls longing for new life, and color to emerge from its long winter rest. When I shot this I used this angle to depict new life being drawn toward the warm spring sun.
“Rising Up”:http://www.redbubble.com/people/ccwri/art/2153993-12-rising-up
The Kiss
BECAUSE FO ITS SPECIAL MESSAGE
It’s a message understood between friends, regardless of species. It says “Hello, I like you. Thank you for letting me be close enough to be your friend.” To me this photo represents the Peace that I hope one day will fill all the earth, and even though we are not all the same, we should still respect, and love one another as we are.The Kiss

This is not one of my favorite photos and it probably isn’t my best shot but it’s been painted three times and can still make me cry. I don’t like this time of the day, “gloaming”, it makes me very sad which probably stems a bit from my Celtic background and mostly from my childhood.

It starts getting darker earlier, it’s damp and misty, you can begin to smell winter in the air. This was shot in Wyckoff, N.J.

The Gloaming In Wyckoff>

I think I am going to have to say this would be one of my best photos that although it is a collage but I was there as it formed I stood there until it rode away and I just kept my camera aimed and ready, this one was taken two years ago it is a tornado that formed above my home in Cape Coral Florida it touched down about 5 miles from my home, it wasnt till after I finished taken the photos that I realized what I had just witness and then at that moment I started shaking uncontrollably, so yeah I am proud of this one

This is my fave shot of the old stallion having a scratch..he’s a goo ole’ boy+a gentle giant lol!

This image still, and probably always will, take out the top spot on my favs list. It is one of the first I ever uploaded here at RB, but more than that, It is ‘THE’ shot that turned the tide for me and inspired me to take up photography as more than just a glancing passtime, and I have never looked back. It makes me smile every time I view it.

Aunty Joyce Summers had been helping children paint their illustrations of her stories at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary during NAIDOC Week when she took a break to share a big cuddle with her adored grandson, Casey. Aunty Joyce is an elder of the local people, a campaigner for human rights and indigenous culture, an artist, a teacher and a storyteller.

I met Aunty Joyce through my wife, Sandra. She and Joyce worked closely together in aboriginal children’s education.

I had just proposed to my then-girlfriend (now wife) the evening before, during a wonderful 4 day bushwalk in the Bogong Highplains.
We awoke to the densest fog which “ruined the view”.
Instead, we walked out, hand in hand, on top of the world with nothing to focus on but ourselves.

Best? mmm… impossible. not that I think I’m so great or anything, I’m just a fence-sitter. I can’t choose ‘best’ as best re-invents itself all the time. Sometimes it introduces itself to me wearing false moustaches and using funny voices. How am I supposed to know? Best changes with mood and wisdom. Best at midnight and best at 9am are two different beasts.
At the moment this shot moves me the most:

Last summer my now fiancee and I worked at a sport fishing lodge on the north-west coast of The Queen Charlotte Islands. On a boat, working for 120 days straight. The lodge was a boat and barge anchored in a stunning place called Nesto Inlet sheltered by Hippa Island. When we could find time, we would escape to land and make art and other things.
This shot was a set up as she was just getting into position and I was just taking a tester. Like many of my favorite shots it wasn’t intended to be so. To me this photograph shows one of those rare moments when everything beautiful in your world comes together and winks at you. When creativity, luck, passion, trust and beauty do a tag-team match on your soul.
That’s at 3:52 in the afternoon. Ask me at 10:41pm and I might say this

wow. i really wish you could edit posts after they’ve been published! this is the shot I tried to link to:

Mine

And here’s why

My journal entry

Soul meets body

For the sole reason, that my interests are always landscape shots, 98% of them in bold and bright colours. Yet this out of my comfort zone shot seemed the most natural shot to capture, I knew what I wanted in mind and with a bit of improvising in the bedroom, used a couple of lamps to get some soft light.

The shot is of me and my daughter when she was just 10 days old.

and the why

Karin and Natalie….......you’re both gems!!! Thank you.

Thank you to all posters here…...I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each one!

My best shot…Because I think everybody can relate to it…Because it brings back good memories of childhood and how far and where our journeys take/took us…

I don’t think any of my online stuff is good enough to post here. Maybe I’ll change that.

I love this shot. It was a pizza parlor. I used to take my son here for lunch every Saturday. The employees and the owner knew us by our first names and Malcolm always got free refills of apple juice. Then the economic crisis happened and the business closed. This shot was taken on a Saturday afternoon when you would expect the place to be filled with people. There was only me, Malcolm and two employees. The place has reopened under new management, but it’s not the same. The atmosphere is different now.

gee I just love it when people do fun things like this…. hit me with your best shot indeed…. and some of the shots above are just wonderful and soooo various…. anyway I don’t know about best shot but the one I’m putting up is one of my personal favorites and has been quite popular here as well…..

it’s about just getting the time and the place and catching the spirit of a place…..so here is Spirit of Sydney

this was one of those lucky shots I guess although I set it up…. taken at the now long gone Graffitti Hall of Fame in Sydney …. I had been out on a fashion shoot with this pretty young model and had two frames left on the roll of film in my camera…. the first frame was shot front on and with my very last frame of my very last roll of film…. I got this shot…... lucky lucky shot….. and lucky the owner of the roller didn’t mind when he saw this girl standing on his car…. sometimes you just have to laugh and that’s what he did…so next time you lose the little lady off the bonnet of your gold rolls royce…. get someone you know to fill in….. :)

On a beautiful day in SW Florida, I decided to leave the front door open for a little while. Our little dog Oscar decided to go over and check things out. When I saw the way the light from the Sun was coming into the scene, I quietly got my camera and snapped a few photos of this wonderful scene. I feel it evokes a lot of emotion.

Can I cheat and do two?

They were both shot at Folsom Street East in NYC, two years apart, and are both candid shots. They’re my favorites because gay or straight, male or female, who wouldn’t want to be held in someone’s gaze …

... or someone’s arms…

... like this?

I decided to pick (which is so hard to pick a best for me and many) is a photo of my friend Natasha. She was a high school friend who I lost contact went I left but years later found her again. We continued with our friendship and what sparked was the start of my creative life. I nicknamed her my muse because her positive and affection she shared with all in her life inspired me to start drawing, writing and photography. This image was taken as a second informal photo shoot before her trip around the world. Where in India her life ended far too shortly. So I chose this a portrait of a young woman with her life in front of her ready to set out on a great journey.
“http://www.redbubble.com/people/michaelcouacaud/art/184987-11-journey-road#”

Well, here’s one of my favourite shots. I’ve chosen this one because it holds so many wonderful memories. I always look forward to seeing these exquisite little birds when I visit South Africa. This particular photo was taken on a beautifully warm, Spring day, while having lunch with my sister who I adore, in the Addo Elephant Park, South Africa. To me these birds epitomise the vibrance and energy of that country.

My Uncle Andrew died a year ago tonight. I decided that I would take some shots for him and here is Unfinished the second of an unfinished series. My Uncle Andrew, my Dad and my Aunty Lou, would spend Sunday morning’s doing the Sunday papers crossword and then phone each other to brag about who had finished first or to compare answers when they couldn’t figure out the correct answers.

Dad and Aunty Lou still do the crossword.

This is ..Mum’s Rose ......from my mums garden, she has recently had Breast Cancer surgery and Treatment all went well.This Image means so much to me…..and it was Mothers Day sunday…...........Ive sneaked another Image in as this was an end result originally taken from Mums Rose and Manipulated..Rendered…Its about me and I.V.F…..as I cannot have Babies and went through IVF which didnt work ….so sometimes it hurts…...x I.V.F.

Hi guys. Mine is this:
Escalate
This was a shot I’d always wanted to do. In my head, I had planned and planned. I just loved the surreal location and the diminishing perspective and repetition.
I finally found a model who said “why not!?”
We turned up on the day – had a getaway planned and all. I was nervous. I waited and waited. Eventually I realised I could have taken the shot in the time I’d been standing there. She urged me on.
Quickly, she undressed.
In about 4 minutes, I’d zapped off a roll of film and we were gone. It helped that I had thought about it all beforehand over and over.
Eventually the result was something amazing. Unique. I don’t think I’d ever be able to recreate it. A piece of history. (Thanks Sam).
- Darryl A.

Oh! I didn’t realise we could put it here too!! LOL!!

Not an easy thing, to choose one image over all others as a favorite.
I love taking random shots of just about anything but it’s those shots that have been manifesting inside my head for months and when they eventually come out as envisioned, well that kinda makes my month!! :D

Born From This Earth & Taken By the Wind



This image began its journey about four months before its capture, when a small group of us went up to Aradale Assylum (much love to Melissa Kirkham for her organisation skills).
It was a couple of days after my original trip up to Aradale that I went to Spotlight and purchased 6 meters of red satin and blue satin, I already knew what I wanted to see.
I had the wonderful fortune that Bronwen Hyde was also going up to Aradale and agreed to spend some creative time with me and my metal duct, Born From This Earth idea!
She has that beautiful and intense gaze that I knew would be perfect for this kind of image and I was rapt when she said “Yeah, I’ll get in that thing!!” :D
I can remember using an off camera flash and practising throwing the satin and setting off the camera shutter remotely for at least an hour!
Thank heavens that Bronwen’s friend Karen helped out with throwing the red satin, so I could just concentrate on the camera.
Now, how many shots do you think it took before this particular shot prevailed? Hmmm?
I’ll let you guess for a little while!

The series Born From This Earth is now completed. It metaphorically evokes deep and sometimes playful visions and emotions and has been in development since August 2008.

I have being photographing everything and anything since I was 18 and I still love, love LOVE making portraits of kids. (I say ‘making’, as they do in Dutch-’taking’ just isn’t the same!)

Kids carry a freshness, a lack of inhibition and a freedom adults so often cover up. Even kids learn to do the ‘cheese’ pose way too early.

I have so many favourites, and ‘best’ is also a tough one to pick. This is one I love. Not ‘quiet and beautiful’ (as Helena Christensen was said was expected of models) but ‘best and happiest’.

and the link is here

My favourite is the Humingbird photo,

j

Entered by invitation to the Community Page Hit me with your best Shot

Another Quiet Storm at the Rural Rail Station.
Featured in Rural Around the Globe-group

Another winter storm gently dusted a light power of white to form a five inch blanket of wonder in the late night lamp light.

One of my most recent favorites, and the one I am submitting to you the viewer for this presentation, was not planned!
It was not difficult nor was it expected!
But no!
I was leaving for the night, it was late, and I was tired and ready to get home when I happened to turn to look around.
The lovely winter snow scene was there for me to own! I was alone! There was no way to share it other than to reach
for my camera.
I opened the window to my van to see and feel the night directly, snow flakes brushing my face.
So quiet, this blanket of white falling over the mounds of last weeks snow muffling all sounds but the breeze itself!

I wish I could tell you, as others have revealed, that it took great planning or traveling to remote locations.
There are some instances, of course, in which I have done that preparation and come up with disappointments, and others
in which there have been planned successes. But the unplanned ones, the “happy accidents” are even more satisfying
for me because they happen so seemingly effortless!
This image was one of those, a “happy accident”! A Zen moment! A moment of stillness! A moment of cold beauty!

I had no idea that the precious moment was going to occur at the same time I happened to have my camera with me.
My intention was to capture some interesting photographs of snow blowing express trains in the night. And I did!

However, I was consistently being drawn to the snowflakes, the radiant light of the cold still night, and of course
the charm of the rural rail station itself.

It has been a long and cold winter here in New England this past winter.
We experienced at least five considerable snow storms. And I tried to take advantage of them first with my camera,
then deal with my shovel, my windshield scraper, my bags of salt, and the wet shoes and socks and cold fingers.

My lesson learned once again, to be ready, to be prepared, and to know with true faith that those miracle moments
do come for us to embrace!

...

JPM © 2009.01.18
Leica V Lux 1
RAW

Location: Kingston RR Station, West Kingston, Rhode Island, US.
Historic Kingston Station built in 1875. Restored 1994-98.
Services over 150 thousand Amtrak passengers trips per year.
Another Quiet Storm at the Rural Rail Station. [ Featured ] belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Friends of RedBubble, History, Human and Nature, Landscape Photography, New England, Out of the Past, Purple Passion Gallery. 2 per day, Rhode Island, Street Photography and Photojournalism, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, Trains, Unique Buildings Of The World, United States and Your Magic Place
Another Quiet Storm at the Rural Rail Station. [ Featured ] by Jack McCabe

my personal favourite :)

I would have to go with jellycotta army

It took over 2 hours to compose, and nearly the same time to shoot, but i’m pleased with the results, and the reception it has got on Redbubble, it’s been the most viewed and favorited, plus i hit an artistic brick wall after this, so i knew it would be hard to surpass

I had to think long and hard about this one: in the end I have gone with the shot that got me back into photography after an absence from it of some 10-12 years.

The shot is of the “Pasha Bulker” a ship which was beached on Nobbys Beach, Newcastle, NSW in June 2007. I couldnt get near it in the first couple of days, thousands of people were thronging the shoreline and it was nigh on impossible. In the second week, the weather, still nasty, was clearing enough for those of us who rose early to get down to the beach, finally, and take a look. Fortunately the novelty had worn off for most of Newcastle.

This was the luckiest shot of all time. Five minutes later the fog had completely occluded the ship. And nobody except me was there to take this one.