The River Bleeds (plz view large)
Come out come out no use in hiding
Come now come now can you not see?
There’s no place here what were you expecting
Not room for both just room for me
So you will lay your arms down
Yes I will call this home
Away away you have been banished
Your land is gone and given me
And here I will spread my wings
Yes I will call this home
What’s this you say
You feel a right to remain
Then stay and I will bury you
What’s that you say
Your father’s spirit still lives in this place
I will silence you
Here’s the hitch your horse is leaving
Don’t miss your boat It’s leaving now
And as you go I will spread my wings
Yes I will call this home
I have no time to justify to you
Fool you’re blind, move aside for me
All I can say to you my new neighbor
Is you must move on or I will bury you
Now as I rest my feet by this fire
Those hands once warmed here
I have retired them
I can breathe my own air
I can sleep more soundly
Upon these poor souls
I’ll build heaven and call it home
‘Cause you’re all dead now
I live with my justice
I live with my greedy need
I live with no mercy
I live with my frenzied feeding
I live with my hatred
I live with my jealousy
I live with the notion
That I don’t need anyone but me
Don’t drink the water
Don’t drink the water
There’s blood in the water
Don’t drink the water
There’s blood in the water
A song by Dave Matthews about the injustice of the native American Indians, but could have been written about the Australian Aborigional people and their injustices. This shot was taken from a place where they once roamed freely.
The River Bleeds (plz view large) belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, "Exceptional Ekphrasis", Colors of Water, Core [C.O.R.E], Dawn and Dusk Light, First Things, IPA -International Photographers Alliance, Landscape Photography, Nature's Wonders, Scenery, Sensational Sun, Style! Class! Elegance! Excellence!, Tasmania, Timelapse/Long Exposure Photography, Vibrant and Vivid Color and Your Magic Place (PLACES only!!) Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

John Kowalski
Bleeding beautiful image Michael!!!
Michael Walters replied
lol, thank you so much John.
Richard George
You do them proud with this piece Michael. Well done.
Michael Walters replied
Glad you think so Richard, that you very much.
Geoff Coleman...
OMG that is just incredible Michael – what a perfect title for it too! I love the way the intesity of the colours gathers pace from the foreground pebbles to that amazing sky.
Michael Walters replied
Thanks so much Geoff, I love those pebbles and want to get there and shoot them again in different conditions, really appreciate your comment mate, and the fave.
lorilee
A sad lament, however, a gorgeous image!!!!
Michael Walters replied
Yeah it is sad, thanks so much for commenting Lorilee, really glad you like the shot.
CATNIPMEOW
Have you ever heard the song “How many miles must we march” by Ben Harper ?
If not its an amazing tune and very soulful…........
Tragic what ignorant people have done to so many ethnic people…......truly heart wrenching
BUT on to your beautiful capture….......
Wonderful warm colors …...such a ethereal scene….......
Michael Walters replied
Yep i sure know that song and it is brilliant, big fan!
Yeah it is and when you see the remains of there habitats and tools once used, it really makes you think how horrible it is races can be wiped out like that. I am really happy you like the shot Cat, one of those every now and then sunset when i was lucky enough to be there, thank you :)
Phineous Cas...
nice 1 diggn the reds
i went to the dole office the other day to see if i could get some help with a course, they asked do ya have aboriginal in you, i said no, they said they cant help a white man with such but we could if you where a aborigine
i just laughed and walked on
Michael Walters replied
Well the government services while is not perfect i know and everyone should get the same as far as help with courses of whatever, but thats not what im making a point about here, and for someone to not get a help with a course because they are not aborigional is a bit better than having a whole race of your own people wiped out and your land taken away.
The fact that their are no more pure blooded aborigionals left is pretty horrible.
Stephen Colquitt
What a delicious view!
Michael Walters replied
glad you think so :) thanks so much Stephen.
Phineous Cas...
for sure dont get me wrong my step mums stolen generation and i have 2 part aboriginal brothers dont worry i no where ya coming from just frustrating how they get more access to what non indiginous can get and a small few still bitch about every little thing
but there is plenty of pure blooded aborigines left fair enough they got wiped out in tassie huge shame to but thats not for us to pay i have plenty of aborigine mates to that feel similar as all the easy handouts and shit is destroying there people theres got to be a better way than the current setup
Michael Walters replied
I hear ya mate, and it is all really handled the wrong way and you really should be getting assistance, and i know that there are people that just take advantage of the system, it really should be judged on race at all when it comes to needing help, my family came here in the 50s after their country and homes were destroyed by the nazis and their lives desomated, but we got no government assistance what so ever, it was swim in strange water or sink, I think the people making the decisions about who gets help really has no idea as they don’t leave their office desk to see faces, just figues on their computers.
Robert Mullner
Fantastic color Mick…great depth as well to this fine image.
Michael Walters replied
Thanks very much mate, always appreciate your comments.
Andrew Widdowson
Awesome red sky mate, love the stones and the water in the foreground too :-)
Michael Walters replied
Thanks so much Andrew, yeah those stones are little gems to shoot :) glad you like them mate.
AngieBel
What a perfect image to get lost in as I read and reflected upon those powerful words. Even when you don’t write the words, you have an innate ability to be able to source the right ones to marry with your shot. I’m not sure if I’ve told you before….but I REALLY love your work!!! ;-P
Michael Walters replied
Thank you so very much for liking the shot and glad you like the song fits, it is a fave song of mine from Davey boy, pretty easy to play by the way..hint hint ;) No you have never ever told me that you love my work, this is strange and foreign to me like Guano lol :) Thanks Angie as always means a lot 8-)
Laurette Ruys
okay, at first reading this i thought it was one of your songs but then I realised ;) WOW your image and as Angie said, your ability to combine your powerful image with an equally powerful set of lyrics. it’s beautiful, sad and reaches deep inside and rips out a part in us all. i still dont know how you manage to get such amazing colour in your shots, pure magic to watch :)
Michael Walters replied
lol, well i’ll take that as a compliment that you could mistake Dave’s song for mine:) I came up with the title for this shot and then that song came straight to mind and thought it was perfect for it, so glad you agree:) This shot was just one of those lucky right place and times shots where the colours were so perfect. Thank you so so much for your fave too :)))
Josie Jackson
Another stunner Billy, sooooo beautiful
Michael Walters replied
Thanks sooooooo much for saying so Josie, really glad you like it:)
Caterpillar
Gorgeous work Michael, really excellent!! :)
Michael Walters replied
Thanks so much Kasia for saying so:) really appreciate it:))
PatriciaLM
Hey Michael!
Your photography is very very spiritual..i think…What your family & you must have been through has made you the man you are today….
Every one of your pieces evoke that….Because you feel so deeply for the injustice of others.
Injustice of the passed runs deeply through me as well…RESPECT for Ethnic Cultures is my highest temple….
My Ma Moari French has always instilled this into me… Which I have devotedly passed on…
The History of the Land Owners of Tassie crushed me … to be wiped out…incomprehenisble
As they tried with the Moari….
I am so with you… Your spiritual photograph and Daves song instills in me what you stand for.. You have this gift Michael and you use it very well my friend….
Patricia :-)
Michael Walters replied
Hey there, I can’t thank you for the bestest comment, i don’t know what to say, I really do think that my families past has shaped me to whom i am now, I have really strong and proud feelings of it, and Im sure that you have the same feelings with your family history and hold these experiences close to you. It really was tragic what happened here in Tas and when you know the stories it makes it all the worse., and what the same with the Moari people, bit more of a fight against those big buggers though, I have a really good aborigional mate and a Moari mate and they are both always into each other about who had it tougher, jokingly though:) it’s funny to watch. Really glad you like the shot and the song Patricia, appreciate your words so much :))
micklyn
Wow, Michael, this is beautiful, and the words! (I’m a big fan of Dave Matthews, and then, there’s the fact that he’s from south africa, originally, and of course, us south africans have our own history to deal with… )
Michael Walters replied
Hi Micklyn, Thanks so much for that, glad you like the shot and super happy you are DMB fan:) Yes i know he is a good South African boy, I’ve heard him tell some funny stories about when he goes back home:) and oh yes you sure do have your history over there too, it’s a shame this had to happen anywhere the way it has. Thanks for commenting :)
traveller
Awesome colour michael
Michael Walters replied
Thank you very much mate.
Cherie Dirksen
Oh wow! The colours and composition here are just awesome…brilliant work, Michael.
Michael Walters replied
Thank you Cherie for dropping in, really glad you like this one, we both got some red sky work going on today:)
Anthony Mancuso
superb colour and exposure Michael, very nice work indeed
Michael Walters replied
Thanks so much for that mate, really appreciate it.
Scott d'Almeida
fabulous work,
Michael Walters replied
Thank you very much Scott.
Lawrence Norton
Great work there Michael,
I love your use of light to produce the blood red tone’s.
A shot well done.
Michael Walters replied
Thanks very much Lawrence, appreciate your comment.
digitalpoetry
Beautiful capture Michael.
Michael Walters replied
Thanks mate, appreciate it.
joyousmoon
Congratulations on your feature! Beautiful!
Michael Walters replied
Thanks so much Pamela, appreciate it:)
Roy Lindman
Strong combination
Michael Walters replied
Thank you very much Roy
Johnsart
Every time you upload an image it has something special, a “feel” that’s specific You. Great work Michael
Michael Walters replied
Thanks so very much for that John, thats such a great compliment, really appreciate it mate.
James Nielsen
Beautiful photo, beautiful words, and very thoughtful of you to raise the issue through this medium. I commend you.
Michael Walters replied
Thanks so much for that mate, glad you appreciate the words and thoughts as well as the shot, much appreciated,
Catherine Hadler
just extraordinary!
Michael Walters replied
Thank you very much for that.,
kimangeline
magnificient….
Michael Walters replied
Thank you so much
Isa Rodriguez
you have been featured @ First things
Michael Walters replied
coo:)) thank you Isa for that, reappy appreciate it,
chris Whitney
Great Impact here!
Michael Walters replied
Thank you Chris
funkybunch
superb colour and composition, glorious work
Michael Walters replied
much appreciated, thanks so much :)
Shoaib .
great shot and sublime colors
Michael Walters replied
Thank you very much Shoaib
Justyna1309
Beautiful colors….
Great shot… Amazing:)
And again congrats hahaha:)
Michael Walters replied
mmm yes i love this sunset and think and think ;)) really BIG thank you justynam and again thank you for comgrats:) hahah:)
cathrinedp
love the colours. Burning sky… gorgeous once again
Michael Walters replied
Thank you so much my friend, always love your comments:)
simonesphotos
Gobsmacked TOTALLY!!!!!!! This is just AMAZING Michael, in EVERY way!! Can you tell I love it??!!! Wish I could fave it a zillion times!!!!!
Michael Walters replied
Simone im so happy you like this and yeah i got an inkling you like this one:)) thank you a zillion times back :))
David Hibberd
wonderful as always
Davo
Michael Walters replied
Thank you very much for saying so David.
John Vandeven
That is a fantastic shot Michael.
Michael Walters replied
Thank you very much for that John
Gail Bridger
Amazingly Beautiful

Michael Walters replied
I like it:) thank so much for doing that Gail, really appreciate it:)
Georgie Hart
Gorgeous fieryness
Michael Walters replied
THank you very much Georgie. it sure was firey that night.
Al Williscroft
Wow awesome capture!!
Michael Walters replied
THanks so much Al