Project COVID Skies - Part 5

May 3, 2020 Geoffrey O'Hearn

Another week under the COVID-19 restrictions has passed and there has been some progress with some freedoms being given back. Residents of Queensland and NSW are allowed to get out a little more, shop for non-essential items and visit some people. Social distancing is still required. The ACT has no active cases and the numbers across Australia have remained low with most cases coming from known clusters. The launch of the government’s contact app has had a steady take up with approximately 4 million downloads at this point.

Our brothers and sisters in New Zealand have also had their restrictions revised from the very strict full lock down of level 4 to level 3. It seems the thing the Kiwis missed the most was their fast food fix, or maybe just over home cooking, either way queues at fast food drive thru locations were extensive and out of the surrounding streets.

The NZ Warriors in the Rugby league today are flying direct to Tamworth to set up quarantine and base for a hopeful and eventual return to competition later in the month. The AFL is waiting a little longer for their plans to be made available. For many at home the return of sport is something to look forward to and even though these competitions will be held without crowds, it will be a welcome return for many and a fix for those craving their weekly dose of footy.

27th April 2020 4:55 pm There was not a cloud in the sky most of the afternoon.

Project COVID Skies - Part 4

April 26, 2020 Geoffrey O'Hearn

Four weeks have now passed since the inception of this project. The purpose is to take at least one photo every day whilst under social restrictions. The subject of my project is the sky. The condition I have set myself is, that since we are not to leave the house for recreational purposes such as taking photos then, all photos must be taken from within the confines of my yard. This is not only for compliance to the current restrictions but to also create a challenge for myself to keep finding interesting compositions.

General notes on the COVID-19 pandemic is that Australia continues to do very well. The number of cases have dropped with some states recording days of no new infections, whilst maintaining high rates of testing. The NSW government has increased the scope of its testing with a broader testing criteria.

The government today is launching their contact app. We will see what the uptake will be since Australians are usually sceptical of their government. Until there is a vaccine, the only way restrictions will get eased to the extend of getting closer to the old normal is to have a solid method of track and trace to contain any further outbreaks.

On the good news front, some restrictions are easing, with elective surgeries now able to resume and some of the beaches reopening for the purpose of exercise.

Project COVID Skies - Part 1

Project COVID Skies - Part 2

Project COVID Skies - Part 3

April 19, 2020 Geoffrey O'Hearn

Another week has passed and the current restrictions are unchanged. The only reason to leave home is to go to the supermarket, for work or study, medical assistance and exercise.

Winter is on its way, the weather has been colder and there has been a good amount of rain.

In Victoria, the daily amount of new cases of COVID-19 has been reducing. Australia is doing quite well with the numbers reducing. Through this next week we will see if there is a spike of new cases due to Easter.

14th April 2020 7:08 am. Rainbow and Drama

Project COVID Skies - Part 1

Project COVID Skies - Part 2

April 12, 2020 Geoffrey O'Hearn

Another week has passed in effective isolation. The current restrictions mean the only time I leave the house is to go to the supermarket or for a walk to get some exercise.

Living in outer suburban Melbourne, the houses are tightly packed in together so at home there is not much to look at from left to right. The only other option is to look up at the skies.

Melbourne’s ever changing weather brings about dramatic contrast, often in the same day. It is not an exaggeration when people describe Melbourne as having four seasons in one day.

6th April 6:14 pm. The golden light of sunset breaks through the storm clouds.

7th April 2020 8:13 am. A patch of light through storm clouds

8th April 2020 8:47 pm. Miracle of miracles, the Melbourne sky is clear for a celestial event. The pink super moon is the brightest of the year. This image was not captured at the optimal time.

9th April 2020 10:43 am. Not a cloud in the sky, the only interest was the constant circling of aircraft as the flight schools operated all day long.

10th April 2020 6:46 am. The sunrise just breaking through to add a splash of colour to the sky.

11th April 2020 2:24 pm. One of those days where one minute is raining then the next sun then the next raining again.

11th April 2020 5:37 pm. The setting sun casts golden highlights on the dark clouds.

11th April 2020 5:38 pm. Seeing the light through the storm.

12th April 2020 7:01 am. Easter Sunday looking East

Project COVID Skies - Part 1

Project COVID Skies - Part 3

Project COVID Skies

April 5, 2020 Geoffrey O'Hearn

In these troubled times many people have found themselves with a lot of extra time on their hands, me not so much. Not wanting to miss out on the fun and to keep up with my creative outlet, I have decided to do what I call “project COVID skies.”

Whilst I missed the first couple of weeks of the restrictions we are now living with, it is my aim now to take a photo of the skies each and every single day. The photo must be taken from my back yard, which due to the rules around isolation is all that I can do. The purpose is to show that there is something that can be found that is interesting and worth taking a photo of each day and that whilst we are isolated, creativity does not need to stop.

What I have found is some days are harder than others, clear blue skies are uninspiring as are days where the cloud is all grey with little feature or contrast. I will show at least one image from each day. There are already and there will be more days that will provide absolute gold and therefore I will post more images from that day.

I intend to be able to post once per week. However, I am giving myself this out clause, that the frequency and timing may change.

30th March 2020 4:44 pm. Whispy clouds streaking away.

30th March 2020 4:45 pm. Whispy clouds and moon.

31st March 2020 7:42 am Sunrise. The day offered little else as the skies cleared and remained blue.

1st April 2020 7:03 pm. A very flat and grey day.

2nd April 2020 8:00 am. Another flat day, I was happy to find this drama in the sky.

3rd April 2020 7:25 am Sunrise. Fire dances across the sky.

3rd April 2020 10:41 am. Loving the patterns across the sky.

3rd April 2020 6:25 pm. Such drama! Looks like it could have been taken from a plane.

4th April 2020 8:02 am. Heart of the skies

4th April 2020 6:45 pm. After a day of solid rain the skies bring on drama.

4th April 2020 6:58 pm. The orange contrast perfectly with the blue sky as the front rapidly moves past.

4th April 2020 6:59 pm. In the opposite direction fire explodes across the sky.

4th April 2020 7:08pm. There is still lots of drama to close out the day. Daylight savings ends tonight.

5th April 2020 11:30 am. Very flat with consistent rain. Pol-Air are out and about patrolling, making sure no one is gathering.

Project COVID Skies - Part 2

Project COVID Skies - Part 3

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

February 26, 2020 Geoffrey O'Hearn

A couple of weeks ago I made my way for the first time to the Melbourne aquarium. The aquarium is a good opportunity to capture some photographs of sea life without getting wet.

I recommend getting in early to beat the crowds and be able to take photos without getting in the way of others trying to enjoy the aquarium.

There is a wide variety of aquatic species, my favourites to capture were the jellyfish and sea horses.

My best tip is if you can have a rubber lens hood you can use it to take out reflections from the glass.

Save money on entry by booking ahead or look for coupon deals that are out there.

2019 Awards

January 30, 2020 Geoffrey O'Hearn

It has been a while since I have created a blog post. It seems fitting that the best way to start 2020 is to summarise 2019.

2019 has been an important part of my growth and at the end of it, I feel encouraged about what I am doing and to continue working hard, all the time learning and trying new things. I still have such a long way to go and I am excited about what may lay ahead.

On a personal level, I have become a full time stay at home dad. Whilst this takes up a lot of time, I can find moments of time to hone my craft. I really appreciate the days where I can get away on a photography adventure, usually along side fellow members of the Casey camera club.

I am humbled by the achievements of 2019 recognised mainly through the Casey camera club. Through the year, for 10 months, there is a competition each month with a different topic. Each member can submit a maximum of 5 images, with a limit of 3 images in the categories of print or digital projected image. For each competition an accredited judge provides feedback and awards images based on certain criteria. The criteria is:
Merit: Above average image quality in concept, composition, originality or technique with minor or no technical faults.
Highly Commended: Exceptional image quality in concept, composition, originality or technique.

My results from 2019 at the Casey camera club are:

AWARDS
Highly commended: 16 awards (+2 image of the year comp)
Merit: 13 awards (+2 image of the year comp)
1st place DPI regular for 2019
1st place Print regular for 2019
Promotion to advanced
Image of the year DPI for “Yes Thanks”
Image of the year Print for “Fluffy the Macaw”
Club Champion 2019

The award of club champion, which was based on the aggregate of the monthly competition results was a big surprise and I am massively encouraged by such a result. Along with the image of the year results, it is re-assuring to feel that I am on the right path.

“Yes Thanks” awarded image of the year 2019 DPI regular at Casey Camera Club.

For 2020 I hope to be able to increase my output and be able to continue to grow and develop my abilities within photography. I also intend to utilise my social media and website more to promote myself and to get my art work seen and hopefully produce images that are meaningful to others, so that they will want to have my art on their wall.

“Fluffy the Macaw” awarded image of the year 2019 Print at Casey Camera Club.