tiabunna's photos with the keyword: Michelago

As shown in my previous image, it's been some time since the last train through Michelago. If you'd care to wait for the next though, there are some benches (see PiP and maybe view large). Happy Bench Monday and have a good week (I'm now heading away for several days).

The former Michelago railway station, on a closed (since 1989) NSW railway line. Happy Fence Friday and have a good weekend, everyone.

The empty station on the old railway. Even without a train, this has to be the musical link. :-)

Section of track on the abandoned railway.

Alongside an abandoned railway line. Image in note shows a section of the track with date of manufacture.

Early morning light on the misty Southern Tablelands. Music link here. Try viewing large. HFF! Explored.

Morning light and an old Gum Tree (Eucalypt to be more botanical): this particular species is known as a Candlebark.

Abandoned farmhouse with frost. Music link here. View large on black. Explored.

This picture is 24 in my "100 Strangers" project. I saw Martin and Jock walking around the Michelago May Fair and thought they would make great subjects for a portrait. When I approached Martin, he very kindly agreed on their behalf. Martin told me that he is a Councillor on the Cooma-Monaro Shire Council and that he lives in Michelago. He is very enthusiastic about the area, which he moved into from overseas, after retiring from the RAF. Clearly though, flying is in his blood and he now runs a flying school when not involved in Council activities. I forgot to ask Jock about his background, but he certainly looked very impressive through the lens. Many thanks for your cooperation, Martin, I hope you like your image.

This picture is 23 in my "100 Strangers" project. It's far too long since my previous posting for this! I really enjoy visiting the Michelago May Fair though, so that seemed a great venue to seek some suitable subjects. Pam was very busy running the curry stand in the food area, so when she took a well-earned break for lunch I interrupted her meal with a dopey request for a photo for my project. Although she would have been justified in tipping lukewarm curry over my lens, Pam kindly spared the time to tell me a little about herself. She moved to the area some years ago, believing that a rural lifestyle is the best for raising her boys. She considers the community important and appreciates the greater feeling of community spirit in the country. Thank you very much for your willing cooperation, Pam. I hope you like the image - and I do apologise for making your lunch go cold. :)

CC Hall, lead guitarist and joint leader of the Canberra band “The Bridge Between”. They specialise in “Blues roots” and featured at Michelago's May Fair again in 2014 (they were there the previous year). They have released an album ”Hope Street”, available through their website www.thebridgebetween.com.au where there also is a link to listen to them. I enjoyed their music enough to buy the CD. My entry for “May 2014-Prime lenses (fixed focal length)” competition. For information, our Prime Lenses Group has monthly competitions (see group discussions). The winner sets the theme and judges the entries for the following month. This month's topic is "musicians playing their instruments."

Up in the highlands, where deciduous trees are more common, the changing autumn colours are beginning to show. For those interested in the tech stuff, I now have updated my 'article' on the new camera. HFF!

Merged panorama of sunset. Why do sunsets always seem so much better in the mountains? I'd recommend pressing 'Z' to view large on black.

It must be said that, in Australia at least, there are few job vacancies for Town Criers. But about two years ago, Alan found himself cast in that role. And I'd say it's one he thoroughly relishes. After seeing the position advertised he went for auditions and was an instant hit. So he was appointed by the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory as the official ACT Town Crier. He is a member of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers and also of the Australian Society for Creative Anachronism. Being probably the only Town Crier in the region, Alan told me that he is in demand most weekends for community events, not only in the ACT but also in neighbouring towns and villages such as Braidwood and Michelago, where I found him at the May Fair. For a fee, he also provides his services at weddings. It was great seeing you and work and meeting you Alan, thank you for your time and I hope you like the photos. This picture is 15 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

(Suggest view on black - press 'L') As we set up the food stall, a band were setting themselves up nearby. Well, there are “bands” and “Bands”: I'm very pleased to report that this group was good. So I took some shots of them playing then later managed to catch up with their Co-Leader, “Just call me CC Hall”. CC told me that the band is called “The Bridge Between” and they specialise in “Blues roots”. They are based in Canberra where they are well known and also have done some touring, sometimes also as a supporting group for overseas entertainers. They also have released a recent album ”Hope Street” . I have since done a quick internet search and find they have a website www.thebridgebetween.com.au where you can read more about them and purchase their album. CC very obligingly posed for a portrait for me (second photo), though I think the “action” portrait of him with the microphone is more relevant. I also have included another shot of the band. Thank you for your time and cooperation CC, I hope that you and the group go on to international fame (and that you will make me your official photographer when you do :) ). The main technical consideration here was the extreme contrast of the band wearing dark clothing in the shade and the bright outside sunshine (see 3rd shot): working in RAW helped. This picture is 19 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Jeremy was working on the Information Stall at the Michelago May Fair and, with his bright yellow Rural Fire Service outfit was an instant and obvious choice for a portrait shot. He told me he has been a member of the nearby Colinton Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade since 2002. He was very interested in the “100 Strangers” project and entirely willing to be a subject. And that was where the problem began, when I took the portrait shot you see here under the bright orange marquee, then tried for a wider shot of him in his “yellows”. Because my camera usually has very good auto white balance, I use that as my default setting. But the combination of orange/yellow clothing, an orange tent over the top and a purple tent in the background was obviously too extreme for the system and led to some very unlikely (over-blue) results. At that stage, Jeremy had several people waiting for his time and I was called away, so I agreed to chat with him again later. Several hours later we again caught up and I found that not only is he also a keen photographer himself but that he also is a self-employed graphic designer. Just my luck, when I demonstrate my errors in front of a subject, that they should turn out to be an expert! Anyway, we had another crack at the full length shot and again found a very blue cast: but I was shooting in RAW, so correcting the colour balance was not too difficult and gave the second shot. It was a useful lesson for me on unexpected colour casts. I greatly appreciate your patience with these shots Jeremy, and hope you approve of the results. This picture is 17 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

See note on main shot for second photo. It must be said that, in Australia at least, there are few job vacancies for Town Criers. But about two years ago, Alan found himself cast in that role. And I'd say it's one he thoroughly relishes. After seeing the position advertised he went for auditions and was an instant hit. So he was appointed by the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory as the official ACT Town Crier. He is a member of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers and also of the Australian Society for Creative Anachronism. Being probably the only Town Crier in the region, Alan told me that he is in demand most weekends for community events, not only in the ACT but also in neighbouring towns and villages such as Braidwood and Michelago, where I found him at the May Fair. For a fee, he also provides his services at weddings. It was great seeing you and work and meeting you Alan, thank you for your time and I hope you like the photos. This picture is 15 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

This picture is 16 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page Just spending the day wandering around the rural May Fair at Michelago was not to be possible: I soon found myself called in to assist my daughter with a food stall. There I met Ingrid who also was a volunteer worker for the day and who has lived in the nearby Tinderry Mountains for the past twelve months. Needless to say, between customers, I told Ingrid about my involvement in the “100 Strangers” project and, as she still was listening to the end, I proceeded to seek her involvement. Equally needless to say, she agreed and (between customers) I was able to grab the photos you see here. I was glad we did this fairly early in the day, as the stall became very busy later and it would have been much more difficult. I'm also pleased to say the many satisfied customers helped to raise much-needed funds for the local Community Association. I would suggest viewing on black (press Z).