Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

In March 2013 we flew to San Francisco for seven nights, these photos have been sitting neglected since then…

Our Red and White ferry steamed into the fog, guided by the soul rattling fog horns that punctuated the calm air from their positions guarding the pylons. We had one morning to see the bridge from below, but the fog had rolled in restricting visibility to one hundred meters, this made for the eerie sight of the pylons looming up out of the fog ahead.

Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

Wedding – Alison and Andrew

On a picture perfect day in the Southern Highlands, Pepper’s Manor House set the stage for what will most likely be my final wedding. Having ‘retired’ from wedding photography once I’d finished at uni, Alison and Andrew had managed to convince me to be their wedding photographer (over a day of rock climbing two months earlier).

Being a relaxed couple, they made very few requests and were open to trying a variety of things. A lunchtime wedding also meant that we could shoot on into the sunset after the guests had left, a relative luxury considering the hour I’d usually had to make portraits at previous weddings.

I’ll let the results speak for themselves.

Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph
Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph
Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph
Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph Alison and Andrew - Wedding Photograph

Vanuatu: Diving the Semle Ferdersen, GoPro Video…

Diving The Semle Ferdersen, Port Vila, Vanuatu from James Doherty on Vimeo.

As I watched the depth gauge roll past 40 meters the GoPro didn’t miss a beat. As mentioned previously manoeuvring in the engine bay of the Semle Ferdersen required both hands, as such the video quality suffered somewhat, but with the help of some splicing, judicious editing, and a Moby track, this video gives you a good idea of the dive.

Mount Field National Park, Tasmania

Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania

After our time on the Freycinet Peninsula we headed inland to Mount Field National Park, a two hour dive on progressively curvier roads outside of Hobart. The well worn track herds the majority of tourists towards the base of Russell Falls, but with a keen eye, and a little local knowledge, an old track cut into the valley wall can be found. This overgrown trail climbs to the middle tier of Russell Falls, where you stand in the mist created by the cascading waterfall and surrounded by the detritus of trees that have tumbled over the falls.

Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania Water cascades through Mount Field National Park, Tasmania

Freycinet Peninsula and Wine Glass Bay

Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania

Late last year (2012) we had the opportunity to travel to Hobart for a week. Two hours north of Hobart on the Southwest coast of Tasmania is Freycinet Peninsula. Freycinet is known for its red granite cliffs, coloured by orange lichen and it’s pristine white sand beach at Wineglass Bay.

Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania
Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania Red Rocks and Blue Sky, Freycinet Nat Park, Tasmania

Vanuatu: Mele Cascades

Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu

Mele Cascades, fifteen minutes by bus outside of Port Vila the road steepens suddenly, and whilst the Efate ring road traffic climbs skyward, the Mele river cascades back down over a series of drops. Walking through the dense jungle, you criss-cross the cascades, which are interspersed with sections of blue-green pools, lined with fine white soil. After fifteen minutes climbing up a somewhat uneven set of stairs the final cascade appears, a cliff of 20 meters, moss covered and, as the name suggests, water cascading down. Having no tripod to allow for a low shutter speed the resultant photographs aren’t as crisp as I’d like, but they still convey the beauty of this place.

Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu
Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu Mele Cascades, Port Vila Vanuatu

Vanuatu: Snorkelling with Sail Away Cruises, Port Vila Vanuatu

Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu

A day with Sailaway Cruises involved two dives and two snorkelling sites. As I’ve mentioned previously, the GoPro camera had been working well in the depths, however the lack of red light in the spectrum left the tones a little muted. Closer to the surface however the results are much more vibrant.

Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu
Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Snorkelling at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu

Above sea level, the Golden Wing Trimaran was our ride for the day, cruising though crystal clear waters bounded by pristine white beaches and dense rainforest coating the sides of imposing hills.

Above Water, Sailing to Hat Island, Vanuatu Above Water, Sailing to Hat Island, Vanuatu Above Water, Sailing to Hat Island, Vanuatu Above Water, Sailing to Hat Island, Vanuatu Above Water, Sailing to Hat Island, Vanuatu Above Water, Sailing to Hat Island, Vanuatu Above Water, Sailing to Hat Island, Vanuatu

Vanuatu: Diving with Sailaway Cruises, Port Vila Vanuatu

Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu

Sailaway Cruises, based in Port Vila, served as the dive guides for the day. Promising two dives, and three snorkelling sites they didn’t disappoint. Word of mouth had suggested the diving was Coral Sea-esque, what was certain was the protected waters off Hat Island and those surrounding Poole’s Rock yielded largely undamaged coral. Infrequent boat traffic, and consequently less fishing, had left the marine life more prevalent, and far more inquisitive.

Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu
Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu Diving at Poole's Rock and Hat Island, Vanuatu

Vanuatu: Diving Bougainvillea Reef

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Bougainvillea Reef proved the GoPro’s mettle in 40 meters of water. With the red light of the spectrum diffusing in the shallower waters, and the available light decreasing I was still able to get some photos of the local marine life, and the amazing bright yellow stag horn coral formations, albeit looking less yellow than when under torch light.

Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef
Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef Diving with Big Blue Vanuatu, Bougaainvillaea Reef

Vanuatu: Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter

Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter

The Konanda was rendered unseaworthy by the 1987 Cyclone Uma. She was sold to the management of Iriki Island and later scuttled dead upright in 26 meters of water as an artificial reef. Descending the mooring line, her mast comes into view at 12 meters, with the rest of the hull coming into view as you descend. I dived the Konanda three times during my time in Port Vila, each time exploring a little deeper, and a little further into the superstructure.

Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter
Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter Diving the Wreck of the Konanda Freighter