Fancy That

For some reason whenever I take a trip or go on a holiday I seem to get caught up in taking photos of nature's wonderland.

I don't show any interest when I am at home, probably because I'm too busy with everyday life, but send me on a holiday with a camera and suddenly I aspire to be the next Ken Duncan. Not really, but I don't know where this inspiration comes from.

Could there really be a little bit of fantasy mixed up in this urge? We all know that when we are away on holidays, we can be almost anyone we want to be.

Maybe pretending to be a hot shot photographer is one of my fantasies. I've never really thought that one out loud before, but perhaps it is tucked away in my inner soul just longing for the next holiday to reveal its hidden talents.

Or maybe is is just simply about stopping to smell the roses.

Whatever the reason, it is an enjoyable way to spend some of my 'rest' time, taking notice of the intricate ways nature interacts with its world.

On one trip up north last year we were blessed to spend some time on the coast. There's a lot to be said for kicking shoes off and feeling the sand between your toes. You can literally feel the healing properties of the sun's rays penetrating your soul.

The time spent on the beach allowed me to get up close and personal with nature first hand. I sometimes felt like the paparazzi of nature, instead of movie stars.

I am a mere mortal when it comes to taking photos, but on holidays, I actually start to think about the shot; the position of the subject, angles and light. This is a little different to the snap photography at home; quick head shots of friends and family members doing life.

I actually enjoyed getting down close to the earth where I could smell the salty sand and vegetation to take my photos.

On a trip out to Mt Isa earlier this year, my significant other took me for a drive to the deserted township of Mary Kathleen. What an interesting place. Here, my interest in nature sprung to life as I tried to capture every imaginable angle of the many gorgeous ghost gums I discovered in and around the many old foundations of the once vibrant uranium mining town.

The smooth, cool white of the trunks stood out in contrast to the rough and tumble of the surrounding relics and scrub. I saw beauty in every tree, each unique in its own way.

Ghost gums are my absolute favourite type of tree and if I ever contemplated hugging a tree, it would definitely be a ghost gum.