Brisbane River, Photography “Jargon Free” Course and end of day Bomb Scare…..

What a day…

In perfect weather we caught the train to Brisbane. An hour later we walked through the Southbank parklands to catch the Quick Cat  City Cat ferry.

South Bank river walk

South Bank beach area

The beach area was crowded with people topping up their tan before winter sets in.

Jack waiting for the Quick CityCat

Here’s the  QuickCityCat arriving

The journey down the river was pure pleasure. The water sparkled and shimmered as the clouds reflected in the towering hi-rise buildings.

I was excited to be going to a photography course held in the funky Powerhouse building on the banks of the river at New Farm. In the 30 minute trip I could not stop dashing from side to side trying to capture the spirit of the day.

Here is a gallery of a 30 minute slice of life on the Brisbane River…

Quick Cat

Pink Mansion

Million dollar water front homes

Amazing cloud formation

Old ferry boat

All sorts use the river

Story Bridge

Eagle Pier

Eagle Pier restaurants

Cloud reflections

Yachts at mooring

Kookaburra Queen paddle steamer

We had time to wander around before the photography course started at 2-45pm. Family groups making the most of a sunny Sunday were enjoying picnics and games of cricket. Runners jogged past and people walked dogs along at a leisurely pace. Lovers held hands and old folks sat on benches watching the world go by. It was an idyllic Queensland Sunday.

Being lunch time we chose to go into the Watt Restaurant and Bar. Well I will quickly pass over that experience as we considered 3 small scallops each on a shell resting on a bed of salt and smothered in some indeterminate topping not to be very good value when charged at $17, and the other choice of a two slivers of salty, smoked salmon hiding under a very strange shredded something also charged at $17. I wish I had been brave enough to complain. I certainly did not take a photo….

Lunch was very quickly forgotten when we arrived at the venue for the camera course. It was nestled in the depths of the Power house building, a venue for art and entertainment. An acoustic guitarist was entertaining the crowds in an upper gallery and later we heard snatches of a stand up comic as we passed by to go outside and practice our new skills.

But back to the course, it was a 4 hour jargon free course for every one, “Take Better Photos” . (click here to learn more about the dates and venues)it  was fantastic, a great mix of easy to understand theory and hands on practice with a small group of enthusiastic photographers. If you want to master more than just using the automatic setting on your camera this is the course to show you. I learnt a lot of new tricks.

Learning how

Then we went outside to practice

It takes a great deal of concentration (photo by Jack)

The course lasted till 7pm and the last part was pure fun as we learnt to use the timer settings and with the cameras on a tripod played with light.

Now you see Jack

Now you don’t…

The course also supplied you with a handy wallet set of cards created for your camera explaining the settings used for constant reference and the option of coming back to attend the course again as many times through the year as you want. What great value.

Now it was time to go home. The trip back along the river was magical the lights of Brisbane twinkling in the water. I tried to capture the scene, but not too successfully as the ferry movement created some blurring but I’ll show you them any way. I will have to practice and see if I can master the technique.

Tired but satisfied after a full day we board the 8-30pm train for home. But the day is not over yet. At 9-00 pm an announcement comes over that the train will be terminating at Beenleigh due to a police incident. Buses will be made available for the final part of the journey to our rail station, another 30 minutes away. Every one crowds onto the bus station platform and we wait, and wait and then wait some more….

Many of the passengers have come from the airport after long flights. They are dragging heavy cases and they look tired.

Eventually buses arrive. Many of the drivers have been pulled from their beds. More trains are arriving and the crowd is swelling.

Eventually we arrive home at 11pm…

Today I heard on the news that a suspicious parcel had been found on the rail lines and it took three and a half hours to decide it was a hoax…