Tag: island

Exploring A Subject – You Never Know What You Might Find…

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

One of the things I’ve always enjoyed doing is to ‘exploring a subject.’

Often, I see people walk up to a subject, take a couple of photos and then walk off. Yes, take the overall subject, but move closer and explore the detail and I believe often, you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find. You will also come away with a picture-story which will help you convey much more meaning than with a couple of images.

One such example of this was when I was on Norfolk Island last year. Cascade Pier (pictured below) is the Island’s second or alternate pier. Used by fishing boats, and also schoolchildren to jump off of, after school, it is also used as an alternate pier if the main pier, at Kingston cannot be used for some reason.

It’s a great subject, and it’s even more impressive in regards to the detail when you move in closer. This pier could (as does) tell so many stories, from the rusted steel, the smell of the salty air. I found it such an inspiring place to be, photograph, write and sketch.

So, the next time you see an interesting subject, delve a bit deeper as you never know what interesting subjects you may find.

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

28 February 2023

Renew

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

On This Island…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

The Bounty Folk Museum

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Norfolk Island has a number of great museums as it has a very rich history, maritime and otherwise.

Of course one of the most famous aspects of its history is the fact that the Bounty Mutineer descendants made their home on Norfolk island after transferring from Pitcairn Island. There also had been a Polynesian Settlement before Captain Cook arrived and two Penal Colonies prior to arrival of Bounty Mutineer descendants.

The Bounty Folk Museum is situated at Middlegate, on the way to the UNESCO World Heritage site at Kingston and Arthur’s Vale if you are heading there from Burnt Pine, the main shopping centre on the Island.

On http://www.norfolkisland.com.au The Bounty Folk Museum is described as ‘A treasure chest of history, an Aladdin’s cave full of fantastic collections, excellent learning resources and inspiring information …’.

We visit The Bounty Folk Museum every time we go to Norfolk Island and each time, we allow 2-3 hours time to explore. It is much bigger than it looks from the outside.

Rather than me try to explain what you will find there, have a look at the images below. It is absolutely fascinating! The following images do not show all the rooms there.

This museum is very much on the ‘must do’ list when you are visiting Norfolk Island!

Till next time!

Written and Photographed by David Johnson

14 April 2022

The Old Lighter

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Haiku Poetry

Norfolk Island Is

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Haiku Poetry

The Journey Has Begun…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

As long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed looking at Art, particularly Paintings.

Many hours have been spent visiting Art Galleries, viewing books, magazines on Art and Art images on the Internet. I love investigating the different Styles and Movements that have (& are being created).

Prior to 2010 I hadn’t really given much thought to actually picking up a brush, except that I thought I might ‘have a go’ when I retired. ‘Out of the blue’ I decided to take a 6 week drawing course at a small Art Gallery about half an hour from home.

I learnt there that I (apparently) draw by line instead of tone and had a wonderful time drawing on A5 to A2 paper using Graphite pencil and Charcoal on subjects such as Architecture, Head & Shoulder Life Portraits and Nature.

It was after the Drawing course that I started to get interested in actually trying my hand at painting. I started playing around with Watercolour. At this point I did not even realise that Watercolour is considered to be the hardest medium. From there I ventured onto Acrylic and enjoyed playing with that, though after talking to the owner of a local Art store I decided to try Oil painting.

I am enjoying Oil painting immensely! I have not had any lessons at this point in time, just tips from my Brother, my Mother-In-Law and a couple of friends. Other influences are the copious amounts of Art books I borrow from the local library, magazines and You Tube videos.

At some point I do intend having some official lessons but for the moment I am enjoying exploring, experimenting and having fun. Sometimes I try to paint from a reference photo and other times from my imagination. I think the latter is my favourite.

Oil painting has become another ‘escape’ for me, much like the other forms of communication found in this blog. It allows me to leave ‘reality’ and it refreshes me.

Sometimes, I can vividly see the scenes that I would like to create via painting, but my technical skill is a fair way behind where it needs to be to be able to replicate what I see in my mind. In time I hope it catches up! In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the place I am at and look forward to the journey of self-discovery and learning.

Here are a few examples of of my paintings thus far…

Written by David Johnson
30 August 2015

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