Alyda & I took a week off & went to Canberra recently to prepare ourselves for the rest of our insanely busy year.. We mostly went to get far away from our house/studio & visit some friends that moved there 3 years ago & to catch up with some other photographer buddies as well..
y’know some people (at least from Queensland) are known to comment that Canberra is an undesirable holiday destination.. “it’s boring, there’s nothing to do, it’s cold, it’s boring, it’s hot..” Well I’m saying NO.. I didn’t go to see the War Memorial, or Parliament House, or the Canberra Raiders, or the *insert other famous Canberrian landmarks here*.. I went to see the REAL Canberra. I wanted to know Canberra – feel her – connect with her.. So I did.. I felt the bitter cold of Canberra’s winter, but I embraced the pain through my 19 layers of Queensland clothing..
“How to Get to Know a City”, by todd hunter mcgaw… It’s very simple, Hang out with as many locals as you can.. first make sure said locals know other locals in the city.. Meet these other locals.. Be observant.. watch the locals – what do they do? how do they speak?.. Try to be awesome so the locals accept you.. Then, if you’re lucky, & very quiet, the real city will be revealed to you..
So… we basically spent time with local Canberrians & they thus revealed the true Canberra.. and I was well pleased.. we drank a lot of coffee, went to art galleries, met some more locals, drank more coffee, went to a garage sale, & also went to see a very special AFL match.. The Div 4 open mens AFL match for the Gungahlin JETS! … Doesn’t sound special?.. Well on this day, for a very special & passionate player – let’s call him ‘Arch’ – it was the 200th match he’d played for his club.. A man like Arch eats loyalty & passion for breakfast.. a solid performer.. Seeing a handful of locals gathering together with enthusiasm at 6ºC, getting fired up for their local team, and for Arch’s milestone effort gave me such inspiration, I actually got a little emotional (& the cold wind was making my eyes water).. It made me stop, & I consciously remember thinking.. “I love Canberra…. I love Australian culture, & I love humans – we are such amazing creatures”..
fridays on foot… re-lighting the fires..
this is 'Arch'.. leading his team onto the field for his 200th match.. right before he busted through a huge banner to celebrate his triumphant milestone.. the passion, the determination, the cheerleaders.. I just love this pic.. GO THE JETS!!
This is Arch's girlfriend.. Let's call her "Elo", we can't show you her face on television because she works for the H.I.G.H.F.I.V.E. (a secret government agency that Julia or Tony don't even know about!)
this leaves nothing to the imagination really does it.. *insert dad joke groans*
The winter landscape around Canberra is stunning.. surreal even, beautiful trees, open hills.. we just loved it.. We also love the people that we spent time with & met in Canberra.. So, a MEGA thank you to the Jason Carter, Eva Carter, & to our photographer friends in the Canberra.. Dan O’day (Dan’s RAD Adventure Tours – D.R.A.T.), Christine Pobke, Kelly Tunney, Katie Kolenberg, & to Tina & Jodie for popping in.. You guys are better than a double rainbow! & we fully love you!
posted by : Toddpire Weekend
by thm
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