For the last ten weeks I have been travelling, visiting family, and running photography tours. Ten weeks on the road is a long time. It will definitely take me a fair bit of time to adjust to being back at home, and returning to my role as carer. Now that Shirley is a hundred and her dementia continues to take its toll, in some ways it is easier as there is less aggression and belligerence, but there is more caring needed. It is a process of continual adjustment and change to be honest. As it is never the same. It definitely isn’t the same as when I left.

The tour of Western Australia almost became a very focused Orchid hunt, with the whole group learning to spot and loving the joy in discovering new varieties. Let alone the challenges of making art out of photographing them. I kept making jokes about all of us getting our orchid spotting badges, like we used to sew onto our uniform when I was a young scout. Clair was so wonderful to create a list of all which she photographed that has over fifty or so varieties on it. I will share with you some images of them during the coming months. Then there were all the other flowers we saw and the amazing trees, beaches mountains, and coastlines we experienced too. We were blessed with incredible weather, and I only needed my raincoat on for our first evening out shooting. The program of two nights in most of the locations went really well. Perth to Esperence is definitely a must do trip, and to do it in September… Highly recommended. I am thinking a trip north of Perth for the 2028 spring wildflower season. Probably up to Geralton and back via the inland. Alternatively Broom to Perth is another option I want to consider.

The tour of the Flinders and Gammon Ranges was equally as beautiful, though obviously for different reasons. The area is full of green, purples, mauves, browns and reds. Exploding in colour. Actually the whole southern parts of Australia that I visited were all lush greens. Our country seems to be thriving with all the recent rain of the recent El Nina years. It was lovely to not start each day there at the crack of dawn, but to start the day at a more civilised pace. Visiting Arkaroola again was so lovely, though it was getting a wee hot during the day. I was often pleased for the air conditioning in my trusty landcruiser, which by the way is about to hit 800,000 kms.

I managed to fit a few days rockclimbing in at Mt Araplies, and found another seven varieties of orchids there. One, the climbers called, a salmon orchid was out when I was shown it, and for the next three days I couldn’t find it again, except for a couple that were closed. A clear reminder to take photographs when the opportunity arrises and not think you’ll make it back tomorrow. The opportunity so often closes. The time to make art, is when you first have the urge.

I also explored the Grampians, and have decided to put on a spring tour there next year. With its sandstone mountains and cliffs that virtually rings the mountain range, the area is visually stunning and so stimulating. Whilst I was there I decided to add that walk to my bucket list. The peaks trail, it is called. I hope to do it before or straight after our tour there. I am thinking we should also run a creative retreat there the week after our tour. I found another ten varities of orchids there too. I was also lucky enough to catch a foggy day there too, and mist swirling in the cliffs was spectacular. Details of my proposed trips there will follow shortly, once I prepare the website descriptions.

One of my biggest highlights of the trip, was spending time with my sister, and her family. My sister was so close to me as a child, my second mother I say to myself. She had a huge bearing on who I am today. My nephews spoiled me with individual trips to their favourite local places. It was so lovely to see them all. We spent a lot of time visiting places and walking. I am always reminded when I am there, that I need to see them more often. My great nephew, Jarvis Smallman, whom many of you will remember from Len’s Journal a few years ago now, also spoiled us with an afternoon nature photography inspiration in Hopetoun, during his wildflower workshop. I am so thankful of his generosity.

Unfortunately, with all that driving I have pinched my Ulna nerve somewhere, and have pains from my shoulder, arm, hand and finger. It does seem to be getting better as I rest myself, and keep out of the drivers seat. I suspect it was the driving. Perhaps it was the climbing, or even the ground crawling whilst orchiding. It only started after leaving the Grampians I seem to remember.

This weekend, on Sunday afternoon (12 - 5 pm) Head On Photo Festival is having a book fair. Bondi Pavilion. I have booked a table. Clair and I will be there with all the back issues of Len’s Journal, The Unfolding (flowers and poetry), and a selection of my handmade books and zines. All for sale. We would so love to see you, so why not drop in and catch the exhibition for the Finalists of Head On at the same time, all exhibited in the same building. The foreshore of Bondi Beach is the back drop for the rest of the festival too. https://headon.org.au/events/head-on-photobook-zine-market-2026

Lastly, I want to tell you that I took 41,800 images in those ten weeks. Perhaps I should return to film and bring that back down to under a hundred. I had a dream I found my Ebony 45SU large format camera in a camera collection. A sign I think. As Clair mentioned the other day, lots of images from a trip are overwhelming. I will use the serendipity method to find little master pieces in there. Letting my intuition find the art that I wish to share, rather than being systematic. It feels a bit like rolling a slot machine, and watching them swirl past, and exploring where ever I land.

I thought today I’d share with you a few from my last morning as I left the Grampians. Basically the last images I took on my trip.

I will write again soon, and share some more images of my travels and tours.

finally home

monographs