Sagrada Familia (IV), Barcelona, Spain

Here’s another picture of the interior of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.  If you get the impression I could have stayed there all day, you’d be right – it’s an incredible place, architecturally, photographically, and spiritually.  Plus, some of the columns appear to have alien space bulbs surrounding their branches, and who could resist a church with alien space bulbs?

(See more pictures of the Sagrada Familia on Journey Photographic here)

Power Lines VI, Mojave Desert, USA

Been a while since I posted one of the Power Lines series.  If I’ve done this correctly, clicking on the picture will take you to a bigger version – I know, I don’t normally do that, but you really can’t see the detail in this picture at the embedded size, so I hope you will all forgive me the extra click.

I entered one of these Power Lines pictures into a photography comp a while ago, and I’ll never forget the feedback from the judge: “That would have been a really nice landscape, but it’s pity about the power lines, they spoil a great image.” Hmm.  Apparently the subtle title didn’t give him a clue about the subject of the picture!  Or maybe I’m the only person who find these structures are strangely attractive, an alien army standing sentinel in the desert…

(See more pictures from the Power Lines series on Journey Photographic here)

Sword Swallower Aerial Manx, National Folk Festival, Canberra, Australia

I’ve seen a lot of street performers from all over the world, but this is the first time I’ve seen an actual Sword Swallower.  In this picture, performer Aerial Manx throws his sword in the air, right after sliding it out of his throat…  pretty impressive stuff.   And if that isn’t impressive enough for you, his website has a video of him doing cartwheels while the sword is still IN his throat.

(Apologies for the silence, my computer has been hating me lately, but it’s looking all good now.)

Concertina and Accordion, National Folk Festival, Canberra, Australia

One of the great things about the Folk Festival was the chance to hear a lot of instruments you don’t find in more ‘mainstream’ music – I’ve never seen so many concertinas and accordions in my life, and all of them played with virtuoso brilliance!

(See more pictures from the National Folk Festival on Journey Photographic here)

Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, Hong Kong

If you want to see Lantau Island’s  Tian Tan Buddha,  you have two options – travel up the winding mountain access road, or take the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car.  We took land route on the way up, and braved the cable car on the way down.  During the descent, I distracted myself from our impending doom by refusing to remove my eyes from the viewfinder of my camera.  (Why yes, I do have a slight problem with being suspended by nothing but a cable over a very significant drop – what gave it away?)

(See more pictures from Hong Kong on Journey Photographic here)

Ceiling, Nasrid Palaces, Alhambra

Every inch of the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra is covered in ornate decoration, which somehow manages to be both geometric and naturalistic at the same time.

(See more pictures of Islamic and Moorish Architecture on Journey Photographic here)

Time for a repost from the archives, this time from the Blasket Islands, just off the west coast of the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland.

Tabla Bellydance, National Folk Festival, Canberra, Australia

You guys seemed keen to see more pictures from the National Folk Festival, so here’s one of Tabla Bellydance performing on one of the Festival’s many stages.

(See more pictures from the National Folk Festival on Journey Photographic here)

Creating the National Folk Festival Yarn Labyrinth, Canberra, Australia

I recently had the opportunity to grab a media pass for the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia – how could I turn it down?  Not only was the variety and scope of the live music amazing, there was heaps of visual interest to photograph, including two of my favourite topics – street performers and dancers (so stayed tuned for pictures of those).  Still, when looking for a picture to post today, I couldn’t go past this shot, of a young boy contributing to the community Labyrinth created in the festival’s central park.

Creatures, Wellington Caves, Australia

As soon as I saw this rock formation, all I could think of was a pair of creatures, waiting and watching in the dark as we trespassed in their world.

(See more pictures of the Wellington Caves on Journey Photographic here)