Category Archives: Nature

Nature Out & About Sports & Adventure Sydney Sights and Streets Weather

Sydney Harbour Surfing

As an East Coast low brought flooding to the North of New South Wales, Sydney woke up to a grey wet and windy day for the start of another Summer weekend. Most Sydneysiders were cancelling outdoor plans, choosing instead to stay at home or head to cafes and shopping centres for their Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, surfers were heading out to enjoy some hefty swells and big waves. As a result of the weather system, waves were presenting well inside Sydney Harbour. At this location in the Eastern Suburbs, dozens of surfers crowded the break just off rocks. To the backdrop of Sydney’s city skyline, several spectators braving the weather enjoyed a fantastic view from nearby clifftops.

Video and Images available below.

Gallery: http://photos.liveitseeit.com/Sport-Adventure/Sydney-Harbour-Surfing/

Sydney Harbour SurfingAs an East Coast Low brought a grey wet and windy day to Sydney, surfers ventured inside Sydney Harbour with waves well inside the heads creating good opportunities. It also brought the action closer to spectators braving the conditions.

Sydney Harbour SurfingAs an East Coast Low brought a grey wet and windy day to Sydney, surfers ventured inside Sydney Harbour with waves well inside the heads creating good opportunities. It also brought the action closer to spectators braving the conditions.[smugmug url=”http://photos.liveitseeit.com/hack/feed.mg?Type=gallery&Data=28135037_nV5jTr&format=rss200″ title=”Sydney%20Harbour%20Surfing” imagecount=”100″ start=”1″ num=”100″ thumbsize=”Th” link=”smugmug” captions=”true” sort=”true” window=”false” smugmug=”false” size=”M”]

Nature Weather

Christmas Carnage

On Christmas Day, 2011 I was starting the return drive from Melbourne to Sydney after lunch. Early into the drive there was heavy rain from a large storm cell. After driving through this for a short time, the raindrops appeared to be getting heavier.. so I thought. I realised very quickly that it was actually large hail stones.

Sheltering at some Shops in Delahey - the damage done in the minute trying to seek shelter.

I was just passing a small Shopping Centre so pulled in to seek refuge. Seeing large hail hitting my windscreen and thumping on the roof. Unfortunately the only shelter was the small awning around the centre, and many others had already made it under the shelter. I drove around the centre until I found one last spot.

Some of the Hail stones, already melting resemble real stones. Some that hit the car that I could see were 2-3cm in diameter.

Once under the shelter I took a few photos, while hail stones ricocheted around us. I picked these hail stones up off the ground – they’d started to melt but were still marble sized. I couldn’t see it at the time, but the minute or so I had taken to get under shelter was enough time for almost every panel on my car to suffer dozens of small dents.

Shortly after the hail stopped, showing the intense cloud moving through. Shot from Watergardens

After a short time the hail ceased as the storm cell moved South-East toward Melbourne City. Driving North there was still heavy cloud moving over head, but stunning blue sky peeking through.

Shortly after the hail stopped, showing the intense cloud moving through. Shot from Watergardens

There was a clear edge to the rain band. (Looking East toward Tullamarine)

Looking South from Clarkefield, around an hour North of Melbourne. Melbourne is getting the worst of it now, with many buildings damaged.

As I made it further north, the tempature picked up and the sky opened to a beautiful Summers afternoon. Looking south back to Melbourne from the Clarkefield area it was clear the City was still receiving attention from the storm.

View these images and more in large format here.

Weather

Sydney Lighting Show

Last night, Sydney was treated to a spectacular Light show as more than 1000 lightning strikes hit around the city.

As the storm came in, I scrambled to set up on the balcony of my relatively new abode. As I attempted to setup my laptop to work as an intervalometer, I started manually firing long exposures.

I had some fairly immediate success, though realised I hadn’t quite focussed properly.
Sydney Lightning Jan 8 2012. Lightining over the city as a storm passes through. Missed focus on this one.
Sydney Lightning Jan 8 2012. Lightining over the city as a storm passes through. Missed focus on this one.

Once I had the laptop setup and made a few adjustments, I managed to capture this. Unfortunately the latptop was having a few issues so missed a couple of really nice strikes. At least I’ll be a little more prepared for the next opportunity.

To view in the gallery, click here  or on an image above.

Sydney Lightning Jan 8 2012. Lightining over the city as a storm passes through.

Wildlife

Acting like Galahs

liveitseeit updated gallery ‘Acting like Galahs

Acting like Galahs