The Meeting of Beers and Books

Words and Images by Danielle Lancaster

“Men are just like Woolies specials, we all think we have got to have them.” This was one of the first lines uttered to us by Margaret as she walked behind the bar at the Mungallala Hotel this morning.  Did we agree – well more on that later.

“I see you girls have a sense of humour, so what brings you here?” she asked looking over her glasses and eyeing us inquisitively. After a few quick introductions we were drawn away from the bar inspecting the walls graffitied with black pen from the many who had set foot through the doors before us.

Scattered amongst the signings, verses and doodles are memorabilia from days long past. Stirrups, water bags, old hats, basins, even a string of surveyor chain, all meticulously de-cobwebbed forming more of a museum in tribute to earlier life on the land in this part of western Queensland. Some more modern pieces such as the toilet signs are more humours and add additional character to this outback pub.

Many pass this pub standing idle on the corner on their journey west. From the outside you maybe could understand why. The shady verandas don’t lend a hint to the treasures inside.

Of the many items adorning the walls and scattered around the pub, the most precious thing in this pub has to be Margaret. 

Margaret came to Mungallala as a teacher from Ipswich. “I’m an import as I’ve only been here 45 years. It was a bit of a culture shock I can tell you. There was no electricity, running water and of course with no power, no sewage. Electricity finally came in 1971 and then within 18 months we had sewage. We didn’t know ourselves.”

“I retired in 1998 and my husband decided I needed something to do with my Superannuation so we bought the pub. Grand plans were for one of our sons to run it but they had a couple of kids in a couple of years and the two don’t go well together so now I’m here,” she laughs.

I’ve visited a lot of pubs (those of you that know me well can keep your chuckles to yourselves and comments for that matter) but I think I’ve never seen one with such a collection of books. In fact, there is a whole section devoted to second hand books. A new box has arrived today and Margaret is busily going through it as she tells us they don’t get them unless I’ve read them. There’s even a collection of the old cowboy paperbacks where the rough cowboy is pictured with a luscious looking lady busting from her low cut laced up blouse.

We say our goodbyes and exchange business cards – Margaret’s is a bar coaster with her email address neatly written on the back.

Next time you are down this road, don’t drive past and say one day I must stop, simply do it. Be greeted by Margaret a lady of the outback, divine in her nature and a tribute to the women of this wonderful region.

More:

The original Mungallala Hotel burnt down in 1917 and the present hotel was built in 1918. There is a photograph of the original hotel on the wall above the juke box.

Mungallala, originated as a railway town and the name is said to mean 'food and water'. It is located about half way between Mitchell and Morven where the Warrego Highway crosses the Mungallala Creek. At the pub there is free camping; meals all day and hours may vary.

12 Redford St
Mungallala
Queensland 4467
Phone:  07 46236192      

The pub without a town

Words and Images by Danielle Lancaster

I’m back out in Mulga country and it’s a good feeling.

For those that may not know for the next few days my home away from home is Charleville, approximate 744 kilometres west of Brisbane. It’s not the first time I have been here.

My main focus for coming to Charleville is for a two day Bluedog Photography Workshop we are running over the weekend. The workshops were fully booked out in less than two days of places being opened and there is a long wait list so we could be back. I can tell you it would not take much to get me back out here.

Over my years as a photo journalist I have worked with many in and around this vibrant outback community and made some great friends. I have watched as attractions have been opened and developed and now form part of a pulsating and educational experience for those that visit the region.

To name a few as examples would include the Bilby Experience of which my children and I became very involved in and we still support The Bilby Fund today. For those looking at accommodation, Evening Star Tourist Park where you can park the van, pitch the tent or rent a cabin on the historic Thurlby Station, a 33,000 acre cattle property only a few kilometres out of town is well worth looking at. While the School of Distance Education Tour (for the costly sum of $2.00) allows you to be part of the largest school room in the world.

However my day today was filled with a little drive to visit a little pub and photograph it for one of our upcoming books. I hit the road nice and early with another keen local photographer and yes she is a Nikon girl.

With the early morning sun rising behind us we headed straight west through Cooladi and onto Quilpie where we made a left turn to Toompine. Never heard of it? That’s Ok as Toompine is often more referred to as ‘the pub without a town’.

 The Toompine Hotel

Located between Quilpie and Yowah, it was once a larger town than the one you see today. The wheels of Cobb and Co coaches once stopped here when the track was much shoddier than the one we drove along today. And I must say it’s incredibly improved since the last time I drove this road – our wheels glided over bitumen all the way and any conventional vehicle could make this journey in dry weather with only a few flood causeways that may cause a problem in the wet.

Back to the pub and the designated township that boasts a population of two. The pub, built in 1893 has a very unique atmosphere and call in when any of the locals are at the bar and you are in for a yarn and plenty of stories to take home with you.

Jonesy who runs the pub tells us she’s been here for six and a half years and after a cold water to quench our thirst we hear her saying ‘you get out.’ Thankfully her eye contact was not with us and on turning we see a sheep at the front door that apologetically bahs back at her and lies down. Yes right at the front door. Jonesy’s attention comes back to us, ‘She’s one struck up bloody sheep but I have another 2000 normal ones out the back’.

So what’s there to do other than have a coldie and a chat? For the children there is a menagerie of animals. Along with the 2001 sheep there’s a pig, chickens, donkeys, alpacas, birds, 101 goats (not 100 or 102), lots and lots of dogs and a very cheeky cockatoo that loves to dance and utter words we can’t publish here.
 

Across the road from the pub there’s a tennis court, basketball and cricket pitch set on the red sandy soil. There’s excellent fishing and yabbying not far from the pub; the local 'cemetery' (check out the sign) is just one kilometre down the road and where unfortunatly more children are buried than adults; boulder opal fossicking at Duck Creek and Sheep Creek Station Opal Mines – perfect for the ‘rock hounds’ but don’t forget you will need a permit.

The pub has meals available day and night – we treated ourselves to a homemade chicken pie and it was very good. Free camping and a shower and cheap rooms are available.

Good on you Jonesy, you have one of the best taxis I’ve had a ride in for a while – glad the bowser was close by and we look forward to calling in again very soon. 

 Jonesy and toompine Taxi.

As we are leaving the mailman calls in - a very welcome visitor. He grabs a coldie for the road and pulls up for a chat and then proudly shows me his scarred stomach from being shot (apparently not accidently) and that then explains his tattoo '303'.

So if you are out this way, call on in. It’s worth a tick on the list.

Jonesy, the mailman (centre) - a welcome visitor calls in on his weekly visit and Mary the Italian backpacker.

Vanuatu – Through A Child’s Eye

Guest Blog by Lily, Jack and Cate Ellis

Two years ago Sheryn and her husband Michael took their three children – twins Lily and Jack and younger daughter Cate on the Bluedog Photography Vanuatu Tour. It was a life changing experience for the three of them. The twins at that time were 6 years old and Cate 4.

The children constantly ask when they are going back to Vanuatu to see their friends so when Sheryn told them they may be able to go back with her in May 2012 they've already started writing to everyone telling them they will be back soon. This week Sheryn has been sorting through images with them to create a collage of their memories. I asked them to write down, in their own words, what they liked and disliked about Vanuatu. However there are no dislikes as they all want to go back. The friendliest nation in the world (voted by Lonely Planet for years in a row) had cast a magical spell upon them.

Thanks Jack, Lily and Cate for sending this in and Levi (the man you called 'Milo') says hi!

Lily:

I liked swimming and snorkelling including staying in a house that is close to the spot where we liked to swim. And I liked how they plaited my hair and the cool things at the markets. Seeing the baby turtles was cool and we saw the giant turtle shell and you could pet the baby turtles and we fed the big turtles and the big sharks. And they gave us necklaces for a welcome and i made about ten friends and when we went to Pentecost Island we were shown how to make funny noises by blowing (whistling) with leaves and we also made woven grass balls and we caught lots of hermet crabs. And I want to go back and see the whole island again. Tank u Tomas (Thank you very much)

Jack:

I liked how the people were nice and you can hold baby turtles and feed a lot of animals. For the girls they can get their hair plaited. You can see a lot of hermet crabs and for the boys there is a lot of waves. And if you go snorkelling you can see nemo fish. You meet lots of new friends. And I can speak their language - hullo, tank u tomas!

Cate:

I liked swimming and snorkelling. I liked meeting people. I liked getting my hair plaited. We got to feed the sharks and turtles. I like catching hermet crabs and we got to hold baby turtles. 

Bludog returns to Vanuatu next year. Tour Dates are the 2nd-8th May 2012

For more info visit: http://www.blue-dog.com.au/Vanuatu-tour-photography.htm

Jack being cool with his new mates.

Cate's friends feel in love with her as Cate did with them.

One of the many wildlife experiences the children encountered.

Another wildlife experience the children had.

All images by Sheryn Ellis

A Man I Met Yesterday

By Danielle Lancaster

With the grey skies lingering yesterday it was been a mostly inside day yet one filled with discovery.

After a much needed and relaxing manicure and pedicure with my daughter – yes now sporting bright red toe nails and light pink finger nails though in truth don’t have much in the way of fingernails - I found my two sons next door in a second hand book store. Soon we were all rummaging through the neatly packed shelves of books all perfectly indexed into authors and subjects.

At the front of the shop a grey headed gentleman sat quietly reading today’s paper though he soon realised we were genuine book lovers and enquired on our preferred reading subject matter. Already Mitch had under his arm ‘Eurpoe of the Ancien Regime 1715-1783’ when he soon spotted a Terry Pratchett book in the front window. Of course the book was the furtherest in the bay window but the gentleman retrieved it for Mitch without a word of fuss. After reading the reviews, intro and already being a few pages into it within a couple of minutes, Mitch was digging out his savings to purchase it.

To say Mitch loves book stores is an understatement. So finding this store was an added bonus during our visit to Melbourne and yes we walked out with a bag of worthy reading matter. Sitting at the table is Ken Cox.

By now the rain was falling heavily and the gutters were becoming miniature rivers flowing over the cobbled road edges. A good excuse we thought to stay a few minutes longer.

The shop we had discovered was “Out of Print Books etc” which you’ll find at 739 Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield. The gentleman, Ken Cox proudly told us, ‘we are on line, you know, so even if you want something you can search on line and I can send it up to you in Queensland.’

Now please don’t take this the wrong way, but I was at first a little surprised at Ken’s on line presence however I was soon to find out not only does this gentleman have a profound love affair with books old and new he understands that the web is a means of research, communication, a way to stay in business and most importantly for ken a way to connect with other book lovers.

Ken first turned this love affair into a business selling second hand books from a tiny shop near Caulfield Park before moving to the Glenhuntly Road premises eight years ago.

His wife Beryl works searching for out of print titles while soon Mike has been on board in the business now for more than 12 years.

I am curious, what is the ‘etc’ for in the title of the shops name? Ken explains that not only do they stock thousands of classic out of print books and provide a specialised service in finding out-of-print titles they also have modern second hand titles as well.

You’ll find books for all ages and reading genres here from Australian classic, crime, science fiction, romance, history, art, travel, sport: well I am sure you are getting the drift – you name it they will try and find it.

As we scroll the shelves we spot classic children’s tales that bring back memories of the stories my grandmother’s read to me while the more modern Harry Potter series also sit waiting for a new home and the pages to be turned. 

Neatly lined books line the shelves at “Out of Print Books etc”

I could have stayed and chatted with Ken longer but my children had other things on their to do list in Melbourne for the day so it was time to bid Ken farewell and wish him luck.

For book lovers out there, check out Ken’s little store or go on line and they may be able to find you that title you have been looking for.

“Out of Print Books etc”
739 Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield,

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Hours

Mon - Fri 10:15 am to 6:00 pm
Sat - Sun 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Contact

Ph +61 3 9528 3822

info@outofprintbooksetc.com.au

http://www.outofprintbooksetc.com.au

Doorways, windows and Nuns intrigue us in Melbourne

By Danielle Lancaster

The drizzling rain paused here in Melbourne late this afternoon and though the skies lingered a dark grey I decided to take a short hike around the block. Except I got sidetracked: there are alleys and doorways and I wanted to know where they went and who was behind them.

Melbourne to me associates more with many a European city than an Australian one at times. While Sydney is brash, Brisbane appears a teen, Perth can be deceiving, Adelaide a feast, Hobart a gateway to wild wilderness and Darwin a tropical party city, each has their own something a little different and yet something the same, Melbourne is different.

My abode for my stay is The Nunnery in Nicholson Street, Carlton which I was directed to by a fellow photo journalist that calls Melbourne home (more on this in another blog to come). Its history excited me and what better place I thought for my two teenage boys who have joined me to stay. Surely they could get up to no mischief here. Instead The Nunnery is humming and it’s not hymns that are being sung.

Travellers of all ages are here – though I will admit I think I must be the oldest or as I like to say these days the most mature, however that hardly matters. Tonight its free hot soup down in the kitchen, so the international back packers are not missing out. Some are reclining in the lounge room reading, playing cards or catching up on their laptops. I catch glimpses of Facebook pages and hear the blimps of Skype messages coming in, no doubt from all corners of the world. The room feels warm with the tungsten lighting giving an orange glow and the myriad of accents has my ears straining to place them all. So far I think I have nailed everyone and their country of origin. It’s a friendly, tender atmosphere in the air - a nice feel for a home away from home for a few days.

One thing I love about Melbourne other than the food, art and shopping is the architecture. Old versus new and in my short walk today once again doorways and windows gain my attention. Their frames so carefully  constructed in an array of colours, shapes and in the materials used. Somehow I think I’ll be back out there tomorrow capturing some more.

All images by Danielle Lancaster and straight out of camera.

All alike but a little different and within half a block of each other, these windows and doors lure me to know more what goes on behind. Luckily enough I struck up a conversation with a gentleman who lived across the lane this arvo so hoping to catch up with him tomorrow. All are private residences. He tells me 'Friday is a bad day to meet his neighbours as everyone is out'.

For more info visit www.blue-dog.com.au http://www.blue-dog.com.au

It’s all in the eyes

By Danielle Lancaster

Ever wondered how photographers set up their lighting – well check out the eyes. This is where you can tell what lighting source has been used.

In this portrait a ring flash was used to light the subject.
Image Danielle Lancaster ©

The eyes in a portrait should have catch lights – preferably between 10 and 2. And ideally there should only be one in each eye. I saw an image today that a ‘professional’ posted on Facebook of a shoot they recently did of a young girl. Lovely image of the girl but the eyes had more than one catch light that made her look a little peculiar.

Catch lights make a portrait 'pop'

Some photographers these days also place the catch lights in post processing. We won’t get into that debate here as this article is on lighting and making the eyes pop.

The eyes are usually the first thing we notice when we look at a portrait and without the catch light can look a dark hole. Our eyes can be very powerful in an image and reveal much about the person and their emotion at the time of shooting. As they say ‘the eyes are the window’ to the soul’.

Eyes with without a catch light can look dark and as if a black hole.

Multiple catch lights can make the subject look 'odd'.

When we look at a photo of a face, the first thing we notice are usually the eyes. Eyes themselves make a powerful subject and can say a lot about the person and emotion.

The lighting we use in a portrait is important as it sets the mood. With Side-lighting we can create a very moody image, back lighting can be extremely powerful while direct frontal lighting can flatten the image. 

So next time you are wondering how that image was lit – check out the eyes.

In the image below a soft box was used.
Image Danielle Lancaster ©

In this image above reflector was used while in the image below direct flash was used.
Image Danielle Lancaster ©

Nikon's 24mm f/1.4mm impresses us!

A few months ago now, a box arrived via courier and in it was Nikon’s newish 24mm f/1.4 G ED N Aspherical lens. A prime wide at 1.4 I thought, Nikon you have done it again!

The Nikon 24mm  f/1.4

No seriously, this is not meant to be a catalyst for a great Nikon versus Canon debate – hold the emails! The team at CameraPro in Brisbane had sent it out on loan for me to have a play and there were a couple of things I was disappointed with by the time it left and a few I was happy with.

Onto the D3 it went and its 618g in weight didn’t make it feel uncomfortable in the hands. It was our Tamborine Mountain Bluedog Photography Weekend Retreat so I used it happily during the weekend ‘snapping’ off random images of the weekend’s activities. Some lucky person even won $100 voucher for any Bluedog Photography workshop, retreat or tour by guessing the lens I was trialling on the Bluedog Facebook Group.

 The retreat group 'snapped' with the 24mm f/1.4

Back to the lens.... it’s focusing on auto is silent and its super sharp. The 24mm lens has a huge depth-of-field! Even at f/1.4, there is not a lot out of focus. At every aperture I played with and especially 1.4, it was the same: sharp, sharp and sharp.

Sand Blow
Image by Danielle Lancaster

For those that like the low light and a bit of action then this is one I reckon could be worth making it into your kit. Think of it like this: the 24mm will show camera shake due to hand shake only half as much as the 50mm f1.4 so you can pick up a stop and shoot at a lower shutter speed. But since the 24mm lens has four times the depth-of-field as the 50mm lens, it means a whole heap more in focus at f/1.4 while shoot the same on the 50mm and there is a dramatic difference – there’s little in focus on the 50mm at f/1.4. So what that means is, it is exceptionally capable for low-light hand-held photography and especially if there’s some action. And it’s suitable for both film and FX digital SLRs (see below in ‘A few Specs’).

The Silent Wave Motor is responsible for its quieter autofocus operation, while the lens also features an anti-reflective Nano Crystal coating and both ED and aspherical lens elements to help minimize distortion and chromatic aberration. The sharpness from edge to edge appeared to have minimum distortion and coma, and no apparent ghosting. With a distortion rating listed of +1.5 there are many, many worse out there. As we often say it’s all about the glass. The f/1.4 aperture and nine blade rounded diaphragm contribute to render images with stunning NIKKOR trademark bokeh – yah!

Another feature I like in a lens is to be able to just turn the manual focus ring at any time to fine tune my focus without having to unlock a button or click in a lock and I could do that with this camera though in saying that the need to do was minimal with the astounding DOF.

It’s a lens that I feel Nikon has built to last and be tough for those that like the wilds. Extensive use of magnesium in the construction, weather and dust sealing, including around the mount are prime examples of this. It is has really been designed for those that like their landscapes, low light and photo journalists (though for some photo journalists it will still too big for street work).

Image by Danielle Lancaster

Disappointments:
I did not get a chance (my fault) to try it in a night landscape scenario which I would love to do.

It does not now live in my kit!
 

This item was supplied for an independent review. The author receives no remuneration for trailing the product and therefore the review is independent.

For more information on the lens please contact CameraPro

Next lens review could be the 28-300mm so many are gloating about and is now in my kit - am I as happy as others? 

A Few Specs:

Compatibility:  Works perfectly on an all digital Nikon, both FX and DX, and even on Nikon's cheaper digitals like the D40, D40x, D60, D3000 and D5000.

Diagonal Angle of View: 84° (61° with Nikon DX format)
Minimum aperture: f/16

Lens Construction: 12 elements/10 groups; 2 ED glass elements; 2 aspherical elements

Minimum Focus: 0.25m

Filter Thread: 77mm

 Image courtesy Nikon