On Imitation - Looking for Snapshots (Mon 13 Oct 2014)

Che 'Homer' Guevara (*) - Rialto Bridge / Venice (Thu 11 Sep 2014)
Looking for Snapshots (*) writes on Imitation (*):

We know that snapshots are mostly boring, but a found photo—a snapshot or other non-art photo given meaning by someone who didn’t take it—can be boring, too: finding a photo can be as thoughtless an activity as taking one. Both logic and experience suggest that the percentages are no better for found photos than for any other kind. One way a found photo can be boring is to be derivative.

[..] imitation is something you don’t want to get rid of: cultural transmission couldn’t happen without it. There’s no bright line between an artist who imitates and one who is (productively) influenced, or between an artist who isn’t doing anything new and one who is carrying on a tradition. An artist who imitates is probably one who loves, and love is a good thing.

via Imitation (*) by Looking for Snapshots (*).

Another great piece of writing and presentation. Writing seems to be easy if you know what you want to say. Rule 1: know the point you want to get across.

Favourite Photos - How much beauty in decay! - Hyde Park/Sydney - Dec 2001

Leaf - How much beauty in decay! - Hyde Park/Sydney - Wed 27 Dec 2001 (picasa)
A photo I took after work during the Christmas New Year period of 2001. Fires were burning all round Sydney and the sky was covered in smoke which resulted in a strange orange colour which can be seen in this photo. At the time I was reading much about photography and various photographers. This particular photo was inspired by Eliot Porter.

Eliot Porter was a photographer I found early on in my photography journey and self-education. It was easy to appreciate his work (google). He was a pioneer of colour photography (more here) and his life work was bequested to the Amon Carter Museum in 1990 shortly before he died (NYT Orbituary).

Not sure how I found him, but his name seems to appear whenever landscape photographers start talking about Colour Landscape Photography when compared to Black and White Landscape Photography, particularly that of Ansel Adams (looking at the size of the wikipedia entries, it is easy to see who was more popular both as a photographer and selection of photographic technique).

Found some interesting information about him searching the web (google). Also, found some of his books (along with those of Australia's own Peter Dombrovskis) in the National Library of Australia and would often take a look at them in NLA's reading rooms when in Canberra. Many of his photos resonated with my own vision and definitely influenced me when taking landscape (even streetscape and travel) photos, particularly in the Snow Mountains.

At the UNSW I found the book Eliot Porter: photographs and text (a great article) by Eliot Porter. Learnt a lot from the text and photos selected for the book. The following is a quote (see my photo.net page) from the book, which helped form my photographic vision ..

"It is the beauty of nature that I try to represent by photography. What this expression means to most people, I am quite sure, is such features as flowers of spring, autumn foliage, mountain landscapes, and many other similar aspects about aesthetic qualities of which no one would care to offer contradiction. That they are beautiful is indisputable, but they are not all that is beautiful about nature; in fact they are only the obvious and superficial aspects of nature - which anyone may observe with half and eye. They are the peaks and summits of nature's greatest displays. There is no doubt about their importance; they could not be dispensed with. Underlying and supporting these brillant displays are slow, quiet processes that pass almost unnoticed from season to season, unnoticed by those that think that beauty in natures is all its gaudy displays.

Much is missed if we have eyes only for the bright colors. Nature should be viewed without distinction. All her processes and evolutions are beautiful or ugly to the unbiased and indiscriminating observer. She makes no choice herself; everything that happens has equal significance. Nothing can dispensed with. This is a common mistake that many people make; they think that half of nature can be destroyed - the uncomfortable half - while still retaining the acceptable and the pleasing side; their idea is a paradise where nature stands still. Withering flowers blooming, death follows growth, decay follows death, and life follows decay - in a wonderful, complicated, endless web the beauties of which are manifest to a point of view attached to vulgar restricting concepts of what constitutes beauty in nature. Thoreau, who observerd all aspects of nature throughout his life, repeatedly remarked on the beauty of the unaccepted. 'How much beauty in decay!' he exclaimed on examining a worm-eaten leaf. To him the sere, brown leaves of winter were as beautiful as the fresh green of spring. This was a principle that has remained important for me throughout my career."

A fairly long quote, but for me was definitely something worth remembering.

This link provides a great summary of the life and works of Eliot Porter. I like the ending quote ..

The final paragraphs on the art of photography touch on his views to color, composition and emotional content of his images:

"Sensitivity cannot be faked by trickor devise; it has no substitute, and any attempt to replace it with mechancial contrivances is certain to be apparent to the more discerning critics. Not all photographs have to be inspired to be worth making, but the best, rare photographs are the result of a a force at least very close to inspiration. Formulized work becomes impersonal, an all the individuality of authorship tends to disappear. It unquestionably has its uses, but it is not art."

The book itself echoes Porter's ability to redact nature's chaos into a single harmonious image, and is a well-deserved tribute to this pioneer of color nature photography.

The following was one of my favourite Eliot Porter photos:

Pool in a Brook, Brook Pond/New Hampshire by Eliot Porter - 04 Oct 1953 (Carter Museum)
I recently thought of Eliot Porter and the above photo, when I took the following photo during the 2010 Ord River Marathon:

Ord River Reflections - 2010 Ord River Marathon - Sun 14 Jun 2010

On Performance - Drew Ginn (Mon 24 Dec 2012)

Uniform Top Swap Buddy - The racing was done and the "high pressure" uniform swapping process was in full swing. They had paddled with the USA U23 team and were from Philidelphia. His 16 year old twin brother had already made a swap for an Australian top, so I was more than happy to make sure he did not miss out / one of those great moments in life and paddling for someone like me, who has been around a while - 2011 World Dragon Boat Championships / Tampa (Sun 11 Sep 2011)
After a 16 year career of international performance, the recently retired Drew Ginn (*), made a summary of his personal views On Performance (*). He starts out with the a succient and general summary of his learnings (*):

to compete there needs to be a certain level of conditioning reached through quantity and targeted intensity while maintain integrity of movement effectiveness and harmony.

From which he expands:

Now there is heaps in all that but suffice to say if you do the work, row effectively and are ready for the event then it becomes easier.

Thats not to say its easy to do but rather the flow, process and deliver can be uncomplicated and then the depth of effort can be reached which can put athletes into that state. The state where it takes everything they have while the realisation emerges that it was less hard and not as difficult as previously thought or perceived.

So simply work to make it easier. Focus to help it flow and push to let it happen. Under do it and you feel guilty, over do it and frustration appears and so to get it just right is the key. The flexion point between effort and ease, tension and relaxation, concentration and letting go, its all a fine line and to learn & master is where art form meets science.

Finally then with out the work your not in the game. With out the efficient your unable to make the most of the opportunity. Then with out being ready for the nature of the big event all can be lost in the blur and intensity of what rises on the day. To seize the day requires all three elements to be developed, stimulated and firing.

Been following Drew's Blog (*) since March 2007 and through it I have watched him through two Olympic Games, three World Championships, back surgery after Beijing, a short and successful bike road racing career and his comeback to rowing.

For myself, he has inspired me through three World Dragon Boat Championships, two Asian Dragon Boat Championships, and three World Club Crew DB Championships and countless Local and National events. I think I have just about experienced everything in paddling, though I am not so sure (*) on that - which is something I have learnt from life and I think is a good thing.

His writings make sense to me and I can relate to much of what he has written and shared with us. In short, he is a role model to me and I think he has helped shape who I am as a paddler and a person. He has influenced me in how I train, race, and behave on and off the water. In fact, it was Drew's blog [along with Vern's (*), who is someone Drew can learn from as he moves forward with his coaching career] that helped me get started (*) here almost four years ago.

The above piece of writing at the end of his long and successful career as a rower, is a brilliant summary of what it is all about. He will take all of this into his new career as a coach. All the best Drew.

With thanks .. Geoff

Inspire Award 2012 - Pacific Dragons - Tony "Mouse" Pound (Sat 21 Jul 2012)

Geoff, Tony (Mouse) and Joanne – Inspire Award 2012 / PD’s Award Night - AB Hotel / Glebe (Sat 21 Jul 2012)
Inspire Award 2012 - Pacific Dragons - Tony "Mouse" Pound (Sat 21 Jul 2012)

A few words (*) and a short video (*) after Tony "Mouse" Pound was presented with the 2012 Inspire Award ..

Joanne and I would like to thank Pacific Dragons (*) for Honouring Jenny’s Memory (*) with the Annual Presentation of the Inspire Award (*) – this being the 3rd time it has been presented since she left us (*) on Tue 30 Jun 2009.

We congratulate Tony Pound ("Mouse") the 2012 Inspire Award Recipient.

We know Jenny would be smiling from above and would no doubt be wondering, like the rest of us here "How’s Mouse's Mother's Chooks" are.

We also like the direction of the award has taken.

Being an Annual Award it becomes something of an Anniversary for Joanne and I to celebrate and remember Jenny's life, as the Club and its Members recognise the Achievements of one it's member - Mouse for the 2011/2012 season.

We hope it is also an opportunity for all of us to remember and honour those that have been close to us and have influenced our own lives but are no longer with us.

We also hope it is a time to acknowledge those close to us who are facing their own challenges in life. We hope Jenny's life can be an example as to how to live a fulfilling life with a life-threatening illness as well as provide some hope, belief and inspiration to face the challenges and changes that lay ahead.

So, as it is with all Anniversaries, it is a time reflect on the year just passed and to celebrate on what has been achieved and so tonight we celebrate Mouse's Achievements since coming to the club two seasons ago.

I think, more importantly, for Anniversaries, it is a time to look to the future and set new goals.

This can be challenging as often the path is full of obstacles as well as self-doubts. It almost always requires change, which can be step into the unknown. This is all risky business and the fear of failure and making mistakes can quickly put a stop to all good intentions.

I think those people who inspire us often overcome these obstacles and fears, with the common theme in all of their actions, being the word Belief (*), which is something Jenny had plenty of.

Belief gives us a purpose and intent as we strive towards a goal.

A photographer I follow recently wrote [Alex Coghe (*)] about belief in the context of photography, but it can be applied to all aspects of our lives. It is succinct and goes:

"If you believe, you are stronger and the light will reward you."

Basedy on my own life experiences I know this to be true [A longer version here (*)].

We congratulate you all on another great year with Pacific Dragons.

Finally, we thank you and the Club for the Amazing Experiences that are created for us and we share together. For you see as Seth Godin wrote:

"The experiences we create [and share] are the moments that define us."

We look forward to the season ahead and we hope you are having ..

"The Time of Your Life."

We Remember Jenny - The Time of Your Life..

Remembering Jenny - Time of Your Life / Greenday - Youtube (Sat 21 Jul 2012)
Live Long and Prosper .. Geoff and Joanne (Sat 21 Jul 2012)

Postscript (Mon 23 Jul 2012): I wanted to add the following quote (*) into the video but did not have the time to work out. So here it is ..

Give me the courage, tenacity & positivity to change that which I can... (with a smile on my face!) (15 Jun 2009)

Give me the serenity, humility & tolerance to accept that which I cannot... (16 Jun 2009)

And give me the wisdom, humbleness & strength to know the difference. (17 Jun 2009)

Sandhill Warrior (Rob Rowland-Smith)

Labels: Belief, Inspire Award, Pacific Dragons, Sat 21 Jul 2012, Remembering Jenny, Jenny Petterson, Sandhill Warrior, Change

Favourite Photos - Intersection - Singapore - Sep 2009

Intersection - Central Boulevard/Raffles Quay - Singapore - Mon 28 Sep 2009 (picasa)
As with most of my Favourite Photos, it just comes down to colour and composition. The yellow lines of the intersection come together to form an apparent big yellow arrow. Like the effect of the painted over lines.

Reminds me of a scene that Jeffrey Smart might paint (examples). I enjoy his work and have a few of his books which have provided much inspiration, particularly while travelling. It is fun to make a photo with good composition and colour, from nothing. Will put up a selection of my favourite Jeffrey Smart influenced photos with time.

Found a couple quotes I liked about Smart's work ..

Indeed, Smart's conception of what he does is thus - "My only concern is putting the right shapes in the right colours in the right places. It is always geometry." [..]

Smart's subject matter is very urban and in many ways, mundane and often bleak, but he treats it in such a way as to make it almost special, using colour and light to make the urban landscapes/objects themselves scapes to be admired for their honesty.


Screenshot - Google Images - Jeffrey Smart Paintings

Influence - Maggie Barrett (Sat 06 Feb 2016)

Untitled - Port Augusta (Sun 10 Apr 2016)

Maggie Barrett on Influence:

Only by living in other cultures amid other languages can we fully understand how much we are formed and influenced by the place in which we grew up.

via SLIP STREAM by Maggie Barrett.

On Numbers and Performance - Vernon Gambetta (Thu 23 Oct 2014)

The Numbers - GPS Results for an Outrigging Training Session - (Thu 23 Oct 2014)
Functional Path Training (*) writes on Numbers (*) and Performance (*):

Numbers need context. Numbers are one dimensional, human performance is multidimensional. We must focus on the human element, the athlete; they are not integers in an equation.

via It’s Still Just A Number (*) by Vernon Gambetta (*).

The numbers always tell a story if you know how to look at them.

The trained eye can see more than the numbers. They see the elements that create them - the environment, human performance and emotion they reflect. I've learnt so much from the numbers and I know how to read them for the sport I have been participating for almost ten years now - an example (*).

I've also seen how the environment, physical and mental reflect their way into performance and as a result, the numbers. I guess it's called experience. You can sit back and let experiences pass you by without even noticing. But if you stop and reflect on the experience, you will remember the how's and the why's of the result. They feed back into future experiences and you will improve.

I do know what Vern talks about though. The numbers are a guide and should not be the be and end all. You have to be there to see how the human element influenced the performance, which are reflected in the numbers. It's the context Vernon talks about.

Splendid isolation - Sebastian Smee - Weekend Australian, 8-9 Jan 2005

Splendid isolation - Sebastian Smee - Weekend Australian, 8-9 Jan 2005, R14
Splendid isolation - Sebastian Smee - Weekend Australian, 8-9 Jan 2005, R15
From the text of the article above Splendid Isolation - Sebastian Smee - Weekend Australian, 8-9 Jan 2005, R15. (*) ..

All these paintings, like the geology that so fascinated both artists, were fastidiously composed. In Willimas case, the compositions were partly inspired by the Chinese landscapes he had seen on a trip to China in 1976.

"Dynamic symmetery" was his underlying principle. Rather than constructing a simple, balanced form around a central point. Williams tried to achieve a dynamic relationship between various elements in his work, often around an empty core.

He had learned some of the principles of dynamic symmetery from George Bell at Bell's private art school in Melbourne. But his sensitivity to them was enhanced by his exposure to Asian art. Many of Australia's greatest landscape artists have been similarly influenced by Asian principles of composition - John Olsen, Ian Fairweather, Rosalie Cascoigne and Joe Furlonger, to name just a few - no doubt because the idea shifting elements relating to each other around an empty core seems tailor-made fro the Australian landscape, with its absence of obvious focal points.

"One of the few thoughts I have ever had about Australia is that it is the oldest continent, in the sense that it is flat," Williams said "and I have always been fascinated to think that the water leaves the Snowy Mountains, leaves Kosciuszko. If you tip a bucket of water up in Kosciuszko, seven months later it comes out in Adelaide - seven months, because the landscape is horizontal."

Recently found a copy of this in an old folder. I had thought of it many times over the years and really enjoy the paintings of Fred Williams (follow label below). I remember reading this while we were staying at Boonoona Ski Lodge in January 2005. I had my large format camera with me and the article helped me find some transparencies from the time in the mountains during that summer visit.

On Letting Go - Jeremy Rolleston (Mon 13 Jan 2014)

Portrait - Amsterdam (Tue 20 Aug 2013)
Jeremy Rolleston (*) writes On Letting Go (*):

Give up the past (*). We’ve all been hurt, we all [..] made mistakes (*), we’ve all had challenges (*) and faced our own battles (*). But don’t let your past define your future (*). Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but they don’t define our future – we are responsible for who we become and for our own happiness (*).

via Are you happy ? … 10 things to give-up in exchange for happiness (*) by Jeremy Rolleston (*).

5th Ave: A Special Hunting Ground for Street Photographers

Part of a conversation between Colin Westerbeck and Joel Meyerowitz (*, *) about the latter's memories of his own early days as a street photographer in New York in the 1960s and his association with Robert Frank (*), Garry Winogrand (*), Diane Arbus (*), Lee Friedlander (*), and others.

Colin Westerbeck: Did Fifth always seem such a special hunting ground for you street photographers?
 
Joel Meyerowitz: Oh yeah. Because Fifth Avenue was the most exciting, and it had the most light.

I think Madison was too dark, Park was too wide, Third still had the El in the early sixties, or they were beginning to tear it down anyway, Third was creepy. Sixth Avenue didn't have much on it.
 
We certainly made some circuits around there, but really Fifth Avenue had the pulse of lie, the most vigor, the most beautiful women, the heaviest business action. The mix was best on Fifth.
 
I  mean, you got it all, from high fashion to messengers.
 
It just was everything. pushcarts, pretzel vendors, and limousines.
 
It had the contradictions of life in a big city, and that kind of counterpoint was the stuff of commentary.
 
That's what you could mock, that's what you could wait for, because it was more exciting to see those combinations there.

An extract from Still Going from Bystander: A History of Street Photography (*) by Colin Westerbeck and Joel Meyerowitz.
 
I really like the Lunch Series (*) by Gus Powell (*) and In Color (*) by Richard Bram (*).

I can definitely relate to what is said here. Would have influenced me a lot if I had read this before I went to New York recently. Meyerowitz's photos all just have that something extra when you look at them closely. Inspiring work for sure,

Red and Yellow (1 of 2) - 5th Avenue - New York (Mon 15 Aug 2011)
Red and Yellow (2 of 2) - 5th Avenue - New York (Mon 15 Aug 2011)
My Mom Totally Rocks - Green - 5th Ave - New York (Sat 13 Aug 2011)
Intersection - 5th Ave - New York (Sat 13 Aug 2011)

Minutes to Midnight - Trent Parke

Minutes to Midnight (*) - Trent Parke (*)
A great insight into this body of work which will be published as a book in mid-August..

It depends on where you come from and what you've been influenced when growing up, the reaction you will have to specific imagery [..] it just depends on what has happened in your life to bring what you bring to these images, what that conjour up and what they mean to a specific person. [..]

It's important that people react to the images from their own perspective from where they have come in life.

I have learned (by unknown)

I found the following piece while poking around Paulo Coelho's myspace page (he is on every social media site :-). Anyway, I like this and thought I would put it here to share as well as remember. What I have learned. There is much wisdom here:

I have learned (by author unknown) ..

• I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.


• I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back;


• I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.


• I've learned that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts;


• I've learned that you can get by on charm, for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something;


• I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do.


• I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.


• I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person that I want to be.


• I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may b the last time you see them.


• I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.


• I've learned that we are responsible for all we do, no matter how we feel.


• I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.


• I've learned that no matter how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take it's place.


• I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.


• I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.


• I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.


• I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're downhill are the ones to help you get back up.


• I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.


• I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.


• I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean that they don't love you with all they have.


• I've learned that maturity had more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.


• I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.


• I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.


• I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to forgive yourself.


• I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.


• I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.


• I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.


• I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.


• I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.


• I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.


• I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will get hurt in the process.


• I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.


• I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.


• I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.


• I've learned that the people you care about the most in life are taken from you too soon.


• I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

'Angel's Hand and Wing' - A Church / Brussels - Europe 2009 - A Second Look - 11 Sep 2009 (picasa)

Thank You Jenny

Thank you Jenny.

You have given me everything I could have ever hoped for in my Life. We supported each other as we found purpose and direction in our lives together.

You will always inspire and guide us as we continue to live meaningful and fulfilling lives through amazing experiences we find and make with ourselves and our friends.

We will always remember you and honour your memory.

We live on in your Afterglow ..

Jenny and Geoff - Cape Leveque / Western Australia (Tue 08 May 2001)



Coming together is a beginning - Aus Squad 2011 - Parkes Place / Canberra - Sun 04 Apr 2011 (picasa)
Pacific Dragons End of Regatta Team Photo - Orange is not a Colour - It's a way of Life - 2011 Nationals - Canberra (Fri 01 Apr 2011)
PD's Mixed Team Pre-race Team Huddle - 2011 Nationals - Canberra (Fri 01 Apr 2011)
Geoff, Rachel (RaRa), Kaizer, Jo and Rachel - Pacific Dragons Masters Team Mates / NSW Master's Dragon Boat Squad - Parkes Place / Canberra - Thu 01 Apr 2011
All of us - NSW Master's Dragon Boat Squad - Parkes Place / Canberra - Thu 01 Apr 2011
Geoff - 21 Months Down the Track - On Grief - Alexandria (0:16am Wed 30 Mar 2011)
Pacific Dragons Women's A and B Teams and Mixed Team - All done - NSW OC6 State Titles - Gunnamatta Bay / Cronulla (Sat 26 Mar 2011)
Pacific Dragon's Long Course Mixed Crew - from front to back - Graeme, Gen, Matt, Eloise, Meising and Geoff - 2011 OC6 State Titles - Cronulla / Sydney - Sat 26 Mar 2011 (Photo by Camocean)
Geoff - confirmed - Sydney - 2:57pm Tue 01 Feb 2010
Australian Grand Masters Selection Squad 2011 - Canberra - Wed 05 Jan 2011- (picasa - original)
DBNSW EDS - Dragon Boat - Narrabeen Camp (Fri-Sun 26-28 Nov 2010)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew (From Seat 1: Mark Hall, Graeme Bacon, Stuart Young, Peter McAlister, Grant Billen and Geoff Eldridge) - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
Pacific Dragons Mens Crew (From Seat 1: Mark Hall, Graeme Bacon, Stuart Young, Peter McAlister, Grant Billen and Geoff Eldridge) - Five Island OC6 Regatta - Sun 14 Nov 2010 (picasa by Shell)
St George Hospital Gunners - Dragons Abreast Festival 2010 (Sun 31 Oct 2010)
St George Hospital Gunners - Dragons Abreast Festival 2010 (Sun 31 Oct 2010)
Team Vela / Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2010 - Geoff Eldridge (Steerer), Jo Petterson, Alasdair Grant, Charlotte Pache, Rachel Mosen and Graeme Bacon - Windsor - Sat 23 Oct 2010 (picasa)
Geoff and Joanne - Jenny's Memorial and Ashes Placement - Woronora - 30 Aug 2010
Premier Mixed 500m Final - World Champions - Macau/China - Sat 31 Jul 2010
Remembering Jenny - A few steps from where Jenny carried the Australian Flag at the 2006 Asian Champs - Pacific Dragons - 2010 World Club Crews - Macau (Thu 29 Jul 2010)
Remembering Jenny - A few steps from where Jenny carried the Australian Flag at the 2006 Asian Champs - Pacific Dragons - 2010 World Club Crews - Macau (Thu 29 Jul 2010)
Pacific Dragons - 2km Premier Mixed A Team - (b-f-l-r) Kaizer Austin, Michelle Hone, Lisa Green, Rachel Mosen, Joanne Petterson, Nicola Frowen, Geoff Eldridge (Jenny's Candle), Kerry Davenport, Helen Papin, Paul Smith, Di Morgan, Michelle Ng, Stuart Young, Anne Weber, Christian Happich, Annett Happich, Christophe Pistoni, Craig Stewart, Graeme Bacon, Matt Spies, Michal Hrcka, Justin Spake, Mark Hall, Todd Skeels, Norman Joe - Macau/China - Thu 29 Jul 2009
The Spirit of Friendship - Back (l-r) Geoff Eldridge, Louise Blockley, Debbie Roberts, Lynne Barrass, Barb Williams, Joy Mutimer, Jan Giles, John Caldwell, Jan Caldwell, Front (l-r) Joanne Peterson, Rita Redden, Gillian Brown, Sharon Mathieson, Julie Willis - Lily Lake/Kununarra - Ord River Marathon 2010 - Sun 13 Jun 2010
The Start/Ord Dam Wall - Ord River Marathon 2010 - Sun 13 Jun 2010
Aurora's 5km Turns Team - 2010 Asian Championships - Wujin / China (Sun 02 May 2010)
Flag Bearer - 2010 Asian Dragon Boat Championships Opening Ceremony - Wujin/China (Fri 30 Apr 2010)
2010 Asian Dragon Boat Championships Opening Ceremony - Amazing and Moving - Wujin/China (Sun 30 Apr 2010)
Flag Bearer - Geoff and Jen - 2010 Asian Dragon Boat Championships Opening Ceremony - Wujin/China (Fri 30 Apr 2010)
PD's - Narrabeen 4km OC1 Time Trial (20 Mar 2010)
Jo and Geoff - Mount Kosciuszko Summit - Fri 1 Jan 2010
Grant, Grace, Betty, Thomas, Lynn, David, Joanne, Geoff - Coffs Harbour - 25 Dec 2009 (picasa)
Geoff, Jo, Family and Friends - "Remembering and Honouring - Jenny's Flowers on the Water" - Sun 07 Dec 2009 (picasa)
Geoff, Jo, Family and Friends - "Remembering and Honouring - Jenny's Flowers on the Water" - Sun 07 Dec 2009 (picasa)
Geoff and Joanne at Fabio Casartelli's Memorial - "we stumbled upon it by complete accident" - "It's not about the Paddle" - Col de Portet d'Aspet - Wed 23 Sep 2009 (picasa)
Joanne and Geoff - Spreading some of Jenny's Ashes on the River near the Charles Bridge just down from the Kafka Museum - Prague - Mon 01 Sep 2009 (picasa)
Geoff, Mike and Joanne with Jenny's Paddle and Jenny's Gold Medal - Prague/Racice - Day 5 - Sun 30 Aug 2009
Geoff, Joanne, Rachel, Gav, Graeme, Helen, Amanda and Matt - 'Thanks Pacific Dragons Team Mates' - Racice / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)
Senior Mixed 500m Final - World Champions - Day 4 - 29 Aug 2009 - "Don't Wonder 'What If?'" Jenny P
Australian Senior Mixed 500m Team - World Champions – Prague/Racice - Day 4 - 29 Aug 2009
Australian Senior Dragon Boat Open, Womens and Mixed Teams - George Dimech, Deb Hirst, Eileen McKechie, Sharyn Whitton, Donna Hughes, Joanne O'Brien, Jo Petterson, Ewen McDonald, Anne Weber, Geoff Eldridge, Ian George, Deb Cooper, Lisa Mills, David Barber, Leon Paap, Rick Lambe, Diana Dent, Lynne Donohoe, Peter McAlister, Gio Cercone, Frank Calcara, Lisa Fairfull, Kristin McKechie, Ashur Barutha, Rob Turnbull, Pam Jeffery, Kaizer Austin, Matt Spies, Ray Debono, Graeme Bacon, Richard Thomson, Murray Pellicciaro, Becky Bose, Willy Paku, Vince Giannetto, Amanda Wyllie, Mark Pendergast, Danny Monga, Charlotte Richards, Helen Hudson, George Louie, Rachel Mosen, Jane Perkins, Rosemary Riley, Fiona Gray, Linda Collins, Rachel Giang, Steve McKeogh, Doreen MacGillivray, Karen Hall (missing) - Racice / Prague - Tue 25 Aug 2009 (picasa)
Geoff and Joanne - Kirrawee - Fri 03 Jul 2009
Geoff - "an early start for the first day of the rest of my life - 'where do you start?'" - On Grief - Alexandria - 7am Wed 01 Jul 2009 (picasa)
Jenny, Joanne and Geoff - St George ICU - Sun 28 Jun 2009 (picasa)
Jenny - about 1 hour before her heart failed as she ate her lunch - she was revived twice and survived another week in intensive care where her lungs ultimately failed from a massive pulmonary hemorrhage - as Jodie, Jenny's Oncologist, said 'it started with the lungs and ended with the lungs' - St George Private Hospital - Tue 23 Jun 2009
Geoff by Jenny - the last photo Jenny ever took - Jenny (and Jo) loved photography and they have influenced me greatly, as you if could not guess :-) - Tue 23 Jun 2009 (picasa)
Jenny and Jodi (Jenny's Oncologist of 12 years) - St George Private Hospital - Mon 22 Jun 2009
Jenny, Joanne, David and Geoff - "Jenny takes a photo of us all just before she heads out to have a 4cm brain tumor removed. She had no fear and looked forward to quickly recovering to resume the treatment of the tumors in her liver." - The Night before Brain Surgery - St George - 6:30am Wed 17 Jun 2009 (picasa)
Thank you - Geoff, Marty, Norm, Christian, Todd and Billy - Had just done a successful Individual Time Trial for Prague that morning at Penrith - just made it to the start and we had a great race all things considered. - State Titles OC6 Long Course - Ettalong - Sat 09 May 2009 (picasa)
Jo, Maurie and Jenny - 2009 Australian Dragon Boat Nationals - Kawana - 26 Apr 2009 (picasa)
The Australian Dragon Boat Community acknowledging Pacific Dragons "9 from 9" - A truly great moment - the applause was spontaneous and heart felt - it was in recognitioin of our coaches, paddlers and our compititors that made the achievement even more noteworthy - I was proud to be a member of the Ausrtalian Dragon Boat Communuty that moment, that day, that weekend - 2009 DB Nationals - Kawana / Qld - Sun 26 Apr 2009 (picasa)
Eugene and Geoff - Premier Open 200m Presentation - "PD's - nine from nine !! - I did not really want this weekend to end as I kind of knew the end was beginning to start (Editors: An End has a Start)." - Kawana - Sun 26 Apr 2009 (picasa)
Premier Open 200m Final - 2009 Nationals - Kawana / Qld - Sun 26 Apr 2010 (picasa)
'Thank You Pacific Dragons Family' - (l-b-f-r) Geoff, Graeme, Kaizer, Norm, Lisa, Christian, Darren, Adam, Mark, Todd, Jo, Dave, Matt, Helen, Jenny, Gav, John, Eugene, Kristen, Christoph, PaulC, Mandy, Julia, Craig, Dean, Phil, Toby, Andrew, Shell, Becky, Jo, Bonny, Mel, Kath, Phil, Charlotte, Nicola, Lucy, Di, Dave, Leesa, Rachel, Michelle, PaulS, Suzy, Amanda, Linda, Annett, Billy. - AusDBF 2009 National Dragon Boat Titles - Kawana / Qld - Sun 26 Apr 2009 (picasa)
Jenny, Geoff and Joanne - State - Kawana - Thu 23 Apr 2009 (picasa)
Jenny - she has just been presented with 2006 Aus Flag Bearer Recognition Trophy (Macau 2006 - a story for another day) - Kawana - 23 Apr 2009 (picasa)
Whosus (picasa) - Balmoral Saturday Open Water Session (more here) - Sat 04 Apr 09 (PD's Photo Album)
PD's Mixed A DB Team - Geoff, Jo, Annett and Amanda - Love the Smiles!! - 2km Turns Race / 2009 DBNSW State Titles - SIRC / Penrith (Sat 21 Mar 2009)
Jenny and Joanne at the Mt Kosciuszko Summit - Mt Kosciuszko Main Range Summit Walk (Thu 01 Jan 2009)
DBNSW 2008 EDS - Thank you George - Dragon Boat (Sun 30 Nov 2008)
Whosus Christening - Geoff, Jenny, Joanne and Whosus - Glebe School / Blackwattle Bay (Sat 17 Oct 2008)
A Special Moment - VADB, City Dragons and Pacific Dragons - 2008 World Club Crew Championships - Penang/Malaysia (Sun 03 Aug 2008)
Pacific Dragons - Penang - Club Crew World Championships - Sun 03 Aug 2008 (picasa)
Premier Mixed Final - Chinese New Year - "Pain is temporary. It may last a minute,.." - Darling Harbour (Sat 16 Feb 2008)
All Done!! - Premier Mixed Final - Chinese New Year - ".. but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." - Darling Harbour (Sat 16 Feb 2008)
Joanne, Michelle and Jenny - International Dragons Abreast Festival - Kawana / Queensland (picasa)
Geoff, Jenny, Don McKenzie and Joanne - International Dragons Abreast Festival - Kawana / Queensland (picasa)
International Dragons Abreast Festival - Kawana / Queensland (picasa)
Sharon Lockett, Claire Tingey, James Fuda, Geoff, Sandra Simms, and Mark Hall - 2007 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (Sun 28 Oct 2007)
Joanne and Jenny - World Dragon Boat Championships - Penrith - Sep 2007 (picasa)
Joanne, Geoff and Joanne - World Dragon Boat Championships - Penrith - Sep 2007 (picasa)
Australian Masters Dragon Boat Tema - World Dragon Boat Championships - Penrith - Sep 2007 (picasa)
Australian Senior Dragon Boat Team - 1000m Silver Medalists - 2007 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships - Penrith Regatta Centre / Sydney (Thu 20 Sep 2007)
Pacific Dragons - Australian National Dragon Boat Championships - Sun 08 Apr 2007 (picasa)
NSW Open Masters Team - National Champions - 2007 AusDBF National Dragon Boat Titles - SIRC / Penrith (Thu 05 Apr 2007)
Jenny, Jodie (Jenny's Oncologist for 12 years), Kerry and Joanne - CNY 2007 - Darling Harbour / Sydney - Feb 2007 (picasa)
Team Happy - Geoff, Jenny, Mandy, Jo, Nicci and Paul - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Brooklyn - Sun 29 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Jenny and Joanne - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Windsor - Sat 28 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Pacific Dragons Crews and Supporters - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Windsor - Sat 28 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Joanne, Jenny and Geoff - Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 2006 - Windsor - Sat 28 Oct 2006 (picasa)
Chris (Zeus), Paul Bizannes, Ray Leung, Jenny, Geoff, Joanne, Austin Chin - 2005 Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Macau (Sat 23 Sep 2006)
"The great thing is that Geoff, Jo and I get to train together." Jenny, Geoff and Jo - Macau / China - Sat 23 Sep 2006 (picasa)
Jenny - Australian Dragon Boat Team - Opening Ceremony - Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Macau / China - Sat 23 Sep 2006 (picasa)
Jenny - Australian Dragon Boat Team - Opening Ceremony - Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Macau / China - Sat 23 Sep 2006 (picasa)
Geoff and Jenny - "Great Ocean Road Road Trip - post Nationals at Nagambie - a burnt throat from an intensive bout of radiation treatment, made it almost impossible for Jenny to eat for 3 weeks, but it would not stop her from smiling .. Jo and I now wear the chain Jenny is wearing - Jo as a bracelet and me as a chain - Jo's 2009 Xmas Present to me." - Point Londsdale - 20 Apr 2006 (picasa)
200m Premier Open 200m Final - Let's do it again - but better - Nagambie / Victoria - Apr 2006
Jenny and Joanne - NSW Masters Women's Coaches - Nagambie / Victoria - Apr 2006 (picasa)
Australian Masters Mixed Dragon Boat 500m Team - 2005 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships - Berlin (Fri 05 Aug 2005)
2005 Australian Dragon Boat Squad - Heading out to Berlin for Worlds - Sydney Internatinal Airport (Sun 31 Jul 2005)
2005 NSW Dragon Boat Team - Maurie's up the back (as per usual) on the left - AusDBF National Dragon Boat Championships - Canberra (Fri 08 Apr 2005)
Geoff, JT and George - George congratulating his team after winning the National Title - my first Regatta - Masters Open Final 500m - 2005 AusDBF National DB Titles - Yarraluma / Canberra (Fri 8 Apr 2005)
"Despair" - Canberra (Sat 12 Mar 2005) )
Lynn and Geoff at Tim's Place - "the day after we said goodbye to our younger brother Tim" - Griffith / Canberra (Sat 12 Mar 2005)
Joanne - Bronze Medalists - Australian Premier Mixed 500m Dragon Boat Team - Shanghai - Oct 2004 (picasa)
Australian Premier Mixed Dragon Boat Team - Shanghai - Oct 2004 (picasa)
Australian Masters Women's Dragon Boat Team - Shanghai - Oct 2004 (picasa)

Jenny and Joanne - Australian Representatives together - a dream come true against all the odds - Qingpu / China (21 Oct 2004)
Wind in the Willows - one of Jenny's Favourite Photos - Qingpu / China (Wed 20 Oct 2004)
Shanghai bound 2004 Australian World Championship Dragon Boat Squad - Sydney International Airport (Sat 16 Oct 2004)
In the Pink - Australian Story - Mon 14 Jun 2004
In the Pink - Australian Story - Mon 14 Jun 2004
Ben Cheshire and Jenny - Jenny had just completed a 4 hour interview with Ben - Australian Story Filming - Kirrawee (Fri 14 May 2004)
National Champs - Shanghai - here we come - NSW Masters Mixed Team - AusDBF 2004 National Dragon Boat Championships - Perth/WA - Fri 9 Apr 2004 (picasa)
National Champs - Shanghai - here we come - NSW Masters Mixed Team - AusDBF 2004 National Dragon Boat Championships - Perth/WA - Fri 9 Apr 2004
Jenny Ready to Go - Jenny is ready to compete at her first Nationals as NSW Representative - she was so excited - you can see it in the way she stands and her smile - Perth Apartments / Perth - AusDBF 2004 National Dragon Boat Championships - Perth/WA (Fri 09 Apr 2004)
Jenny - St George Hospital - Aug 2003 (picasa)
2003 Australian Dragon Boat Team - Poznan Bound - Sydney International Airport (Aug 2003) (picasa)
Jenny and Joanne (Dragons Abreast Sydney) - In the Beginning - together and having so much fun Blackwattle Bay / Sydney (Jan 2003)
Jenny and Geoff - Cape Leveque / Western Australia (Tue 08 May 2001)
Joanne, Tim, Geoff, Jenny, David and Jenny - Gunnamatta Bay / Cronulla - Sun 30 Apr 2000 (picasa)
Jenny and Geoff - "In Love and Together - the most amazing day of my life." - Wedding Day - Sun 30 April 2000 (picasa)
Geoff and Jenny - The Summit - Feb 1999 (picasa)
Geoff - New York City Marathon - Nov 1990 - Brooklyn (picasa)
Geoff and Lynn - maybe 1963 ? - "Lynn has this: one of my earliest memories - sitting on top the lounge having our photo taken." - Tamworth (picasa)