Lines, Lights and Reflections

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

This scene feels very geometric to me. I think it has a lot to do with with the lines in the structure.

This is my submission into Leanne Cole‘s “Monochrome Madness” for this week. The next one is hosted by Dawn of The Day After, and she has chosen “Modes of Transportation” as her theme.

This challenge is open to all, and I recommend joining in. If want to, check out more information about it here, and include the tag “monochrome-madness” when you share your photo. If you’d prefer not to join in, then at the least check out Leanne’s photography, and what other people submit.

I hope you enjoy.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 1511: Ride Along the Cooks

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

So I’ve been meaning to write about this for a couple of days, but you know how things get away from us.

Being back on the bike is great. It’s tiring, but it’s great. I did miss it as I always do, but now I’ve more the means to do it and I’ve more the means to get the bike fixed, and I might just take it into a shop and get it done properly. Save myself the hassle.

Anyway, Monday afternoon I left work late, went to the station to get to a station that would take me close to Cooks River, and there was an issue with power supply, so the station I wanted to get to was not accessible. Had to think on my feet, and by that I mean looking at what the next nearest station I could get to would be.

Sydenham.

Okay. So I go to the platform and miss a train, and that happens. It sucks, but it happens. But it did eat a lot of time. I was at work late due to organising an event and that was a whole lot of fun. But then missing the train… it happens, but it ate into time. Anyway.

So I go to Sydenham station and I cycle from there, and it was uphill but I do it. I get it done, and eventually it was downhill and it’s not long before I’m along Cooks River in the dark and cold, and it was dark and cold. But it was easy. It was pleasing, in a sense, and it was dramatic. I was tired and I was starting to really feel the morning’s ride but I kept going. I wanted to get home as quickly as I could because I wanted to get warm and I still had things to do before I went to sleep, and those things weren’t going to wait for me. Well, they were and still are, but I wanted to be productive when I got home, but that didn’t happen but I digress.

So I rode along a river, and I stopped when I saw mist on a field. I took photos and continued on, as one does. I rode along and I followed the cycleway, and I took a wrong turn at some point and left it earlier than I was meant to, but that was fine.

During the ride one of the songs I had on was “The Way Home” from Terranigma‘s soundtrack. I listened to it and what it was getting across, and I too desired for my last dream to be that of a bird, soaring over and through the world I was a part of and watch how it changed as it moved away from me.

And I got home and it was cold, and it was fine, but I got nothing done and that’s okay. I was too tired and it was expected, and overall it was a good ride to do.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 07:31:33

I was hoping to write something more expressive. That was not to be, apparently. Had I written this soon after the ride, I think I would’ve pulled it off. Oh well.

Written at Dirty Red.

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Waffle Light

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

Two days of cycling have taken it out of me, so here’s a photo of a light I recently saw.
I have an idea of where I saw it, though I can’t exactly remember where. I think I’ve walked past it a few times and never noticed its design until shortly before taking this photo.

I think the light was on before I got the photo.

I hope you enjoy.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 1510: Cold Ride

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

So I missed cycling, but there are things I’d do better after this morning. I would do better, but I probably won’t because apparently I’m not good at learning a valuable lesson. Alas.

So it was dark, as is the way of these early morning departures. It was also six degrees celsius. That’s fine. I’ll survive. I’ve been through worse. Don’t need to wear a jacket, I’ll be fine.

Not wearing a jacket was not a good idea.

I did warm up, but not enough to sweat which is fine. My fingers were not happy, however, and even though they are warmer and have been warmer for a a couple of hours now, they’re still feeling it a bit and I fear they’ll be feeling it for a while.

But anyway, I hopped on my bike and cycled down to Cooks River, and followed it all the way to Tempe station. I missed a turn at one point which took me down a rather rough path for a bike with a lot of weight on it, and it was a concern due to my not having spare tubes on me. It also wasn’t a bike path, so that’s on me. But it did feel adventurous.

It was a cold ride and a quick ride, and I almost missed my train. Had to do a bit of a burst of power when I was near, and almost missed my train, but I didn’t and that was good.

Back in 2008 there was a period of time when I was leaving home at around five in the morning to get to work at six. I was starting at seven and finishing at around three. I’d hop on my bike and cycle to Burwood station, and it was very cold. I’d get there and I’d hop on the train, and as I warmed up I’d feel my fingers tingling as they warmed up, and I always liked the feeling. I also liked the low traffic. I’m fairly certain I wasn’t on the road much anyway, but it was still nice. This sense of quiet was always pleasant.

I sort of had that this time around. Some people walking about, not many cars once I was at the river, and it was just pleasant. But it was a bit of a rush and it felt like a dream, almost. It didn’t feel real, and I’m not feeling it yet either. I’m sure that will come soon, however. But it was nice.

It was nice to be going along Cooks River again, and it was nice to have so much of the place to myself. I could’ve gone faster, but I’ve been off the bike for a while and I was carrying a lot. But things will change and I’ll keep on getting faster. I’ll keep working on the bike, getting it back to being fully functional. I’ll keep doing my early morning rides, because cycling is something I’ve missed. I’ve missed the art of the ride.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 07:40:92

Okay speed. Writing’s a bit flat, but I think it gets something across. Not sure what, but it’s definitely something.

Written at Dirty Red.

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A Stormy Sea Scene

Posted on June 15, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

I’d probably thought of sharing this photo a few months ago, but I didn’t, but now it’s here.
Sometimes I really like intense weather. Not so much when I’m in it, but sometimes. Anyway, stuff like this I think has a kind of calmness to it when viewed as an image, despite it not being a calm scene.

This is my submission into the three hundred-and-fifty-third Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. The theme for this one is “Stormy“.

The host of the Lens-Artists challenges cycles weekly between the following people:

Tina

Patti

Ann-Christine aka Leya

John Steiner

Sofia Alves

Anne Sandler

Egídio

Ritva

Beth

This one is curated by Beth. The next one is curated by Anne.

At the moment Patti is sitting out the challenges whilst she recovers from wrist injuries. Go send her some love.

I recommend joining the community and participating in the challenges. They’re pretty straightforward, allow room for interpretation, and provide a good way to think about photography in general. If not, however, then at the very least you should check out what others submit to the challenges.

I hope you enjoy.

 

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 1509: As I Always Do

Posted on June 15, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

Tomorrow morning I’m gonna get up, get ready and ride my bike most of the way to work. I’m not sure why I’m saying this, but I guess the main reason is so that people are ready for the inevitable “Cycling is great” rambling that will come after. But cycling is great, and I’ve missed it… as I always do. But this time I’ve really missed it… as I always do.

It has been a long week and it has been a long day. Or perhaps it is a new week. It depends on how you count the calendar, really. What I do know is that the period spanning from Monday to Sunday has been a long one and I am tired. I am, however, still kicking small goals and I’m continuing on. I’m tired, but I’m working on things and the more I work on them, hopefully he better I’ll feel. It’ll take time, though. Always does.

There’s been a lot and not much over the past few days especially, and I’ve been particularly lazy at the same time. There has been the enjoyment of friends, the appreciating of their company… those sorts of things. There has als9o been a good deal of sitting around doing nothing when there has been plenty of need to do stuff. This week, hopefully, will be a bit more of a kick into high gear, though it depends on the usual depending on everything and my own enthusiasm to continue on with whatever it is.

I’ve been tired and I’m quite tired right now, but I have the ability to improve things. I have the ability to be productive and I need to get back onto it. I have ideas and I have time, and I can get done the doing if I so desire it, and I do desire it. Right now, however, I just want to sit and soon go to sleep. Sleep is desirable. It’s especially desirable right now, and I’ll soon have it as though a prize I won through great effort. Maybe I did this time. Maybe I did earn my sleep. I don’t know.

I’m thinking about my ex and I’m wondering how she is doing. I’m thinking about a lot of things though, so this is much of nothing, really. There are other things running through my mind also. This is one of many. Or rather, these thoughts are some of many.

I find myself missing her a bit more now, but a few days ago I realised that she was willing to tell me she loved me at a time she didn’t, and I’m reminded that I’m better off. So more sadness creeps in, but so does more happiness in a way. Things change. Time continues on. I am alive and I am able to keep going, and so long as I can keep going I can keep working on myself, and that will continue tomorrow into cycling, which I’ve missed… as I always do.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 07:53:48

Decent speed. Meandered a bit, however.

Written at home.

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Morning Vagueness

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

This is another photo taken for a challenge that didn’t fit due to it not being taken in the way the challenge required. I was walking when I took this and wanted to see the effect and if it would work. I do like the effect, however.

There’s this sort of painting feel to this that I like, and it’s not in the lights, but more the urban structures.

I hope you enjoy.

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Calm Colour Sunset

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

Just a sunset photo.

I hope you enjoy.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 1508: Comfortable Banality

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

Is this cafe my new regular? I don’t know, but the atmosphere remains nice.

I’m thinking about how much work and effort goes into making a place inviting. It must take a lot of time, and other things. Well, that’s the end of that thought.

The sun shines and it’s a beautiful day. It’s also cold as, but it is beautiful, and that’s nice. It’s nice to see some clouds away. The trees aren’t looking the best, but it’s cold and it’s winter and that’s to be expected, really. What else is there to expect, other than many other things out there? Nothing; that’s what.

But on a more serious note, it’s a nice day. The clouds are gone, or at least minimal and things feel alright, and I’m tired and stressed and nothing changes, but the view does and that’s always something to look forward to.

My life is slipping into a comfortable banality right now, but I’m restless. Need to be less lazy, I guess, but that takes time. But I have been lazy and it’s starting to bite me. Therefore I need to ramp things up.

I need to launch myself across the mountains, and perhaps over them. I must travel far and wide, and hope for a chance and live on a prayer. I must see the rivers and rivulets and canals and streams and creaks and floodplains and deltas and all those other things that I care not to name right now. Much like some watery paths, I will meander and I will meander with purpose. The direction is forward and I won’t look back.

What I will find, I have no idea, but I know that on this fine day there will be the movement and the motion that I so desire. I will go ahead and go beyond what I know and see more. Once I see more, I will know more and in knowing more I can go more. I can go to where the unfamiliar leads me and I can finally find that effort that I need to put in in order to get to where I don’t need to be and then, after, to where I need to be.

It’ll be a merry old time and, at the end of it all, I will not know how to bring that back so instead of doing so, I will take a nap and call it a day. I will call it a day and rest, and I will think abut what I have learned. I will think about my gold and those that I care about, and after much time thinking, I will begin my trek home.

But it’s cold right now, so maybe not. Maybe I’ll put it off until tomorrow and I can hope for a warmer day. I can hope and hope and hope some more, and once I’m done with that, I can hope even more.

So I won’t travel today, but tomorrow it might just be.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 06:22:77

Tried to get silly, didn’t quite.

Written at Dirty Red.

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Construction Wall

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Stupidity Hole

A few weeks ago, I took this photo as I was taking my camera in for servicing. I was trying to capture the details and texture. This wall has a sense of aging and decay to it, but I can only imagine it’s a few years old at most.

This is my submission into Leanne Cole‘s “Monochrome Madness” for this week. This one is hosted by Elke of Pictures Imperfect Blog, and she has chosen “Naturally Monochrome” as her theme.

This challenge is open to all, and I recommend joining in. If want to, check out more information about it here, and include the tag “monochrome-madness” when you share your photo. If you’d prefer not to join in, then at the least check out Leanne’s photography, and what other people submit.

I hope you enjoy.

 

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