Puffer Fish as a self portrait

Being the second 'calendar' day of winter, I was resolved to photograph a 'serious' winter themed image to distance myself from yesterday's 'disrespectful of winter' blip. Too, I hoped to reclaim a mantle of not being frivolous - nah! this lasted a microsecond once I was lavished by a mild day where the temperature 'soared' to a balmy 17C under a cloudless sky with only a hint of a harmless zephyr.

"Off to the beach!" I cried within, (after finishing domestic matters) and so ventured forth with the plod feet, via an adventuresome Train and Bus journey where I tackled, yet again unsuccessfully, to complete the Crossword - (8 down 'Obtuse' six letters, fourth letter 'b' last letter 'y') - intent on marine mischief in a photographic sense and winter be dammed. Though I knew winter will smite me because of my lack of fidelity.

I had a grand time too, the tide was on the ebb, the waves that were present were content to be gentle, near timid and inviting - yes, you can venture out from the shore, there will no spring tide in the arvo'. There was so much deep blue in the sky the camera's white balance meter went on 'strike' protesting at the lack of an 18% grey cloud. Did I care? Not a jot! The walking boots were off and the sand felt marvellous underfoot. The shirt was off too (no children, let alone adults were nearby, for me to scare by this insult to the human body act), to soak in the Sun. I'd not have changed the moment for anything. I was even (unwisely of course) 'praising' global warming as it may rid winters, judging by the day's light drench. I must have plodded in the shallows for quite a few hours and 'amassed' more than a handful of kilometres (miles to my friends in the USA) as I slow witnessed the Sun on its east to west curl across the day.

Yes, I'd taken some photographs during the plod, nice and cute ones probably, of nice and cute skies and seascapes and seagulls and seashells (note the alliteration toward the end of the previous sentence). I'd even snapped some large Container Vessels plying up Port Phillip Bay that doubtless were bringing imported goods that we can neither afford nor really need. But at least the Trade imbalance will remain at 'challenging levels'. I looked for a Yacht with spinnaker in full bloom but it was so calm, no Yachts came out to sail, anyway they don't often venture near the western shores of the Bay possibly fearing 'Pirates' from Werribee South would 'set upon them' brandishing iPods in demonstrations of glib.

Ah! But what of today's blip? This boy can rave on a bit!

It was not until the Sun had declined, the shirt was back on, (thus saving me from the prospect of 'arrest' due to my earlier insult of the human body) and a clumpy jacket too with evening's impost beginning to chill. The boots had been re-plodded together with 'alarming clusters' of sand under toes when I came upon this Puffer Fish (I think it's a Puffer Fish but stand corrected), struggling in the slow advancing lip of the incoming tide. I'd not seen such a Fish since childhood and recalled, it's best not to touch. Yet, I just had to take a photograph being mindful of the respect to Nature's creatures. My humble camera's flash, I knew, would be too harsh, I had no workable ambient light, I'd need a long exposure I suspected but there would be blur. What to do? And those Puffer Fish eyes that fixed upon me were near riveting with their gaze - get on with it, I'm in a struggle here with the pull of Moon and Sun. Solution? Torch? Yep, got one of those. Out of the backpack it came with alarming dexterity and off I went snapping away as the Puffing Fish remained in dire struggle as I tried my photographic confusions. In the end, I hoped I'd got what I wanted (I gave up on getting a nice, sharp, image) and with a very gentle prod, courtesy some of some handy detritus from the sea, I nudged said Puffer Fish back into a deep pool whereupon with the wash of the tide it caroused Puffer back into the Bay, no doubt with a tale to tell of a stupid photographer he met one early June twilight.

Reaching 'civilisation', otherwise known as a suburb of Melbourne, I caught up with a 'Drongo Mate' who after seeing the photographs I had taken on the day's plod expedition rather unkindly but with sincerity remarked, "Hey Plod, that's a nice self portrait of you. Too, you are smiling, the face looks like you unshaven but those eyes mate, blue just ain't you." I resisted the temptation to dispatch my 'Drongo Mate' to Sydney, New South Wales, (a certain cruel fate) because, deep inside my consciousness, I knew he was near the truth and this is why I don't like my photograph being taken. I should have known better but I'm a slow learner at times. Two lessons: never show photographs to 'Drongo Mates' and never take photographs that are Plod-like. Such was my 2nd of June blip

My promise for the 3rd June - get serious - it is after all winter and in winter will smote you (or is that smite you).