I looked across
Through mists of rain
And seemed to sense a kind of a miracle
Much too deep to understand. Except there I was. So much in love.
~With slight adaptations to Carl Sigman's lyrics: The day that the rains came down.
The demise of summer told of gentle sweet rain blessing the earth of Sydney once again after searing sultry days and many sleepless summer nights.
Walking in the soft rain, I slowly made my way down to the local creek: Moores Creek which is a small corridor of bushland in the heart of the Sydney suburb of Roseville.
Within moments I was no longer in 'familiar' bushland, but an Enchanted Forest radiating more magic that a mere mortal like myself could possibly breathe in.
This is a short video from the photographs taken on my adventure, crossing the swollen creek to the opposite escarpment.
Produced using the trial version of Animoto's Professional Plan: Hence the watermarks, which I hope will simply fade away as your vision is flooded by the bewitching allure of this tiny pocket of wilderness.
Photographs of Moores Creek that were spun into the video.
Twenty eight images were selected, with the first two images repeated at the end of the video because I wanted to create the impression of returning to the place from where I started.
Gigantic Bird's Nest Fern.
I've been watching this Bird's Nest Fern thrive for the past ten years now. It grows out from a hugh rock. Drawing in nutrients from forest leaves that mulch down into compost at its centre.
Home of the Water Dragon.
But can you see the Brush Turkey? I'll have a little surprise for the first person who can see him.
The dry creek bed is alive once again.
Past the mini waterfalls. Looking for a place to cross the creek to reach the other side.
These rocks are incredibly slippery. Walking barefoot, testing each and every foot placement and step.
Water's edge. No place to land here.
Reached the other side
Climbing up to the top of the escarpment. Making my own trail through straggly branches, dried bracken and tree ferns.
Bush thickets of native birches and red bark gums. Glowing in the rain.
Looking down and across to the track on the other side of the creek.
Lines of rain and soft green lichens on the native birches.
An old tree trunk beautiful sculpted. First glimpses of the Bird's Nest Ferns.
The magnificent Patriarch looking down into his domain.
Still as youthfully green as ever.
These Bird's Nest Ferns are slightly shaded from the intense summer sun and somehow manage to stay green throughout the year.
Reaching out.
My favourite photograph in this series, as it shows just how gigantic this particular Bird's Nest Fern is.
The children of the Patriarch.
Peeping out from under the top ledge.
Hide and seek.
Light on the Bird's Nest Fern.
The beautiful waves along the edges of the Bird's Nest Fern's leaves are a result of the plant receiving some sunlight.
Baby Bird's Nest Ferns.
Looking into the heart of the Bird's Nest Fern.
Standing on the edge of the ledge and looking down into the centre of this most magnificent plant, I'm aware of a tremendous sense of being so high up above the creek bed. Aware of the power of this place, the Domain of the Water Dragon.
Looking down to where human visitors would usually only look up to see the Home of the Water Dragon.
The descent. Returning to the creek.
The five friends.
Detail of the lichen. The rain really brings the subtle pale greens to life.
Back at the creek.
This tree saved my life. At the very least, holding onto this tree as I stepped down into the creek saved me from what could have been a nasty fall, as my foot went skidding out along the rock. My arm is still sore from being pulled so strongly as I hung on tightly ~ Camera in the other hand.
It had only just stopped raining and already the cascades were slowing down.
Tomorrow I'm planning to take another mini-holiday: A whole day this time, venturing much further along the Two Creeks Track. I've been part of the way before, but not as far as I'd like to go this time. With my amazing Sony.
Photography and video: ©Alison Lee Cousland.
SONY Mark2 A7: 35 mm:
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