Lens-Artists Challenge : Blue

The Blue Mountains National Park is about 1.5 hours drive west of Sydney. With peak heights just over 1000m, they are not particularly tall by global standards!

Distant views take on a blue hue, especially in summer. The main cause is attributed to volatile terpenoids released from the native, mainly eucalyptus, forest. In 1813, the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson heralded the opening up of the fertile plains to the west, lands which would be rapidly exploited by the early colonists. Today, the Blue Mountains are a must for tourists, for spectacular views of the escarpments, for the clear mountain air, for rock climbers, canyoners and bushwalkers.

A contribution to Patti’s Lens-Artists Challenge, Blue. Other entries will be found here.

Lens Artist Photo Challenge : Wonder

I have been fortunate to visit Saint Petersburg twice, once each in autumn and spring! I never fail to be filled with wonder by The Alexander Column, located in the centre of Palace Square.

The column is a single piece of red granite, 25.45 m (83 ft 6 in) long and about 3.5 m (11 ft 5 in) in diameter.

A contribution to the Lens Artists Challenge. More can be seen here