Benz World Blog » Tree

Snooze Smoke

Jason Benz — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 06:39:08 +0000

The is the smoke from the New South Wales fires in Coopernook Forest. Although this forest was not on fire the smoke has been hard to avoid as it currently covers almost all of the North-East corner of the state. As I approached from the West I could see the ominous sight of smoke clouds billowing in the distance. Once I reached Australias main coastal highway (A1) it formed a uniform light blue mist. It also turned the sun a deep orange colour. The intensity was reduced so much it was like looking at a blood moon in the middle of the day. I found myself yawning and taking the odd afternoon nap. I think this is because, since I started travelling, my routine has included watching the sunset every evening just before I get into bed. The dim orange light filtering through the smoke must have triggered my brain into getting ready for sleep. Or maybe I was just being asphyxiated.

This post is exactly 10 years since I took my brothers’ advice to switch this blog to WordPress. I have never looked back as it is so much easier than creating webpages in Dreamweaver. This has allowed me to focus on my photography instead of bug hunting code.

Tomorrow I find out if all the repairs I have made to the van are enough for it to climb the Blue Mountains.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Cherry Sacrifice

Jason Benz — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 09:42:04 +0000

This is Paul, a Horticulturalist from the Cherry Dale Orchard in New South Wales. He is stood in front of his oldest cherry trees which he has been forced to let die so his only water source, a knee-deep puddle, can be used to keep his younger trees alive until the drought breaks. We had a good long chat covering history, politics and climate change which have all influenced his current situation.

When I first studied the Australian system for my citizenship test, I was impressed by how the Aussies have improved on the British parliamentary democracy by having an elected upper house and compulsory voting. However, I ask myself how democratic is any system where policies are dictated by large corporations and the uber-wealthy who fund both sides of politics, ensuring their interests are protected regardless of the puppet which is elected.

I see no problem with the structure of government in Australia, only how the political parties are funded. IMHO the only solution, however unpalatable, is to ban all political donations and replace it with tax-funded parties on a per-vote basis. Nobody likes to think of their taxes going to political parties but in the long run, it must be cheaper than political donations being paid back 10-fold to the wealthy through policy changes such as tax brakes or handouts. Something labelled an “economic stimulus package” which benefits party donors is essentially a legal corruption of power at the heart of democracy. Unless this change is made, I fear small scale food growers like Paul, who have fed this nation for generations, will be the last in line when it comes to precious resources such as water.

I will be making a brief stop on the Gold Coast before dodging fires on my way to the Blue Mountains.

Numinbah Valley

Jason Benz — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 03:32:07 +0000

For the last week, I have been camped in the Numinbah Vally. Over the weekend I was on this 2500 acres cattle property. There was only a handful of cows and no other campers when I drove into the field so I picked this beautiful spot next to the Nerang River and settled in to enjoy my birthday surrounded by flora and fauna. On Monday I moved a few miles to another spot close to where a wild platypus has been seen feeding at 5pm each evening. It was a bit of a climb down to the rock pool but there was a rope slung around some trees on the steep sections. I sat on the edge of the pool for 3 consecutive nights followed by a torturous climb up the hill in the dark. The only things I saw feeding were mosquitoes, leeches and a brown snake which missed me by a few inches. After a second chat with the caretaker, I discovered the platypus had not been seen for months. Next time I will ask these questions before booking. I live and learn. So far the weather on this trip has been almost constant rain. I cannot complain as farmers across Queensland are gratefully receiving the first significant rain after years of drought. The climate has however taken its toll on the 2nd battery which powers my laptop and is only recharged with a 100 watt solar panel. I have rewired the van again so I can give it a boost from the alternator when I’m driving, but this means I can no longer claim to produce purely fossil free photos.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Big Tree

Jason Benz — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 09:19:38 +0000

I think this is a Fig Tree or maybe a Springbrook Leatherwood as it was photographed in the temperate rainforest crossing Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. If you have a better idea please leave a comment.

This is 1 of 111 Stock Photos approved by Shutterstock since March, compared to only 16 in 2016.

Forest Rain

Jason Benz — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 00:07:07 +0000

This photograph was taken at Judd’s Lagoon just outside Yuleba in Queensland, Australia.

There is something magical about the light in a forest when the sun shines through the rain.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

New Year

Jason Benz — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 14:01:59 +0000

Happy New Year 2017. This is The Lake Broadwater Conservation Park Campsite. I was photographing the stars when the camp next to us put something combustible on their fire. After 2 weeks on the road exploring the Maranoa region of Australia we arrived back on the Gold Coast yesterday.

Judd’s Lagoon

Jason Benz — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 03:55:47 +0000

This is Judd’s Lagoon just outside Yuleba in Queensland, Australia. It has been our campsite for the last few days. It is a popular fishing spot and locals come here to cool off in the water. From here we plan to go west to Roma then Mitchell where Karen is looking forward to the Great Artesian Spa.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Yellow Lichen

Jason Benz — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 12:49:55 +0000

I think this is lichen on the bark of a tree in Western Australia. It is easy to think of this state as all deserts and goldfields, however it has some of the worlds most majestic forests in it’s south west corner. If you recognize the type of bark or the yellow substance please leave a comment.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Peppermint Tree

Jason Benz — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 09:54:39 +0000

This is the Peppermint Tree in Kings Park Botanic Garden in Perth, Western Australia.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Springbrook Leatherwood

Jason Benz — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 00:14:47 +0000

These are the roots of an endangered species of tree known as a Springbrook Leatherwood. It is found in a single river catchment in the temperate rainforest crossing Queensland and New South Wales in Australia.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.