blondgecko's most popular photosI grew up on the outskirts of Brisbane, capital city of Queensland, Australia, in a house backing onto a "country" golf-course. The relatively untamed creeks meandering across this area gave me my first taste of nature, and I spent many a summers' day wandering down there, barefoot, collecting lost golf balls to sell for pocket money, a pastime that continued long after I really needed it.
This early environment fostered a desire to see more and more of the natural world, and experience more varied environments. I developed a great attraction towards outdoor sports: rockclimbing, skiing, or simply bushwalking - whatever could get me into more and different places.
On the other hand, I have always had a somewhat artistic temperament. From the age of eight, I played the violin, sang in choirs, and later dabbled in many more physical artistic endeavours, such as woodturning. In photography, I found something that could combine these two great pleasures.
This site contains a collection of my best images, taken on my travels to various locations. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/photos/46850751_nbgAJ-Ti.jpghttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/popular/2010-01-05T13:35:25ZCopyright 2010, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMugThe majestic mountain ash, Mt Bogong, Victoria<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The majestic mountain ash, Mt Bogong, Victoria</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Victorian-Alps/1054933_nRGvh#46748666_fNMs5" title="The majestic mountain ash, Mt Bogong, Victoria"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Victorian-Alps/Mountain-Ash-Mt-Bogong/46748666_fNMs5-Th.jpg" width="43" height="150" alt="The majestic mountain ash, Mt Bogong, Victoria" title="The majestic mountain ash, Mt Bogong, Victoria" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:33:20Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Victorian-Alps/Mountain-Ash-Mt-Bogong/46748666_fNMs5-Th.jpgA little later on, and the colours were even more impressive...<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />A little later on, and the colours were even more impressive...</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164693_o9KvQ" title="A little later on, and the colours were even more impressive..."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/Franz-sunrise-2/47164693_o9KvQ-Th.jpg" width="128" height="150" alt="A little later on, and the colours were even more impressive..." title="A little later on, and the colours were even more impressive..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:23:49Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/Franz-sunrise-2/47164693_o9KvQ-Th.jpgIce climbing, Fox Glacier<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />Ice climbing, Fox Glacier</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164697_FvtvQ" title="Ice climbing, Fox Glacier"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/ice-climbing/47164697_FvtvQ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="48" alt="Ice climbing, Fox Glacier" title="Ice climbing, Fox Glacier" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:25:47Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/ice-climbing/47164697_FvtvQ-Th.jpgblondgecko's photo<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a> </p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Family/Colins-First-Birthday/8151290_jfSbB#531912376_ftx5n" title="blondgecko's photo"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Family/Colins-First-Birthday/IMG2713/531912376_ftx5n-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="blondgecko's photo" title="blondgecko's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-05-08T22:12:44Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Family/Colins-First-Birthday/IMG2713/531912376_ftx5n-Th.jpg2009-05-09 13:58:04blondgecko's photo<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a> </p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Family/Meet-Colin/4087830_pCj4p#374459194_6Kq4D" title="blondgecko's photo"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Family/Meet-Colin/IMG0070/374459194_6Kq4D-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="blondgecko's photo" title="blondgecko's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-09-16T22:52:21Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Family/Meet-Colin/IMG0070/374459194_6Kq4D-Th.jpg2008-09-17 13:35:28blondgecko's photo<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a> </p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Landscapes/A-night-in-the-cemetery/4860692_tuee2#289649788_Agj86" title="blondgecko's photo"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Landscapes/A-night-in-the-cemetery/IMG84211/289649788_Agj86-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="blondgecko's photo" title="blondgecko's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-12-27T13:01:10Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Landscapes/A-night-in-the-cemetery/IMG84211/289649788_Agj86-Th.jpg2008-05-05 04:01:50The two waterfalls. The tower on the left supports a viewing platform for people on the US side.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The two waterfalls. The tower on the left supports a viewing platform for people on the US side.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Toronto-and-New-York-June-2007/3013235_84gtS#163582971_zNAEA" title="The two waterfalls. The tower on the left supports a viewing platform for people on the US side."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Toronto-and-New-York-June-2007/Niagara-panorama-1/163582971_zNAEA-Th.jpg" width="150" height="42" alt="The two waterfalls. The tower on the left supports a viewing platform for people on the US side." title="The two waterfalls. The tower on the left supports a viewing platform for people on the US side." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-26T01:14:44Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Toronto-and-New-York-June-2007/Niagara-panorama-1/163582971_zNAEA-Th.jpgThe world's smallest church. Apparently it really is a functioning church, with sermons every Sunday.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The world's smallest church. Apparently it really is a functioning church, with sermons every Sunday.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Toronto-and-New-York-June-2007/3013235_84gtS#163582084_csNyj" title="The world's smallest church. Apparently it really is a functioning church, with sermons every Sunday."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Toronto-and-New-York-June-2007/IMG6860/163582084_csNyj-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="The world's smallest church. Apparently it really is a functioning church, with sermons every Sunday." title="The world's smallest church. Apparently it really is a functioning church, with sermons every Sunday." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-11T13:30:18Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Toronto-and-New-York-June-2007/IMG6860/163582084_csNyj-Th.jpg2007-06-13 04:12:05The Coogee Baths, a secluded rock pool used for bathing.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The Coogee Baths, a secluded rock pool used for bathing.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Sydney-May-2007/2799967_D9SWK#149438396_hfAHg" title="The Coogee Baths, a secluded rock pool used for bathing."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Sydney-May-2007/Coogee-Baths/149438396_hfAHg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="33" alt="The Coogee Baths, a secluded rock pool used for bathing." title="The Coogee Baths, a secluded rock pool used for bathing." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-10-10T05:08:58Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Sydney-May-2007/Coogee-Baths/149438396_hfAHg-Th.jpgSeriously, the water down there is so clear it just doesn't look real.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />Seriously, the water down there is so clear it just doesn't look real.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/1460552_Qxn3R#69992818_yrTy3" title="Seriously, the water down there is so clear it just doesn't look real."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/IMG3213-the-surreal-blue-pools/69992818_yrTy3-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Seriously, the water down there is so clear it just doesn't look real." title="Seriously, the water down there is so clear it just doesn't look real." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-27T16:48:11Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/IMG3213-the-surreal-blue-pools/69992818_yrTy3-Th.jpg2006-05-10 09:46:55A self-portrait just a little way around the corner.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />A self-portrait just a little way around the corner.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/1460552_Qxn3R#69945208_uHB8o" title="A self-portrait just a little way around the corner."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/Lake-Pukaki-panoramic-portrait/69945208_uHB8o-Th.jpg" width="150" height="45" alt="A self-portrait just a little way around the corner." title="A self-portrait just a little way around the corner." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-07T13:44:43Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/Lake-Pukaki-panoramic-portrait/69945208_uHB8o-Th.jpgThe flower garden at Christchurch airport.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The flower garden at Christchurch airport.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/1460552_Qxn3R#69677182_9ba2L" title="The flower garden at Christchurch airport."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/IMG1977-Flowers-at/69677182_9ba2L-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The flower garden at Christchurch airport." title="The flower garden at Christchurch airport." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-07T22:28:37Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Weddings/Honeymoon-New-Zealand-May-2006/IMG1977-Flowers-at/69677182_9ba2L-Th.jpg2006-05-03 12:27:23Our illustrious guide, Stu Holloway<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />Our illustrious guide, Stu Holloway</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47425453_bGzCu" title="Our illustrious guide, Stu Holloway"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/q1010002/47425453_bGzCu-Th.jpg" width="113" height="150" alt="Our illustrious guide, Stu Holloway" title="Our illustrious guide, Stu Holloway" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:11:30Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/q1010002/47425453_bGzCu-Th.jpgIcicles, Fox Glacier<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />Icicles, Fox Glacier</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164699_g3g4h" title="Icicles, Fox Glacier"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/icicles/47164699_g3g4h-Th.jpg" width="150" height="93" alt="Icicles, Fox Glacier" title="Icicles, Fox Glacier" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:26:01Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/icicles/47164699_g3g4h-Th.jpgIan Gould climbing the NW ridge of Mt Jervois<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />Ian Gould climbing the NW ridge of Mt Jervois</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164696_yxbCT" title="Ian Gould climbing the NW ridge of Mt Jervois"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/Ian-Jervois-ridge/47164696_yxbCT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="50" alt="Ian Gould climbing the NW ridge of Mt Jervois" title="Ian Gould climbing the NW ridge of Mt Jervois" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:24:04Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/Ian-Jervois-ridge/47164696_yxbCT-Th.jpgA sense of scale... the little dots there are a rope of five climbers heading up towards Mt Humdinger, Fox Glacier.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />A sense of scale... the little dots there are a rope of five climbers heading up towards Mt Humdinger, Fox Glacier.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164695_NTgir" title="A sense of scale... the little dots there are a rope of five climbers heading up towards Mt Humdinger, Fox Glacier."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/humdinger-copy/47164695_NTgir-Th.jpg" width="112" height="150" alt="A sense of scale... the little dots there are a rope of five climbers heading up towards Mt Humdinger, Fox Glacier." title="A sense of scale... the little dots there are a rope of five climbers heading up towards Mt Humdinger, Fox Glacier." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:24:08Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/humdinger-copy/47164695_NTgir-Th.jpgA very early sunrise over the Franz Josef Neve<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />A very early sunrise over the Franz Josef Neve</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164692_qhyL9" title="A very early sunrise over the Franz Josef Neve"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/franz-sunrise-1/47164692_qhyL9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="34" alt="A very early sunrise over the Franz Josef Neve" title="A very early sunrise over the Franz Josef Neve" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:23:52Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/franz-sunrise-1/47164692_qhyL9-Th.jpgA loo with a view... the Pioneer Hut toilet on Fox Glacier<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />A loo with a view... the Pioneer Hut toilet on Fox Glacier</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164688_BSEcy" title="A loo with a view... the Pioneer Hut toilet on Fox Glacier"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-toilet-sunset/47164688_BSEcy-Th.jpg" width="150" height="53" alt="A loo with a view... the Pioneer Hut toilet on Fox Glacier" title="A loo with a view... the Pioneer Hut toilet on Fox Glacier" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:25:05Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-toilet-sunset/47164688_BSEcy-Th.jpgMorning over the Fox<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />Morning over the Fox</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164685_zrkUf" title="Morning over the Fox"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/Fox-morning/47164685_zrkUf-Th.jpg" width="150" height="35" alt="Morning over the Fox" title="Morning over the Fox" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-05T08:10:37Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/Fox-morning/47164685_zrkUf-Th.jpgThe Fox Glacier icefall by morning<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The Fox Glacier icefall by morning</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164682_EUa8f" title="The Fox Glacier icefall by morning"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-icefall-evening/47164682_EUa8f-Th.jpg" width="150" height="20" alt="The Fox Glacier icefall by morning" title="The Fox Glacier icefall by morning" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-05T08:33:44Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-icefall-evening/47164682_EUa8f-Th.jpgEvening over the Fox (1)<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />Evening over the Fox (1)</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164680_ToXNQ" title="Evening over the Fox (1)"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-evening/47164680_ToXNQ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="42" alt="Evening over the Fox (1)" title="Evening over the Fox (1)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-05T06:09:21Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-evening/47164680_ToXNQ-Th.jpgThe helicopter landing pad, Fox Glacier<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The helicopter landing pad, Fox Glacier</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/1018086_hfo4f#47164675_57T7m" title="The helicopter landing pad, Fox Glacier"><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-arrival/47164675_57T7m-Th.jpg" width="150" height="41" alt="The helicopter landing pad, Fox Glacier" title="The helicopter landing pad, Fox Glacier" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-05T06:56:38Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/New-Zealand/fox-arrival/47164675_57T7m-Th.jpgThe north face of the Eiger.<p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com">blondgecko</a><br />The north face of the Eiger.</p><p><a href="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Switzerland/1016247_2DVXY#47060458_xKQvY" title="The north face of the Eiger."><img src="http://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Switzerland/reflection-1/47060458_xKQvY-Th.jpg" width="99" height="150" alt="The north face of the Eiger." title="The north face of the Eiger." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-21T18:27:32Zblondgeckohttp://blondgecko.smugmug.comhttp://blondgecko.smugmug.com/Travel/Switzerland/reflection-1/47060458_xKQvY-Th.jpg