And the Moral of the Month is...

On the last day of my theme of "Scenes from a Car", I've learnt that, if you come upon an amazing scene while driving, it's worth pulling over to capture it!

It's too easy to vaguely admire and then forget.

I've had the opportunity this month to go over several such scenes which otherwise wouldn't even remain in my memory!

And with the portability of the smartphones these days, there's every reason to get quick records of ephemeral moments of beauty that exist all around us...

Lighting up the Way

Hmmm, a prosaic night scene rendered quite ... eerie.

Or perhaps 'atmospheric' is more accurate...

Somewhere Between Haunted and Tranquil

Keeping a watchful eye on the noisy car driving through, the countryside blankets itself down for sleep...

Glimpses of Gold

It is always much easier to romanticise autumn when it's spring time, and I know we're at the start of several months of gloriously warm weather!

Roadworks at Night

These roadwork-related hold-ups happen once in a while, and they're usually a mild inconvenience for a few minutes or so..

But to look at this photo and scene with fresh eyes, well, cue the sinister music and get the creepy movie happening!!! (All hail the gods of central locking!)

The World Settles to Sleep

Serene silhouettes of dusk. 

*Breathe in, breathe out*

And, I'm rather chuffed to say, not at all photoshopped!! 

River of Lights

A winding river of headlights, temporarily dammed by the traffic lights. 

Taken from a hill overlooking the highway, whilst awkwardly pulled over on a (thankfully) quiet lane. 

Magnolias in the Sun

Magnolia-pinks and sky-blue under the sun are gloriously spring-like!!

No photoshopping for this pic, other than a teeny bit of cropping. 

In Spring

I took a photo from this same (approximate) position in autumn. 

This is now in spring, and the spring blossoms are just coming into being. 

As you may be able to tell by the sky, the pic has been photoshopped, mainly to try and get the blossoms to "pop". 

But it's still a very pretty little view of the side of the Great Western Highway in the upper Blue Mountains, Sydney, Oz. 

Dusky Thoughts

The last few breaths of dusk...

There is still a tiny glow of fiery-orange light on the horizon. 

Wind-Combed Clouds

I remembered to look up to the sky before starting the ignition, and I saw this beautiful skyscape, which had me scrambling for the phone/camera...

Beautiful clouds, shaped and brushed by the wind. 

Secret Pathways in the Mountains

The joys of secret, locals-only roads!

Flowering Sunshine

Native Australian plants (I don't know what kind, sorry. I'm a terrible pleb when it comes to all things botanical) are lining the road as though spectators cheering on a race. 

The bright yellow colour makes me think of sunshine trapped inside the flowers. 

Driving by at Dusk

Waiting at the traffic lights as dusk smudges the world to night, and cars and their people hurry to get home. 

As spring comes into its own, spring magic is in the air, blossoms are everywhere and the days begin to lengthen - like arms being stretched out luxuriously in the increasing warmth. A little bit of light, for a little longer each day... 

The Magnolia Tree on the Corner

Magnolias are just magnificent spring flowers, aren't they?

There are Magnolia trees dotted all along this street, but this pic was one of the few which came out as sweetly as the real thing. 

Heading East

In the Blue Mountains, where the paths of the causeway and the railway run side by side, heading east. Towards Sydney. 

Sheep!!

Sheep, dots of creamy-white, happily grazing against a backdrop of shades of green. Very Aussie colours. 

(This photo is completely un-photoshopped, btw). 

Wrapped in the Sunset

I was a couple of minutes too late to get the pics of this sunset at its most golden orange. I still think it's striking as is, but I'm resisting the temptation to over-photoshop this pic to make it approximate the earlier fieriness. 

Framed!

Pull over, hazards and handbrake on, lean inelegantly out of the window, knock elbow against steering wheel, smack said  steering wheel, then pause, deep breaths. 

And click. 

Gold against blue. Just beautiful!

Pretty Country II

Home of cows, emus and kangaroos.

In the impossibly bright early morning sun, the air is cold, crisp and very clean.