Our first casuality found

An update on a blog post from 2014 "Our first causality", with news today that the AE1 has been found.

Australia’s first submarine HMAS AE1 has finally been located, ending a 103 year maritime mystery.

The fate of the 800 ton AE1 and her 35 crew members has remained one of the persistent mysteries of Australia’s military history, after it was lost off the Duke of York island group on 14 September 1914 with all personnel aboard.

It was the first casualty for the Royal Australian Navy and the first Allied submarine loss in World War I; a significant tragedy felt by our nation and our allies.

The AE1 at Portsmouth in 1914

The Royal Australian Navy teamed up with a range of search groups in this expedition to locate the submarine, funded by the Commonwealth Government and the Silentworld Foundation, with assistance from the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Fugro Survey and the Papua New Guinea Government. The expedition embarked on the survey ship 'Fugro Equator' equipped with a team of maritime surveyors, marine archaeologists and naval historians who scoured the search area with a multi-beam echo sounder and side-scan technology in an underwater drone flying 40 metres above the sea bed on pre-programmed 20 hour missions.

Survey data showing the AE1 on the sea-bed (cC.of A.)

They located an object of interest in over 300 metres of water. Upon further inspection, confirmed the object to be AE1. The data collected was analysed and a three-dimensional rendering of the underwater environment was produced before dropping a camera to confirm the find.

The first images captured by the expedition show the vessel is remarkably well preserved and apparently in one piece. 

Battery ventilation trunks of the AE1 (cC.of A.)

Following the discovery of the submarine, a small commemorative service was held by those on-board the survey vessel to remember those officers and sailors who lost their lives 103 years ago. Efforts are being made to contact the descendants of the crew.

The Australian Government will work closely with the Papua New Guinean Government to consider a lasting commemoration and recognition of the crew of AE1 and to preserve the site.

The information gained from this expedition and from the research to date will greatly assist in unravelling the mystery of the loss of HMAS AE1, and will be held by the Australian National Maritime Museum for future generations to remember. More underwater images at the Navy.gov.au site.

Helm of the AE1 (cCommonwealth of Australia)

Lest We Forget.

Abandoned photography

"Abandoned : the most beautiful forgotten places from around the world "
by Mathew Growcoot, a photographic book of the dark yet hauntingly special places.

The places time forgot. From the magical empty theatres of Detroit to the lost playgrounds of Chernobyl, there are places across the globe that were once a hub of activity, but are now abandoned and in decay. With nature creeping in and reclaiming these spots, we are left with eerie crumbling ruins and breathtaking views that offer us a window into the past and capture our imagination.

"Abandoned" showcases the very best photographs from around the world documenting this phenomenon. More immersive than a museum, abandoned photography has given the world an exciting way to look at times gone by and the places we have long neglected. The images captured provoke questions about earlier times, mans' futility, and the relentless power of nature.
The book was compiled and curated by photographer and former urban explorer, Mathew Growcoot from Birmingham in England. Below are just some of his images of industry, landscapes and the built environment post usefulness.

 Part of the incline at the abandoned Dinorwic Quarry, which lies between Llanberis and Dinorwig, near Bangor in Wales, UK. It was once the largest slate quarry in the world.

Nature reclaiming a derelict building

 An old locomotive in the Istvantelek Rail Workshop, Budapest, Hungary

To view more of Mathew's photographs borrow "Abandoned".

Above and beyond

Nick Rains latest book "Aerial Australia" is beautiful, and reminds us that depending on the angle there is beauty in just about everything.
In this case the angle is from an aeroplane, but the proliferation of drones is likely going  to make the rarity of aerial photography more commonplace.

There's nothing like the thrill of looking out the window of an aircraft and seeing the world from above, and in "Aerial Australia", Nick's photographs reveal Australia as it's rarely seen, revealing a whole new side of its beauty. It offers sweeping views of Australia's cities; dramatic glimpses of its Outback sand dunes and epic waterfalls; a new perspective on Australia's coral reefs and coastal fringes, and a new way of looking at Australia's countryside. These hundreds of stunning photographs turn industrial scenes and winding rivers into abstract art. 

Nick Rains has been a professional photographer for over 30 years, starting off in the UK with sports and commercial work before moving to Australia in 1990. Since then he has specialised in travel and landscape work, crisscrossing the country on assignments for publishers. His work involves packing up his 4WD and heading off into the wilderness for weeks at a time, driving tens of thousands of kilometres and camping out under the stars in a never-ending quest for the perfect light.  

Here are just a few of the images in the book-
 

The solar reflectors at White Cliffs, N.S.W.

The everyday reflected in White Cliffs, then the everyday transformed with a red car on a road crossing the shallow Wallaga Lake near Bermagui.

The unexpected - headstones in Melbourne General Cemetery

This beautiful keepsake casts Australia's beauty in a whole new light. 
And talking about drone photography, I was recently impressed with Jaimen Hudson, check out his website for more stunning photos, especially those around Esperance.

Here is the link to Nick's website, and other books by Nick Rains.

Intellectual secrets

I was sent a link to an article by James Somers titled 'Keepers of the secrets' which relates to his experience when visiting the archives division of the New York Public Library.

The most quotable quote from the article has to be - 

"The real work, though, in processing a collection, is intellectual. The goal is to make the files you’ve received findable"

In an age when people say Google has all the answers to your information questions, and when economic rationalists question the value of extra time and effort expended on a bibliographic record, this is a refreshing affirmation.
Go James!
James Somers is a writer and programmer based in New York.

Pleasant Creek sold

Further to a previous post - "Abandoned in Pleasant Creek" way back in February 2008, the site was finally been leased.

According to the Stawell Times News Keenan Quinsee from Ballan is the new owner of the old hospital buildings.
He intends to clean up the site and then operate Aradale-style ghost tours.
Keenan also has other potential ideas for utilising some of the buildings (Christmas in July festival next year, a weekend night market, live music events in the summer, a bean bag cinema, wine bar and cafe and a three-dimensional artistic mural), including the very utilitarian looking concrete offices near the highway as retail space.

The Glenelg

The Glenelg River rises from its source in the southern Grampians (near the Chimney Pots) and flows over 350 kilometres to Nelson on the coast, where it empties into Discovery Bay. 

It passes spots like the road-side camping area at Cherrypool, the rail bridge at Kanagulk, the town of Harrow, and flows into and out of Rocklands Reservoir and through the Lower Glenelg National Park.

Cherrypool

The Fulham Bridge at Kanagulk

Rocklands

Canoeing on the Glenelg at Harrow

< A bend of the Glenelg as it passes below the Princess Margaret Rose Caves near Nelson.

Chief Executive Officer

It all started in 2010 with the publication of "Starring the Boss Baby as himself" (“Boss Baby”): The boss. He's here. (And FYI—he's a total baby.)

Marla Frazee’s hilarious picture book where for the Boss Baby for first-time parents become his instant minions. He is used to getting his way--drinks made to order 24/7, his private jet plane, and meetings around the clock, and if things weren't done to his immediate satisfaction...HE HAD A FIT!! But when his demands aren't getting proper responses, he has to go to new lengths to achieve the attention he deserves.

Then earlier this year came the DreamWorks "Boss Baby" animated feature film loosely based on the book, and starring Alec Baldwin.  

And now we have “Introducing the bossier baby as herself!” (some editions with the variant title “The Bossier Baby”): There’s a new boss in town... and she’s younger, shorter, and bossier than the Boss Baby ever was!

Boss Baby used to be in charge of his family, but that was before he got an even bossier baby sister. So how will he handle this hostile business take-over?

A wonderful mix of parenting frustrations and corporate bargaining.

A great book for parents, for babies, for brothers, for sisters, for children, for siblings, for executives, for minions...hey it's for everyone.

From dawn to dusk

Another week-end, another batch of photographs -

Pano of the northern spur of Mt Arapiles, Mitre Rock in the centre, and the Arapiles silo to the right, as the morning mist was lifting.

Believe this was Wasgott's house, it's on Hauslers-Dundons Road at Miga Lake. 

The smoke from stubble burns obscures the sunset near Remlaw, while a plane to Adelaide makes it's own smoke trail. Mt Arapiles again - on the horizon.

More than 4 seasons in 1 day

Experienced some dramatic weather on Saturday, and while I didn't set out to capture it - was just admiring it - some became part of the image anyway.
Here is a selection in the order in which they occurred, with no playing at the edit process.