[Leica] Visiting Sydney with Leica

[Ken Lassiter <kenlass@gate.net>]

G'Day, Mate:

If you have only a short time for touring, here are a few ideas:

Take a harbor cruise OR better still, take the ferry to the zoo.  A
wonderful zoo, great view of the skyline from there and many photo
opportunities.  You will need at least a 90mm here.  Longer is better.
You can spend the whole afternoon here.

After your convention day is over, take either the ferry OR the monorail
to Darling Harbour.  Eat at the seafood restaurant (Jordans.)  If you
like calimari, try theirs.  It is the best I've ever had.  Cooked with a
passion fruit sauce.  Mmmmmn -- Marvelous.  The House Chardonnay is not
bad. Try as many of the Australian wines as you can.  You will find
favorites quickly.  You can shop for souvenirs at Darling Harbour

My favorite place for souvenirs is in the Rocks.  The Ken Done Shop.
Interesting designs for T shirts, golf shirts, scarves, etc.  Your
friends will love them. (I have a Ken Done T-Shirt on now!)

Australia is a good place ot buy opals.  You can get a duty free price
at most places but you will need to show your passport and plane ticket
home.

Try a sunset from Mrs. Maquiaries' Point or a sunrise from the Rocks.
At night the Rocks has lots of night photography opportunities:  The
Opera House at night, the skyline, the Bridge,  Visit Luna Park for
nighttime fun and more photos.

If you can, visit the inside of the Opera House.  You will go crazy
photographing the light patterns as they creep across the carpeted
floors and paneled walls.  Lots of shots of Sydney framed by the many
different shaped window panels.  (You will not be able to shoot inside
the actual concerts halls, however, during a performance.)  But if you
have a night free, buy tickets to whatever is on at the Opera House.
Take your camera because you won't want to miss the night shots from the
point.

There are lots of things to do in Sydney that one can squeeze in when
time is short.

Take at least a table tripod and cable release.

I have been to Sydney 3 times and it s one of my favorite cities.  If I
could do only one thing, I would take a ferry out to Manley and a cat
boat back after dinner.

I wish I was going with you!

...Ken Lassiter, Boynton Beach, Florida