The shallow 50mm walk.
Friday’s shoot was postponed, so I decided to get off the computer and go for a walk up a hill.
I took one lens. Prime 50mm 1.4. I usually work with a few bodies and a variety of lenses, so having only one set lens reminded me of when I first started taking photos. I turned the preview off as well, to keep with the old school feel of the day, and shot everything with a shallow depth of field.
We headed out of town and towards the hill.
This is the hill.
The bottom of the track is covered in wait-a-while, which makes the going slow. It grabs you, rips skin and clothes if you don’t stop and gently release it.
In some parts the track is completely blocked by the wait-a-while, and we needed to detour around it.
I haven’t been for a good walk for a while, and it came more easily than I’d suspected. Thanks, I’m sure, to the t-shirt I was wearing.
And that’s the end of the Fireball. Now we’re going to have to go to Canada or Maui to get some more…
We lost the track on the way back for a while, and found footprints.
We lost the track again for a while and found a python under a tree. 
Sweet Hula Pea
My niece was SweetPea the whole time she was in the womb. We didn’t know her name until she arrived, but to me she’s always SweetPea. We found a few perfect presents for her in Hawaii… Here’s Pea wearing a pea bib and pointing to the peas.
And of course we had to bring her back a hula outfit. It’s not quite hula, but she is dancing…
and gets more hula like…. Aloha. I think I’m going to stand her on my dash as I drive around….
For more photography click here to see my website, full blog, or FaceBook.
Seabean
A seabean is an ocean going seed pod.
It’s also the most fabulous new venue in Port Douglas. On Wharf St, with only park between it and the Coral Sea, Seabean is serving up fantastic tapas, brunch, coffee, lunch, dinner and delightful cocktails.
The interior is light and clean and feels open, fresh and beachy. (Is that a word?)
Reading the tapas menu is mouthwatering
The wine list is fabulous and affordable, and the cocktails are refreshingly original and feature local produce.
You really can’t go past the mussels steamed in tomato and basil with a touch of chilli, and the traditional paella.
And just when you think you’e had enough, there’s dessert. Including coconut brulee seved in the coconut.
Seabean also offers a kids menu. It’s the perfect spot for a family dinner, a light lunch or just pop in for tapas and cocktails.
For more photography click here to see my website, full blog, or FaceBook.
Jamie & Jo – Married in Port Douglas
Jamie and Jo are a gorgeous creative couple who live in Amsterdam. Jamie’s parents are Port Douglas locals, so they were married in St Mary’s by the Sea.
December 22nd can be pretty warm in the tropics so the ceremony was held late in the afternoon and personalised fans were handed out to all the guests.
Jo’s dress was amazing – the design inspired by a parachute.
The ceremony with Sarah Woods was beautiful,
and was beamed live to Europe for all the friends who couldn’t make the trip.
Of course the bubbles flowed after the ceremony
So while the guests were enjoying drinks outside the church with this view of the Port Douglas Sugar Wharf,
Jamie, Jo and I wandered over to the Sugar Wharf for a few relaxed portraits of the newlyweds.
And then the surprise Jamie’s mates had secretly organised
Jamie had seen this car a driving around town a few days before the wedding, and had been telling Jo what a classic vintage Ford it was and how much he loved it. The guys had tracked it down,
and the owner had happily lent it as a wedding car!
Congratulation Jamie & Jo – what a wonderful wedding, and I hope you’re not too cold back in the Amsterdam winter!
Oh, and there’s also a fun little stop motion video of Jamie and Jo at the Sugar Wharf on the Catseye Facebook page – link is below.
Trash. Your. Dress. Sort of. Not really. Actually, just find a stunning location & some nice light.
Sara-Jayne and Nathan had a fabulous wedding, and a few days later we went to trash the dress.
This story starts before dawn. At 4am actually, with a message from Brad, the chief pilot of Sky Safari, letting me know that the rain should hold off and we could take off at first light.
So we did.
It was stunning morning and a beautiful way to start the day.
We left the lovers alone on the cay for a while…
And we left it with a little more love 
Our timing was perfect. As we flew back to Port Douglas, the clouds closed in.
We flew home over Low Isles,
and were back in time for breakfast. What a day!
Rachael & Charlie – A Port Douglas Wedding
Simply put, Rachael is one of the most beautiful brides I have seen.
On the morning of November 12th, the girls’ room in the Sea Temple was humming with activity and people. The bridesmaids all wore pink silk dressing gowns to match Rachael’s white one.
This wedding was a blast!
So much goes on during preparations, hair, makeup, bridesmaids bridesmaiding, mothers mothering, friends loving and laughing…
and of course the bride, and the dress
Every now and then there can be a little mishap – like a mark on a dress, but the day sailed on smoothly and no-one batted an extended eyelashed lid.
The make up artist was a true artist.
Everyone took a turn in this chair to have hair done, but not all could watch the progress..
Meanwhile, the boys were moving from one room to another,
swimming, playing,
enjoying the day – not too concerned with getting dressed.
Back to the girls and the buzz of activity
With the beautiful flowers by Blush
and the fabulous Zoe Day on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly.
And then it was time for Rachael to get dressed…
and go to St Mary’s by the Sea, Port Douglas’ gorgeous little church.
Videographer Rob Cooke was on hand to capture the whole day .
When Charlie saw Rachael walking down that aisle…
Charlie and Rachael’s son was the ring bearer
After all the congratulations were said, and all the petals were thrown, we went with the bridal party over to the park. Here are the gorgeous bridesmaids.
We then all had a break for an hour, while the sun was still harsh and met again just before the reception was due to begin at the Links Golf Club.
After some fun with the whole bridal party, we left them to start on the champagne and went off for some Charlie and Rachael photos
The bridesmaids were waiting and ready for the entrance
into a fantastic reception.
The night was fabulous – laughs, tears, speeches and lots and lots of singing and dancing.
The two fathers.
Congratulations Rachael and Charlie, it was an absolutely stunning wedding!!
To see more of my work, click here for my website, full blog, or FaceBook
Lou & her Pirate Captains.
My friend Louise lives in a purple house with a Pirate Captain and the Pirate Captain’s Dad.
The Pirate Captain insisted that his Baba also be a Pirate Captain to have his photo taken.
The Pirate Captain soon decided he didn’t want any more photos, declared he was finished and went off to continue being a Pirate Captain elsewhere.
We did manage to grab the Pirate Captain who relented to a few more photos, roaring through them and brandishing his cutlass.
Emanuel the Pirate Captain, soon to be Big Brother Pirate Captain.
To see more of my work, click here for my website, full blog, or FaceBook
Sara-Jayne and Nathan
What can I say about Sara-Jayne and Nathan? What a special wedding. This was so much fun, I had an absolute ball with them.
Sara-Jayne was getting ready at the Sea Temple in Port Douglas, with a glass of Moet, of course.
It was a fantastic morning, with all the girls helping and enjoying the day.
And I love that she wore white thongs as wedding shoes!!
So while the Moet flowed at the Sea Temple, the boys were back at 4 Mile drinking Coronas and being pretty typical boys on a wedding day. Usually they suddenly realise that the ceremony is in 20 minutes and they should probably turn off the football, get out of the pool, and get dressed.
Having said that, the guys were mainly ready when I arrived.
With a bit of discussion on which way up a buttonhole corsage goes, they were ready for a few pre wedding photos.
“Of course you can still drink your beers” I told them and they all looked very relieved,
and drank in perfect unison.
Meanwhile, back at the Sea Temple
the girls were dressed
and ready to help Sara-Jayne.
The ceremony was held by Sarah Woods on the boardwalk at the Sea Temple, just off the beach.
And it was beautiful.
There was so much emotion, love and lots and lots of laughter.
It’s not always the bride who gets a bit teary and stumbles on the vows,
And then Nathan told Sara he’d take her to be his life, instead of wife, and there was more laughter. It was a fabulous ceremony.
It was a hot day, so we went to a rainforest creek first for some bridal party portraits.
And then to the Port Douglas Sugar Wharf for some cigars.
November in Port can be quite warm, and it was.
Lunch and the reception was back at the Sea Temple
In the afternoon, Sara-Jayne and Nathan moved to the lounge for a bit of lounging
and were soon joined by everyone.
Then it was back to the villa for cake and a few more speeches
and the garter toss.
And more cigars.
It was a magical day, but this story isn’t over. It will continue soon with a helicopter, a sand cay and a sunrise. Here’s a peek until that post is up.
Naomie & Mark
On a very warm afternoon in November, Mark and Naomie were married at Shangri-La.
Which has a fantastic pool that is a great way to spend the day while you wait for your parents to be married.
The morning was very relaxed, Mark worked on his vows
with some helpful input from their daughter.
With everyone else occupied with preparations, it was a good time to practice a few somersaults.
A few pre wedding shots were poured, which didn’t quite layer perfectly,
but tasted great anyway!
Naomie’s dress was simple, elegant and stunning.
And I love her shoes!
Sarah Woods performed a beautiful ceremony on the verandah overlooking the valley.
Here are all the girls
And the family.
Mark wanted some photos on the pool,
and, probably unsurprisingly, ended up in it. But it was a hot tropical afternoon and this was the best place to be.
And sure enough, soon everyone was in!
Congratulations Naomie and Mark, your family is beautiful!
Click here to see my website, for the full blog, or to follow Catseye on Facebook.
ELOPING WITH THE KIDS
Not your standard elopment, Mark and Jeanette ran away to North Queensland to get married, and brought the kids along for the occasion.
With shiny sparkly shoes and beautiful bouquets.
Here is the entire congregation. It was a beautiful ceremony by Sarah Woods. Just the family.
With celebratory drinks
for everyone.
It was a great chance to get some family portraits
and individuals as well,
but it can sometimes be a bit daunting so we all started telling our best jokes.
An easy stoll down the esplanade of Palm Cove
Mark and Jeanette are just so in love and gorgeous
and the kids didn’t always wait for them to catch up.
Then everybody’s shoes came off for the beach…
…before heading back into town for lunch.
