bike | Andrew McInnes Photography

I recently had the pleasure of 36 hours at the lovely Hotham Ridge Winery at Wandering, Western Australia as I conducted a photo-shoot for the owners. At only a little beyond 1.5 hours from downtown Perth, this organic/biodynamic winery is a wonderful and proximal location to spend time relaxing with fine wine, delicious food, and gorgeous rammed-earth cottages that are refreshingly clean and quiet. The bistro utilizes a wood-fired oven to produce meals, from which I enjoyed what may well be the most delicious pizza I can recall – the “Classico.”

The following images are all taken at the winery – I hope you enjoy them, and if you are planning a visit to the Perth area I suggest you may want to consider spending time at Hotham Ridge Winery, even if only for a bite to eat and a sampling of their award winning wines.

Overlooking the Chardonnay, with a beautiful crop for this vintage.

1_Hotham Ridge Winery 2AM-003359-003361 panorama

Three-image stitch.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Looking back at the cottages, homestead, bistro, and winery.

The Dutch influenced homestead, and the two cottages – “Billie” and “Nina” – as seen from the bistro.

Here is “Billie’s” porch.

These old oak barrels, settled among a garden of ponds, flowing water, and birds-a-plenty, greet visitors on pathway to the cellar door and bistro.

The Magpie tapestry – illustrating the basis of the Hotham Ridge label.

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The vintner’s vintages.

Vines, very soon to be relieved of their sweet bounty.

Dawn breaks over the Chardonnay. HDR image.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

A red bicycle appearance among the vines.

This red bicycle makes an appearance in several of these images as the owners of the winery wanted the bicycle included in some of the scenes – I like it.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

As this is an organic winery (certified), there is no herbicide or pesticide usage thus these young vines are competing with the remnants of the spring’s grass.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Mmmm, I see another award winning red in the making…

Table grapes drape and shade an outside table at the bistro.

The bountiful flora surrounding the Bistro entrance from the parking lot.

This short board-walk to the bistro is edged by a luscious pond and wetlands.

“The Wide World” as seen from the bistro garden area.

Ever closer, some of the outdoor bistro dining tables are revealed.

You have arrived at the bistro entrance

Times of yore; traps, sickles, and shears adorn the bistro wall.

Some of the available seating in the bistro – bench and table section.

Delightfully fresh wholemeal spelt sour-dough bread, fresh out of the wood-fired oven.

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Awaiting oven’s readiness for my soon to be savoured “Classico” pizza!

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To wrap up this express tour, I present a variety of visual vagaries 🙂

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Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) in full bloom.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

A eucalyptus gumnut – species yet to be confirmed.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis).
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Highly aromatic flower of the caper plant.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Motorbike Frog (Litoria moorei).
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Bulrush; Cattails; Cumbungi; Wonga; Reed-mace; raupo; (Typha)
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Wild oats ablaze in dusk’s amazing light.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Curling bark.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Lichen on granite (primarily).
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Wine vines swishing in silhouette before a highlight of wild oats.
Copyright © Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

Thanks for taking a look at my images.
Ciao for now.

It has been quite a while since I last posted – I sure hope you enjoy this, and other posts, from my recent trip to Malaysia. As it was not a photography or vacation trip, I took one camera with one lens – no tripod, flash, etc. Consequently, the great majority of these images are handheld, and all are taken essentially as ‘snapshots’ throughout the day/night and with whatever light was available. All images were captured with Canon 7D and Canon 24-105mm f/4L lens.

I found Kuala Lumpur to be fascinating with much dichotomy. I hope you enjoy this far from exhaustive representation of what took my photographic interest during the approximately 60 hours I spent in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The following images show the Petronas Towers, arguably the most internationally recognizable feature of this diverse country. Apparently they were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 when they were surpassed by Taipei 101. However, they remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.

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The ‘traditional’ capture of the Petronas Towers. This is a four image stitch.

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My preferred representation of the Petronas Towers.

The following two images are of the skylights of the Suria KLCC mall which is “underneath” the towers. This is one of the newest shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur and has a nice variety of stores, from high fashion to coffee shops, plus a food court with numerous delicious options.

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Suria KLCC at Petronas Towers 2AM-116698
Skylights of the Suria KLCC mall.

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Suria KLCC at Petronas Towers 2AM-116703
Skylights of the Suria KLCC mall.

Another abstract architectural interpretation – a pair of buildings.

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Reflections – Kuala Lumpur 2AM-116825
Random rippling reflections.

A colleague and I spent an afternoon wandering around, with no particular destination or path in mind, just the hope to make it to “Chinatown” before days end – we were successful. Here is a series of images from “Chinatown”, Kuala Lumpur.

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Lanterns and color.

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Street-side rice cooking in over coals.

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Fruit stall among the market in “Chinatown.”

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Abundant color.

My time in Kuala Lumpur was spent at the lovely PARKROYAL Serviced Suites – here are three images of the rooftop pool. The spire is the Kuala Lumpur Tower.

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Rooftop pool and Kuala Lumpur Tower.

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Rooftop pool and Kuala Lumpur Tower.

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Rooftop pool.

Like every city I have been to, not all have a home, nor a belly full of food.

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Surrounded by apparent opulence, a vagrant sleeps.

Having now seen the fancy digs where I stayed, here are several images taken on my first afternoon in Kuala Lumpur – all were taken within walking distance of where I stayed. Dichotomy was my initial primary feel for this city.

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A different set of towers, plus a ‘needle’.

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Common residence scene.

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Contrasts.

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Bicycle with sidecar – a wedding/honeymoon ride in flowery style anyone?

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Motor scooter – ubiquitous and practical, especially in Kuala Lumpur.

Street/street side businesses immediately proximal to the fancy suite I stayed in.

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“Three Six Star Wash” ??? I guess this road is no longer an option for vehicular passage.

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Home-style cooking, and just in time for lunch.

Speaking of small street-side businesses…
A scene from the “Massage” District in Kuala Lumpur – I thought the sign was fun, and there is a working girl (‘massager’) holding a “menu” of massage options, several of which are purported to include “happy endings.”

Red-light District Crime Sign 2AM-116688_7D

Red-light District Crime Sign 2AM-116688
“Massage” lady and menu.

I thoroughly enjoyed a delicious meal at “Hakka Restaurant” – duck and plum sauce is a bloody delicious dish if you ever get the opportunity! The outdoor ambiance was fabulous, as was the chatter among the local business folk.

Hakka Restaurant - Kuala Lumpur 2AM-116660_7D

Hakka Restaurant – Kuala Lumpur 2AM-116660
Delicious dining experience.

A little color on a balmy Kuala Lumpur night – the city really gets revving at night – lot’s of shoppers, strollers, diners, and gawkers (not to mention the aforementioned “massage” girls).