It’s not the first fire in Notre-Dame some of the Rose windows have not survived past fires. It’s amazing the structural strength of these great buildings and their architectural contribution.
Another great European building Mezquita de Córdoba
Known locally as Mezquita-Catedral, the Great Mosque of Cordoba is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time Muslims ruled Al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia including most of Spain, Portugal, and a small section of Southern France) in the late 8th century. Cordoba is a two hour train ride south of Madrid, and draws visitors from all over the world.
These great buildings a glue that keeps social fabric together.
Having travelled extensively in the Country of my birth. I felt as a photographer I would like to show a side of Australia that tourists rarely see. The working and gritty side of a commodity driven country.
I have used black and white for strength. I see much of Australia as time warped in the 19th century. Much of the attitude beyond the populated coastal regions is early 20th century to early post 1945 the 50s and 60s.when I left Australia the first time the population had not yet hit 10 million. Today it borders on 25 million and should continue to grow exponentially. However still most new comers cling to the coastal regions like clinging to the gunnel of a boat. Little effort has been made by successive governments to develop the interior of this vast continent Island for community growth. The only development has been to plunder one of the world’s great commodity reservoirs. Many will say irrigation is a problem however Australia has one of the great sweet water catchments of the world in the Great Artisian Basin covering in excess of 1/3 of the country.
Still many commodity industries are producing as they have for the last 150 years through the blood sweat and tears of hard yakka (yakka australian for work). As an example Australia produces 1/3 of the world’s wool this wool is of the finest micron quality. Shearing still takes place in the shearing shed on the sheep stations as it has for 150 years. Many commodities are mined in small holdings by sweating miners sometimes working in dangerous conditions.
I hope these images will give an idea of the hard yakka and gritty side of survival in the outback that still exists today. A world not totally based on ‘Information Technology’.
Tradition housing dating to the 1800s
Tradition 1800s town centre similar to USA of same periodThe Church Silverton nr Broken HillClunes VictoriaThe DunnyThe PubLion of Waterloo Pub Wellington NSW again high pitched roofTown Centre Silverton NSWSilverton NSWChurch and Chair SilvertonThe car a Ford 60sHistoryThe BarThe Indian Pacific Railway Trans Australia Indian to pacific OceansThe prospectorThe indigenousThe mineThe MinerA MinerSmoko in the MineMiner at SmokoCowboy Jimmy a MinerFace of a ShearerA ShearerThe ShearerPortrait of an AustralianKelpie the working dogDrover and CockyCocky PosingDroving
The Engine Boys ToysJust SmokoOn the StandShearing the JumbuckShearer Jumbuck and SmokeShearer and Jumbuck
In the Shed
Hard Yakkahard Yakka on the StandShearer Yakka with the JumbuckThe DroverCocky PosingYakka on the StandBroomy in the ShedBroomy and yakka at the TableCocky restingCocky and flea Taxis KelpiesAt the TableChecking the Wool at the TableYakka
A3+ 19″x 13″ins on highest quality acid free cotton based gallery quality art paper printed using a 10 ink printer with long lasting highest quality Canon original pigment inks. These are the highest quality gallery level prints possible.
It is interesting the psychology of islamophobia and other phobias. I should commence by stating that I’m not a follower of any man created terrestrial religion not even an atheist as that is also an absolute stating that followers know. I’m probably closer to an agnostic but these are only man created words for I have my own thoughts.
As a species our ability to misinterpret misquote is endless quite often out of personal convenience. The written word opens the door to misinterpretation.
Image Shane A
Image Shane A
Diversity frightens us it states that we could be wrong therefore we suppress it. If we believe something that is logically incorrect then it becomes the truth and is the truth, therefore clever people can programme us. Even to such people their truth can be the truth to them even the truth of personal promotion and gain can be justified.
Massacre at Ayyadieh
Throughout history man has tried to impress upon others his truth mostly from fear of the unknown, the Inquisition from the 12th century, holy wars in Palestine, Spain, Protestant Lutherans and Reformed wars with Catholicism the Massacre at Ayyadieh on the fall of Acre by Richard Coeur de Lion, 2700 prisoners massacred an act not repeated by Saladin all out fear and the hunt for power. A statement that I am right you are wrong or a recognition that you may be right and if I take what you have I will be stronger. Some cannibalistic tribes consumed their enemies as they believed that a strong enemy would enhance their spirit. There are many passages in the Quran that relate to violence against what can be misinterpreted to include all non-believers most are in response to specific wars within periods of antiquity. There is also verse within the Quran threatening retribution against his captors for the seizing of Jesus an important prophet in Islam this verse can easily be misinterpreted. It should be remembered that the Quran is an extension of the Old Testament as is the Torah and to a substantial extent the New Testament, all derived from a very violent book originally written to address issues of a specific and bloody period in historical time. The original texts rewritten over time to address changing issues of social structure. So, plenty of material that can be taken out of context by the uneducated on both sides and dangerous if believed to be uncontested fact. Much in the texts was also intended as parable. Even within Islam as within most churches of the Catholic(Universal) world scholars debate the meaning of the word.parable can add to confusion. I have worked with many Sharia committees made up of highly intelligent scholars and few have a universal agreement on meaning. As a species, we are insecure and frightened of the dark. This fear breeds inhumanity in all sectors of society and suppresses the quest for truth and reality. Working in the past with Islamic groups including being an advisor to one of the largest on the development of Islamic financial products that are created from Western concepts all had to be endorsed by a Sharia committee. I have many good Islamic friends who have little interest in any other issues other than supporting their families and having a comfortable, prosperous and violence free life. The quest for truth and understanding has had a difficult path and will have a difficult path in the future, as we are all hardwired into protectionism and tribalism, however we should all try to move along the path of understanding. Much has come from the great religions of the world Islam has given us much of our science, astronomy, language(words such as Alchemy, Alcohol, Algorithm, Alkaline,Average, Admiral, Arsenal,Candy, Check, Coffee, Cotton, Guitar, Hazard, Mattress, Racquet, Sofa, Elixir, Soda, Zero, Chemistry, to name only a few) numbering and some of the greatest art and buildings in the world, much has also come from other great Catholic(Universal) religions, my favourite painting the ‘Beheading of John the Baptist’ by Caravaggio a violent painting from the world of Catholicism but stunning and dramatic light. It also depicts the violent thread that runs through most religion. Also as a very intellectual and respected uncle of mine once said to quote ‘variety is the spice of life’ Marcel Aurousseau. Absolute is not always truth.
Much of Australia’s development is not dissimilar to that of the United States and its growth from the coastal regions to the west or inland.Not all of Australia’s population hugs the coast rather like hanging onto a tippin mattress. Although the greater proportion of the Australian population is on the coast the Commodity wealth of the country has driven growth inland seeking the rich mining of every mental and mineral from Gold, tin, copper, bauxite, opals, Uranium, silver, iron ore, coal ;
Sheep and cattle farming booms across most states with the country hosting some of the largest sheep stations and cattle ranches in the world. Wine vineyards stretch from Western Australia to Queensland. Grains and cotton at also grown in the commodity rich outback
Australia Belswick Merino Stud Condobolin NSW Image Shane A
Australia produces 30% of the worlds wool and the merino is the finest micron level available to the market. Australia is the 7th largest beef producer in the world, producing around 4% of the world’s beef.
Opal mining Lightning Ridge NSW Image Shane A
All this rush for wealth really commenced in the 1800s. In 1851 the Australian population was only 437,655 the gold rush of 1851 changed all of this with the population growing rapidly and a decade later it was 1,151,957, today of course it is nearly 24 million people. the mining, sheep and to an extent the beef industry was away from the coast and caused the development of outback towns and cities such as Condobolin,Dubbo, Broken Hill, Ballarat, Alice Springs and Lightning Ridge all now major centers for the commodity driven industries.
Climbing into an opal mine Lightning Ridge NSWStage Coach Cobb and Co
The development of these towns really dates from the 1800s a period when the United States of America was developing in a similar way. North America’s towns of the wild west were very similar to Australia’s even down to the stagecoach connections of Cobb and Co. What developed in this period of inland growth were what Australians refer to as the ‘Veranda Towns’. Towns with large verandas circumnavigating the period commercial buildings and houses of these regional centres – designed for hot summer evenings.
Molong NSW Image Photographer Shane Aurousseau
This architecture gives Australia its unique character influencing its development from the 1800s on. So much of this development is left in- tact across the continent that the country is a ‘Museum for the 1800s and the growth of a nation..
The Lion of Waterloo Pun 1840 low roof and veranda image Shane AurousseauSilverton NSW Municipal CouncilNetley Station HomesteadBraidwood NSW Image Shane AurousseauBallarat Victoria NSWSilverton Hospital NSWDe Bauns Hotel Silverton NSWWellington Pub Wellington NSW image Shane A
