五個月前，我的女兒為我買了一個數碼相機。“享受一下人生的樂趣吧，”她說。 對著這個價值不菲的禮物我唯有苦笑。我素來不熱衷於攝影，更不用說研究其中奧妙了。逼自己學吧！就這樣，我報名進了第三年紀大學的初級攝影班。 我的tutor是專業攝影師，有數十年的教學經驗。沒想到第一課我就給他將了一軍。一上課他羅列了一系列與攝影有關的問題，探測每個學員思想的深度和藝術鑒賞力。比如說：
 

Is photography to you exploring a passion/art of image/self-expression?

Is photography to you awareness (capturing a moment e.g. disaster shot, romance, nature)?
 

原來學攝影還真有一套！幸好只要求筆答，否則我可能只有張口結舌的份兒了。簡而言之，攝影是一種現代繪畫藝術。 你的思想意境， 你的藝術眼光都會直接反映到你的攝影作品中。我苦思冥想，到頭還是交了半張百卷。

"I am sorry, I haven’t yet reached that height."

我偶爾瞥見旁邊學員的作業，發現並不比我好多少，才暗自鬆了一口氣。
 

I joined a family day out at Mount Coot-tha today.

My friend was so kind to pick me up at my home. The van was big enough for as many as eight people and, as some of them were kids, lively conversation and laughter enlivened the drive all the way up the hill, resonating with the crisp autumn country air. While still making the climb, we caught glimpses of barbecue sites scattered among the trees. So we slowed down to pick a place for this long awaited family event until we spotted an open space with a sheltered barbecue site in the depth of the woods.

The picnic began with lots of chattering among the kids and the pleasant hissing of food cooking. When everybody had eaten to his heart’s content, my friend suggested going down the hill to see the waterfall while her husband retreated for his usual respite. Despite the intensified heat, our walk was not void of light-hearted chatting and laughing and in no time we found ourselves on a huge rock. But the waterfall? A solitary traveler emerging from the brook underneath shouted back with a grin, "Walk ahead that way and you will find 'water'!" By water he meant drinking water, he thought we were thirsty! The weather has been too dry to keep the waterfall flowing, so waterfall no more, for now. 

The way up with the kids in the lead seemed shorter.  My hospitable friend set down to preparing more to feed us while the sun was casting its last rays into the woods before the dusk.

http://www.brisbanelookout.com/