Mark McLaren Photography

22/12/2024

Its the season of giving apparently ..

So with that in mind ..

After 7 years on FB..8 years in May .. .. I know .. thats a lot of posts ..

If you enjoy my thoughts .. images or ramblings....

and you fancy leaving a google review ?

It would be appreciated. If not .. equally appreciated :)

If you do i have include the link .

Thank you :) 💜

I meant to add.. Click on the link to leave a review on google

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

21/12/2024

Last night…

20/12/2024

This was tonight ..

I got the lightning notification on my phone .. Hummed and Hawed.. Then headed out to get a wee storm pic..

The drive was nice .. the sky was epic and then all hell broke loose..

It caught me taking its pics then decided i was to be chased .. and so the familiar scenario of me being chased by the cell i was chasing ..

So on that note ...

Merry Christmas everyone and wishing you every happiness and success in 2025 ...

Have a lovely festive break..

Sending out lots of love to those who will be missing their partners , family and friends.

Thank you for all the lovely comments and messages and support .. I do enjoy sharing my adventures with you .

Stay tuned for a wee video coming soon :)

17/12/2024

We had a few little storms .. I headed out earlier in the day .. Nothing .. got back to Dampier and Zen washed over me .. Literally !

Who knew storm chasing could be so chilled ;)

I made a little video to show you :)

Headed out storm chasing in the Pilbara.Nothing eventuated.. Ended up back at Dampier beach chillin in the rain...

11/12/2024

..update … still going strong here in Dampier … watching the beach go for a swim

11/12/2024

02/12/2024

I feel ive just swam the Atlantic...

I say swim .. i mean sailed ..

Or even flew over it .. Im tired.. busy and tired .

But here i am like an old trusty dog , outside the door , covered in mud and matted fur. Bit worse for wear and the tail still wagging.
Looking for a feed :)

So we are in December ...Hope we have all pinned up our advent calendars with the little pictures behind each day.
Are they still a thing?

I remember one year my parents bought a "posh" one with little chocolates behind each date . The first few dates were great as we took turns to open a door and claim the little chocolate...then there was a dawn raid and all the little doors were opened and the treasure eaten !

I digress....

Hope you had a lovely weekend and that nice things surrounded you .

Heres a wee pic of last storm season as a very low system scraped its undercarriage as it rolled over Dampier .

27/11/2024

well that was quick...

Getting older seems to get easier as ... well .. you get older..

Wasn't that long ago , i couldnt wait to be 18 .. then 21 ...

Now its like a runaway cart going down a hill with a tail wind and a palm of a god giving it a shove too...

I digress...

That was a quick year and we are only days away from filming Lea Cullens dance showcase at the Red Earth Arts Precinct .

Remember this ?

LCPA Shining Stars ShowcaseA wonderful collection of talented performers at the Lea Cullens Performing Arts Shining Stars Showcase in Karratha, North Weste...

22/11/2024

Something different for this Friday .

Recently whilst heading up to the Kimberley's i met this fella walking along the North West Coastal Highway heading South.

You know me .. anyone that is doing something different .. I had to chat ..

This is what he said to me..

Worth the watch !!

Please share .. you never know show Alex may inspire

Bumped into Alex travelling around Australia to raise awareness for su***de prevention .. One step at a time ! Inspirational !! Stride Against Su***deContac...

19/11/2024

Years ago I read a book..

Whoopee Freakin Doo... No .. Ive read a few , but this was a good one ...

Meditations -Marcus Aurelius.

Basically, it's like the personal journal of Marcus Aurelius, who was this Roman Emperor and a Stoic philosopher. It's full of his thoughts, reflections, and advice to himself on how to live a good life, stay strong during tough times, and be a decent human being.
...It's more like reminders to himself about dealing with stress, not being controlled by anger, doing the right thing, and accepting what happens without losing his cool. It’s pretty relatable...

Written 2000 years ago .. I have written 4 of his meditations.. now I ask .. which is your favourite ?

Or do you have another ..

Post yours in the comments :)

15/11/2024

When im out and about in the Pilbara landscape, i find all sorts of remnants from the past.
From ancient rock carvings on the most inconspicuous pile of rocks to waterholes just like this.
I do the same thing at each .. I sit ... i breathe deeply and think of all the people that has been here over thousands of years..

During that little meditating process a calm descends upon me and the area..

The birds songs sound clearer, the flys .. they even seem to chill and go rest on a twig.. I know ... Pilbara flys taking 5 ....! Everything is at peace ..

Or is it just me ..?

Whatever it is ... I love it ..

The storm activity is starting to pick up here in the Pilbara and there are a few forecast this weekend .. (a good bit out of town) so hopefully more surprises awaits.

If there is anything worth the drive you can be rest assured ill be in the middle of it ;) ... So to speak..

So find yourself a little piece of calm this weekend ... even if it requires a short drive ..

Have yourself a Zen experience beautiful people.

14/11/2024

We covered this years Art Awards ..if you or you know of any artists that might be interested in next years Artist in Residence .. please share :)

Cossack Art Awards Artist in Residence 2024 applications are open from 1 February to 29 February to Australian Artists. Highly coveted $20k four-week residency in remote historic Cossack Town.

07/11/2024

Its not what surrounds you... Its what you focus on...

This little rock pool is my workings ... :)

Have a manual focus weekend beautiful people

05/11/2024

A night at the islands..

Not a soul .. only the lights from Dampier across the glass like water..

Clear skies .. warm water... and not a care in the world ..

(Now did i turn off the oven ? )

01/11/2024

I know we should never talk about work when we are enjoying social catch ups .. and this little social catch up is no different..

Of course there is a but…

So when I'm not pointing lens at landscapes .. running to and from storms.. scribbling away with a feather quill illuminated by flickering candlelight to share with you my musings..
..I am out doing things like this.

I wanted to share this one.. I know it may look like a shameless plug for Flying Fox Media.. and to get you to like and follow my business page to see what we do.. But it’s not that at all.

No .. my intentions are pure...

So what’s the post about Markie.. ?

Let me try to explain... (buckle Up)...

Very few things have made me stop and say “Holy Moly” ! Or words to that effect...or simply just to being in awe.. Sure you know I’ve dived with Great White Sharks… bungee jumped.. bla bla bla.. many things..

But this one had a different feel. This "Holy Moly" was really impressive

This is a part of Woodside’s Pluto Upgrade and it was unloaded from a massive ship, by military precision..

We filmed as this monster of beautiful engineering made its way up from the port through the ancient Pilbara landscape to find its new home at the gas plant.

The size of this was truly breathtaking and the quietness as it moved through the landscape with only few feet to spare.

Signs were taken down, barriers removed as it approached and then reinstated as it moved on . The only thing that couldnt be moved was the red pilbara rocks which formed a checkpoint.

ensuring all measurements were correct as it eased past.

You would never know it passed this way..

So just like this marvel of engineering.. we all have the ability to leave beautiful lasting impressions on those we meet .

Make sure you do that.

Have a collision free , impression leaving weekend beautiful people ;)

See what I did there :)

(Who parked the car there ?)

Have you seen my business page? ;)

FFlying Fox Media Creation

28/10/2024

The Poll results are in ...
...and as you can tell by the image there was a winner ..

Not that there needs to be .. or that there was a race to begin with.. No not at all !

Id like to congratulate all nominations for taking part and in our eyes .. they are all winners ... !

(see what i did there ?)

Anyhoo.. big round of applause for the unanimous winner and sole champion of the poll !
The One and only to receive a massive 28% of the votes ..

Step aside losing categories and bow before the new poll champ..

"STORMS"

(muffled applause and crying)

Thank you for taking part in the poll, Join me next week to find out Cheesecake, Carrot cake, Scones or apple pie ?

Until then heres a wee Storm pic :)

Mark McLaren Photography

25/10/2024

A little storm ... a little fire ... flat ocean ... and the beautiful little town and community of Dampier.

Have a lovely wekend.