Billabong, a photo from Victoria, East

Photographer's Note

Billabong is an Australian English word meaning a smallish lake, and specifically an oxbow lake, a stagnant pool of water attached to a waterway. Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a creek or river changes, leaving the former branch with a dead end. Despite some claims of a Scottish Gaelic origin, the word is most likely from the Wiradjuri term bilabaŋ.
Billabongs appear relatively often in Australian literature. One of the most well-known references is in the opening line of Banjo Paterson's famous poem "Waltzing Matilda" the un official Australian National Anthem.

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled "Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?" Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled, "Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?" Along came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong, Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee, And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, "You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me". Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, "You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?". Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred, Down came the troopers, one, two, three, "Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?" "You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me". Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me "Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?", "You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?". Up jumped the swagman, leapt into the billabong, "You'll never catch me alive," said he, And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong, "Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me". Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong, "Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

jhm, trekks, bobocortis, JPlumb, holmertz, gracious, gunbud, paololg, feather, paura, Nic-n-Jen_Inc, robertosalguero, pablominto, Felip ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

JanD (0) 2008-04-29 3:48

Howdy Santo!
Very nice landscape. Original lightness. Good colors. Nice capture.
Regards!

jhm (211736) 2008-04-29 5:00

Hello Santo,

Is this not the known song?
You picture show a excellent panorama view about this splendid part Australia.
Nice composition with the mountains and the clouds to the sky.
Quality and colours are very well.
Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

Miha2ou7 (5162) 2008-04-29 14:13

Hey Santo,

Yeah, it really does personify that song. :) Great job, and a beautiful scenery, more than that a great documentary for the song.
Perfect compo and colors, of this semi-arid scenery.

See you around.

edal (6804) 2008-04-29 14:47

Hello Santo!
An excellent landscape from the "other side" of the world! It made me look for the Waltzing Matilda in the YouTube and I enjoyed it very much. Of course, I had to check for some strange words like jumbuck and swagman...;-)
Greetings!
Anton

lousat (139266) 2008-04-29 16:55

Ciao Santo,what a beautifull landscape and what a fantastic clouds!!!!!Excellent colours perfect sharpness and time of exposure,my best compliments,Luciano

trekks (14348) 2008-04-29 22:44

hello Santo

I have seen your 1st posts and now it is as if your photography has jumped a gap ahead. This is a fine landscape shot not just in composition but content, you have done good write up for it. Dedication and passion on what you do. Good work.

tfs, bill

bobocortis (16090) 2008-04-30 1:06

Hi Santo.
The earth's colour is the most item I like in this shot, expecially in contrast with the sky's cold blue. A good foreground too.
Best regards.
Bobo.

hatti52 (12786) 2008-04-30 1:38

Hi Santo
wonderful image
great colours and depth
i like deep blue sky and clouds
my compliments

JPlumb (3159) 2008-04-30 5:28

Hi Santo, I always liked that song. Believe it or not, we learned it as kids in school in Canada. Of course I never knew what half the stuff was. Didn't matter, it all sounded good. Might be a small part of the reason my wife and I wanted to come to Australia in the first place. I knew a Billabong was a small lake, I didn't know it was an oxbow. This is a nice shot of one, almost as I imagined it would be with the trees near the water. I like your positioning in this shot, looking down on the lake, with the capture of the rest of the countryside. You've capped it nicely with the mountains in the back and that great Australian sky overhead. Very nice colour throughout, with great textures.

Thanks, enjoyed! John

holmertz (102700) 2008-04-30 10:16

Hello Santo,
This is a truly great view, neatly composed with a tree in the foregound and the intersecting lines of trees in the central part. Sometimes, looking at others pictures (and my own, after posting them) I keep thinking what would happen if I cropped this or altered that. In this case I think it would have been possible to take away about half of the sky, making the view even more panoramic and still keeping the most attractive clouds. Regardless of that, it's still e very fine photo.
Best wishes,
Gert

gracious (20025) 2008-04-30 12:42

Hello Santo,
Many thanks for sharing this awesome view of Billabong! truly beautiful!
good pov in depth with the beatiful clouds formation across the land!
well done
cheers
Tony

gunbud (34066) 2008-04-30 18:19

Hello Santo,
Beautiful crystal clear colors with excellent details and sharpness to this lovely landscape. The foregrond of rolling hills is very pleasing sitting below the dramaticlly wonderful sky. Wonderful note with the famous poem.
Regards, Tom

dvlazar (6662) 2008-04-30 21:25

A classic Australiana scene. Postcard perfect! The land here could do with a little more rain though, i suspect :)
Well captured,
Dave

emka (158156) 2008-04-30 23:55

Hi Santo,

Very nice landscape. I Like the fields and the hills. Very interesting story about famous song. of course, when i think about Australia, Waltzing Matilda comes to my mind.
regards

Malgorzata

paololg (31448) 2008-05-01 1:54

Ciao Santo,
bella immagine di questo paesaggio, molto ampia e spaziosa con cielo quasi tridimensionale. In Australia avete dei paesaggi stupendi, grazie per condividerli con tutti.
Ciao
Paolo.

feather (51130) 2008-05-01 8:14

The song is so full of Australian words I think you should set yourself the challenge to take a series of photos, so you can illustrate all the words in the song. ;D You made a good start with "Billabong".
This is a lovely rural view overlooking the billabong with the tree included on the right for depth and foreground interest. Well done
Kath

Silvio1953 (221593) 2008-05-01 11:35

Hi Santo, beautiful and peaceful view with wonderful light and splendid colors, great idea, very well done, ciao Silvio

paura (25802) 2008-05-01 15:14

Santo,
Beautiful composition with nice colors and lighting management. The sky's blue is a top element. Well done!

Abraço

paulo

Clementi (52514) 2008-05-01 15:26

Ciao Santo ,
molto bella questa oanoramica sembrano quelle che si vedono nei documentari del national geographic, molto belli i colori e bello il cielo con le nuvole .
complimenti
Giorgio

Nic-n-Jen_Inc (176) 2008-05-01 18:26

Hi Santo,
What a beautiful countryside photo. You've got a nice POV, showing a great view. Nicely done.
TFS,

dumbo (4541) 2008-05-02 1:37

Hello Santo,
Great photo with good composition and nice colors.
I like that sky with those strange clouds.
Good job!

Best wishes,
Eino

toto (0) 2008-05-02 9:55

Bonsoir,
belle photo de cette nature avec ce petit ilot qui a son étang et ses arbres, le tout entourré de barbellés.
Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté de ces champs qui nous mènent jusqu' aux collines sur lesquels glissent ces gros et jolis nuages blancs.

Amitiés Thomas

pablominto (53746) 2008-05-06 2:38

Hello Santo,
A lovely view of this fine landscape!
The composition is well balanced and has fine details, in particular I admire the fine cloud formations...
The inclusion of the tree in front creates depth, and the colour palette is attractive!
Greetings,
Pablo -

robertosalguero (292) 2008-05-06 2:45

Hello Santo,

Now I know what the word Billabong means. I have seen that word stamped on swimsuits but never knew its origin. Nice landscape and excellent contrast of colours. The sky is very pretty with its soft clouds. The land is wide here and the little oasis in the middle is a beautiful place. Cheers :-)

Roberto

foozi (7101) 2008-05-24 21:24

Hello Santo,
an exciting billabong ( new word for me)Thanks for that. Well thought phot with well implemented photographic elements. The sky is very coopperating and really dramatic. The choosen branches at the corner really work to give impact to the photo. the lines of trees and fence give additional impact in making your shot a well accomplished one. Congratulation and its a great job.

Regards,
Foozi

Felip (3907) 2008-08-21 4:23

I thought that Billabong was a casual wear brand, now I see I was in a mistake (Ha, Ha, it's a joke!). I prefer much more "this" Billabong, wide, clear, neat. Good shot Santo.

Regards

Felip