[Victoria]

I didn't have a lot planned for the day so my fiance and I drove up to Burra (156 km from home) to take some photos of the "Diesel House". This old Cobb & Co cottage was made famous by a well known Australian photographer, Ken Duncan. Duncan's image was made even more famous because it was used as the front cover to the Midnight Oil album "Diesel and Dust", hence the commonly used name "Diesel House".



There I was, happily snapping away when I had an unexpected visitor.



Mr or Mrs Magpie was really not happy that I had intruded on its territory and it certainly let me know. When I think back I feel very lucky that my other half didn't have a camera - it was quite an elaborate dance/display I put on.

I gotta laugh though because in typical photographer style, even though a crazed bird was trying to peck out my eyes I felt the overwhelming urge to capture it on film! It's a pity the image is not sharper but it was taken under duress. Don't for one minute think I was using a large zoom - it was taken with my
18-55mm

[orangepeel]

Did you look @ the cover before you left? You got pretty close



p.s. excellent album

[Dave]

150km to take a photo ...now that is dedication

Eeek re the bird.. with only 50mm to play with, that was getting pretty close

Both well taken shots

[CathieT]

Oh thank you Victoria!! I now have a name for "that damn building"! It has to be THE MOST photographed ruin in South Australia!!

That's awfully close ... um - did you climb the fence???? :wicked grin:

Great shot btw!

[Victoria]

Yes Orangepeel, I did study the album cover. We listened to the CD on the way there and at one stage I had the CD cover stuffed in my pocket while taking the photos. My partner is the biggest Midnight Oil fan so he was the one who knew the cottage was in Burra.

Dave, I think if I'd held my camera by the strap and swung I could have knocked the magpie out of the sky. It was seriously after my blood. The photo of the magpie was taken as he hovered over me staring me down.....

Cathie, I've heard it called the "Diesel House", "Cobb & Co House or cottage" or "Burra House". It was recently mentioned in a photography magazine (can't remember which one) as the best landscape location in South Australia - they called it the Cobb & Co House by the way.

You mean that huge sign that said "Trespassers will be prosecuted" meant me?? Damned if I know how they trained the killer magpie to attack any unfortnate who dared climb over the fence.

[Markulous]

Both good shots tho' split between which has the better accompanying description: climbing the fence or being dive-bombed!

Particularly liked the grumpy bird as I do like shots that show some activity!

[sweet_sac]

That's not a magpie surely? It's way bigger looking than a British one!

[BeanPod]

It looks bigger than the Canadian ones too! And a little meaner!

Well done to capture it so well whilst under attack!

Like the one of the house too.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by sweet_sac

That's not a magpie surely? It's way bigger looking than a British one!

Yes, it was a magpie!

Maybe we just breed them big over here?!!

It probably isn't as big in real life as it appears in the photo as it was pretty close to the camera (and my head).