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As most of the world knows by now my home state of Queensland is facing dire floods. 75% of the state is disaster affected and the water keeps rising. 36 years ago as a 12 year old I witnessed this city succumb to the last big flood. Now I am back in my old city of Ipswich and even though the rain has finally stopped and the sun has come out the flood will be even bigger than the “big one” back then.

I awoke this morning to the sounds of alarms and helicopters. We are safe on a hill but just a few blocks away the river was creeping into the business district. At 6 o’clock I ventured out and this is what I found. The waters are still rising and the peak will be at least 2 meters higher than the levels in these photos. 4000 homes will be flooded. Downstream in Brisbane, ten times bigger than Ipswich the number of affected properties is just that, up to 40000 homes and businesses inundated in some way. It is not over yet.

I wanted to post something beautiful today like every other day, a pretty picture, a lovely home but I can’t. I am so overwhelmed by what is going on around me. My head is spinning with the incessant drone of helicopters, the ceaseless stream of cars carrying sightseers up my normally quiet street to reach the lookout, the guilt that we are safe and others aren’t. I couldn’t post those pretty pictures. These will have to do. Keep us in your thoughts as this disaster unfolds. I realise now that there is something beautiful today. It’s the spirit of the people in my state. We will get through this, we will rebuild, we will be helping each other all the way.

I have power at the moment and fingers crossed I will still have power tomorrow. I am stuck in Ipswich for the next few days unable to get to work and will continue to post. Next time it will be pretty pictures I promise. If I am offline you’ll know why though. Take care everyone out there. Stay safe my fellow Queenslanders. Back soon!

Grey days, heavy rain, raging waters and dark times in my part of the world. Perhaps some beauty from Australian photographer Sam McAdam. Simple, classic, inspiring. One of our premier editorial photographers. I want to wax lyrical about this portfolio but I have to rush. Water is rising. We are safe but my city is not. Keep us in your thoughts.

… to do a Saturday post on the main page but we promised ourselves that we would take January weekends off and I’ll be buggered if I’m the one to break the New Year’s resolution first. (This does not count Kim!) I have had to satisfy myself with more home tour and new old house bedroom ideas over on my page. Come over if you are having withdrawals too.

Ever notice the difference between editorial photography and architectural photography? One conveys a story, the other an idea. The first is often styled and “contrived”, a set, make believe. A room is tweaked and tarted to fit a storyline or an editor’s vison. Architectural photography is a showcase. It tells the truth and trumpets the details of a designer’s work. It concentrates on the big picture as well as the intricacies. Dianna Snape is one of this country’s best architectural photographers. She takes the designer’s creation and captures it for posterity, to educate and inspire. The rooms are beautiful in both but photographers like Dianna understand the architect’s vision and her images are records of the beauty, as important as plans and elevations.

How amazing is this extension by Phooey Architects in Fitzroy North, Melbourne? It’s rustic yet it’s modern. Timber battens conjure ideas of woven baskets half completed. Internally it’s simple yet stylish. A funky inner city home just a little bit different from the neighbours. Love the architects’ profile… “young, enthusiastic & progressive in design practice. They enjoy a coffee in the morning & a beer at night. In between, they are inspired & motivated by their diverse city community.” Fiddlesticks! Architects and their designs should always be so cool! (Photography by Dianna Snape… more on her tomorrow.)