tiabunna's photos with the keyword: 15th century

People queuing to inspect the replica 15th century Portuguese caravel 'Notorious' at Batemans Bay, NSW Australia. Though not totally proven, it is very probable that several ships of this type, led by the Portuguese explorer Cristóvão de Mendonça were the first to sail down Australia's east coast in the early 1500s - about 250 years prior to Captain Cook's trip in the 'Endeavour' ! I now have written and illustrated an article about the 'Notorious' and the early European exploration of Australia: Were the Portuguese first to explore the Australian coast? You can follow the doings of the 'Notorious' on Facebook - look for notorioustheship .

See note at top left for a photo of the "Notorious" I met Graeme while inspecting the replica 15th century Portuguese caravel visiting Batemans Bay. Ships to this design were used by Columbus in 1492 and (almost certainly) by Cristóvão de Mendonça to sail down Australia's east coast in the early 1500s. The ship itself is (to use a much over-used term) truly awesome. Three hundred tonnes of reclaimed timber were used in the project: the ship is 17 M long, with a beam of 5.5M and a draft of 2.1M. Its displacement is 55 tonnes. Everywhere there are huge hand adzed logs and other interesting details. It is about as authentic as would be possible. And here's the part that totally impressed me: Captain Graeme researched, designed and built it himself! The project took ten years and the ship was launched in early 2011. What a colossal project, one has to be staggered at that kind of commitment, though when I mentioned that to Graeme he modestly said that he'd had the assistance of several friends. Well, I take my hat off to you! Graeme kindly agreed to be 22 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page You can read more about the 'Notorious' and its doings here: www. facebook.com/notorioustheship

There's nothing like a good dose of amazement. I had mine today when I drove across our local bridge and found myself looking at a 15th century Portuguese caravel sailing ship. It rated about 9.99 on a scale of ten! So I hurtled home for camera gear, then back to the wharf where I found a crowd of people waiting to board and inspect the ship. It is a replica of the type used in 1492 by Columbus to cross the Atlantic and (almost certainly) by Cristóvão de Mendonça to sail down Australia's east coast in the early 1500s. You can read more about it here: www. facebook.com/notorioustheship At the top of the ship's ladder I met Felicite, the wife of the Captain and builder, collecting a very modest visiting fee and finding a seemingly endless tolerance to chat with all who came aboard (most asking much the same questions). I ran past her the idea of being in my "100 Strangers" project and she happily agreed. Thank you very much for being so friendly and interesting, Felicite: I hope you like your portrait. This picture is 21 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page NB that, for manual lenses, the FL needs to be entered directly on the Pentax - I forgot to change it (EXIF shows 85mm) but this was taken with the SMC Pentax 50/1.4.