Wedding Cake Rock, Sydney: The travel photo that could cost tourists $300

Wedding Cake Rock may fall within decade

An investigation with an aerial drone shows that Wedding Cake Rock in the Royal National Park could collapse without warning.

Park rangers in Australia's Royal National Park have warned tourists they face a fine of $300 if they choose to risk their lives taking selfies on a popular cliff edge.

Wedding Cake Rock, or White Rock, on the coast of the park just south of Sydney, has become a social media hit thanks to daring and creative poses on its sheer, bleached precipice, including visitors who jump into the air for a photo or perform acrobatics above the 82 foot drop.

belle_lucia instagram wedding cake rock 

Despite installing warning signs and a fence two months ago, the authorities now feel it necessary to take it a step further and issue those who ignore the rules on-the-spot penalty notices.

Thanks to viral interest in the rock last year, visitor numbers surged from 2000 per month to more than 10,000, leading to authorities to shut access to the rock for a month. A geotechnical survey of the rock, which resembles crisp layers of cake, found it is unstable and likely to collapse within 10 years.

If performing a handstand on Wedding Cake Rock in Royal National Park looks dangerous, that's because it is. Photo: Instagram

In 2014, a French student fell to his death nearby when a sandstone cliff crumbled beneath him. In November last year, two men had to be winched to safety from a ledge below after falling off the rock.

"People are being so incredibly reckless with a genuine, imminent danger," said Gary Dunnett of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) regional manager told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"I honestly think that people don't understand that something that looks like a solid block of concrete is much closer to a block of silly putty, and it just does not have the structural strength that they think.

Wedding Cake Rock from the other side. Photo: National Parks and Wildlife Service

"Unfortunately, it looks like the only way we're going to be able to give that message about the nature of the risk is through people's hip pockets."

Mr Dunnett told News.com.au that "people look at this pure, white rock, and they think it's as stable as concrete".

"But the white appearance is because oxides and other contaminants usually in the stone matrix are bleached out of it, and the result is that the rock is much more fragile than other coastal clifflines."

"Our expectation is that by issuing an amount of penalty notices, we are hoping to send a shock wave through social media, which is the same medium that started attracting people getting these photos in the first place."

"But we don't want to discourage people from visiting. From now to winter is the best time of year to visit. It's nice clear days, the coastline is long, but the simple reality is — the few square metres which has the fence around it is not the place to stand."

Mr Dunnett said that when the geotechnical assessment was carried out, he was expecting to hear that something might happen in the next thousand years, not ten.

Wedding Cake Rock is not the first controversial selfie spot. Trolltunga in Norway was in the news last year when an Australian student fell to her death from the rock.

A local tour operator said it was an accident waiting to happen.

The Telegraph, London

See also: Risky: Things you shouldn't do overseasSee also: Why tourists are the world's biggest whingers

Source: Wedding Cake Rock, Sydney: The travel photo that could cost tourists $300

Wedding photo with Black Power gang 'incredibly creative'

A couple's opportunity wedding picture with members of the Black Power gang of New Zealand has gone viral on Facebook.

After completing an official photoshoot of their special day in Lucy's Gully on New Zealand's North Island the couple, and their photographer, ran into one of New Zealand's most notorious gangs - Black Power.

Photographer Rebecca Inns, 31, who captured the moment on film, detailed the experience in a Facebook post.

A newlywed bride snapped with her husband and a group of patched Black Power gang members says the photo will be a great story to tell their children.

Some members are associated with other organised crime as well as drug running.

"The rain had just cleared and we were enjoying a lovely sunny wedding shoot", Ms Inns wrote on Facebook.

"As we headed back to the cars we came across a very full car-park and the guys were there as part of a hikoi around the mountain to pay respects to those passed away".

Instead of passing the gang by, they asked the group to pose for a photo.

The unconventional photograph received 5,000 reactions on the site and was shared close to 600 times.

The result was a unique wedding photo that has been credited with bringing people together and breaking down racial stereotypes.

They had originally planned to keep the image for the bride and groom, she said, but were then given permission to share it.

"It really was totally unexpected, totally unplanned but didn't it make for a wonderfully unique wedding photo", she said. Talk about a special moment.

"The guys in the photo were so respectful and very kind", she said of the Black Power members in the photo. "I looked and the bride was walking past the van I was in, she was attractive", Wipani wrote.

Source: Wedding photo with Black Power gang 'incredibly creative'

Newlyweds pose with mourning gang after chance meeting during wedding shoot

In the picture, Sarah and Matthew Oke are seen posing in what would be a traditional wedding photo - if it weren't for the 20 strong group of Black Power gang members gathered behind them giving a one-arm salute.

Black Power members are predominantly Maori or Polynesian, and created the gang in Wellington, New Zealand, in the 1970s in response to white power gangs.

Rebecca Inns Photography shared the image to Facebook on Monday, alongside the caption: 'We always aim to capture something a little different with our couples... and on Saturday I think we did just that!'

Some members are associated with other organised crime as well as drug running.

"As we headed back to the cars we came across a very full auto park and the guys were there as part of a hikoi around the mountain to pay respects to those passed away".

After the official photographs were taken, the couple became stuck in a carpark near the forest due to vehicles clogging up the road, so Inns's husband Jordan asked if the couple could get a photo with the group, according Inns's post on Facebook.

Some have praised it for helping to break down barriers and racial stereotypes.

"Both parties just happened to be in the same place at the same time, both there for their own special reasons".

"It really was totally unexpected, totally unplanned but didn't it make for a wonderfully unique wedding photo", she said.

"The rain had cleared and we were enjoying a sunny wedding shoot", she said. Talk about a special moment.

Ms Inns said the gang members had been "very respectful".

"They all offered their congratulations to the couple and were so kind". "I looked and the bride was walking past the van I was in, she was handsome", Wipani wrote.

Source: Newlyweds pose with mourning gang after chance meeting during wedding shoot

Black Power wedding photo goes viral in New Zealand

Image copyright Rebecca Inns Photography Image caption Not your conventional wedding photo, but it's already gone viral in New Zealand

A couple's chance wedding photograph with members of New Zealand's Black Power gang has gone viral on Facebook.

Newlyweds Sarah and Matthew Oke were having their pictures taken at Lucy's Gully on the North Island when they ran into the gang members.

They were in the area paying respects to the dead as part of a traditional Maori "hikoi" at the mountain.

The gang members agreed to pose for a pictures with the couple, and even gave a salute.

Formed in Wellington during the 1970s, Black Power is a prominent gang made up of Maori and Polynesian members.

Some members have been linked to drug running and other organised crime.

'Very respectful'

Photographer Rebecca Inns, 31, who captured the moment on film, detailed the experience in a Facebook post.

"The rain had just cleared and we were enjoying a lovely sunny wedding shoot," she described. "As we headed back, we came across a very full car-park and the guys who were there as part of a hikoi."

"We asked if it would be okay to include them in a wedding photo and they were really accommodating. This is the result."

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A member of the Black Power gang shows off his tattoo at a protest in New Zealand

New Zealand's gangs

More than 40 different street gangs

Prominent gangs include the Black Power, Mongrel Mob and the Tribesmen

Emerged in the 1950s-60s among migrants to the cities

'Random, unplanned and totally unique'

The unconventional photograph received 5,000 reactions on the site and was shared close to 600 times.

Some have praised it for helping to break down barriers and racial stereotypes.

Ms Inns, who said the couple had given her permission to share the photo, told the BBC that she was "completely taken by surprise" at the interest.

"Both parties just happened to be in the same place at the same time, both there for their own special reasons - and it has made for a wonderfully unique photo," she said.

"We definitely did not expect it to go viral when capturing the moment. But we pride ourselves on recording those unique moments in a couple's special day."

Ms Inns said the gang members had been "very respectful".

"They all offered their congratulations to the couple and were so kind. They also told the bride how beautiful she looked."

Reporting by the BBC's Heather Chen.

Source: Black Power wedding photo goes viral in New Zealand

Inside Chiranjeevi’s daughter's wedding

The much talked-about wedding for Mega Star Chiranjeevi's daughter Sreeja was held at the family farmhouse in Devanahalli on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, which was also her brother Ram Charan's birthday, they had a mehendi ceremony, followed by a sangeet performance, where they also had the birthday bash. The wedding ceremony was held late on Monday night, where members of the political, film and business fraternity were present. Among those that attended the wedding included Sumalatha and Ambareesh, Puneeth Rajkumar, Rockline Venkatesh, Lakshmi Manchu and Rana Daggubati, apart from family members like Allu Aravind, Allu Arjun, Sirish and Varun Tej. The farmhouse was closely guarded by security personnel, with a three-tier screening system, and the paparazzi was made to wait outside the first zone, giving chances to get very few or no pictures. The official photographer has shared pictures exclusively with Bangalore Times. Here's a glimpse of the wedding...

Source: Inside Chiranjeevi's daughter's wedding

'Black Power' wedding photo goes viral on Facebook

A couple's chance wedding photograph with members of New Zealand's Black Power gang has gone viral on Facebook, the media reported on Tuesday.

Formed in Wellington during the 1970s, Black Power is a prominent gang made up of Maori and Polynesian members.Some members have been linked to drug running and other organised crime.'Very respectful' Photographer Rebecca Inns, 31, who captured the moment on film, detailed the experience in a Facebook post.

Newlyweds Sarah and Matthew Oke were having their pictures taken at Lucy's Gully on the North Island when they ran into the gang members.

They were in the area paying respects to the dead as part of a traditional Maori "hikoi" at the mountain.

The gang members agreed to pose for a pictures with the couple, and even gave a salute.

The unconventional photograph received 5,000 reactions on the site and was shared close to 600 times.

Some have praised it for helping to break down barriers and racial stereotypes.

Source: 'Black Power' wedding photo goes viral on Facebook

Couple who are planning a wedding discover they were in the same primary school class years earlier after looking at an old line up photo

Lucy Wilson, 26, and Lewis Ball, 25, of Corby, have been together for years 

But couple didn't realise their history went back to childhood school days 

Chance look at an old school photo showed they had been in same class 

By Matt Hunter For Mailonline

Published: 11:38 EST, 28 March 2016 | Updated: 13:38 EST, 28 March 2016

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A couple who are getting married were stunned to discover they went to primary school together after only finding out when they looked at an old class photo.

Lucy Wilson, 26, and Lewis Ball, 25, have been together for four years but didn't realise they've known each other far longer.

The couple of Corby, Northamptonshire, started dating in 2012 but only after a chance look at an old school photo did they discover they had been in the same class.

Lucy Wilson, 26, and Lewis Ball, 25, have been together for four years but didn't realise they've known each other far longer 

The couple of Corby, Northamptonshire, started dating in 2012 but only after a chance look at an old school photo did they discover they had been in the same class. 

Lucy Wilson and Lewis Ball (circled) in their Stanio n primary school photo

The image showed them both at Stanion Primary School but in the years since they left they had both totally forgotten each other.

They are now engaged after Lewis took her back to their old school and proposed outside.

Lucy said: 'We started chatting in a pub but didn't remember each other from school.

'The next day he messaged me to go on a date on Facebook and it all took off from there.'

Lewis, a carpet fitter, eventually used the fact they had forgotten each other in a special book he used as part of his proposal.

His romantic book said: 'In this school are a boy and girl who from the very beginning were destined to be together.

'Little did the two kids in this photo know that one day they would fall head over heels for each other.

'When they were young they were never an item. In fact they barely knew the other existed.

Lewis, a carpet fitter, eventually used the fact they had forgotten each other in a special book he used as part of his proposal

The pair have no firm wedding plans yet but are planning to throw a big engagement party 

'After primary school the two drifted away from each other's lives. It would be many years and a few mi stakes before their lives would cross paths again.

'They lived in the same town and would visit the same places. Their families occasionally saw each other but something was not allowing the two to see each other again.

'But don't worry too much just remember this story has a happy ending - because the two will finally meet one day and it will be worth the wait.'

The pair have no firm wedding plans yet but are planning to throw a big engagement party.

Lewis added: 'I wanted it to be a special proposal and I just wanted to take Lucy to all the places that were special to us and to propose in the place it all began.' 

Source: Couple who are planning a wedding discover they were in the same primary school class years earlier after looking at an old line up photo

Wedding picture with Black Power gang leaves couple with special memory

Newlyweds Sarah and Matthew Okes took a "random" picture with the Black Power Gang.

A newly married bride and groom dressed to the nines have ended up with a unique souvenir for their wedding album after posing with Black Power members.

Captured by Rebecca Inns Photography, the unique image shows the couple standing in the foreground, surrounded by members of the patched gang in the background.

Inns said her and her husband Jordan were taking photographs of the bridal party when they stumbled across the gang at Lucy's Gully in Taranaki on Saturday.  

"As we headed back to the cars we came across a very full car-park and the guys were there as part of a hikoi around the mountain to pay respects to those passed away.

READ MORE:* Age no barrier for flower girls* Wedding of the week: Scott & Quinton* A wedding shoot with a difference* Leap Year wedding surprise

It was going to take a while to get our cars out so my husband asked if it would be okay to include them in a wedding photo," she said. 

After a discussion among themselves the group decided it was fine and the picture was taken, she said. 

The image gained attention on social media, after an onlooker snapped a picture and shared it online.

"We never planned on sharing our image. When the onlooker's cell phone photo went crazy online we were a little shocked that a shot we had set up so randomly was having such a big impact online," she said

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They were later given permission by the bride and groom to share the original image which showed it was a real moment and really did happen, she said. 

"It really was totally unexpected, totally unplanned but didn't it make for a wonderfully unique wedding photo," she said. 

People have been commenting on the photo on Facebook saying how incredible the image is. One person even called it the photo of the year. 

The bride and groom did not want to be approached for comment but in reply to a Facebook comment, the bride said they were "the most incredibly creative photographers".

"The guys in the photo were so respectful and very kind. They congratulated us and told me how beautiful I looked. Was a very cool experience and something we will share with our children," she said. 

 - Stuff

Source: Wedding picture with Black Power gang leaves couple with special memory

Street Photography in Cuba Through a Wedding Photographer’s Lens

My name is Ross Harvey, and I'm an international destination wedding photographer based in the UK. I just back from two weeks shooting street photography in Cuba, and it was a wonderful experience that I'd like to share with you.

I traveled with the same group of photographer friends that I visited Myanmar/Burma with last year. We worked hard and played hard; shooting at sunrise and sunset, and enjoying lunch, cards and cocktails during lunch and the evening.

Adventures such as these are the kind that are written permanently into memory; the laughter, the friendship, the people and the miles (upon miles) walked.

I made no plans each day, no set destinations or ideas as to what to shoot. I kept an open mind (and heart) and wandered the streets, following excitement and intuition. An incredibly liberating experience.

All my photographs are spontaneous, contain no Photoshop manipulation (whatsoever), and have only minimal editing (a slight contrast boost).

The set contains a mix of themes: juxtaposition, human nature, humour, abstract, weirdness/interesting and layering. Everything was shot with one camera and lens, my Nikon D750 and 35mm f/1.8.

I invite you to look deeply into each photograph, there are usually multiple layers and/or hidden surprises.

The final shot of the set is especially memorable. I was watching/shooting some kids jumping into the water (from very high up!), laughing with them when one of them asked to hold my camera and started to impersonate myself, shooting his friends and saying 'Gracias! Ola! Ola!' (my limited Spanish!). He captured the moment I pulled my iPhone out to grab a quick selfie to remember the experience by.

These photos showed Cuba as I saw and photographed it before Obama visited. You can find a larger set of photos from my journey here.

About the author: Ross Harvey is an international award winning destination wedding photographer (covering the UK, Europe and the world). You can find more of his work in his street portfolio, in his wedding portfolio, and on Facebook. This article was also published here.

Source: Street Photography in Cuba Through a Wedding Photographer's Lens

'My sweet husband!' Reese Witherspoon celebrates fifth wedding anniversary with cute Instagram snap

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:23 EST, 26 March 2016 | Updated: 14:40 EST, 26 March 2016

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She just turned 40 a few days ago and on Saturday, Reese Witherspoon had another reason to celebrate.

The actress posted a photo of herself with husband Jim Toth, 46, to mark their fifth wedding anniversary.

The black and white snap showed them sitting on a sofa holding hands and she wrote in the caption: 'Happy anniversary to my sweet husband! I love you, JT! #5years.'

Scroll down for video 

'Happy anniversary, sweet husband': Reese Witherspoon shared this photo of herself with Jim Toth on Instagram on Saturday to mark five years to the day since they got married

Reese is wearing a minidress with mesh sleeves and mesh across her cleavage.

She and the talent agent pose with their heads leaning towards one another as they look straight at the camera.

They tied the knot on March 26, 2011, at the six-acre ranch in Ojai, California, that the Legally Blonde star owned at the time.

Fifth anniversary: The actress, 40, and the talent agent, 46, tied the knot at the ranch Reese owned back in 2011 in the picturesque town of Ojai, California. They're pictured in LA in September 2015

Theirs was a whirlwind romance that began after they met at a party at a mutual friends house in early 2010.

'This really drunk guy was hitting on me, making such an idiot of himself, yelling at me,' Reese recalled in an interview with Elle back in January 2012. 'Jim came over and said, 'Please excuse my friend. He's just broken up with someone.''

'Jim was a really good friend, pulling him out of that situation. That's just kind of who he is, a really good person,' she added.

Going strong: It's the second marriage for Reese, pictured with Jim in February last year. The couple have a two-year-old son Tennessee

First husband: The Legally Blonde star was previously married to actor Ryan Philippe whom she met at her 21st birthday party in February 1997. The couple, who married in 1999, are pictured in LA in February 1998

The couple welcomed their son Tennessee two years ago.

It's Reese's second marriage.

She was wed to actor and Cruel Intentions co-star Ryan Philippe from 1999 to 2008. They share daughter Ava, 16, and son Deacon, 12. 

Springtime look: The Oscar winner for Walk the Line was spotted out and about Friday in LA wearing an ensemble from her own Draper James clothing line

Get femme like Reese in a navy pleated skirt

Reese Witherspoon wears a lot of labels, but clearly her favorite is her own mark, Draper James. Literally spotted in her own designs several times per week, the savvy business woman knows the paps will snap her in her own designs, women will want to emulate her and the sales will rack up. Okay, so everybody knows what's up.

That said, the pieces look fantastic on Reese and they strike the Southern feminine note she's going after. Take this skirt, for example. The navy color and white abstract print along with the diagonal pleating is ultra charming as is the over-the-knee length. If you have to have it now, click right to snap it up on the company's website.

If you'd like to do some window shopping first, see below. We've rounded up some navy, printed and pleated femme options that would do Reese proud. And check out the bargain at Romwe!

* PRICES MAY NOT BE AS ADVERTISED

 

 

 

Source: 'My sweet husband!' Reese Witherspoon celebrates fifth wedding anniversary with cute Instagram snap

Street Photography in Cuba Through a Wedding Photographer’s Lens

My name is Ross Harvey, and I'm an international destination wedding photographer based in the UK. I just back from two weeks shooting street photography in Cuba, and it was a wonderful experience that I'd like to share with you.

I traveled with the same group of photographer friends that I visited Myanmar/Burma with last year. We worked hard and played hard; shooting at sunrise and sunset, and enjoying lunch, cards and cocktails during lunch and the evening.

Adventures such as these are the kind that are written permanently into memory; the laughter, the friendship, the people and the miles (upon miles) walked.

I made no plans each day, no set destinations or ideas as to what to shoot. I kept an open mind (and heart) and wandered the streets, following excitement and intuition. An incredibly liberating experience.

All my photographs are spontaneous, contain no Photoshop manipulation (whatsoever), and have only minimal editing (a slight contrast boost).

The set contains a mix of themes: juxtaposition, human nature, humour, abstract, weirdness/interesting and layering. Everything was shot with one camera and lens, my Nikon D750 and 35mm f/1.8.

I invite you to look deeply into each photograph, there are usually multiple layers and/or hidden surprises.

The final shot of the set is especially memorable. I was watching/shooting some kids jumping into the water (from very high up!), laughing with them when one of them asked to hold my camera and started to impersonate myself, shooting his friends and saying 'Gracias! Ola! Ola!' (my limited Spanish!). He captured the moment I pulled my iPhone out to grab a quick selfie to remember the experience by.

These photos showed Cuba as I saw and photographed it before Obama visited. You can find a larger set of photos from my journey here.

About the author: Ross Harvey is an international award winning destination wedding photographer (covering the UK, Europe and the world). You can find more of his work in his street portfolio, in his wedding portfolio, and on Facebook. This article was also published here.

Source: Street Photography in Cuba Through a Wedding Photographer's Lens