iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Joining in on the #PortfolioDay trend, my name is Ben, but you can also call me Proteros. I'm a photographer from Sydney who focuses mainly on flowers and birds, though I sometimes do other animals and landscapes. Here's just a few of my favourite bird pics from last year that I haven't yet shared:

A photograph of a Laughing kookaburra, (Dacelo novaeguineae) a large Australian kingfisher, perched up high in a tree and in full focus, the leafy green background blurred. The word "kookaburra" derives from the Wiradjuri word "guuguubarra," in reference to the distinctive call the bird is well known for.

Photo taken in Bulli, NSW in September 2025

A photograph of an Australasian or Purple swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) standing and bending down in shallow water, perhaps for a drink. It is a mostly black bird with a characteristic purplish-blue front and belly and a large, triangular red bill with a keratinous, red 'shield' on the forehead. This bird is also native to New Zealand, where it is known as the pūkeko.

Photo taken in Campbelltown, NSW in May 2025

A photograph of a male Superb fairywren, (Malurus cyaneus) a tiny blue bird native to eastern Australia. He is perched on a thin stem of a weed and is in breeding plumage with luminous light blue feathers on the crown, nape and cheeks. The rest of the bird is brown, light grey and black. Like other fairy wrens, it has a long, erect tail, giving it a distinctive and easily identifiable shape.

Photo taken in Campbelltown, NSW in November, 2025

A photograph of a Little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera) stretching itself upright to feed on the nectar of a bright red Grevillea inflorescence which contrasts greatly against the blurred green foliage of the background. Little wattlebirds are honeyeaters who are frequently seen around large flowering native trees and shrubs. They are mostly grey and patterned with white stripes like their larger, more well-known relative, the Red wattlebird. (Anthochaera carunculata) However, they lack the diagnostic yellow belly and red wattles.

Photo taken in Bulli, NSW in September, 2025

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I thought I'd share some of my favourite photos of our beautiful Australian native #ducks to bring attention to them, and to inspire more love and compassion towards all ducks, both wild and domesticated. 🦆❤ #birdphotography #Australianbirds #photography #nature #naturephotography #banduckshooting

A close-up portrait of a Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa) in autumn on a blurred background of green lawn grass and fallen brown leaves. This common duck species is mostly brown, with a pale cream-brown face, a dark-brown crown and eye stripe. Its eyes are chestnut brown and its bill is dark grey with a slight green tint and black tip.

Photo taken in Campbelltown NSW in May 2025

A close-up portrait of an adult male Australian wood duck or maned duck (Chenonetta jubata) on a blurred background of dirt and green grass. He has some small blades of grass in his small, pointed grey bill. Males of this species are identified by their dark brown necks and heads which lack the white stripes of females. They also have a tuft of longer, darker feathers on the back of their heads, hence the common name "maned duck" (though it is not visible in this photograph.) Both males and females have a light silver-grey body with black or grey speckles and brown bars on the breast.

Photo taken in Campbelltown NSW in July 2023

A close-up portrait of an adult female Australian wood duck or maned duck (Chenonetta jubata) on a blurred background of light green lawn grass. The females of this species have a lighter brown head with two white stripes, above and below the eye.

Photo taken in Campbelltown NSW in July 2023

A close-up portrait of an adult female hardhead duck (Aythya australis) on a blurred bakground of greenish water. She is chocolate-brown all over with dark brown eyes and a dark grey bill with a light grey tip. Hardheads are the only diving ducks native to Australia and are interesting to watch as they disappear beneath the waters momentarily before re-emerging.

Photo taken in the Hunter Wetlands Centre in Newcastle NSW in May 2023

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

All birds are sentient and can dream. They have an inner world, just like we do. When this hardhead duck (Aythya australis) rests on a sunny rock and closes his eyes to nap, one may begin to wonder, what does he see? #birdphotography #Australianbirds #ducks #photography #nature #naturephotography

A close up photograph of a male hardhead duck (Aythya australis) resting in the sunlight with his eyes closed. The background is a blue pond with small, green floating plants, blurred and out of focus. The duck is a chocolate-brown, darker towards the head and lighter on the body. He has a dark-grey bill with a white tip with the characteristic duck shape.

Photo taken in Campbelltown NSW in November 2025

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Fun fact: You can tell whether an adult galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) is male or female by looking at their eyes. Males have dark brown eyes, while females (like this one pictured here) have red eyes. #birdphotography #Australianbirds #parrots #galah #photography #nature #naturephotography

A portrait photograph of a female galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) illuminated by the sun on a dark green and blurred background. Her eyes are a vibrant red, surrounded by fleshy grey-pink eye rings as this is the south-eastern subspecies (E. r. albiceps). The galah is an attractive cockatoo with a white crest and crown, bone-white beak, pink belly, neck and chest and light grey feet, back, wings and tail.

Photo taken in the Greater Sydney Area in September 2023

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

There is still beauty in this world. Just look at the wonderful array of shapes and colours in our #Australiannativeplants #Nature has always prevailed, and will continue on in spite of what life throws at it. (Species descriptions in alt text) #photography #naturephotography #plants #flora

A closeup photograph of a Mountain devil (Lambertia formosa) inflorescence among its own foliage in its natural bushland habitat.

The small cluster of bright red and orange long, tubular flowers are surrounded by orange and yellow bracts. The leaves are dark green on top, pale light green and hairy underneath with a prominent midvein and downturned margins, and a tiny pointed apex or tip.

Photo taken October 2025 in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

A closeup photograph of the inflorescence of a yellow drumsticks (Isopogon sp.) in its natural environment.

The tiny yellow flowers are arranged on a globular green structure which will mature to form a "cone" which resembles the ball of a wooden drumstick, giving the species its common name. The flowers mature from the bottom-up, with the lowermost flowers being open and the uppermost being tiny emerging buds.

Photo taken October 2025 in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

A closeup photo of the pink inflorescenses of a Kunzea (Kunzea sp.) in its natural environment on a blurred background, emphasizing the shape and colour.

These strange flowers are related to the well-known bottlebrushes (Callistemon and Melaleuca genera) and tea trees (Leptospermum.) They have clusters of multiple elongated stamens which gives the flower much of its colour, surrounding a single pistil.

Photo taken November 2025 in Katoomba, Blue Mountains

A closeup photo of the multiple flowers on a smokebush (Conospermum longifolium) among many other low-growing plants in its natural habitat. The background is blurred and out of focus, keeping the focus on the many clusters of flowers.

The tiny white flowers are arranged in dense cluster inflorescenses that appear on long, upright stalks.

Photo taken October 2025 in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Our Australian Jewish community is welcome and loved. No one should ever live in fear of being attacked for being who they are. Light will always overcome darkness. Good will always triumph over evil. We will stand together against hatred and NEVER allow anything like this to happen again. (5/5)

An orange lit candle on a black background with the text:

"My deepest condolences for the Jewish community of Australia and all those impacted by the Bondi Terror Attack on 14.12.25

May we all stand united against violence and hatred.

May the light overcome the darkness."

A white Star of David is positioned in between the text and the candle

Image Credit: “Candle” by Walrus36, CC BY 2.0

Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/walrus36/34089272484

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Remember this whenever you feel like all hope is lost. Remember this when you feel like giving up and ending it. Remember, there will always be hope. (5/5) #waratah #photography #naturephotography #Australiannativeplants #hope Photo: Waratah (Telopea speciosissima), Royal NP Sydney, October 2025

A beautiful red waratah inflorescence in full bloom.

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

A portrait of a Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) brilliantly illuminated by the light of the sun. They are perhaps one of the most colourful, cheerful and iconic bird species of the eastern coast of Australia. #birdphotography #australianbirds #parrots #photography #lorikeet

A close-up portrait of a Rainbow lorikeet, (Trichoglossus moluccanus) a brightly coloured parrot with a blue streaked head, a red beak, red eyes, a lime green nape, a green back and a red and orange breast. It is exposed to natural sunlight, giving it a golden glow. The background is unlit, entirely blurred and out of focus, emphasizing the bird's colours.

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Ben J. (Proteros) @proteros.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Since I'm new here, I thought I'd post one of my favourite photos of all time! Here's a male red-rumped parrot, (Psephotus haematonotus) otherwise known as a grass parrot, enjoying a tasty snack as he forages in the lawn next to a footpath. #birdphotograhy #australianbirds #parrots #photography

A photographic image of a male red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) standing on bright green mowed grass with a grey concrete footpath in the background. The bright emerald-green parrot has a golden belly, brown eyes and a blade of grass in his shiny dark-grey beak.

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