Artists must look beneath the surface and show that there is more to this world than what meets the eye.

The notion of visiting a train yard and riding the rails as a holiday treat might seem odd to those readers blessed with active passenger railways. Alas, here in Tasmania, we've not had any passenger rail lines active since the early 1960s! Thus, Henry and Ezra felt blessed to experinece the brief ride on the Don River Railway just outside of Devonport last week. Indeed, Henry paid a visit to the driver mid ride, and got to experience driving the thing first hand. As a bonus, we all survived!

I will admit that I am a fan of rail. Travelling the tracks, the clickety clack, whistles and all that jazz fires me up. Anyone who has ever had the privilege of making love on the night sleeper from Venice to Vienna will know what I'm talking about here.

However, we are here to talk Theme Thursday, and the theme is most definitely not “how to prevent severe leg cramping on the overnight sleeper from Venice to Vienna”. No, the theme is SURFACE.

Which brings me to today’s photograph. Taken at the above-mentioned Don River Railway, it’s another in my series of innovative family portraits. Inside the carriage you can see Jennifer and Ezra seated upright like a pair of Venetian ladies in waiting, outside – in the reflection on the SURFACE of the glass – you will find Henry and I, milling about like a pair of street ruffians.

Of course, that is only the SURFACE impression. We are all aware of how often that turns out to be somewhat less than true...