【the courtesan and the nun: finding spaces for female eroticism in renaissance italy】

Australia's Sydney Harbour is the courtesan and the nun: finding spaces for female eroticism in renaissance italyfar from what you'd call the high seas.

But recent windy weather has led to some rocky trips on the Manly passenger ferry, which have also led to some amazing photographs of the challenging waves faced by these commuter boats on Saturday.

Captured by photographer Haig Gilchrist, one particular picture of waves rising higher than the ferry's short railings looks utterly terrifying. It's not Photoshop, we swear.

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Then there's another shot of waves crashing on to the ferry's bow, which is usually a popular spot for tourists and commuters sit and enjoy the 30-minute ride across the harbour.

It doesn't look too fun, unless you really like getting wet and partially submerged.

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For comparison, this is what a normal ferry ride on Sydney Harbour looks like, even on a not-so-sunny day.

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For the weather nerds, a low-pressure system swept across coastal New South Wales on the weekend, dumping plenty of rain on Sydney, including on the Mardi Gras parade.

It's not usually like this, we assure you.

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