The above image of a hang glider, taken at Birubi Beach, was part of the Engaging Newcastle exhibition by photographer Conor Ashleigh.

Here are Conor's accompanying words:

For humans accustomed to gliding through the air, the slightest change in wind direction never goes unnoticed. In fact, favourable wind direction along Newcastle's coast offers a new world of flying possibilities for the city's hang gliding community as they come alive in search of the next flight.

I got a call asking me how quickly I could get to Port Stephens and find my way to Birubi Beach. A friend and passionate hang glider Nicola, told me she was up flying with a few other friends of the sky, including Newcastle's top hang glider Conrad Loten.

Like big fluro birds they weaved in and out and around each other, floating on the invisible wind current. As an impressive storm started to close in, Conrad floated amongst the sand dunes, gliding in low enough to pick up clumps of the rough grass growing on the mounds. When he reached the edge of the mounds, instead of tumbling down the side he floated backwards with the magical wind current on his side.

With the sun setting in the west, light rain from the oncoming storm could be felt as the friends carried their gliders back to the cars and packed up after another successful adventure in the sky.

To see the full Flying High photo series, visit Engage Newcastle on Flickr.