Work in Progress

Over the Christmas week, we spent a bit of time down on the farm. I have taken some interest in the obligatory farm dump (there are always so many great treasures in old dumps!). 

I thought I'd include this image on here, even though I'm not happy with it in order to show some of the thinking/working process that happens in making an image. I feel it is a bit too cluttered and busy - hence, the next photo will have fewer points of focus in order to bring a bit more simplicity to the scene.

I guess this is a bit disappointing to come away with an image that is not quite satisfactory. However, it happens sometimes and I will have a much better idea in my mind for next time what I want it to look like. I'll post the results once I have got what I'm after. 

Merry Christmas week!

Variety

KEY: Shoot a variety of scenes and images.

Thanks to some inspiration from the wife, this is fairly recent photo taken in the city after some of our summer rains. Although I usually enjoy nature photography as it is more naturally inspiring, I find this image quite nice as a simple urban scene. The vehicle trail and the reflection in the water both provide some points of interest for the eye. There is a sense of slight motion and yet still symmetry; these features and the darkness create a little intrigue (in my own mind at least).

I would certainly like to make more images of this kind as it really is a challenge to spark an interesting picture. There are plenty of defining features in the city and yet certain details are sometimes overlooked. Composition becomes quite important to the image and it can make or break the photograph. I think that by taking pictures in a variety of scenes such as this will help to provide a better variety of compositional styles across a broader range of scenes. 

I certainly aim to be creating a better and stronger set of pictures as my own photography continues. If this also helps your own, even better.

Have a great week!

Changing Landscapes

I have been trying to find ways to photograph Perth city and still capture some of the Western Australian lifestyle/landscape so this photo is the start of a bigger project of mine. It was taken following recent storm activity which means there is still a bit of misty rain hanging around on the plains.

A scene can change quite dramatically right before your eyes. I'm sure you have seen this before and it makes for quite an enjoyable experience watching as you get a new beauty unfold in a matter of minutes. The image below is one taken less than 30 minutes after the one in the previous post. Same location - yet just a short time apart can give rise to a very different view. So, take plenty of photos as the light and view changes and I'm sure something will come of it. 

Moral of the story - it is totally worth hanging around for a more picturesque view if you are out and about, especially if it is a cloudy/stormy day with lots of cloud gaps and breaks.

Opportunity

I would have loved for it to stop raining on me right at the point when I was taking this photo. However, it didn't. Although the clouds through which the sun strongly beamed were not perfectly crisp, the result is still quite satisfying. 

At certain other times I have talked about time and opportunity (like in this post on waiting) in photography. It is very true that the timing of a shot is extremely important to how the shot turns out. I was again out at the zig-zag past Gooseberry Hill yesterday evening for sunset. A summer thunderstorm was passing overhead and the rain was still plentiful. Lightning was striking overhead and to the left at the time whilst the storm headed south of the city. Everything in front of the lens was that little bit blurry, including the detail in the clouds. I would have loved to have crispness in the clouds and yet by the time the rain had lessened the light was also gone. 

This simply makes up part of the story of a scene. The image has enough discernible detail and structure to create a great sense of warmth and mystery and so I certainly think this one will do well as a wall-sized canvas. 

For me this is definitely a motivator to appreciate the fantastic opportunities that are presented on a regular basis. Things don't always turn out as we would hope or plan - I guess this is just one part of what makes photography interesting, enjoyable, and rewarding.

Photographic Rules

There is no such thing as a rule in photography.

Although I do not actually agree with the above statement, I have certainly found it helpful at times to simply work to what I find appealing or attractive rather than trying to stick to another person's frame of mind. There still a few left over images from the time of the dodgy dot-prone sensor that I no longer work with. Some of them I feel are worth keeping and yet they have MANY dots yet to remove. I spent a small amount of time on this one today.

Even though this is not quite ideal for me, the concept is what appeals to me. The shot was taken after dark - the colours seem to come out in a really subtle sort of way. My aim is to get an image like this that has a really quiet feel to it while still maintaining an appealing composition and interesting style. I realise this statement is rather vague and 'arty' and yet I think it will become more apparent once the image is made. 

Rules are fantastic ways to help develop structure to your photography and imagery. They are also a fantastic place to begin with when you are starting out with your camera. They can help you progress very fast to a certain point. In order to prevent or break a so-called 'plateau' effect, I think it is pretty important to get creative in shooting. It doesn't have to be anything too crazy or out of the ordinary, but a simple composition change can really add to the image. 

For example, one of the classic 'rules' in photography is the Rule of Thirds in which you should aim to place objects of interest along the line of thirds in the frame. Although I have followed this rule with the sky/land ratio, I think the dimensions and composition of the image below (also a work in progress FYI - which I may have to reshoot) looks much bolder than if I had placed the trunk on an angle or to the side of the frame. 

Anyway, there is plenty more to be said about keeping work creative and yet I'll leave most of it for another day. 

Have a great weekend!

Perth City

Since the first time we went out to the zig-zag in the Perth hills, I have been wanting to get a satisfactory shot of the city that somehow reveals the expanse of the place without losing the bushy feel to the location. Although this is not quite perfect, I think it has come close to being satisfactory for my liking. This day, there were storm clouds all around and the light was creating great pockets of gold all over the place. At this time, the city was being lit by several beams through the clouds and the view was outstanding. 

It is not the first time I have photographed out that way, so for me this is certainly a product of some patience and persistence.

Enjoy.

Stylistic

If you ever have access to photo-editing software, don't be afraid to use it!! - That's what it's for

Generally speaking, the style with which I approach my photography is one that attempts to make an accurate depiction of a scene or location. However, at times I have enjoyed fiddling with a few different styles. I am quite pleased with how this one is finished. It was an attempt to reduce a relatively complex scenario to its basic elements. Although this could be taken further, for me it is a good blend. 

Style is certainly a part of photography and I realise that my own is still reasonably mouldable. I hope to bring a distinctive style to my images and yet maintain a level of authenticity and realism. Again if you get the chance, editing can provide access to some otherwise inaccessible image concepts.

FYI: I am also pleased with the quality of the above image as it incorporates a variety of techniques that allows it to uphold its 22 MP size.

E620: First Photos

Although I havn't really tested the camera out to the max, I was able to get a bit of a first shoot in yesterday. It seems to live up to my own expectation well enough. Strangely enough, I don't think the sensor is that different from my old one apart from a few more mega-pixels. Even then, 99% of the time those extra megapixels don't play a huge role. I have a new lens coming, but even so the kit lens is an improvement on what I had. I am enjoying some of the extra features on the camera even though they don't really alter things that much. The E620 is not really made for low light shooting as the ISO ability is not the greatest. I have a feeling that to get that extra step up in low-light quality would require another level of sensor.

On the whole, I'm pretty happy and expect it to last me a fair while - the Canon 5D will have to wait. Until, then I expect to get stuck into some more photography - WITHOUT DOTS 

OLD PHOTO: (The old sensor played havoc in any dark exposures over 1"). 

Have a fantastic week!

On The Road Again

It's been a while since I have been able to get out and take some photos since my old camera gave up the ghost. However, finally got another one today - found another olympus: E 620. SO, there will be more photography to come!!

I have had my eyes on the full-frame EOS 5D. However, after taking some of my own advice from an old post I decided to continue with a cheaper option until affordability provides option for the full-frame camera.

The upsides to this are that I get to continue with the Olympus brand and style that I have enjoyed over the last 10 years. Secondly, all of my sparse assortment of lenses and accessory items will remain compatible with the new camera.

Wireless flash capability is certainly something that I am looking forward to using. However, I think the E 620 limits this to use WITH the on-camera flash.

Anyway, regardless of specifications I'm sure I'll be pretty happy with a working machine as long as it is needed. People often ask me "What's a good camera to buy?" Although this is a perfectly good and valid question, there are a many lot of great cameras around these days especially if you stick with the known brands and basic specs. Therefore, whatever you end up with will probably be quite a good camera to buy (However, please DO NOT quote me on this after you buy an under-performing boxy that's been megapixally overpriced) Point is, I'm looking forward to USING what gear I now have.

Have a great weekend!!

IT Help Desk

As things have done for a long time now, many operations (including photography) are highly dependent on some form of computerised mechanism. This is fantastic as it creates such a diverse range of sources for things although the downside is that it is based on a number of computerised languages.

For a while, I have been hoping to get a nice-looking gallery of photos going for this blog. After chasing threads and forums around the internet, I have managed to come up with what I feel is a satisfactory outcome. I have also come away with the realisation that a higher level of computer knowledge and understanding would be beneficial.

The end result that I managed to find a roundabout way of displaying images through the blog site without having to wade through tonnes and tonnes of unreadable code. Although the regular software engineer would likely find this a walk in the park, I feel quite chuffed to now have it done to a level of satisfaction.

You can find links to the galleries at the top of my home page. 

Use of Flash

Regarding the use of flash lighting, there are two main camps of thought. One says that you should never/rarely use flash and instead use only the natural lighting of the area. That is a fantastic idea, especially when the natural lighting is very elegant or conducive to your photograph. However, this is clearly not always the case. This leads to the second ideology which is that the flash is simply another part of your toolkit to be utilised in creating your photographs. I stand much closer to the second camp of thought. 

For obvious reasons, much of landscape photography is limited to using natural lighting. However, there are many instances where a flash really comes in handy. Even in a landscape shot, it can help to bring out certain elements of the scene. Here are three keys that I find useful when dealing with flash:

1. KNOW some of the important principles about the nature and intensity of light. For example, the most basic is that light travels in a  straight line. There is not actually any such thing as light that nicely "wraps" around your subject. What you are dealing with here is the RELATIVE size of your light source. I could go on much longer about this, but the point here is that you learn more about the light that drives EVERY one of your images. 

2. The best practical tip I have is to get your light off the camera's optical AXIS. The simple reason for this is that MOST things will look more pleasing to the eye if lit in this way. There are more visible shadows and the object is given much better definition than direct light. 

3. Thirdly, try not to rely solely on your flashgun. Having a BALANCE of the lighting is often the key to a nice looking photo. Reflectors can be a good way of utilising the power of the sun to light aspects of your scene without the use of flash. 

David Hobby at http://www.strobist.blogspot.com.au/ has some much more in-depth explorations about lighting. I have benefited greatly from reading and practising some of his tips. 

Have a fantastic day!

Emotional Photography

Something I like about photography is that it is often part of a bigger story. I was looking through some old photos an found this one. It certainly brings back memories of the time and place in which I was living at the time and I'm sure everyone has different images that trigger certain feelings and memories. I have enjoyed photography since I was a kid and the whole time have liked capture these things in a photo. 'Capturing the moment' is a pretty cliche statement, but that is what photography is about. It is momentary and no more, but I like how a photo can bring back more than a moment of thought.

Anyway, the point here is that I am keen in future photography to bring more feeling into the picture. I feel that it will certainly add to future work, unless of course I am trying to convey an impersonal place of cold emotions.

Have a great day!

Hamelin Pool - Stromatolites

Such a long time between posts...

We recently got back from a week away up in Exmouth. A lovely place to go and spend some of the winter break. ON our way back down to Perth, we stopped and camped at a great little caravan park near Hamelin Pool. Here, the stromatolites are one of the historical attractions of the area. Hence, the photo below. 

However, this is to be one of my last photos in a while as my camera eventually decided to die. After having lots of sensor troubles over the past couple of years, the shutter finally packed it in. 

On the upside, this means I will be looking at getting a new camera soon. I am on the hunt for a new one as soon as I can. At this point, I'm considering the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It seems like it has everything I would like to see in a camera. 

I'm now looking forward to some much better and more reliable gear!!!

Itchy

Although the past few weeks have been very intense, I'm keen to set some time aside specifically for photography. In case you weren't aware, I've recently made the move back to uni to become a paramedic.

I get itchy for photos from time to time, especially after a break from the camera. We had a picnic by the river this evening which was fantastic. Taking the photo here made me want to get out more. Between study, work, training, and family at times it unfortunately seems hobbies get pushed to the side a little. Anyway, I thought I'd put this one up for now.

Enjoy

Hopeful

I love getting out to the country. Partly because that's where I grew up, but simply because it is beautiful.

This weekend, I'm really looking forward to spending the weekend camping at the beach. My brother-in-law-to-be is having his bucks down south. I'm hoping to have some fantastic weather for swimming and fishing. However, I'm also pretty keen to get a few nice photos whilst we're there. While I can't guarantee anything will happen, I'm hopeful.

For the sake of uploading a photo, I'll leave you with this beachy picture that I currently have hanging on my wall.

Have a great weekend!

Edit Note

There are many different views on editing. Some feel as though the use of photo-editing programs is somehow a tarnish on the photographic field. However, my view is that it is simply an extension and development on the processes always used by photographers.

Either way, I thought I'd post a word or two on the topic. To make things simple, I've thought of four tips to remember whilst editing.

1. First tip is KEEP your original file in some format. The more work you do on a file, the more information you lose especially if you are in the (possibly poor) habit of merging layers along the way.

2. Have your COMPLETED image in mind before you begin editing. If you know where you want your image to end up, the process will be much easier, faster, and more effective. In saying this, keeping some spontaneity in your work has much going for it.

3.  KNOW your editing tools. Photoshop is far more powerful than I regularly utilise. Again, both speed and quality will improve drastically once you begin to master your program.

4. Clearly the biggest tip I have begins long before the file arrives on your computer. Have your image in mind before you push the shutter. A small improvement in camera regarding lighting, composition, or colour is of much greater value than what most editing can achieve.

As a rule I generally won't alter much when it comes to landscapes. However, if a picture can be improved easily, I figure why not do it! Here is an example of a relatively simple edit I recently worked on. I was reasonably satisfied with the outcome and it didn't take too long. As you can see (apart from the removal of Runner 32) I personally prefer to keep editing pretty simplistic if possible.

New Work!

Firstly, my apologies for the long time since my last post. There are a couple of reasons for this. One of which is a valid photographic cause. I have been appreciating some of the more beautiful things in nature and in the sky without over-analysing its photographic content. At times it is much better for the soul to simply sit and enjoy what is around us. Hence, whilst it is important to keep pushing the shutter it is also a valuable practise to sit and relax.

The second reason is simply that I have had a lot of my time and energy taken up with more immediately urgent things such as work and a new exercise program.

The point of this post, however, is to inform you that I am planning to display a selection of my work in a yet-to-be-revealed gallery. Should it go ahead, it will be a privilege to show work amongst some well-known local artists. There will be some of the same works as from Fremantle (Some same frames, some new frames). HOWEVER, there WILL be some new photography on display as well. At this stage, I am thinking I will probably use about 4 or 5 from Fremantle and add another 4 or 5 NEW images.

This page will be kept updated as to the location and the timing of it all.

Enjoy your week!

A Waiting Game

I'm always learning new ideas and re-discovering old ones. Over the last week, we have been down south near the little country town of Pingrup. On our way home, storms were brewing all over the place and the skies were simply majestic.

Unfortunately, the car we were driving had no headlights and we were in a race against the sun to make it before dusk. We stopped a number of times on the way home for photographs. However, one particular spot outside Nyabing we encountered one of the numerous salt lakes. I jumped out of the car and ran to the lake. As you can imagine, the beautiful but fleeting light on the pink lake faded as I approached. I felt impatient and was keen to get back on the road. However, after making a quick judgement on the cloud situation I forced myself to wait out for almost 10 minutes (which seems MUCH longer when in a rush). To my delight, the sun began slowly to creep out from amidst the clouds. Once the lake was again lit up beautifully, I took my shot. Eager to get back on the road, I departed as did the light once more.

It was a great reminder for me to WAIT [and potentially wait and wait and wait] especially on those days when light might seem to be doing all the wrong things. Although I'll leave that particular salt lake photo for my next exhibition, the photo I took from our backyard that evening demonstrates the same principle for the light leaves as quickly as it first came.

Achievable and Visible Goals

This post may be more of a reminder and a blog to me than to anybody else. However, I'm sure it will be helpful to you also if you are currently working on a project or two.

The feeling of succeeding at a task is very rewarding. It is often that the VERY important tasks have little to help you visualise that success. For example, it is almost beyond our field of view to experience the long term benefits of building a stronger relationship with a close friend or a spouse. Alternatively, from a teaching perspective it is rare joy (even for those teachers who have been educating for many years) to see a struggling student showing REAL value for important things.

Some simple but effective advice I was once given divulges the idea of goal structuring. Rather than creating one ominous mountain of an end point, one should instead break that goal into many PRACTICAL parts each of which are achievable and visible in themselves. Mastering photography can appear an insurmountable goal at times. Do not lose the vision. I have three helpful hints (all of which are useful to remember in many situations) that I have found to be effective in dismantling such a goal:

1. DEFINE your goals. Do your best to describe exactly what it is about your photography you would like to achieve. Be as specific as possible. Ask yourself (and answer) a million questions about where you want your photography to be in 10 years. Do you want to have X number family photo albums every year? do you want to have taken X number of GOOD portrait shots (you'll know which ones fit that category)? Do you want a full-time job in the industry? What photography field do you want to exploit?

What is the NEXT step you need to take in order to get there?
What is the one after THAT?

Remember, to begin with at least, keep targets TANGIBLE.

2. GET active. Use practical, affordable, and viable methods to further motivate your photography. Enter competitions, volunteer your skills, join a photography club, apply for paid photographic work, share your work with others. Here are a few links for some clubs and competitions:

Competitions

Foto Freo

Better Digital Camera

The York Society

River Guardians 

Perth Centre for Photography 

City of Stirling

Clubs

WAPF

Workshop Camera Club - Riverton

Links to other Metro Camera Clubs

3. PERSEVERE. The capacity for a person to achieve success does not lie in their natural and developed skills, but rather in their ability to push themselves beyond their comfort zone in order to achieve their goal. Practically speaking, once you reach one of your mini targets, take it further than you had initially planned. Instead of doing your scheduled weekly photo-shoot, throw in an extra shoot on a whim (even if you don't feel like it) or shoot for 20 minutes longer than planned. Idea: take 10 photos in situations where you feel UNcomfortable in doing so.

All the best!!

"...You Must Have A Great Camera"

I guess I don't usually like to talk about this very much as I'm fairly limited in this department. However, it strikes me as something which people often seem to comment about. For example, I again received the comment from a bystander whilst removing artwork from the walls of my recent exhibition:

                               "I love your photography! ... You must have a great camera."

I have decided to take this sort of comment as a compliment rather than an insult as I think the former was the desired intent. It does, however, raise the question about what photographic gear is required in order to get the images you would like to have.

Whilst every photographer would dream of having a limitless budget for the equipment they require, those people who actually do are in a very small minority. There are usually at least two or three things (either accessories or major gear items) that one COULD purchase given the finances. Yes, I'm still working with the DSLR I bought when I left school, however there are a few tips here which may contribute to the topic.

1. Obviously, you want to get stuff that is going to last and is also suitable for the task. When shooting for a particular purpose, do make sure you have the ESSENTIAL gear to go with you. For landscapers, that might simply be: camera, tripod, computer/software. For portrait artists/wedding photographers, this could include: camera, Even if this item is not the best on the market, it is FAR better than nothing. I've seen some decent deals on gumtree and eBay for second hand goods that would suffice.

2. If possible when purchasing gear, find pieces of equipment that will be TRANSFERABLE. Two examples here. First example: I recently upgraded my tripod to one I am very happy with. The old [6 years] was cheap, light, and rather wobbly. The new cost more, but weighs almost 3 kg and is quite solid. Specs aside, it can be transferred to ANY camera I own in the future. Second example: Although sometimes expensive, you may choose to purchase a good filter or set of filters. You could buy the shown filter specific for your lens size - without an adapter, it will remain limited to THAT filter size.

OR, you could purchase a filter SYSTEM which allows you to transfer filters from lens to lens and hence from camera to camera. I use one similar to this.

Cokin Filter System

3. Work with the gear you already have. Especially if you are limited financially, it is far more cost efficient to simply use the equipment you already own. As frustrating as this may be, sometimes reality must play some role in the decisions you make. On the positive side of this, have a look at this previous post to see that sometimes your limitations make your photography stronger.

Photography On A Theme

     
           While sometimes it feel if I don't know what to shoot or simply feel the need to get some photos, I have stumbled on something that works for me. The idea of this is to develop a theme around which to shoot. It is a simple idea that can involve endless possibilities if you are willing to give it a go. I currently have a few themes on the go, which means if I get the camera itch at any time, I can find something quickly to shoot. It also helps to make the most of every opportunity - in most situations, there would be SOMETHING to fit into one of my themes. The final benefit I have found regarding this idea is that it gives more variation to my photography. It broadens the way I view things around me and allows me to pay attention to things I may otherwise pass by.
                Additional ideas I think about as I go about these various themed shots are the basic things such as compositions, subject matter, and perspective. By practising the thought processes, they will become more second nature in future photography.

India Update No. 4

In advance, my apologies for the long post. It includes a range of photos from our recent trip to India.

Returning from India was quite a relief in a few ways. I had slowly built up an irritation towards to chaos which seems to surround the country. I was getting fairly frustrated with the lack of regulations in every industry. So, it was good to back home. However, being thrust back into a country with myriad regulations on every action can also be a bit of a shock to the system. 

There were lots of unique flowers and plants, but also found LOTS of eucalypts in the hill country. 

The cities are pretty crazy, with motorbikes the norm. Rickshaws are a very common way to get around in the towns and cities. However, you MUST be aware for many of the drivers will try their best to scam as much money as they can - in any way possible.

 The train system is well developed and a great way to get around especially if you take the overnight sleeper trains. I've heard that the sleeper buses are also quite good. It is a nice way to view sunrise and sunset by leaning out the open doors of the carriages - safely of course.

Although there seems to be much animal life, most of the animals are either tame or domesticated. The cow is sacred to the many Hindu people - hence the reason why cows roam the streets and countryside. 

We found the hill country to be the nicest. This particular house is of the Lincolns who pastor the local church close to the town of Ooty. 

These are some snapshots of a pretty typical market. It doesn't do justice to the noise and mayhem of the marketplaces there. Crowded. Loud. Colourful. Vivacious. Zoetic. Bounteous. Everyone there is putting there best into making a rupee or two, including the snake charmer who whipped out his [illegal] cobra as we passed by.

The backwaters in the state of Kerala are definitely worth the visit. It was a peaceful way to spend the day, yet it remained impossible to escape the ubiquitous clutter and pollution.

Although I had a fairly disappointing experience in losing about half of my photos on a dodgy thumb drive, I thought I would move on and upload some of the photos which I have enjoyed from the trip. India is an interesting country, but is not one that has a surplus of untouched natural beauties. Keep Australia beautiful!

Less Than 5 More Days!

Since it is now January, the last chance to head down and view the exhibition at Fidel's Bar and Cafe will be Monday the 9th of January.

If you haven't yet been down to see it, feel free to go have a look in the next couple of days or on the weekend. These are the works on display. After the 9th, they will be relocated to various places around the South-West, including Tanglefoot Winery.

A note on the NEXT EXHIBITION: Over the past month or so, I have been very pleased with the response from this first exhibition.This blog will be updated with any news of future exhibitions. Each of the works on display will be photographs that have neither been displayed on the internet nor have been previously exhibited. It will be entirely NEW.