R.I.P. Photos

It is a sad post when you must say goodbye to a number of photos....


Whilst I was recently organising and dutifully backing up files, I managed to lose quite a few photos. I suppose I will eventually learn. However, it seems rather ironic that I have now lost data on two separate occasions through the processes involved with backing up files.

Files can be rather unstable if they are in the process of being copied or transferred. I think this would be particularly true of larger files. Fortunately, for most of the lost I have maintained the original RAW files so I can re-process them in time. However, these four are likely never to be seen again.

Sadly, all of which I enjoyed; none of which had yet been to print.

Lessons to learn:

1. Perform regular back ups, HOWEVER files are easily corrupted and can be permanently lost when being copied or transferred.

2. ALWAYS maintain copies of your original RAW or camera shots for safety purposes.

K.I.S.S

SIMPLIFY (or the age-old K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Stupid)

My two previous posts were essentially about getting a complex or busy scene and making it into something more visually manageable. I feel both of the following images also help to demonstrate this point. At times, you are presented with a beautiful sunset, a stunning landscape, or a lovely little creature. It can be hard to capture the whole thing in one single photograph. In fact, I think you would be struggling to find a decent photographer who claimed they always captured an entire scene perfectly or even aimed to do so. 2D art forms simply cannot show everything. The answer to this problem is actually rather simple - initially, only choose ONE small thing on which to focus your attention. 

The image below is a portion of a recent black and white (SIDE TOPIC: For better black and whites, here is a fantastic technical B&W blog post - as you can see, one image can produce a host of different B&W) image of a blue wren. I enjoy the photograph because it is so simple to the point of removing all colour. The small bird is the ONLY focus of the image. Whilst it is not the only element, it is the only focus. The image is not confused with trees, shrubbery, or creek-line. Although these were all part of the original scene, it is often better to cut out many aspects of the scene in order to make a visually appealing representation. 

The below image was taken at a time when the clouds above the lighthouse were stunning to look at. Although I also photographed those clouds, I almost prefer this image as it makes the eye a lot less tired when viewing the picture. The golden colours still give the viewer a feel for what it was like and yet still allow them to enjoy the image.

There are many different "rules" that can really help with your photography. If you have ever noticed, many of these rules act to simplify and provide structure to your photography. However, if you know this before you begin shooting, those guidelines will come much more naturally. 

Anyway, if you read this I hope it was helpful.

Returned and Completed

After a month away down south, there are a few images I have worked on since the previous post. One of these is the finished product from the farm dump. I returned there and got what I need to complete the desired image. I guess the first picture was too busy and cluttered. This is why I tried to simplify the scene a bit using the wire rolls as texture around the old header. I grabbed the sky from my first set of frames to finish off the look.

Anyway, there's no rush to go back to this dump anytime soon as I'm reasonably happy with the results. I have been wanting to get more shots that have a rural or farming focus so this is another step towards that goal.

Out of interest, here is another shot from the same dump. For some reason, rusted old vehicles really lend themselves to this type of photography.

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.