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!!!