Tag Archives: photography

Portraits – Part 1

Week 3 saw us delving into the world of portraits. I must admit it’s not a genre that I’m very comfortable working with – it’s quite confronting to work with people! But I gave it a try anyway.

As always, I started close to home – Gary is our local butcher. We’ve been his customers for many years, and he in turn has been working in the same shop for 53 years! Even chronic arthritis won’t slow him down.

Gary the Butcher

He is an old-fashioned butcher who makes most of his products himself. You’ll find him at his shop early in the morning, every morning. His products are so good that he frequently caters for the surrounding cafes, clubs and schools. Sausages, anyone?

Gary the Butcher

Sydney Landscapes – Part 1

The second genre we tackled in Camera Craft 3 was landscape. It is once again an old genre that originated with the landscape artists of the 18th century. In Australia, it is mainly utilised outside of urban areas to capture the wildness of the country, but I decided to focus much closer to home for my assignment – in fact, my very own street.

Urban landscape

Ah, those brick bungalows are iconic, aren’t they? So, it seems, are the palm trees.

But turn down the lights a bit, and the street becomes a bit more David Lynch.

Urban landscape

Geological Still Life

I have taken a few courses with ACP, the last being Camera Craft 3. This course involved exploring different photographic genres – the first being still life.

Still life is a very old genre that was first perfected by the Dutch Masters in the 17th Century, but can also be utilised by photographers. Both the choice and placement of objects, as well as its lighting is critical, as you can see in this series.

Geo still life

Geo still life

Geo still life

Winter Light

I hope that the Christmas holidays have gone well for you, and that the New Year is looking up.

While some of us are in the midst of summer, others are journeying through the darkest time of the year. This post is for you.

These photos were taken last July, when the late afternoon light was magical. It made my humble kitchen look like a scene out of a fairy tale. On the other hand, the scene could also be straight out of Psycho.

Winter Light

Winter Light

Winter Light

Memories of Autumn – Part 2

I became more aware of the trees around me in the autumn: how the branches of the crepe myrtle in my front yard formed a cross-hatching pattern against the bright sky.

Memories of autumn

The softer light also highlighted frequently overlooked details: like a haphazard pile of leaves on the ground.

Memories of autumn

It wasn’t not only the deciduous trees that caught my eye: in the morning light, the ridges of bark on this gum tree had a character of its own.

Memories of autumn

Desert Stop

After dinner that night, we stopped at the remote rail siding of Manguri, around 50km from Coober Pedy. The train’s well-lit windows made a cinematic backdrop to the scene.

Manguri Stopover

Even in the desert, some people seemed only interested in their phones.

Manguri Stopover

A bonfire was ready and waiting, and most passengers gravitated towards it. The 15C or so temperatures was a cool change to the tropics.

Manguri Stopover

Meanwhile, I was more interested in capturing the stars on a clear, desert night.

Manguri Stopover

My attempt was short-lived though. Moments after this, an over-zealous security guard type said I couldn’t step out of the light due to “OH and S considerations”. That just killed the fun out of the desert night experience for me.

One more morning, and by noon the following day we were back in civilisation – Adelaide.

Terminal