Category: Photography

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Messing Around With Macro

I got a new lens! The Sony FE 2.8/90 MACRO G OSS is a beautiful piece of machinery. Let me start by saying that I am by no means an expert, nor am I remotely qualified to be reviewing photographic equipment! I’m just a rookie who is having a lot of fun playing around with macro photography for the first time.

This lens is built solidly, to put it lightly. The focus ring feels very durable, made entirely of metal, it rotates really smoothly, and can be snapped forward and backward to switch between auto and manual focus modes. It ranges from 1:1 – 1:10 magnification ratio which makes it super versatile, and includes in-lens image stabilisation, which really comes in handy in that 1:1 range. For a lens that looks and feels so robust, it is extremely lightweight and easy to operate without having to remove your eye from the viewfinder. As I said, I am in no position to compare this to any other macro lens, but from my limited experience it’s a 10/10!

Traditionally, macro photography is used in nature shoots on subjects like insects and flowers, because it can capture the tiniest of details in extreme close-up. I had a bit of a go at this in my backyard, and was pretty impressed with the result. I found that the depth of field is SO narrow that it can be really hard to get an entire insect in focus. I had to use quite a high aperture to achieve this, which created a bit of an issue for lighting. Luckily, being outside in the middle of the day, I managed to find enough light just by approaching from another angle.

I don’t mind the narrow depth of field when it comes to flowers – I think it creates a really interesting sequence of pictures, showcasing different parts of the flower side by side. Competing with an intermittent breeze, I also managed to get some accidental abstract shots which I really like! It’s usually the unplanned shots that I end up loving the most!

While flowers and insects can create some interesting shots, it doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for creative expression. I am far more interested in capturing the intricate details of everyday objects and presenting them in a way that we don’t normally see them. Again, lighting is probably the most significant challenge I faced. I have found that I need to be working at high shutter speeds to limit camera shake, as well as high aperture to maintain a wider depth of field. I needed to use an off-camera flash to introduce enough light into the shot. For a lot of the images, it was a struggle to create natural looking light – this will be my next challenge!

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Fathers’ Day

“She did not stand alone, but what stood behind her, the most potent moral force in her life, was the love of her father.”

Harper Lee

Happy Fathers’ Day!

I consider myself pretty lucky to have been blessed with a wonderful father.

His role in my life was the builder-up-er. He had big expectations and held me to a high standard, but he never failed to tell me he was proud of me – even for the smallest of achievements. I think I can speak similarly for my siblings. While he always pushed us to do better and be better; he made a big deal out of our success, he bragged about us to his friends, and he constantly showered us with love, laughter and support.

I like to think he played this role for many of our peers as well. He was known in our extended family and among friends as the “career advisor”. At any social event, he would speak to us all about our strengths and our interests, and then suggest a possible career path for us. It was a fun game at the time, and we would all laugh about the ridiculous job titles he would come up with. Now when I think back on those conversations, I realise that he was letting us know that we were capable, he saw our potential, and he believed in us.

He lived in a way that encouraged us to be passionate about what we do. He taught us by example that there was certainly a place for hard work, but there was no reason you shouldn’t have fun in the process. He was full of crazy ideas, and he was constantly planning exciting adventures for us. It’s thanks to him that we have had so many amazing experiences as a family, which have become beautiful memories that we can cherish forever.

He was the solid foundation in our lives that empowered us, made us feel safe and filled us with confidence. When he passed away so suddenly, the floor was ripped out from underneath us. This unwavering, invincible figure had suddenly been stripped of his power, and what seemed solid before didn’t feel so solid any more.

I will always miss him dearly. Life goes on, but it’s just not the same. It’s certainly never as good. It’s not as fun, it’s not as exciting, it’s not as spirited, it’s not as carefree. However, I like to think he fulfilled his job as a father – even though his time may have been cut short. He built us up so that we could live with confidence and independence, and made sure we knew that we could do anything if we worked hard enough. He fostered a sense of humour in us that has helped us stay sane through some pretty traumatic times. Most importantly, he made us feel unconditionally loved, respected and valued – ALL THE TIME. Even when we misbehaved. Even when we had differences in opinion. Even when we were ratbag teenagers. The way I see it, that’s what dads are for…so he did good! All the while working incessantly to support his family, bring his passion projects to life, and brighten the lives of those around him.

My privilege is not lost on me. I know there are so many whose fathers are not a positive force in their lives. I also have so many loving, supportive, gentle and encouraging men in my life – it would be ignorant of me to pretend that I lost all fatherly figures when my Dad died. I am forever grateful to all of these men for showing me what it means to be a man of good character – a good father, brother, husband, uncle, grandfather and friend.

One of his favourite places in the world was Manly Beach, and it is now a place we love to visit and remember him. What a beautiful gift it is to have such a stunning backdrop to bring our family together.

“Because my cup doth overflow
with the beauty of the days gone by.”
~ Van Morrison

Posted on by — Leave a comment

A Day In The Life of Doug and Fred

A few weeks ago I introduced you to my little friends, Doug and Fred. They are hilarious and loving and hyperactive and gentle and annoying and adorable – they really cover the full spectrum in the space of a day. They’re loving WFH season…they’ll be in for a rude shock when things finally go back to normal!

They’ve had an ideal lifestyle while we’ve been staying on the Central Coast. Here’s a little Day In The Life action for you.

Mornings at the dog beach

These two HATE swimming with a passion, but they love being at the beach. They get their feet wet and cool off, but as soon as they see a wave approaching, they can’t get away from it quick enough!

Lunchtime Fetch!

Doug & Fred could play this allllll day. We actually have to be quite forceful when it’s time to stop because otherwise Doug will hyperventilate. He just keeps chasing that ball – even when he can’t breathe any more. His commitment to the ball is really quite admirable.

Spending some quality time with his beloved ball (TMI)

Afternoon Recovery

Pretty much the rest of the day is spent snoozing and snuggling. The camera roll on my phone is just a flip-book of sleeping dog pictures. They’re just so adorable when they’re sleeping and snuggling and loving each other! I wish I could tell you that they did something more interesting all day, but it’s literally 90% snooze.

Dinner

Let me just clarify – these dogs are VERY well fed. They’re both very small and they don’t need a lot, but they get delicious Raw and Fresh patties every night, along with the occasional bone and a whole lot of treats throughout the day! You’d be forgiven for thinking they were starving, the way that they carry on when anyone else is eating!
These raw whole chicken & veggie patties look sooo appetising. They’re pretty unpleasant to prepare, but the dogs love them. I really appreciate that dogs NEVER get tired of what we feed them. Every day, they are just as excited to eat the same old thing that they’ve had every day of their lives. They sit right at my heel, watching my every move like a hawk until the bowls touch the ground. So easy to please!

Goodnight!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Top Model Moment

While they are not mandatory at this stage, masks are being recommended in Sydney – and I’m very much of the better safe than sorry mindset! I just think that if I can do something that helps to protect me and those around me, there are really very few downsides to wearing one. It’s a little bit of discomfort that could make a big difference. I’ve been wearing masks when I know it will be difficult to keep my distance – usually when I go to the shops, doctors etc. However, I’m also very much of the single use sucks mindset, which has created a bit of an issue for me. Luckily, I’ve managed to find some really nice reusable masks from some wonderful corners of the internet.

It’s pretty hard not to look intimidating or generally unhappy with a mask on, so I’ve been practising my “smize” religiously (thanks Tyra). I couldn’t help but indulge in a bit of a top model moment to showcase my new treasures.

Clothing The Gap

This one is hands down my favourite – by every criteria. It’s 4-ply (yes, 4!), fits super comfortably, has wire along the top seam for a snug fit across the nose, AND it’s reversible – for double the fun!

Clothing The Gap

This is the reverse of the one above.

I absolutely LOVE Clothing The Gap. They are a social enterprise managed by health professionals, who create fashion that helps to support health programs in Aboriginal communities. The quality of these masks is pretty outstanding, and I love knowing that my money is going to a good cause, rather than some rich CEO’s back pocket.

Facebook

I bought this one from a lovely neighbour in a local Facebook group. She has been making these at home, and apparently she’s been run off her feet! It’s so great to see people coming together to support their local community at a time when so many people are struggling.

Facebook

Another design from our lovely neighbour!

These masks are 2-ply with a pocket for a filter, they fit comfortably and don’t pull too tightly around the ears. There is no wire, so the fit is not quite as snug as some other designs – but for a handmade mask they’re bloody fabulous! Super cute fabric choices, too.

Ricepaper The Label

Did I get a little carried away with the Top Model theme? Maybe.
Did I move out of the focus range while my camera was on self-timer? Obviously.
Was it worth it? You decide.

These last two are from another company that I adore. Ricepaper The Label are so transparent about their practices with respect to sustainability and ethical practices. They aim to reduce waste as much as possible, and made a limited supply of masks from their fabric off-cuts.

Ricepaper The Label

These masks are 3-ply, with adorable little ruffles covering the elastic straps. They’re simple and effective, but after about 10 minutes they do start to pull a bit behind the ears. Maybe just a little small for my big, beautiful face!

I’d love to know which reusable masks you love. Leave me a comment with your suggestions: brands you love, things to avoid, washing tips and tricks – I’ll take it all! I will also welcome constructive criticism on my smize…not sure I’ve nailed it yet!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

North Shelly Dog Beach

We’ve been riding out COVID on the Central Coast, where we have plenty of space and we can hear the ocean all day while we work from home. As grateful as we are to have this place available to us, I don’t think anyone is as grateful as our dogs!

They’re used to spending their days in our very modest courtyard, with walks along busy roads and the occasional trip to the park. Here, they have a backyard big enough to explore all day, and they LOVE their daily visits to the dog beach. I don’t know what they’re going to do with themselves when the world goes back to work and we go back to our teeny tiny little yard in the city.

Of all the dog-friendly beaches on the Central Coast, North Shelly is our favourite. There is SO much space, so it’s been really easy to manage social distancing, and every dog we’ve come across has been beautifully behaved. They also love playing in the rock pools and racing up and down the dunes, which is a luxury that isn’t so easily accessible at other beaches. There’s a car park behind the dunes alongside a small reserve with picnic tables and some decent public toilets. It’s a great spot to take in the view of the surfers (and, more importantly, all the puppies) below.

I can never resist the opportunity for a photo shoot with my crazy canine companions in the gorgeous afternoon light. These rascals are slowly learning how to pose for my thousands of photos!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Margarita Party

“Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.”

David Alan Harvey

Ingredients for a tasty margarita:
– tequila
– cointreau
– lime
– simple syrup
– salt

Ingredients for a ~wild margarita party~ :
– tequila
– cointreau
– lime
– simple syrup
– salt
– SPARKLERS!

Excuse me, but HOW FUN IS LIGHT PAINTING?!

By this stage we’re all aware that I’ve been enjoying a cocktail or two during the pandemic. While the lockdown laws have eased a bit in Sydney, we’ve still been taking social distancing pretty seriously. It’s a necessary evil – but it hasn’t exactly been doing wonders for my photography! I’ve had to get a bit creative in order to keep getting interesting shots within our limited radius. The brief I set for myself this time was to capture the feeling of something, rather than just a snapshot of how it looks to the naked eye.

I’ve been meaning to play around with light painting for a long time now, and the thought struck me while I was preparing my beloved evening marg. I literally had so much fun shooting this that I almost forgot to drink it…if you don’t know me personally, you should know THAT IS A BIG DEAL. Don’t worry, I came to my senses eventually.

Name a better visual representation of the world’s tastiest cocktail…I’ll wait.

I also played around with some alternative light sources using long exposure. I just love the way that lighting can completely change the mood of a shot, and can be used in so many creative ways. Prepare your eyes for LOTS more light painting parties – I’m officially obsessed.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Godox AK-R1 Accessory Kit

I’ve had a Godox V1-S Speedlight for some time now, and while it’s extremely versatile for a hot shoe speedlight, I’ve been itching to experiment with it further. Luckily, this year I received a very well-timed isolation-birthday present! The Godox XPro-S Flash Trigger, along with Godox AK-R1 Accessory Kit. Together, they have been the perfect pair for lighting experiments, particularly in the absence of any other creative inspiration during isolation!

The trigger obviously allows me to position the flash off the camera body, so I can achieve the light and shadows that I want in the shot. As for the accessories, they are literally SO easy to use – they just click straight onto the flash head magnetically and you can layer as many accessories as your little heart desires. It is so simple to make little adjustments as you go, just by snapping another accessory on. The gels also clip in and out of their frame, which can accommodate up to three gels at a time, allowing you to layer colours.

I’ve been experimenting a lot (photos to come), but I thought it would be useful to first do a series of shots directly comparing each of these fun accessories!

Control shot – flash with no accessories attached.
Wide angle diffuser.
Honeycomb grid.
Dome diffuser.
Snoot.
Barn-door.
Colour-correction gel kit.
Colour-correction gel kit.
Colour-correction gel kit.
Colour-correction gel kit.
Colour-correction gel kit.
Bounce card. This one has a white side (for bouncing) and a black side (for masking).
Dome diffuser layered with colour-correction gel.
Dome diffuser layered with colour-correction gel.

Side note: this Poor Tom’s Strawberry Gin is a bloody delightful drop, and drop-dead gorgeous repurposed as a vase!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Interval Shooting

I recently celebrated my one-year anniversary with my Sony a7iii. It has been a whirlwind romance and I can’t wait for many more years of love and mems!

One of the great features of this camera is its interval shooting function. I played around with it a little bit while travelling last year, but since we were on the road, I never processed the images into time-lapse videos. Now that we are in isolation, I busted it out again and I’ve been playing around with different speeds and frame rates. I love the flexibility this camera provides. It’s so easy to achieve whichever creative effects you’re after – I can’t wait to experiment with this a lot more!

I guess the standard time-lapse shot is sunrise or sunset – it’s a simple and achievable shot from most locations. I’ve found it to be a great way to start out and get a feel for the process. Since we’re so close to the water at the moment, it’s also fairly easy to frame a decent shot. Two of the videos below were shot on the Amalfi Coast last year, and I have FINALLY processed them in the last couple of days. The others (featuring the signature palm tree!) were taken over the last couple of weeks.

I’ve obviously been focusing on the sky. While it is ever-changing and fascinating, I wouldn’t blame you for being a little bored of my sky shots. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to try out some more creative time-lapse videos – stay tuned!

Sunrise in Cetara, Italy.
Sunset in Praiano, Italy.
Sunset at The Entrance, NSW.
Sunrise at The Entrance, NSW.
Clouds…in the sky…duh
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Canberra

“I believe that for most of us, most of the time, it is in the everyday experience of beauty, certainly in nature and in music, that we sense a heaven half-revealed and come closest to the true meaning of reality.”

Densey Clyne

Ahhh, Our Nation’s Capital. The Bush Capital. The big city. Treat your lungs to a big gulp of that crisp, Canberra air.

While Canberra hasn’t always had the best name in Sydney, it really does have a lot to offer. The food and nightlife scene are becoming much more diverse and exciting, as more and more people flock to the city. Its most attractive feature is probably its proximity to nature. You can spend 10 minutes in the car and feel like you are in the middle of the bush. In some suburbs, kangaroos sit quietly and observe the residents going about their business. The many local parks are populated with native flora and fauna, and there are countless bush walks and nature parks within minutes of the city. There are certainly more built-up areas of the city, but you are never too far from the warm embrace of a big ol’ gum tree.

During our most recent visit, I went out to Black Mountain Peninsula and the Australian National Botanic Gardens – both perfect examples of the beautiful surrounds that will very soon be on our doorstep. Based on my previous experiences of Botanic Gardens, I would usually expect to find carefully manicured displays of flowers, bursting with colour and perfume. This particular garden was a pleasant surprise. They showcase Australian native flora and cultivate plants that are threatened in the wild. It is rambling and wild and organic, and while well presented, it doesn’t feel manufactured.

One thing I have decided – if Canberra were a shape, it would be a circle. What with the roundabouts and the iconic Canberra bus shelters, I think these fabulous minimal planters dotted throughout the gardens confirm my theory.

Towards the end of the trail, I came through Rainforest Gulley, housing plants from the rainforests of Australia’s eastern coastline. In stark contrast to the dry, muted tones of the rest of the gardens, this area felt all the more lush and refreshing. How amazing is Australia?! Even our plants are diverse – love that for us.