Thank goodness for ZOOM

I love pics that are slightly different from the usual happy snaps we so often see, so when taking a photo I often asked myself how I could make it different. A few days ago I posted a pic of some flames, centered nicely, capturing the whole image... a standard pic. But by getting in REALLY close to the fire, todays pic becomes different as it's not often I see tight shots of fire. I like it. Thank goodness we're able to zoom on a camera, otherwise I'd have no eyebrows left!

I'll have the same again, please.

I'm really battling at the moment. Every time I take a photo it comes out looking like every other person's holiday snaps, something I know often bores the viewer. Out of every fifty or so pics I take maybe one or two are worth keeping, which means if I want to upload an image a day I need to be shooting a helluva lot!! Needless to say with work and family responsibilities I don't get to shoot as often as I need to, so I have to rely on archives of some of the better shoots to fill my daily post. Therefore today's pic is another beach morning scene from our recent holiday. Sorry.

Yeah, but is it art?

In a way I think it is. What fascinates me the most is that graffiti is never seen being created, but is always noticed the next day, which means someone's doing it at night. And because it's always in an unlit area, they're doing it in the dark too. I think it takes a real talent to produce something like this at night, in the dark, and general quickly to avoid being caught. So irrespective of it's abstract concept, yes, I think it's art.

Playing with Fire

One of the things you just HAVE to do while camping is to toast marshmellows and make ‘smores’. Inevitably one of my kids will lose their marshmellow in the fire and/or set their stick alight. Needless to say that photographing someone waving a flaming stick around at night always produces fun pics, especially when they start writing their names with the flames. At least, for once in our lives, we’ll get to see our names in lights! It’s wickedly delicious playing with fire!

Early to bed, early to rise...

On Tuesday's post I loaded a pic of a wave crashing on the rocks, one I really like. After shooting that particular shot I waited until the sun actually started rising, and that's where it got a bit tricky. As the sun was rising so the lighting conditions were constantly changing. It was a case of take a shot, change an ISO setting, alter the exposure slightly, but still maintain shutter speed so that the water didn't blur, and take the next shot. Then do it all over again to take the shot after that. And I had to do it all quite quickly to get in as many shots as I could before the sun was fully risen. The things we do for our hobbies...

Campfires Burning

There's nothing like a good campfire to bring out good times, good friends and good stories. Everyone seems to pull their chairs in a little closer and hug the blanket a little tighter. I love a good campfire, so relished in the idea of having one every evening while we were away. Of course I had my camera with me (I think it's becoming another apendage) and enjoyed photographing the flames. There's not much to today's pic, but I like it and hope you do too!

Smile at the sea, it'll wave back!

It's great to be back!! We had an awesome time and enjoyed a well-deserved break. Four days of nothing but playing on the beach with my kids all day, braaing (barbequeing) in the afternoons, and enjoying a few drinks around the campfire in the evenings. This is the life. One of the other things I did was take a tripod down to the beach at dawn and managed to shoot a few nice pics of the sea while the sun was rising. I wanted to try it every day but I was there to relax remember, and relaxing involves sleeping in! I won't bore you with all the beach shots at once, so look out for more in the future.

Overdone, boring and tiresome!

You've all heard the expression "Take a long walk on a short pier!". Well due to my lunchtime time constraints (1 hour minus driving and eating time) I only managed a short walk on a very long pier, and so I apologise for today's pic. I think it's boring and overdone. I've seen SO many of these they've become tiresome. I will however, let you know that Monday is a public holiday and my family and I are going away for a long weekend break so hopefully I'll be back with lots of great shots to upload. I'm hoping the annual Sardine Run will be here while we're at the coast so hold thumbs for me!

What looks right & what feels right

I really like today's pic, although everything I'm reading about composition at the moment tells me this pic is wrong. According to the "rule of thirds" the tree should be over to the left or to the right. Also, I suppose more of the branches and less of the trunk would have been more appropriate. What I did was to shoot this shot the way the rulebooks say, and also this way, and I must admit, I think this way is better. Sometimes I feel it's better to go with your gut feel rather than what the pro's have written. I dunno, hmmm.

Arrivals & Departures

I’ve often seen beautiful pics of birds in flight, or landing/taking off, and have always wanted to try it, but sitting waiting for birds to arrive can be a bit of a pain I suppose. So this morning I thought “What if I went to the beach front promenade where people feed the birds, then I wouldn’t have to wait at all. So needless to say I shot down at lunchtime and finally got to try it out. Not too bad for a first attempt.

Quiet Thanks...

There’s something about shooting flora, especially flowers, that appeals to me. Perhaps it’s because when I worked for a gardening magazine as a Graphic Designer, I was always fascinated with the shots produced by two talented photographers who also worked there. Somehow they could take a plain looking flower or garden, and produce some stunning images. Perhaps it boils down re-affirming my faith in my Creator. How can anyone look at the amazing intricacies of the beauties nature has to offer and still doubt the existence of God? I always say a quiet ‘thank you’ when shooting a beautiful flower.

SK8

While I was down at the beach yesterday I happened to walk past the skate park, and thought this had the potential for some awesome shots. I thought it best to ask the guys for permission to photograph them as I didn’t want a gang of thugs attacking me. Most of them didn’t have a problem with it, but two of them sneaked off and waited around the back until I had finished, before re-joining their friends. Not sure if they’re camera shy or guilty of something, but I didn’t really want to hang around and ask why.

The Waterboys

I just HAD to get out of the office yesterday!! So instead of having lunch at the office like I usually do I grabbed my camera and headed for the beach. Fortunately it’s only 5 minutes away, so between driving and having something to eat, I had about half an hour to find a nice shot. There wasn’t much happening, probably because it was a work day, but I still managed to shoot today’s pic. I’m happy with it, but feel I really, really need to invest in a decent lens. Hope my wife's not reading this!!

Which do you prefer?

I know I said look out for more “Trees at Night” in the future, I just didn’t think it would be so soon. I was going through the night shots I had taken and uploaded the one I liked the best (yesterday’s pic) but I’ve received quite a few comments about today’s shot. And although it’s not a personal favourite it seems to be with quite a few other people, so I guess it qualifies for an upload. I need some feedback from visitors to this blog, so click on ‘comment’ and let me know which one you prefer.

The Light at Night...

Last night when I got home from work I noticed we’d had some lighting installed on the property of the complex in which I live. It’s something the Corporate Body have been discussing for a while now to strengthen the security of the common property, and they’ve FINALLY gotten around to doing it. And as usual, yours truly here (who needn’t be asked twice to whip out his camera) leapt at the opportunity to do a night shoot. It’s something I’ve been dieing to try, and I’m thrilled with the outcome. There are quite a few successful shots, so look out for more in the future!

Full speed ahead!

Boy am I ever lovin' my new camera. Today's pic would never have been possible with el Cheapo! Being able to adjust shutter speed and exposure is amazing. Sometimes though the finished photo looks totally fake, not at all real, but I think photographers have a certain amount of creative licence that allows them to shoot however they wish, irrespective of how surreal the photo looks. I suppose all artists should have at least one abstract piece in their portfolio, and this is one of mine. I say one, because I'm sure there will be many, many more to come.