Photographing autumn foliage

Words and images by Danielle Lancaster
 

For the past ten days I have been visiting Japan during the changing of the leaves as autumn kicks into full swing. Japan is renowned as one of the best places on Earth to witness the colours of autumn. While many of the locals are saying this year the colours are not at their best, the sea of golden yellows, oranges and reds have for me been a thrill to see and photograph.

Colour is an important compositional tool in photography and we use it in all genres. Colour can tell a story, therefore the placement of colours in the image is very important.

When photographing the colours of autumn try using the strongest colours in the foreground as this will really grab your viewer’s full attention. Look for patterns and line to connect elements from the foreground to the background.

 Red is a stronger colour then green or yellow.
The image above is not as dynamic as the red is in the background while the
image below is more dramatic as the red is now in the foreground.

Find colours that are complementary, this is easy in autumn. For example: brilliant yellow leaves contrast against a bright blue sky. Try looking to the ground for a red leaf on green grass or against a pile of yellow leaves can make for striking images.

Keep your images simple. Minimalism is powerful so look to isolate a tree or leaf to make a strong focal point.

I generally find underexposing my autumn images brings out the vibrancy and gives the colours the saturation level as seen by our human eye.

We’ll have more tips for photographing autumn coming up both here on our blog and on You-tube.

For more information on the Bluedog Autumn in Japan Photography Tours please visit www.blue-dog.com.au or email us at info@blue-dog.com.au

A lady I met yesterday

Words and images by Danielle Lancaster

Japan in autumn is mesmerising. As the temperature slowly drops in preparation for winter’s icy chills, the leaves of the maples, plums, oaks and ginkos transform into a myriad of captivating colours.

One of the best places to see the colours of autumn in Osaka is at Osaka Castle and the neighbouring Nishinomaru Garden.  Sitting under an old maple tree outside the castle entrance I met this lady. Her name is Nagawa-San and she is 85 years old. As I sat next to her we silently nodded politely to each other and she softly spoke pointing and nodding towards the castle.

I nod back and tell her I am going there soon but for now I just want to sit. She bows lower and gently touches my hand as if reassuring me it is OK. She is happy to chat and tells me she comes and sits here every day. It is part of her daily routine that has lasted a life time.

During World War II a building next to the castle was a bomb shelter and Nagawa-San along with her family and other Osaka residents would take refuge there. ‘I remember seeing the planes flying by, low, very low and dropping bombs, many, many bombs. The noise was loud and each day we’d walk seeing less of our city standing,’ she recalls. ‘The castle was safe and we wanted to believe the US didn’t want to bomb it because of its importance to the Japanese’.

After the war Nagawa-San worked at the castle which became a US base. ‘It was very secret work and we are not allowed to talk about it, not ever,’ she tells me pressing her fingers to her lips.

Nagawa-San’s favourite season at the castle is autumn and she tells me she is glad I am seeing it at its best. ‘I paint and autumn brings me great inspiration,’ she continues as I pry a little asking more and more questions. She seems happy to sit in the dappled shade and continue our conversation.

 Nagawa

Traditional Japanese style ink drawing and oils are her favourite mediums. ‘I am still being taught by a man very well known. His name is Uemura-San and maybe he is one of our most famous modern oil painters,’ says Nagawa-San. 

I ask her for the best place in Osaka to see the autumn colours. ‘Why here’ she says ‘in my opinion Osaka Castle is the best scenery in Osaka’. And as another ruby red maple leaf drops to the ground between us, I think she may be right.

About Osaka Castle

The construction of this magnificent castle started in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who intended the castle to be the centre of a new, unified Japan under his rule. It was at the time the largest castle in Japan.

Unfortunately a few years after his death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the castle and terminated the Toyotomi lineage in 1615.

Tokugawa Hidetada rebuilt the castle in the 1620’s however in 1665 the main castle tower was struck by lightning and the castle burnt down.

The castle you see today was built in 1931 and the castle miraculously survived the ferocious air attacks on the city during World War II when much of Osaka was flattened.

The only other area in Osaka that was spared was the red light district:)

It is a major tourist drawcard for visitors to the city. An elevator allows easy access and the interior of the castle which houses an informative museum about the castle's history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Autumn leaves at Osaka Castle

Hours and Fees
Castle Tower
Hours: 9:00-17:00 (entrance until 16:30)
Closed December 28^th to January 1^st
Admission: 600 yen

Nishinomaru Garden

Hours: 9:00-17:00 (entrance until 16:30 from November through February)
Longer hours during cherry blossom season
Closed: Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday December 28^th to January 1^st
Admission: 200 yen (350 yen during the extended hours for cherry blossom season.

 Osaka Castle

Photographing Textiles

Words and images by Danielle Lancaster
Last week I had an assignment come in which is not in the usual line of the photography I take on however I looked at it as a challenge and to be honest, I am a photography prostitute - if they pay money I may well do the job (there are always a few buts to this but at the end of the day I have children to feed and a mortgage to pay off on a single income).

The job was photographing a hand woven woolen quilt for a competition and exhibition. It was a piece of art. Days gone past pieces of work such as this would have to be sent in for judging but nowadays with digital, judges require digital images to judge by. Photography of textiles has long been important for securing appraisals and acquiring insurance for examples and now for judging.

What camera to use?
While having a digital SLR is great images can be taken on point and shoots. The important thing is the camera must be at least 5 megapixels so pictures can be enlarged and the images are at least 300dpi.

What else do I need?
A tripod or something that can perform the same way such as stool will work well. Many use a cable release or remote control, however the self timer function in your camera will work just as well. Turn VR or IS off when using a support. For Canon and Nikon users this is on the lens and for Sony and Pentax users it is set in camera (at time of writing).

Lighting = Exposure and colour
Light needs to be even and show the texture. While normally side lighting highlights texture for art purposes the lighting needs to uniform across the piece and colour balanced. Taking the pieces indoors means consistent lighting can be controlled. Generally I shoot on AWB and in both Raw and Jpg. My aim is to be working on making sure exposure is even over the piece and therefore even lighting and correcting the colour temperature in camera using my white balance. By doing this I usually have a high res jpg, correctly exposed and colour balanced that can go straight out. If you have a choice on colour bulbs to buy for the purpose choose daylight-balanced bulbs.

Use an aperture of around f5.6 as this is where most lenses are most accurate and you will have the least lens distortion for the lens you have chosen. For point and shoot cameras the Macro or Flower setting is often the best. Always bracket several images at different exposures using exposure compensation. Most important is to keep the ISO low so turn ISO Auto off if a feature in your camera.

Backgrounds
Backgrounds do matter. Choose a background the will compliment the tones in the piece. Either white or black is preferred.

 'Bush Fire Ashes'
by Cecile Favery
Woven woolen quilt.

A day on the beach

Words and Images by Danielle Lancaster

I awoke yesterday to grey skies and rain gently falling on the roof. Thankfully this did not spell doom and gloom for our day on the beach as by the time we manoeuvred the 4WD down (after a short stop in the Scribbly Gum forest) onto the beach clear skies were there to greet us.

Fraser Island’s Seventy File Beach has become a major drawcard for anglers, campers and four wheel drivers. Being a Sunday there were plenty of people throwing in lines, families relaxing along the pristine Eli Creek and plenty of four wheel drivers weaving their way back and forwards.

The beach itself is a designated road, as are all the tracks on Fraser so normal road rules apply. The only difference to this section of beach is you share the ‘road’ with planes which have right away.

The Pinnacles are most probably the best examples of coloured sands on the island. For those keen shutter bugs morning is the best time to visit while the sun still shines on their multi-coloured layers.

Our stop at the Maheno was perfectly timed. A landmark of the beach, its rusting hull seems to have everyone pulling out cameras. Thankfully we timed our stop so we had the old ship to ourselves. Due to its state getting in close is warned against though one can still capture fabulous images of its textures from the recommended 3m distance simply by zooming in. 

 

The rusting hull of the Maheno on Fraser Island 

The day was topped off by a dingo sighting and a top tick on most lists to see while visiting the island. The dog happily trotted around are vehicle and others, sniffing at tyres and bull bars and when satisfied there was nothing there for him, continued his jaunt down the beach. 

A lone Dingo dog trots along the beach.

With sand in our toes, a touch of red in our cheeks we headed back for ‘home’ (currently Kingfisher Bay Resort) and toasted the Gods of Fraser for our great day out on the beach.

 Bolts and coloured rust of the Maheno gives fabulous textures

Happy Birthday Kingfisher Bay Resort: 20 years!

We are back on Fraser Island! One of my favourite places on Earth and to Kingfisher Bay Resort, this year celebrating 20 years on the heritage-listed island.

This world recognised eco-island resort, designed by Queensland architects, constructed from local materials and built by local builders and artisans, was first conceived at a time when ecotourism wasn't even a word.

Kingfisher Bay Resort's main pool designed to mimic Lake McKenzie
Image courtesy Kingfisher Bay Resort.

The first part constructed was the jetty, still a favourite location of ours for photographing sunset. At 250 metres long it is built from mixed eucalypt piles, mainly spotted gum, with satinay planks and beams.

Kingfisher Bay Resort's jetty stretches 250metres into the channel.
Image courtesy Danielle Lancaster

During construction of the resort two tropical cyclones hit in 1991 causing major water damage, however they rallied on. More than 600 workers were employed on the site at the peak of construction which was completed on time with the resort welcoming its first guests on the 16th July 1992.

Much research went into the design of the resort, and the dedication shows. All buildings are below the tree line and hidden in the natural bush land. You don’t even see the resort until you actually arrive at the front door. Even the curving tin roofs of the buildings mimic the rolling sand dunes of the island.

So to celebrate they have been busy upgrading. One innovative item we are keen to try out is the new trendy menu by Chef Kenneth Clapham and his team in the kitchen. Tonight for us it’s the seafood buffet!

For us, as photographers,  one of the biggest assets of the resort is its affiliation with nature. Almost around every corner is a wonderful glimpse into the natural environment of Fraser Island: the largest sand island on the planet Earth. Birds are abundant, frogs croak filling the night air, wildflowers bloom alongside tall eucalypt trees and dragon flies busily buzz over the lagoons. Yes, we do love Fraser and Kingfisher Bay Resort. Well done and happy birthday to all those that have made this available for all of us to enjoy.

Check out the birthday specials on offer:

* Available from 23/07/2012 to 31/10/2012. Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

HOTEL STAY

Stay in the Awinya and Boomanjin hotel wings, bordering natural bushland and mirror lakes on

stunning Fraser, for just $200 per person (twin share).

Inclusions:

• 2 nights' hotel accommodation (with complimentary upgrade)

• passenger ferry transfers

• daily buffet breakfast

• spa room upgrade

• bottle of wine.

Plus a $20 room credit (per room, per night) to spend on food and beverage, touring or pop towards

a treatment at our natural therapies salon during your stay. It's their present to you!

VILLA STAY

Relax in self contained villas set in natural bushland with all the creature comforts of home as well

as being close enough to all of the resort's amenities. The perfect retreat for family and friends plus

prices are cut for the birthday celebrations to just $200 per person (quad share) in a two - bedroom

Villa.

Inclusions:

• 2 nights' villa accommodation

• walk-on ferry transfers

• daily breakfast

• bottle of wine

• spa room upgrade and

• $20 villa credit (per villa, per night) to spend on food and beverage, touring or at the

Kingfisher Natural Therapies salon during your stay.

Enjoy Fraser and Kingfisher Bay Resort!

Checking out the wild life around the resort during a night walk.
Image courtesy Danielle Lancaster