An interview with Bluedog Tutor Cathy Finch

Leading to Christmas we have asked each of our tutors here at Bluedog Photography a series of questions. First up is Cathy Finch. Cathy is based in Toowoomba and runs some of classes in Toowoomba.

Q. Tell us briefly your photography journey to date.
A. My photography went hand-in-hand with travel writing and I also ventured into being on staff with newspapers covering primarily news and sport.

Q. What inspires you – photographically?
A. Documentary photography...where one picture can speak on behalf of a nation. 

Q. What is a highlight of 2012?
A. Travelling to Nepal to capture not just the magnitude of the world's highest mountains but the spirit and beauty of the people.

Q. Do you have a ‘most memorable’ moment to date?
A. There are many but more recently an outback helicopter flight with an aerial musterer.  The chopper had only two seats, no doors and the pilot sat in stubbies, thongs and sucked on a cigarette.  I wasn't clipped in but he banked and rolled this chopper like a matchbox car, up and down Coopers Creek where the birdlife was prolific.  I insisted I didn't have the squadrons of pelicans we were mustering in the right light just so I could do it again and again.

Q. What lens can’t you live without?
A. Wide angle

Q.  What is your favourite type of shoot (and why)?
A. Travel because every year I say I'm staying home but every month I continue to live for my next boarding pass.

Q.  What do you do in your spare time?
A. Run, Ride, Climb, Swim, Scuba Dive and Travel.

Q.   What's your best 2012 photography advice or quick tip?
A. When hiking or going on a long trip, wear your gear around your waist - backpacks are a pain in the neck.

Q. What are your plans or highlights for 2013?
A. To stop every evening for sunset.
For more information on Bluedog's workshops, retreat and tours visit:
www.blue-dog.com.auhttp://www.blue-dog.com.au

for more information on Cathy Finch visit:  
www.cathyfinchphotography.com

 Aerial pelicans Coopers Creek.
Image by Cathy Finch

 Sun rising over Mt Everest.
Image by Cathy Finch

Way to Everest.
Image by Cathy Finch

Morning Mountains.
Image by Cathy Finch

Photographers fun raises funds in Birdsville for RFDS

In late October 2012 an intrepid group of 11 photographers met at the Birdsville Hotel after a jaunt out into the Simpson for sunset. After a round of drinks they launched into an auction for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and raised an incredible $1,200.00.
 

The group were on an Outback Odyssey Photography Tour led by Danielle Lancaster from Bluedog Photography and Alan Smith of Outback Aussie Tours. Items for sale included a signed print from Birdsville artist Wolfgang John, limited edition signs, a recipe book and bottle of liquor from the Mackay region and a copy of Danielle's Out Around the Bulloo and prints from the Birdsville region.

'What a great effort, it really blew me away,' said Alan Smith who shared the auctioneering with Russell Jordan a participant of the tour. 'We launched the Outback Desert Odyssey Tour last year and it is now one of our signature events as those who join us not only see the amazing landscape but experience meeting the people who have become friends of Danielle's through her long association with the region. It's more than a usual tour'.

The auction followed some fun and frivolity for the tours outback sunset shoot where many dressed up in theme for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert which was first released to in 1994. And yes, all did go into the bar for a drink in full dress. What a great way to have fun and raise funds for such a worthy cause. Again a huge thank you to all involved.

For more information please visit
Outback Aussie Tours at www.outbackaussietours.com.au and
Bluedog Photography at www.blue-dog.com.au

Images courtesy Glenda Riley

"A big thank you to you and the Blue Dog Team for putting together such a fantastic tour.

I have done quite a bit of travel of recent years and this one has be in the top few.

This was my first visit to the outback and I am so pleased to have been part of your tour and to learn so much about both photography and the outback experience.

I will be keeping an eye open for other tours you offer in the future." from Anne V.

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