An interview with Bluedog Tutor Lisa Kurtz

We continue with our questionnaire to team members in the Bluedog kennel. Today the lovely and talented Lisa Kurtz, based in Brisbane gives us her answers.  

Q. Tell us briefly your photography journey to date. 
A. Always into photography, but the turning point was when my husband gave me my first digital camera 11 years ago for a birthday present. It was the catalyst for a career and life change.

Q. What inspires you – photographically?
A. Italy has always been a source of inspiration and I imagine it will continue to be forever. On a personal level, it is the desire to photograph my son and his ever-developing spirit. 

Q. What is a highlight of 2012?

A. As corny as this sounds, becoming part of the Bluedog team and beginning my personal project on the anonymity of the streets (b&w). 

Q. Do you have a ‘most memorable’ moment to date?
A. Yes – through a series of unfortunate events my camera and I were separated from each other during a recent trip to Sydney. I was forced to use a 3-megapixel phone camera (no, not even an iphone camera) and this taught me two things – if you take photography back to its basics you can even take decent photos on a 3-megapixel camera, and that not having my “real” camera made me free to experiment and take risks… in short, it was a wonderful experience!

Q. What lens can’t you live without?
A. 24-70 2.8 – wide enough for travel, and because I use my feet it is also perfect for my style of portraiture. I know it was only meant to be 1 lens, but I would try and sneak my 50mm 1.8 in as well for those low light situations.

Q.  What is your favourite type of shoot (and why)?
A. Children. They test your photographic limits every time as, by their very nature, they never do what you expect them to!

Q.  What do you do in your spare time?
A. I go to art galleries, I take photos of my family and friends, I talk regularly with my mother and grandmother who live interstate.

Q.   What's your best 2012 photography advice or quick tip?
A. Travel light with the least possible gear. You really don’t need it all! (But if you travel light, make sure it’s with fast lenses…)

Q. What are your plans or highlights for 2013?
A.  I am going on the Bluedog Japan tour and I know already this will be wonderful. Of course, I am also off to Italy which is always a highlight.

For more information on Bluedog's workshops, retreat and tours visit: 
www.blue-dog.com.au 

A few of us will be joining Lisa on her Capture Italy tour in May 2014.

For more information visit Capture Italy

All images (C) Lisa Kurtz

An interview with Bluedog Tutor and Photographer Sheryn Ellis

And we continue questioning of our tutors, this time Sheryn Ellis based on the Gold Coast who also runs Live in Love Photography a successful portrait photography business. She's a quiet achiever; every day she shoots something and makes a great image; she's a one click at a time girl; always trying out new things.

Q. Tell us briefly your photography journey to date.

A. I've loved photography for as long as I can remember. I'd sit and look through books and photo albums for hours - I still do. I didn't start to learn photography until I was about 19 when I got my hands on a Canon SLR film camera and just started shooting anything and everything around me. Having 3 children under 3 gave me endless photography opportunities and I quickly discovered I loved portraiture above all else. I continued to learn and 'play' during my 8 years as a stay-at-home-mum and when my youngest went to school I went into  photography full time, working for Bluedog and building my own portraiture business on the side. I never thought I would be any good at teaching, let alone enjoy (love) it like I do and I never tire of the 'lightbulb' moments I am able to share with people.

Q. What inspires you photographically?
A. Too many photographers to name them all however my top 2 would be; Annie Leibovitz, an amazing woman who has achieved so much and her portraiture is both raw and captivating; and Dorothea Lange who's images I can look at day after day and still feel the same as I did the first time I saw them.  My mum inspires me to be all that I want to be in life and it is wonderful to have that constant support and push to achieve what I want to do.

Q. What is a highlight of 2012?

A. There are many. Photographically it would be the purchase of my new camera with the 100mm macro lens which happened in August - it was a huge purchase and not one made lightly. Also two trips this year stand out as having impact on my life; Cambodia in June/July and a holiday with a best friend and all our children in September. I love to be around my friends and family as much as possible, they are who keep me going as I juggle my crazy busy life.

Q. Do you have a ‘most memorable’ moment to date?

A. No, I have many moments that have shaped who I am and that stand out as moments never to be forgotten or changed. The most memorable moments always happen when you least expect them.

Q. What lens can’t you live without?
A. At the moment I can't live without my 100mm 2.8L Macro - I use it for everything!

Q. What is your favourite type of shoot and why?

A. I love photographing children above all else, I love to capture their funny faces, their serious faces, their laughing faces, their hands, their toes and everything about them. I believe today is the best day to capture that expression, that chipped tooth, that black eye, that first lost tooth, that first broken bone - they don't have to be all dressed up and on their best behaviour, children are children and we should capture every possible moment of their lives.

Q. What do you do in your spare time?
A. What spare time? I love to pick up the camera and shoot random life moments, I love to hang out with my family and friends, I love to read and on a rainy day there is nothing better than a good movie and a glass of red!

Q. Your best photography advice or quick tip?
A. Never stop learning. Pick up your camera every day if you can and shoot the most boring item in your house and make it look interesting. Learn my mantra; f8 is great :) 

Q. Plans/highlights for 2013?

A. My biggest plan for 2013 is to not have a plan. I have so many ideas on who I want to photograph and how and a list of places I want to visit so I've written them all in a book and intend on ticking off as many as possible - 2013 will be great (say and believe it)!

For more information on Bluedog's workshops, retreat and tours visit:
www.blue-dog.com.au

For more information on Sheryn please visit Live in Love Photography 

 

Sheryn playing with some time lapse this year.

An interview with Bluedog 'apprentice' Caitlin Allen

Caitlin has been hanging around here at the Bluedog Photography studio for over 18 months now and her motivation and young energy is loved by us all. We invited her to answer this year's tutors and photographers questions.

Q. Tell us briefly your photography journey to date. 


A. I am 16 and have only been interested in photography for a few years now. It wasn’t until I found Bluedog photography during work experience in 2011 that I decided photography was what I really enjoyed doing. From there I have continued working at the Bluedog Studio, receiving lots of tuition, helpful tips and advice. I have participated in many workshops and also attended the Fraser Island Tour which really opened my eyes as to what I might be able to do as a photographer if it becomes my career path.

Q. What inspires you – photographically?

A. As a kid I was always amazed at the images and moments captured within a photograph, whether it was a documentary on the Discovery channel or in a national geographic magazine. They portrayed a totally different perspective of life through the photos and that was really inspiring for me!

Q. What is a highlight of 2012?

A. Gaining membership into Griffith University for a photography course!

Q. Do you have a ‘most memorable’ moment to date?

A. A memorable moment for me would have to be my trip to Fraser Island with Bluedog.  It was also my 15^th birthday. It was a great experience, a great holiday and I learnt so much!

Q. What lens can’t you live without?

A. My EFS 15 – 85mm Zoom Lens, it is my favourite lens as it has the ability to photograph anything from landscapes to close-up portraits.

Q. What is your favourite type of shoot (and why)?

A. At the moment my favourite type of shoot is wildlife, I love capturing a moment through the animals eyes and portraying them as characters through their expressions.

Q. What do you do in your spare time?

A. In my spare time I find anything I can in my room and photograph it using my macro lens, I love to experiment with lighting and WB.

Q. What's your best 2012 photography advice or quick tip?

A. 
Practice makes perfect! Picking up the camera everyday to photograph anything can make a big difference, there are always new things to try and learn!

Q. What are your plans or highlights for 2013?

A. My plans for 2013 are to study photography at Griffith University and hopefully learn a lot of important skills and techniques. I am also really hoping to get a place in the Cambodia tour next year with Bluedog!!

Images taken by Caitlin during 2012:

An interview with Bluedog Tutor and Photographer Anita Bromley

And another of our Bluedog Photography tutor interviews this time from Anita Bromley who toady is jet setting off to the UK for Christmas.

Q. Tell us briefly your photography journey to date.
A. My interest in photography grew after my first son was born in 2003 and I found myself at a Bluedog Beginners Workshop wanting to learn how to control my camera more. From there I did numerous Bluedog workshops and continued to learn and love photography. In 2010 I launched my business 'Splash Photography' where I specialise in portraits, newborns and corporate events. Quite ironic seeing I once used to say 'I don't do (photograph) people' !

Q. What inspires you – photographically?
A. I love long exposures, night photography and light painting - capturing things you don't see with the naked eye. Photographer Lance Keimig inspires me to get out, be creative and play.

Q. What is a highlight of 2012?
A. Introducing my husband Grant to Siem Reap, Cambodia - the place and it's people along with rediscovering my love for Outback Qld on Bluedog's Outback Odyssey tour this year. Such an amazing place we have just in our backyard.

Q. Do you have a ‘most memorable’ moment to date?
A. Considering I've sat here for the past 10min trying to think of just ONE I would have to say there are too many to have any one in particular in the 'most memorable' category!

Q. What lens can’t you live without?
A. 24-70mm f2.8. It's my 'go to' lens.

Q.  What is your favourite type of shoot (and why)?
A. Newborns, newborns, newborns! I love the smallness of them, their smell, their teeny little toes, fingers, ears, nose & lips. I love how in that very moment they have their whole wide world in front of them. That they will grow and change so quickly, each day, week, month, year......... I love how they give parents a new perspective on life.

Image by Anita Bromley

Q.  What do you do in your spare time?
A. Spare time.....that sounds familar?? Lol. Whenever I get any spare time the only thing I want to do is hang out with my 3 boys (husband + 2 sons) and my friends.

Q.   What's your best 2012 photography advice or quick tip?
A. Think about what you want to capture before you click the shutter. Image the outcome and think about the settings you need to achieve it.

Q. What are your plans or highlights for 2013?
A. I have so many plans for 2013! Revisiting the outback and Cambodia (I've fallen in love with both), putting the final touches on my Studio in early Jan, continuing to learn and push myself photographically, to start a few personal photographic projects, to find and connect with photographers who inspire me, to watch my husband realise a long term dream and finally (and not least) to spend more quality time with my family. *Phew!* See why that spare time thing is so foreign to me ;)

For more information on Bluedog's workshops, retreat and tours visit:
www.blue-dog.com.au

Images by Anita Bromley

An interview with Bluedog Tutor and Photographer Linden Neill

We continue to bring to you our responses from our tutors leading into Christmas 2012. This blog we feature Linden Neill who when not jaunting around the world assists us at Bluedog Photography as a junior tutor and photographer. 

Q. Tell us briefly your photography journey to date.
A. I first picked up a camera in 2009. It was just a compact but it had manual controls and I was taking pictures of a waterfall. From then on I was hooked. I did a tour and a few courses with Bluedog and I've been taking pictures ever since

Q. What inspires you – photographically?
A. I'm most inspired most by war photojournalists. To me there is no one doing more important work then they are. They also have photographic access to countries I won't be able to travel to for the foreseeable future, so we get an insight of the countries people we wouldn't otherwise.

Q. What is a highlight of 2012?
A. The three months we spent in Cambodia. It was great to have more time in one while we travel. With the friendships we made there we were given a much more authentic glimpse at their daily life and we will never forget our time there.

Q. What lens can’t you live without?
A. Currently I only have one lens so I guess I would be lost without it. I'm currently using the Fuji XPro-1 and the lens is a Fuji 35mm f1.4. This lens is razor sharp and is by far the best lens I've owned.

Q.  What is your favourite type of shoot (and why)?
A. I like street and travel photography but ialso prefer the documentary/observational approach to taking pictures. I prefer natural events to posing or directing people.

Q.  What do you do in your spare time?
A. As I have a non photographic full time job, I take pictures in my spare time. Also like being outdoors - camping/fishing ect and of course travelling.

Q.   What's your best 2012 photography advice or quick tip?
A. Look for the light first. Nothing else matters if you haven't got the light.

Even outside the golden hours there is good light to be found - you just have to look.

Q. What are your plans or highlights for 2013?
A. We are counting down the days till we return to Cambodia next year. Also plan on pushing my street work to include more of a human element. 

For more information on Bluedog's workshops, retreat and tours visit:

www.blue-dog.com.au

 Images all by Linden Neill during 2012

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