Photographers fun raises funds in Birdsville

In late October 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 RFDS and raised an incredible $1,200.00.

The group were on an Outback Odyssey Photography Tour led by Alan Smith of Outback Aussie Tours and Danielle Lancaster from Bluedog Photography. 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 Bullo book 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
Bluedog Photography at www.blue-dog.com.auOutback Aussie Tours at www.outbackaussietours.com.au

 

 

Far from  a requirement on tour, a few merry travellers had fun playing up to a
'Priscilla Queen of the Desert' re-enactment.

 From L:R: Owen, Danielle and Anita during the Outback Desert Odyssey Tour in 2012.

Bluedog Photographys 2013 Outback Desert Odyssey Tour is set for April!
For more info email us at info@blue-dog.com.au or visit:

www.blue-dog.com.au/outback_australia_photography_tour.htm

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

Photography Tips fo Germinid Meteor Shower

By Kelsey Brown
The final meteor shower for the year is almost upon us and for photographers this may be the best show all year. And why is that I hear you asking?

This year's Germinid meteor shower coincides with the new moon giving us nice dark skies in which to view and photograph the meteor shower. The meteors in this shower radiate from the Gemini constellation which in the summer months, for southern hemisphere viewers, can be found in the north eastern night sky. Meteors from this shower may be seen in the sky from as early as the 7^th December and as late as the 17^th December with the height of the shower being visible from late evening on the 13^th December through the night.

What makes this meteor shower a great one to photograph is that the meteors are moving at a speed of 35km/second (a moderate speed for a meteor) and that as these meteors burn up in our atmosphere white, yellow, green, blue and red colour trails can be seen. At the height of the meteor shower it is predicted that we may be able to see up to 60 meteors per hour. So how as photographers do we capture this event?

There are a number of ways to capture stars in the night skies. I am a fan of long exposures so I would be aiming to do either long exposure star trails or use the star stacking method to create an image. This way I have a greater chance of capturing a meteor in my exposure and if I am lucky I may even get more than one meteor in an image.

My quick tips would be:

•    Try and get away from bright light sources if possible.

•     Use a tripod for long exposures.

•     Pick your widest lens to get as much of the sky in and increase your chance of capturing a meteor.

•      A cable release so you can set your camera up, open the shutter and then sit back and enjoy the show.

•       Make sure your batteries are fully charged as it would be awful to run out just as the show is heating up.

•      Bring a friend or fellow photographer as there is always safety in numbers.

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at Mt Cootha in Brisbane is the most reliable local source of up to date information on the event for viewers in this part of the world. All you have to do is Like their Facebook page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/BrisbanePlanetarium

Good luck and happy photographing to anyone heading out to try and capture this event we look forward to seeing any images on the Facebook page.

Kelsey Brown is an assistant tutor with Bluedog Photography.

Photography Workshops, Retreats and Ttours.

www.blue-dog.com.auhttp://www.blue-dog.com.au

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

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