Thursday 26 April 2018

Week 12 Photography Assignment - Monochrome

This weeks assignment was to get a monochrome image to submit. Given it was ANZAC day it seemed reasonable to try for something then. I was going to attend the dawn parade but decided against due to just being tired. I was torn with guilt as I had convinced myself I should go. Plus my Dad would go to these regularly and I felt I should go.

After a long dog walk and lovely breakfast with Jo, I raced down to the Port Chalmers service for 10am. It was the best move. Not only was it a wonderful ceremony, I caught up with Russell Lundy. It only takes that one connection and a chat. It was great to reconnect with a great guy and I appreciated the time chatting.

The bugle, 'The Last Post' always sends shivers through my veins.

My best angle of the bugle person was to get higher and look down toward him. With a long lens, I kept my shutter speed fast and let the camera do the work. It was mid-morning light which played well for the image. I used back button focus to recompose the image and not lose focus of the bugle. The f/stop is wide enough so I did not get detail or distractions in the background. Processing was conversion to monochrome, contrast and sharpening.

 ANZAC. The Last Post

Canon EOS 80D, f/6.3, 1/640sec, 552mm, ISO-400

For more ANZAC images, you can view these at;

I stayed long after the service taking in the significant impact of the occasion. I was the last there and as the sun gleamed down and I stared at the wreaths and plaque, tears started to swell up. I missed my Dad. Nothing can ever bring them back, however, their memories and love sit deep within me. I often wish I could have taken time to get to know them better. Being young you seem so self-centred - I wish I could have gotten over myself but that's done. Importantly I am over myself now, I miss them dearly, am grateful for everything they helped me out with and continue to learn from my parents and many other people I am privileged to work or meet with.

Thanks, Dad.

Sunday 22 April 2018

Week 11 Photography Assignment - Architecture

I cant say I did myself any favours as I left this to the last minute.

I do like the shot though. This image draws Toitū Museum with its the old Dunedin railway station reflecting itself in the glass. The modern roof points directly to the old station creating a juxtaposed image between old and new. I made this a monochrome as facing into the light, yet it was flat. It adds to the drama and simplifies the image.


Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/11, 1/30sec, 14mm, ISO-100

Saturday 14 April 2018

Week 9/10 Photography Assignment - Landscape

These last two weeks have involved getting a landscape image. It sounds simple. However its not that easy as you may think. It takes planning, research, quick decisions making and an element of good fortune to be on your side.

These last two weeks I have been in three amazing places so this has allowed me to consider my options. It takes a while to warm up to the idea. Once you're in the swing then I start seeing great landscapes everywhere.

My first few images I struggled as I had little time and was busy teaching. I was lucky to be at Ti Point, North Auckland teaching climbing. So was quick to snap what I could. The below image uses the Pohutukawa as a frame, into the sun creating a sunburst and the climber as a subject. The image works. However, the sun is quite dominating so would look better if it was not so powerful.


Coastal Pohutukawas
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/20, 1/50sec, 16mm, ISO-100


 This image was taken Whangapoua Bay, Great Barrier Island, NZ. First time there I was struggling to find the right composition. I tried using the water as my features to lead the eye. It does not it to a certain level, yet it is not a strong image. I do like the colours though.


Great Barrier Island NZ with a Great sunrise to match!
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/11, 1/20sec, 16mm, ISO-10

 I was fortunate to spend time with some amazing staff at Great Barrier OPC. Time was more affluent and so I managed to steal time and positions to take images. We crossed Awana River and stopped there. Wow, what a cool place. I so wanted to jump. However getting images was a neat treat too. And I actually could do my job well as I observed the actions of another staff member.


Awana River
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/2.8, 1/500sec, 24mm, ISO-500

Fun to focus in on the waterfall. This required a tripod, open lock mirror, timer. What I was silly to forget was my polarizer filter to take the glare off the water.



Awana River
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1.6sec, 35mm, ISO-100

I was stuck on the Island due to no flying. You would not imagine it by the weather! I was up at 0600 and started to walk down, uncertain if I would be able to snap a nice image. Gemma eventually picked me up and we went to the same beach. This time I had thought about better compositions so managed to create this image. Am far more pleased as there are stronger leading lines and the sun worked well.

Whangapoua Bay, Great Barrier Island, NZ. Another Great Barrier Island, NZ sunrise.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1/30sec, 16mm, ISO-100


 Back from Great Barrier Island finally I had a short 9 hours, repacked and headed for the Catlins for jo and I wedding mini-moon. That morning to catch the low tide we headed to Curio Bay. It was amazing to explore this little gem. Timing is everything and the tide was on its way in hence why we were there at 0700. Plant fossils are found throughout the Catlins but are more frequent in the south and west. This reflects the location of land in Gondwanaland times. Curio Bay is the location most well known for seeing the trunks of ancient trees as well as thin seams of coal and associated leaf impressions. Plant fossils are also common in the places where younger rocks are exposed. This is because the land with trees on it was slowly extending out into the sea over time. The youngest rocks (mid Jurassic) of the Catlins are to be found at Otara and in the Waikawa, Chaslands, Tahakopa and Catlins River valleys.

This image was quite the rush as an incoming wave was encroaching and I struggled to change lens. However, I am very pleased with the result.

Catlins - Petrified Forest
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1/30sec, 16mm, ISO-100



It`s a two-hour walk into the Waipohatu Stream. Well worth it and amazing bush to travel through. The native birdlife seems to be thriving, and bush looks healthy. It took me 7 shots to get this composition right.


 Waipohatu Stream, Catlins, NZ


Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/11, 15sec, 23mm, ISO-100

Up the next day at 0515 hrs we were ready to go in fifteen minutes. Nugget point is so funny to visit as I had nine other people around me trying to get an image. I still have not got this place right - not quite what I was after yet. The sun is blown out, but the composition is better.

























Nugget Point, Catlins NZ.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1/40sec, 16mm, ISO-100



Back to the Petrified forest area and around the corner. I used a wide-angle 16mm to emphasise the water draining away and allow a wider perspective to lead the eye down the channel of water toward the horizon. The trip pod was propped on rocks as the sand was soft and gave way with movement. Camera settings required the mirror lock and 2 sec timer used to minimise movement. The timing of tides was essential. To be here at the correct time, I was up at 6 am to get to the location at the correct time. Positioning was key to get close to the water to create a dramatic composition, then time the 2sec so that the water was draining away. This was tricky as the tide was coming in fast, so there were a few evacuation movements to keep my feet dry. (Gumboots were in the car). To allow a longer exposure, I used an ND 16 filter.

I liked this one the most and have submitted it for assessment.



Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1.3sec, 16mm, ISO-100



Monday 2 April 2018

Week 8 Photography Assignment Contre-Jour and Chiaroscuro


Contre-Jour Photography

Contre-jour (French for "against daylight") is a photographic technique in which the camera is pointing directly toward a source of light. Contre-jour produces backlighting of the subject. ... Fill light may be used to illuminate the side of the subject facing toward the camera.

Jo – Contre jour Photography

Tricky shot as I had a long lens and was doing a shoot for a performance. I saw this possible image and Jo was backlit. I lowered the shutter speed, kept ISO high and took a risk. Using breathing to steady myself allowed to get a relatively sharp image with the backlight laminating Jo's hair and head.

Processing in ACR I have reduced noise, increased the saturation to bring out colours and kept her face fairly hidden to emphasise the outline. There is not enough information in the shadows to bring any out anyway.



Jo – Contre jour Photography

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, f/2.8, 1/160sec, 200mm, ISO-2000

Chiaroscuro Photography

Chiaroscuro (English: /kiˌɑːrəˈskjʊəroʊ/; Italian: [ˌkjaroˈskuːro] (light-dark)) is an artistic technique, developed during the Renaissance, that uses strong tonal contrasts between light and dark to model three-dimensional forms, often to dramatic effect.

Patch - Chiaroscuro


I could not get my lighting right, and I am still not that happy with this image! It does meet some requirements of Chiaroscuro photography. However, there is such diffuse light between the shadows and key light. I chose a 135mm prime as this lens produces beautiful crisp images. It is awesome for animals. Plus it made me move to get the composition. Processing in ACR was involved, and so I think the more you have to process the more you are trying to make a poor image a good image. There is a point when you cant. Not happy with this image I did the next image.


Patch - Chiaroscuro

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/2.5, 1/400ec, 135mm, ISO-800

Jo - Chiaroscuro

I struggled with this image to get the right light so set up a makeshift studio in my garage. I used studio lights to illuminate one side of Jo. I think it has been successful in creating a Chiaroscuro photography. However, Jo is half smiling which may distract from a more moody shot. There was also to much ambient light in the garage so next image will be when it is darker to see if I can produce a more dramatic.

I used an 85mm as this is a great lens for portraiture and is kind to my human subjects. The 135mm is too harsh.


Jo - Chiaroscuro


Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/1.4, 1/640ec, 85mm, ISO-160


Jo 2 - Chiaroscuro

Still not quite the image I was after. However, I waited till it was dark and just used a studio light and flash to create this image. Much fun was had to flick the hair. Somehow I would have liked to have illuminated the eyes. The facial expressions are funny, but I did get Jo to look at the camera. A fast shutter speed on high sync flash worked here. In hindsight, I would use a f/2.8 - 3.5 as that would give me better clarity on her face.




Jo 2 - Chiaroscuro - Attitude

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/1.4, 1/2000ec, 85mm, ISO-400