Welcome
Camera, tripod, laptop; a final equipment check and we're off. This time it's just a short trip a couple of hours up the coast to Port Stephens (see my latest 'on location' shoot).
Getting away on location is a welcome relief from the everyday running of a photography business. From the mayhem of Christmas to setting up the new framing side of the business, it's great to get back on the road.
News
Next Location
Speaking of hitting the road, my next location will be a little further afield. Later this month I'll be travelling across the Bass Strait to Tasmania. Images from this trip will be in my next dispatches in late April.
Competition Winners
Congratulations to our latest competition winners;
- Feb 2010: L Scutts, NSW
- Jan 2010: Julie Bryant-Santa, NSW
- Dec 2009: Bob Trask, QLD
- Winners Archive
On Location - Port Stephens
The forecast is for a stormy weekend, not the best conditions for camping, but who knows, it may prove to be great for photography.
My first shoot involves a short yet strenuous walk to the summit of mount Tomaree. Stunning 360 degree views make for great shots especially with an impending storm.
The busy Shoal Bay is a favourite for many visitors to the area, but at 5.30 am I have the place to myself. As the light gathers the aquamarines of the bay make for a vibrant image.
Port Stephens offers such a varied landscape for the photographer, from turbulent sea scapes and calm inlets to expansive dune-scapes. Only three hours north of Sydney this region is a must visit destination.
Tips - Long exposures
A great way to add some spice to your photographic repertoire is the use of the long exposure. This technique can add an extra dimension to your images.
I've used this method to blur the clouds as they scud across the early morning sky. It really gives this image of a rock shelf just off Terrigal something extra.
Shutter speeds are usually long at this time of the morning but if you do need to add some extra length then the use of an ND (Neutral Density) filter in front of your lens will do the trick. They come in different strengths from 1 up to as much as 10 stops (each stop reducing the amount of light to the sensor by a half). Here I've used a 10 stop ND filter to create a 167 second exposure.
Be warned: some of the more inexpensive ND filters can leave your images with a nasty magenta hue, so it does pay to buy good quality filters!
Regards,
Richard and the Team