Ever found that you have started taking the same image over and over? A particular type of composition that you find particularly pleasing – so you start to see it everywhere. And photograph it over and over. I found late in 2013 that I was losing my photography spirit. I had reduced the number of […]
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Tag Archives: film is not dead
The Art of Bar Photography – Part One
July 20, 2014 
2 Comments
I was hanging out with a few photography buddies at a pub called the “Marquis of Lorne”. What a pub named after Lorne was doing in Fitzroy confused me somewhat, but we had a great day over a few pints and cameras. One of my esteemed colleagues commented on the preponderance of portraits of younger […]
Continue reading Holga “Toy” Camera
July 12, 2014 3 Comments
Analogue is good. Overlay that with plastic and you get something great! Holga cameras were designed and started manufacture in China during the heady days of the early ’80’s. I suppose they were manufactured as a super economical camera suitable for a radiant socialist future. The are a medium format camera – ie. they take film like […]
Continue readingDomke F2 Classic Bag
June 22, 2014 0 Comments
Gadgets, doodads, and technical stuff seems to go hand in hand with some photographers. Sometimes I wonder if photographers are just bicycle freaks who are too unfit to ride. Both groups suffer from GAS – gear acquisition syndrome. The number of times I have seen “wiggle” boxes turn up with scientifically proven performance enhancing cycle gear at work […]
Continue readingHolga Panoramic
June 21, 2014 2 Comments
This is one big ass piece of plastic. Seriously, this thing is massive! The Holga Pan 120 takes medium format film and shoots 6cm x 12cm negs – yes, 60mm x 120mm! The camera technically has a 90mm fixed focal length lens – the best estimate I could find for 35mm equivalency was a 29mm […]
Continue reading Ricoh GR1V Camera Review
June 15, 2014 7 Comments
Simon Stephenson got me hooked on the Ricoh GR1V – a little surprise of a camera. You can now read my review of the wonderful newish digital version of the Ricoh GR here! Ricoh have a fair bit of cred in the compact camera space. The GR series of 35mm film cameras have continued into […]
Continue reading Nikon 35Ti Camera Review
June 14, 2014 5 Comments
What a wonderful little camera. The Nikon 35ti was made from 1993 – 1999, the period of the “Great Resistance” – a time when the film companies thought everything was still going to be OK. Nikon mostly did not skimp on anything with this little beauty. The Lens is a suprisingly sharp 35mm F2.8 Nikkor. […]
Continue reading Compact 35mm Cameras
June 9, 2014 5 Comments
Hmmm, it would seem I am a regular breaker of one of the ten commandments handed down to Moses on Mt Sinai. “Thou Shalt Not Covet” It is tough when friends come along to a photography function with shiny new items. I find that as soon as I pick up a camera or lens that […]
Continue reading Howey Place
June 7, 2014 1 Comment
Once you have visited the more popular laneways, Howey Place is one of the next destinations worthy of a wander. It is mostly covered, providing a great option for wet days. It is relatively narrow and tends to funnel subjects – so just find a good spot and start camping. Frame your shot then wait […]
Continue reading Richmond Station
May 31, 2014 0 Comments
Behold my most favourited picture of all time! Richmond Rail Station provides many opportunities. This particular image was captured looking down the exit ramp from the platform, waiting for the light to stream down from the skylights. The colours of the tiles combine with the dirty whites to deliver great contrast. Here it is from […]
Continue reading Rangefinder Cameras – Starting Out
May 25, 2014 7 Comments
Rangefinder Cameras are a revelation to photographers who are starting to delve into more exotic kinds of gear. At first glance, to the developing photographer, rangefinders can look like toylike and less than worthy of your new found skillz. There are good reasons why rangefinders can look a bit ‘r Us. The viewfinder is a […]
Continue reading111 Bourke Street – Aussie Post HO
May 24, 2014 1 Comment
There is a great spot on Bourke Street – between Russell and Exhibition Streets for a quick bit of people spotting. The building is the Head Office for Australia Post, and no expense appears to be have been spared. My favourite location here is the building street number sign itself. Stacks of lines and solid […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part Four.
May 17, 2014 5 Comments
8. Light Funnels Urban landscapes create many Light Funnels that Fan Ho took advantage of to either add drama to an image, or backlight a subject to some degree. The narrow confines of Hong Kong’s streets offer many opportunities to narrow the flow of natural light into a funnel. In all of the images, […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part Three.
May 12, 2014 5 Comments
5. Look for Angles that are Not Ninety Degrees. The Beauty of 120 Degrees. Ninety degree angles naturally appear everywhere. Fan Ho often created images using angles other than ninety degrees, often approximating 120 degrees. Angles other than ninety are unexpected and more interesting. The angles of the shadows in this image are much wider than […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part Two.
May 10, 2014 6 Comments
2. Light Edges Light Edges are very clear, defined strips of light contrasting with a shadow. These feature regularly in Ho’s images to highlight what is usually a small human subject. The size of the subject removes the “human” face and enables the viewer to project themselves into being the subject (IMHO). These Light Edges […]
Continue reading Fan Ho – 9 Composition Techniques. Part One.
May 6, 2014 6 Comments
Fan Ho has captured Hong Kong over the years using a Rolleiflex. Born in 1937, Ho has an important body of work that borrows from his experience as a Hong Kong based film director. You can find out more about him at his website here, and an interview with him here. I have one of his […]
Continue readingUnion Lane, DJ’s Coffee Shop, and Sugden Place
May 4, 2014 0 Comments
I suppose it is time to start sharing some of the “gotta go to” locations rather than the more esoteric “hidden gems.” Union Lane is one of several “sanctioned” street art laneways in Melbourne. Entry is via either from the Bourke Street mall end or Little Collins Street. The street sign is usually painted or […]
Continue readingVisiting the Impossible Project Studio in New York
April 30, 2014 1 Comment
Analogue Hipster. Low fi junky. Every smart phone can now take crazy good pictures. So the natural thing is to make to take these sharp, detailed images, and strip out some of the quality to make them look like they were taken using a crappy analogue toy camera or polaroid. Funnily enough, the result is generally […]
Continue readingFootscray Rail Yards
April 24, 2014 0 Comments
I have quite the passion for photographing big mechanical things – trains, ships, jet fighters to name a few. Can’t quite explain it, but there it is. If you are heading out to Footscray Station, and you are a bit adventurous, maybe give the Footscray Rail Yards a try. There are plenty of abandoned carriages […]
Continue reading Busy Places – Buildling Your Skills
April 22, 2014 0 Comments
Busy Places Busy places are full of busy people all moving in different directions with different purposes. Their minds are wholly engaged with their own affairs and missions. Whether in a group or by themselves, their main priority is whatever it is that they are doing. Their default is to not even notice you, unless […]
Continue reading Getting Used to Photographing People – Ruckenfigur
April 22, 2014 4 Comments
The next theme to explore is Ruckenfigur, a German word which translates to “back figure”. The “back figure” is a recurring theme in romantic landscape paintings, typified by Caspar David Friedrich, a 19th century German Romantic landscape painter. Ruckenfigur style compositions are generally seen from behind the main subject, who guides the viewer with their own […]
Continue readingOld GPO – Cnr Bourke and Elizabeth Sts
April 21, 2014 5 Comments
There is an oddly specific spot on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets in the City. It offers opportunities to shoot some interesting lines contrasting with pedestrian traffic. Here is the spot : By getting up on the ledge, the perspective shifts massively and becomes much more interesting. There are plenty of other locations […]
Continue readingSouthern Cross Station
April 19, 2014 0 Comments
Southern Cross Station is an absolute marvel, providing opportunities everywhere. Keep moving though, as you will always get the occasional overly officious employee or security lackey looking for something to do. You can get a photography permit for most stations here if you feel the need… As per usual, so long as you avoid a tripod […]
Continue reading Tips for Selecting Exhibition Images
April 19, 2014 3 Comments
I recently participated in a Photography Exhibition. I was very surprised by the number of prints that sold. I can only offer the following hypotheses: Themes and consistency For the first time, my images were visually quite consistent. Usually I just pick out a bunch of images I like, and slap them up, willy nilly […]
Continue reading The Act of Chimping and How to Get That Monkey Off Your Back!
March 30, 2013 3 Comments
Where would I be without Urbandictionary.com? 1. chimping What one does after taking a picture with a digital camera and looking at the result. Derived from the words they speak when chimping: “Ooo-oo-oo!” Chimping is a relatively recent phenomenon – a rather negative result of the digital age we now live in. Capturing images is […]
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Ricoh GR Digital Compact
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Creative Brief – Japan! Part Two
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Seven Thoughts on Seven Images – Part Two
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Inconspicuosity 