Catching the Light

Olde Rose

2009-10-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Musk Lorikeet

2009-10-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

I suspect this is a Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna) very prevalent around the south and south eastern states of Australia

Little Birds

2009-10-16T18:52:00.001-07:00

I have been trying to capture images of the Superb Fairy Wren (Malurus cyaneus) for a little while now. Getting close was the problem - the lens is never long enough and these little birds move so quick.

Well I solved some of the problem, I purchased myself a 300mm prime lens and a 1.4 teleconverter giving me a combined focal distance of 672 mm - long enough most of the time. Now the problem is holding the lens still enough and getting a fast enough shutter speed to get the image sharp.

Kites

2009-10-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

I have always marvelled at image of birds of prey etc. I photographed this bird resting in some trees some time ago with my 75-300 Canon lens. I was not happy with most of my shots from this lens (could not hold it still) but very pleased with this image - even if the bird is a little static.

After purchasing a Conon 300mm F/4 L prime lens and was fortunate enough to come across this Black Shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) near the Mannum Falls in South Australia. With the prime lens on a Canon 30D I was able to capture these two shots.

Perched

Take Off

David

2009-10-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

David Hillan

Yvonne & David

David is the husband of camera club friend Yvonne Hill. Besides being a top bloke and full of life stories David makes a very good model, especially when he dons the hat and dry as a bone.

David in Mono

The two shots of David above were taken at a camera club shoot using one studio light, a single reflector to David's left and a nicely muted backdrop.

Using and image of David from the same shoot and combining it with and image of the old windmill in the Clare Valley I created this montage.

Hot Summer's Night

In June of 2008 the Para Camera Club spent the long weekend at Bungaree Station, just north of Adelaide in the Clare Valley. Over the course of the weekend I was able to capture a few of the club members. Of course, David featured heavily in many of the resulting images.

Images of David and Kelly Turnbull combined with the old gravestone and some textured background produced the image below. Not really sure what the story is (if there is one at all). You will just have to use your imagination.

Memories

Three of the Bungaree Mob, Neil Gray, David and Rolly (Steve) Robertson. I had fun adding David's hat to the other two heads in the photo. Photoshop is a magic pastime.

Wanted - Dead or Alive

David dons yet another hat and takes on that old world charm. These set of images were taken using the warm early morning light coming through a very large doorway - the entrance to the shearing shed on Bungaree station. David looks very much at home among the wool etc.

David #6

The Market

At the Market

I hope this is not the end of my photo efforts with David on the other side of the camera.

Thanks David.

Catching the Light

2009-06-16T04:00:00.001-07:00

As of September 2009, BigPond want to charge $9.75 a month for the before free 10 meg of web space. Since I already pay more than I want to for cable broadband I won't be using their services to publish my small web pages.

I will take this opportunity to post a little more often to my blog here.

I have set up two blogs to help me catagorise some of my postings:

Catching the Light: general photographic stuff.
Family Album: postings and images pertaining to family and friends

I recently was given some older copies of Layers magazine from March/April 2006. I was reading with interest an article entitled "Rolling with the Changes" - four photographers share their insights for going digital. Since I was never into film photography, I am always interested in the discussion about "film versus digital". An interesting read if you can get hold of it.

Vincent Versace's contribution "Picture to Print" stuck in my mind. (equally relevant to film or digital capture). "Midday is not for lunch - it's for scouting locations. Morning and early evening are not for breakfast or dinner - they're for shooting. That's when the light is best.

It's not the subject that you're photographing - it's the light that's falling on the subject. That's what's important."

Amen to that.

a little about Andy Smylie

2009-06-16T03:59:00.000-07:00

I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and currently reside in sunny Adelaide, South Australia.

A late “bloomer”, photographically speaking, I bought my first digital SLR in April of 2004 and became part of the digital revolution, embracing digital photography with a passion.

I have always liked "playing" (one of my favourite words when you really don't know what you are doing) with digital imagery, finding it both enjoyable and frustrating but always challenging as one tries to produces images that are unique and expressive.

I like street and candid photography of people trying to capture the “spirit” of what I see. I am fascinated with the colours and patterns that “mother nature” provides so abundantly for one to discover. I am drawn too to the wonderful colours and wide open spaces that are the Australian landscape.

Since taking up photography, I have become aware of the things around me: the light and shade and how it falls on people and objects, large fluffy clouds, bright or subdued colours, wide open spaces, movement in shapes and patterns and the differing moods the light creates at various times of the day.

Part of the enjoyment I get out of photography is the sharing of images and skills with other like minded people. To this end I am a member of the Adelaide Camera Club, the Para Camera Club and an Associate of the Australian Photographic Society (AAPS). I have won many awards both at club and national exhibition level.

Anyway, I place my images on the web so that they maybe enjoyed by whom ever comes across them. A comment on my images or blog is always appreciated.

Cheers
Andy Smylie

Lone Tree at Sunset

2008-05-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

Wymah, just outside Albury, NSW. A lone tree stands in a paddock of salvation jane as the storm approaches.

Lone Tree at Sunset

Pines at Victor ....

2008-05-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

.... Harbour, South Australia, that is.

Pines at Victor

Playing with the "Buzz" plug-in for Photoshop.

Montage

2008-05-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

I tried my hand at a few montages:

The Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage

Broken Dreams

Living in the 70's

A combination of images and textures using layers in Photoshop.

Useful Links

2008-04-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

Camera Clubs:

Online Forums:

Faces in the Crowd

2008-04-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

I took my 70-200 mm lens and set it at f/2.8 on aperture priority and set about capturing candid images of people in the crowd at the National Folk Festival held in Canberra in March of this year (2008).

While I was having fun with my camera and lens I was surprised how many people would not make eye contact once they sensed the camera.

Overgrown

2008-04-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

My first real effort in HDR was in June 2007, and old truck in a paddock used to hold a water tank.

Both images are processed in Photomatix using 3 images.

I have noticed a green fringing around the top of the tank.

"overgrown"

I like the saturated colours of the paint on this old girl with the HDR processing retaining the drama in the clouds.

"in tact"

I found the fact that despite the old trucks disrepair the light bulb was still in tact a little amusing.

Grounded

2008-04-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

An abandoned fishing boat, Pondalowie Bay, South Australia, June long week end 2007.

"grounded"

This old fishing boat was high and dry and seemed to be abandoned. A 3 shot HDR processed in Photomatix. I like the saturated blues of the sky in this one.

"the deck"

Not an HDR image, just a little detail of the deck of the boat.

The Rock & The Sunset

2008-04-17T19:42:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Hallett Cove, South Australia. Taken while on a workshop with Caroline Fisher, May 2007.

"the rock & the sunset"

I think I got lucky on this one. I was trying a few new things here. ND filters to darken the scene and enable a slower shutter speed to catch the wave movement. I also had just purchased a reverse ND filter and was trying to take the sunset facing directly into the sun ...... tried a 3 shot HDR exposure to boot.

I'm Hooked ...

2008-04-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

... on HDR (high dynamic range) and maybe going a little overboard on some .

Best to look elsewhere for technical explanations. Why re invent the wheel, eh? I found the article at Within Lights enlightening and of course the Wikapedia is always good for an explanation.

I am finding the colours in some of my HDR images a little unreal. Especially the blues of the skies. Not sure if that is the effect of the HDR of use of the circular polariser – maybe a little of both.

I like the oversaturate colours on the old machines etc – some good examples on RedBubble and Flicker. Seems to look a little cartoonish but I think that adds to the style of the image.

The effect on the landscapes is good but I have to watch for the “halo” effect that occurs some times. Easily fixed with a little burning – if my old eyes can see it (mental note to get my glasses checked).

At present I am trying to shoot 3 bracketed shots and processing them in Photomatix Pro . Some good tutorials here: http://tutori alblog.org/hdr-tutorials-roundup/ and here http://stuckincustoms.com here: Vanilla

Anyway, I will let this mania run it’s course and try a few of the different tutorial about. The learning is fun. :)

Check out these two photographers for their HDR efforts

Eastern Beauties

2008-04-12T22:42:00.000-07:00

Sacred Lotus – Botanic Gardens, Adelaide, South Australia

Nelumbo nucifera

Blue

2008-04-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

"Summer Blues"

"Blue Horizon"

"Cool Blue"

I used the colour temperature in the raw converter in Photoshop to alter the tones of the images to blue.

The "Sticks" at Port Willunga

2008-04-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

An icon on the southern coastline of South Australia, the remains of the old jetty at Port Willunga is a must to photograph. Of course, getting the right light to do the old "stick" justice is the hard bit. All that is left of the jetty is a few uprights and a few broken stumps. The location is terrific with the cliffs and ocean and the sun setting on the eastern horizon.

I was down there early December last year (2007) trying to catch the light and practice with my reverse ND grad filter. These are some of the results.

Early evening just before sunset. I was quite taken with the green moss on the craggy rocks.

"Turning Green"
Same rocks just a little later as the sun has set. Different angle with slow shutter speed to catch the movement in the water.
Focal length: 13mm - Apature: f/18 - Exposure: 1 second - ISO: 100.

"The Sticks" just after sunset

"Like a Candle"

Green & Gold

2008-02-29T03:26:00.000-08:00

Rolling Vines

Not all doom and gloom in the land down under as per my previous post "Red Earth". I love the lush green of the vines on the rolling hills as I drive through to Mount Pleasant, South Australia.

The "Salvation Jane" , I prefer the name "Patterson's Curse" as it plays havoc with my hay fever and gives me hives when I walk through it, adds a wonderful touch of colour to the green and gold landscape.

Paddock of Jane

She Oak & Vines

Red Earth

2008-02-29T02:43:00.000-08:00

While driving my grandson home to Walkers Flat, South Australia, I often pass this old ruins and windmill. Taking a walk over the paddock, I am confronted with the reality that the Aussie farmers face every day.

Aussie Icons

2008-02-29T02:26:00.000-08:00

Taken at different times and different places the Grey Kangaroo at the top and a wallaby at the botttom.

Looking over some old images from Victor Harbour shot some time ago I rediscovered this image of a grey kangaroo.

I was walking in the bush at Warrawong Sanctuary in the Adelaide hills. I could see this wallaby coming towards me oblivious to my presence... but not for long. Although it is not very clear in these images she is carrying a joey.

Welcome Home

2008-02-07T01:07:00.000-08:00

On holiday on the Yorke Peninsula, I saw the light catching this gum tree as I drove past. I imaged this might signal to the owners of the property that they had reached home, just down the track behind the tree.