Mikail and Joseph

Ok.
So, here's the Story.

I receive an email from a young lady named Mikail. She informs me that she is getting married and has been recommended to me from another couple whose wedding I photographed a few years ago.
(Hello Marni and Steve! - and thanks for the recommendation!)
Would I be available to photograph her wedding?
Answer?
Yes!
Of course I would be more than pleased to photograph their big day.




The entire thing is to be held at Butleigh Wootton, one of Melbourne's most pretigious wedding venues. Fabulous! I turn up only to find out I have known Mikail's parents for many years...Marlene and Bill - and nobody thought to tell me!
Hey!
It was lovely catching up with you all and seeing you after all this time! Oh, and lets not forget the fun it was to photograph the wedding!
Thanks to you both, Joseph and Mikail. It was an honour to photograph your wedding.
Oh, and fun too!

I wish you both every possible happiness!

My New Lens

I do love lenses.
Perhaps more than cameras.
Lenses are the eyes to my cameras, my new and interesting viewpoint for every possible subject.


I have recently acquired the Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD IF Macro Autofocus lens. Its a mouthful, but this lens is a beautiful thing. I only with I had the time to use it! I will have to make the time I guess. But it is so many things in one lens...Portrait, Telephoto, Macro...its wonderful.
I will keep you all up to date and show you some images soon!

And! Loving It!

Maxwell International are the Australian importers of such great products as Tamron lenses, Cokin Filters, Pelican Cases and LowePro. Their new website is up and running and it features the work of a very happy Australian photographer...me! You can check out the website by clicking here.
I am very pleased to have been asked to provide the lion's share of images for this site. Web designer, Glenn Watson of Cyberdog and I have known each other for several years and its always a giggle and an absolute pleasure working with him.
As it stands, I am an avid user of the products they distribute here in Australia. I have three Tamron lenses, 4 LowePro gadget bags, about a dozen Cokin filters - and have recently taken possession of the Tamron 180mm f3.5 Macro lens. No doubt it will provide some more images (hopefully) that the site can utilise. So, in the words of that other famous Maxwell...And Loving It!

Cokin's Australian DVD

For the last Photo Industry Expo, which was held here in Melbourne, I was asked to put together a DVD to show at the Expo which highlighted Cokin filters and their continuing practicality in the digital age. It was all put together at the last minute so I was a bit nervous. However, it was a hit and many retailers have asked for copies to run in their stores as sales aids.
So, I have finessed it a little and sent it to the importers - Maxwell International, who have been good friends and clients for several years. I hope Cokin sell more filters as a result.

For me, using filters in your photography is as logical and necessary as it ever was. I have used them since I was 17 and I can't see myself stopping now...

The Verdict is in..

For those of you who may have been awaiting my verdict regarding the Ricoh Caplio GX100, the verdict is in. Its great! I have been a fan (and proud owner) of the Ricoh GR digital, which is still my 'carry around camera' but the GX100 has a couple of features the GR does not, and I have enjoyed using them.

It has wider lens, the 35mm equivalent of a 24mm, but its 3x zoom is very handy. Yesterday I tool this little baby to a local flea market and found it perfect for those 'still lifes' that present themselves. Its interesting how life often presents itself in a natural symmetry.

There is one thing Ricoh know how to do. They sure know how to make a compact digital that is out of the box. But I mean that in a good way. This is certainly true of the Caplio GX 100. I have been a very outspoken fan of the Ricoh GR digital, but the Caplio GX100 is another reason to just love how they design a compact digital camera.
On the surface, the Ricoh Caplio GX100 is a 10 megapixel compact with a 3x optical zoom. So far, it is not unlike many other compacts. But, as easy as it can be to use, it also allows the creative photographer lots of room to move. This is however only one feature where it stands apart from other compact digital cameras. The Caplio GX100 has been designed to produce incredibly high quality images and its design bears that out.Apart from being incredibly sharp, the 3x optical zoom also excels in that it is the 35mm equivalent of a 24-70mm. This extra width is more practical, allowing for wonderful wide angle landscapes and dynamic, creative images. Then it can offer you portraits at the 70mm setting. More than that however, there is the optional 19mm wide conversion lens that makes the dynamics of super wide angle images possible.
The 10 megapixel resolution would be concern for many who would immediately worry about image noise. However the image processing engine in the camera seriously removes this concern. The images are sharp, colourful and perfectly exposed. The 11-element lens, as we have said, is incredibly sharp and its 7 bladed aperture means beautifully blurred backgrounds, ideal for highlighting the subject. It is this kind of design and forethought that really does set this camera apart.
The Caplio GX100 can be as easy to use as any point-and-shoot, or allow you complete control over the exposure – without having to sort through endless menus. The mode dial on top offers you the choice of Manual, Aperture Priority or Program, with Scene, My1 and M2 and movie also available. My1 and My2 allow you to quickly revert to your preferred operating and creative settings. The dial on the front of the camera allows you to quickly change aperture and the Adjust lever on the rear allows you to change shutter speeds. For low light shooting, the camera is fitted with Vibration Correction – the real thing, not some phoney preventative measure like other cameras. The camera moves the CCD to compensate for any camera movement, and let me tell you – it works brilliantly.
The GX100 has no viewfinder. Rather, it has a large, bright 2.5 inch screen. But, for those who love a viewfinder or have reason to need one, there is an optional external viewfinder available. It even accepts an external flash.Quite simply, this is an incredibly well thought out camera, designed for the discerning photographer who wants a creative tool by his side while having the option to point and shoot at family gatherings if the need arises. It is a class act from the ground up.

The lens is also very very sharp. And, for a 10MP compact, there is not much noise at all. Compacts with this kind of megapixel rating often negate the resolution offered by the amount of pixels with high levels of noise. Mind you, I was able to shoot at 100 ISO, and the vibration reduction mode has been fantastic in low light conditions. Nonetheless, this lens is very sharp, and the colour, white balance and exposure has all been very pleasing indeed.

If you are looking for a compact to carry around that gives you control and great pictures, consider this one very seriously.
I want to keeeeeep ittttt!

A Wedding in South Oz

Well, I am back from South Australia, having had a great time at Jayde and Leigh's Mt Gambier Wedding. It is always an honour to photograph a wedding, let alone be flown interstate to do it. It is a compliment which never fails to leave me humbled, and honoured at the same time. Jayde and Leigh had a lovely day, and for a groom who allegedly hates having his photograph taken, I thought he performed marvellously! Perhaps it was all the kissing I got them to do. Apparently, it was an unusual thing for these two to be seen kissing in public...
Hmmm....
Jayde at home
Kissing in Public
More Kissing in public
And More!

Congratulations Jayde and Leigh. Thank you both for a great time and a great honour.

Ricoh and Me...at it again.

Anyone who has been listening to my podcast (Shutters Inc) and/or has been reading my magazine will know that I am very fond of my Ricoh GR digital. But, there is a new kid on the Ricoh block and they want me to have a look at it. It is the Ricoh Caplio GX100, a 10MP compact very much like the GR, but with added features like shake reduction, a 3x zoom (24-70 equivalent) and an optional viewfinder/eyepeice for those who prefer to use them.

The Fabulous Ricoh Caplio GX100

More on the subject when I get back...

Scott and Tina's Wedding

I photographed Scott and Tina's wedding yesterday and had alot of fun doing it! Tina had informed me when we initially met that she didn't like having her photograph taken, but you know how we photographers feel about that comment. And, as it turned out, she was lying. I think she loves it! And, if she doesn't you would never have known.





After the ceremony in Oakleigh, we drove to town and used the Parliament buildings in Spring Street for our location. The light, the columns, the stairs, the textures - all make for a great location for wedding photography. After, we went to Buttleigh Wootten for the final few photographs before their wedding reception began there.
Thanks to you both for the honour to be there and have fun doing what I love to do.
Congratulations to you both

The Music Industry

Ben works for one of my favourite clients, but is actually a very talented singer/songwriter/musician. His first album is about to be released and I was happy to provide some 'behind the scenes' images that reveal some of the recording process.

It is hard to say how many musicians there are trying to make it into the industry and for some stupid reason, some of the least talented actually make it. I suppose its not always about the music.I hope you do well, Ben. Your lyrics and musicianship deserve to be recognised.

Speaking for the PMA and the Imaging Technology Expo

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Above: Speaking at Melbourne's Imaging Technology Expo (Bottom Pic Courtesy: Steven Pam)

The Imaging Technology Expo is now over and I was honoured to be a part of the speaking program, both for the Photo Marketing Association and the Imaging Theatre for the general public who attended.

My lecture on Friday morning was called "The Other Side of the Counter" and dealt with the differences between what customers expect and need from photo retailers and what photo retailers often give them - techbabble. I was apprehensive about my ideas, but was reassured afterward by those within the industry that I had hit the nail on the head.
My three lectures on Sunday for the general public dealt with photo tips and techniques and I was happy that I drew an even larger crowd than celebrity photographer, Guy Sebastian! Sure, he's young and good looking and a great singer, but he can't shoot like I can! ;-) I have been asked to do more speaking within the photo industry and I am more than pleased to do so. I love to inspire, motivate and teach the love and the art of photography. After all, it has brought so much joy to my life...
Here are some comments from those who were there...

"Once again mate I just want to say how great your talk was. You were certainly in the top few speakers at the conference. Your bells and whistles quote was a classic..."

"I wanted to say, thank you for sharing your passion and skill, If you had anything to do with the weekend's exhibition I am very grateful because trying to find people who share their knowledge, trying to find courses that are around for people who will never be great but hope to improve their photography is not easy, and it was pleasant to sit and listen to a man who believes that what he does is worthwhile and valuable.."

I attended your seminars on Sunday for the photographic exhibition at the Exhibition Building. They were really interesting and motivated me to learn more about photography.."

"I was lucky enough to hear all 3 of your presentations yesterday at the PMA exhibition in Melbourne and thank you - they were great. .."

Well, thank you all for your kind comments....much appreciated!
I will be speaking on the subject of Cokin filters at Michaels Camera and Video on Friday Afternoon at 2:15 11/5/07.

The Lovely Jessica

I have known Jessica since she was a baby. She has a beautiful spirit and a truly lovely face. Her husband, Richard, (aka 'Dogface') is a good friend and fellow lover of all things photographic. Jessica has modeled for me many times, appearing on front covers of my magazines and in editorials I have produced. She has never aspired to be a professional model, and perhaps her modesty and humility wouldn't let her. But me? I think she could do it. She certainly has the face for it.

For a DVD I have been asked to put together for Cokin, Jessica modeled to provide me with a series of with/without filter images. This is just one image from the shoot.
Thanks Jess. Much appreciated.

No matter how many times...

I remember the first time I saw one of my images published. I walked into a news agency and there it was - for all to see - my image on the cover. Now, twenty years later, I msut admit to still being a little thrilled. Not as much...but a little.
This is the result of my recent shoot with Relate, the one that had me up in a cherry picker.
Its nice to see your work published. Its not just about the cheque.