Here’s some images from a stunning morning spent at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
We got here early before sunrise , it was much less crowded but still insane lol. There are so so many photographic opportunities here - you can’t go wrong IMO. If you get the chance one day…you must go!
Can you imagine vast desert plains, long winding red dirt roads, native Australian bushland for as far as the eye can see, kangaroos, snakes, lizards and, Volcanos?! Its a lot o know- but stay with me- such a place exists in the Far northern reaches inland of Queensland, and its bloody incredible.
The brief was simple, pick a piece of clothing from the new 2020 range from Kathmandu, get outside in your local area, and showcase how the gear enables you to adventure in your own backyard. Given the currant climate, strange conditions, varying restrictions, and boundaries we all currently face, I could not have been more on board with this initiative from one of my favourite outdoor clothing and adventure brands.
I can still remember the first time I walked into Kathmandu store. There was this uncanny sense of instant excitement, the images, the equipment, the clothing, it instantly bought the outdoors to me, right in the heart of the city. I often to this day find myself stepping into any Kathmandu store I come across to get my little buzz of excitement that the outdoors is out there and waiting for me, all you need to do is go get it.
When I was contacted for this campaign, all that was asked of me was to post a picture of me, on my IG wearing the item I choose from their catalogue, and tag the #adventurenearnotfar hashtag. But that wasn’t enough for me, and I wanted to take the opportunity to showcase more than just the one image. I wanted to take it one step further, provide more value and craft a story to showcase how this one piece of clothing, the Epiq down vest, helps me, my friends, and anyone for that matter to get outside and experience their own piece of adventure, no matter how close to home they may be. So I enlisted the help of my fellow surf buddy, and crafted a little morning sunrise, coffee and surf session down on the surf coast of Victoria in Torquay. The mornings here in winter are cold, very cold, and its clothing like this that helps you get that extra spring in your step and get you out of bed to go and start your adventure in warmth and comfort.
See there’s something more about Kathmandu than just the clothing they make. They care, they give back. They inspire us all to get out there, experience the world, go on our own adventures, and enable us with the products they make to do so safely, warmly, and most importantly, consciously, in a way that supports our environment and the places we seek.
Thanks Kathmandu, looking forwards to many more adventures ahead.
This remote and pristine part of the Victorian alps just has to be one of Australia’s best kept secrets. For as long as I can remember, nothing makes me feel more invigorated and alive than being truly amongst nature and appreciating everything about your natural surroundings, and this journey into the Victorian high country definitely delivered this in spades.
Nestled in among the rugged and remote mountains of the Victorian Alpine park lies Mt Howitt, and the aptly named “Crosscut saw”, by far the most spectacular ridge-line in all of the alpine region. Getting here is no small feat, but also in relative terms not actually that hard. Type into your GPS the gorgeous little “town” of Licola and in 3 hours of beautiful countryside driving that meanders through flat farmland, into mountainous passes and through rivers and streams you will be there. Once in Licola, pop into the general store and grab yourself an alpine map, ask for some directions and perhaps even grab an ice cream or pick up any last minute supplies/fuel, as this is the last place you can do so as from here on in, you are on your own!
Heading out of Licola, over the bridge, turn left and drive. You will be entering National park and eventually a dirt/ gravel road that continues on for another 90kms, so make sure you have enough fuel and spare tyres if you get a flattie. You will eventually encounter a fork in the road, continue on left and keep going until you reach the Howitt Trail carpark on the right. This is the trailhead for your adventure.
Park up, locked and loaded fill out your intentions in the Parks Vic book at the start and head in. The first part of the trail is relatively easy as you meander through snow gum wetlands with mellow inclines and declines for about an hour until you reach Mc Allistar springs and the most beautiful alpine hut in all of Victoria, the architecturally designed Vellejo Gantner Hut. Here you can access water from the stream, toilet facilities courtesy of “the Loo with a view” and have a well earned rest and or bite to eat at the Hut. This hut is gorgeous, I can only dream of one day being trapped in a snow storm out here and lighting up the gorgeous stone fireplace and cracking a bottle of wine whilst waiting the storm out!. Until then its best to admire the hut for its design and surroundings as these alpine huts are designed for emergency use only.
Heading off on the most obvious path down away from the hut you will find yourself on a track for the summit of Mt Howitt, the Crosscut saw and the Alpine walking track. You will see many sights along the way including the aptly named “Devils Staircase”, gorgeous valleys, and promising views of the Saw as you make your approach.
Once you have opened into the clearing and reach the top you are greeted with some of the most spectacular views I have experienced in the victorian high country that’s for sure! We choose a lovely little flat section right on the ridge line of the Crosscut Saw and set up our camp. Calculating where the sun would rise we set up our tent so that when we opened our door we would be treated with the morning rays. Thats my top tip for the most glorious wake up call of all time!
Sunset was on fire and we were so lucky, everywhere you looked the light was painting layers of texture and colour and is something I will always remember for how vivid and interesting the landscape is.
We cooked up some classic dehydrated food and nestled in for the night, high up on the Ridgeline and under the stars all wrapped up in thermals, sleeping bags and cosy in our tent.
Sunrise was nothing short of breathtaking, and the light that poured in the valley illuminated the skies and opened up views never to be forgotten. Couple that with some fresh brewed coffee from the Aero press and you have morning as close to heaven as you can get in my opinion! You can keep your 5 star hotels any day, views like these cant be bought, only earned.
Heading back down mid morning and hitting the trail home, you cant help but feel stoked for having made the effort to experience something not everyone is willing to achieve. Top it all off with an ice cream and a swim in the pristine river back in Licola to revive the old bones and get you refreshed for the drive home and you’ve got yourself one hell of a little mini victorian weekend getaway.
Theres something deeply gratifying about making your plans, packing your bags, hitting the road and making your way off on an adventure powered by your own feet.
Hiking to an overnight campsite is quickly becoming my new fix, an exciting and fulfilling obsession to get to places that not everyone gets to experience and soak up their remote splendour.
That was definitely the case this last hike we completed out to Sealers Cove in Wilsons Prom National Park as we tackled varied terrain, flora, fauna and local wildlife alike. If you too are interested in making your way out to this remote paradise, read on as I do my best to explain just how we did it and hopefully you can pack your bags and be on your way too.
Wilsons Prom is approx 3 hours from Melbourne CBD, and a little over 4 hours for us living down in torquay. Luckily we had a concert in Melbourne the night before so we decided why not and ventured further to make the most of the time off and the weather.
Planning ahead we booked 2 campsites online at www.parks.vic.gov for a mere $14 each and were on our way, bags packed, boots ready and cameras loaded.
Being an overnight hike you need to take everything with you for a comfortable night out in the “wild”, but when I say wild, I say it very lightly as Sealers cove has dedicated areas to pitch your tents, long drop toilets and fresh (creek) running water, so this makes it a little bit more comfortable to stay. Although it is recommended that you treat your water collected there by either purification tablets or boiling.
Below is a list of 10 essential things I usually pack with me to make sure we have a comfortable hike, our belly full and a good nights sleep:
Hiking Boots - don’t skimp on these, they can make or break your day, I love my Kathmandu TIBER NGX leather hiking boots, comfortable, warm, dry and damn good looking, have a look here to check them out
Merino hiking socks - often overlooked, a good quality pair of socks are actually more important than your boots for ensuring your feet are kept dry and breathe nicely to avoid moisture and blisters.
Lightweight hiking tent - Weight is massive consideration when hiking , so be sure to do your research, and if possible spend a little extra money to get the lightest and most weather resistant tent possible. I currently have a Denali Kakadu 2.7kg tent, a great beginners option but I am definitely looking to upgrade to a lighter more durable option ASAP to cut my pack weight down.
Lightweight Sleeping Mat - i’ve been through a few of these already. Spend the money, get the best you can afford, try them out at home before you go a few hours/ days deep in the bush, a good nights sleep can make or break your experience. I currently use the KLYMIT DOUBLE V for my partner and I and find it pretty dang good, a little extra weight but I don’t mind that for the comfort. in saying that I am alway s researching better options for that all elusive “perfect kit”
Air Pillow - I love this thing, my Sea to Summit Aeros premium deluxe. so light, so comfy.
Gas Boiler - I currently use the Gasmate Turbo Butane stove top and love it, works well in the wind, packs down to nothing and is lots of juice.
Hiking Pack - Essential, for obvious reasons, I am learning this the hard way, I got a cheaper one that definitely gets the job done, but after lots of testing and research I am planning on investing in a lighter, more ergonomic pack to help me reach destinations further into the outdoors.
Sleeping Bag - Try to go as light and as functional as you can, I have a bag rated to -5deg, its pretty good, but I will definitely be upgrading this soon.
Hydration bladder - I like to pack a 3l bladder and some purification tablets so I can refill when needed on the trail from pre determined water locations. Never get caught out.
Puffer Jacket - I never leave home without my Kathmandu Down puffer jacket, it is literally the most functional, packable and reliable piece of clothing I own, as the conditions outdoors can change on a dime, its really good to have something so warm and protective that packs down to nothing.
Gear in check, make your way to the Visitors centre at The Prom where you need to check in for your overnight hike, making sure you have your reservation screen shot on your phone for the Ranger. Make your way to Telegraph Saddle either buy the local free shuttle in the summer or your vehicle in the off peak season to start your hike.
Make your start at the Saddle and the first leg of your 3 hour journey takes you through rugged and beautiful terrain with lots of exposed volcanic rock and dry bush as it exposed to the north and cops a lot of sunlight. You will wind and climb this trail to Windy flat for approx 45mins to an hour where you can stop, smell the flowers and take a much deserved break!
From here on in you descend into dense and thick green forrest for the next hour, passing lush ferns, fallen tree trunks, meandering creek crossings and lots of downhill trekking. It will take you a little over an hour before you reach the boardwalk that takes you over the wetlands for another 45 mins before you break into a clearing, and before you know it you are greeted to your own secluded beach flanked by beautiful mountains and beautiful Australian forrest.
Once you have made it to the end of the track you need to turn right (we turned left…ugh) and walk another 700m along the beach to the campsite. There is a creek crossing here so make sure you time the tide to coincide with low tide or a few hours either side on your arrival to ensure you can make it across the creek, without getting too wet:)
Once there you can scope around all the spots for a little section of your own, we found a lovely little space nestled in the bush and set up camp. Hang your gear out, have a swim, cook some dinner and get all snuggled in for the night as your achy body and the sound of crashing waves lull you to sleep all ready to do it again the next day:)
Its been done before, and it will be done again, but thats not the point. Yes NZ is a place of astronomical scale, beauty and wonder, but its also my place of birth. Something I hold dearly to my heart and consider myself very lucky to be able to truly call this stunning country home.
We went back to NZs jaw dropping South Island for another dose of winter goodness, but with a slightly different agenda to the usual bout of snowboard, beer, sleep, repeat.
This time I wanted to be a tourist in my own country, something I never thought I would have said 13 years ago when I embarked on my exploration of the world, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Now as I taste things differently so to speak, I am truly in awe of the country I couldn't wait to leave and have literally only scratched the very, VERY surface exploration in what is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.
The funny thing about exploration is, the more you unearth, the deeper your desires seed to uncover, discover, and experience all the adventures you possibly can.
So without further ado, heres a little recollection of some of our time in Gods country this August of 2018.
Sunset at Hooker Valley lake
The nights are void of any light pollution
I couldn't even tell you how much there is to do in this remarkable part of the world, but I sure do hope to discover all there is to offer on each and every visit I make to this place, because I already can't wait to go back.
We stayed at the awesome Aoraki court motel, literally in the heart of Mt Cook national parks small village. **HOT TIP** you want to make sure you take all the food you want with you there because there are no real supermarkets unless you want to eat at the restaurants, personally, I was too exhausted from hiking to eat out!
Sunset at Tasman Glacier
We spent 2 nights here in total so on night one we ventured off to Tasman glacial lake to experience our first sunset, and were given the hot tip from our hotel that there were many Icebergs in the lake, winning, kinda, as that means melting glaciers. Bittersweet beauty really. We ended up coming back for another sunrise here on our last morning too, that good!
Easy to find, a 10 min drive from the village and clearly signposted from the main road. The walk takes about 30 mins and is an easy trail, nice way to warm up those hiking legs for the more trails to come!
Sunset at the foot Mt Cook
Hooker Valley track is no joke, not for how hard it is, but for its ability to literally place you smack bang in the mountains and make you feel like you have entered the remote wilderness of the Southern Alps. The track is super easy to find as it is 5 minutes from the village, again signposted off the main road. The walk takes 1.5 hours one way and crosses 3 epic suspension bridges and a tonne of changing terrain conditions from light bush, to black rocky cliffs, stunning river crossings, alpine tarns, and finally arriving at an enormous lake full of icebergs. We left at 5am to catch the sunrise, and boy were we not disappointed, just remember pack the right gear, when you stop hiking things get cold quick!!! We liked this place so much we came back again for sunset too! thats 38000 steps in one day. Safe to say we slept well that night!
The many faces of the track
Hooker Valley showing us how its done
She stands the test of time
With so so much to see and do, Wanaka is truly the gateway to adventure thats for sure! We stayed here for a week and got up to all sorts of goodness, from sunsets on the lake, snowboarding up at Cardrona, beers at amazing lakeside bars, gorgeous coffees to get you going and a whole bunch of photography and exploring.
We visited the tree on a few mornings and were just amazed at the different conditions we were lucky to encounter, I was even lucky enough to bump into some photography legends @mitchperfect @brentpurcell @kirtsy.tamatea doing their thing. Such epic photographers so go check em out (as if you haven't already)
The tree showing why its so popular
A different perspective
Amongst all the snowboarding and good times we had one thing looming over us, literally, Roys peak. See we've always wanted to get up here for a sunrise but for one reason or another, have not made it. Not this time. So on our last night we made breakfast the night before, set the alarm, and ventured off for a 3 am start.
3 hours and 1500 odd metres straight up this track is brutal, for brutals sake. Im not gonna lie, its tough and a real leg burner. Not trying to brag (I am) we charged the thing in 2 hours flat. Talk about hustle. and I'm pleased we did, because sunrise up there was something I will never ever forget. We hiked through cloud and arrived to a starry, starry night. As day broke the colours exploded and we were literally left looking out at the world from above the clouds. A moment well learnt and well enjoyed.
Above the clouds
Sunset showing off
No small drive from Wanaka we set off for Milford sound to catch what looked to be a promising sunset, through mountainous roads, finding valleys and through the tunnel to the land of waterfalls we made our way to the 8th wonder of the world. We were treated to moody skies with unreal breaks in the cloud and this just made for one of the most surreal sunsets I have ever witnessed. We stayed in Te Anau so only had 1 sunset here, but man am I looking forwards to coming back here and exploring more of the region of Fiordland and experiencing as much as I can!
What a drive
Mossy rocks
Soo much to see
Last light
There is so so much more that we saw and did, but thats for another time . Safe to say I'm really happy with the effort we put in getting every sunrise and every sunset we could bar 1 or 2. The funny thing is I feel like this trip is just the recce for a whole new world of exploration that I am researching to undertake. Who ever thought I would become a tourist in my own country. Couldn't be happier:)
Its iconic, breathtaking, diverse, and a photographers playground. The Great Ocean Road is full of opportunities to take all types of imagery from candid holiday Snaps, dreamy long exposures, mystical Milky Way astro and anything in between.
Here is an account of a recent trip I made down this stretch of coast to take some photos, eat some great food and enjoy all that this part of Victoria has to offer.
The reason for writing this??... I have scoured the net reading other peoples logs, accounts, and recollections of photographic journeys and I have found it super helpful and inspiring to have some sort of information to help me plan my own little adventure, so my hope is this lil piece gives you some inspiration and insight as to how to achieve your own little Great Ocean road adventure. so please share it around if you feel someone could benefit from this.
Starting in the afternoon I left Torquay, Vic to head straight to the 12 Apostles lookout for some sunset long exposure opportunities. It takes approx 1.5 -2 hours inland to get to the lookout, and once there we parked up, headed to the main "viewing deck" of the Apostles and parked up with the millions of other like minded travellers to witness the last of summers sunsets in full swing.
My advice is to get there at least an hour before sunset to get your best vantage point to set up your composition. I did not do this. I arrived right on sunset, muscled in, set up my tripod, camera, knocked up a composition (easy here) and played with long exposures and simpler single shots and was lucky enough to witness yet another gorgeous light show courtesy of Mother Nature.
This is a long exposure I set up Using my Manfrotto Tripod, Canon 5d mkiv paired with a 17-40mm f4L series lens and a Hoya 10 stop ND filter
30secs
F9
ISO200
Next Stop after we finished with the sunset photography was the Port Campbell holiday park where we had booked a site for $30 and parked up the van to set up camp. This campground is epic, Backs right onto the river and smack bang in the centre of town. It also has lush kitchen facilities/ amenities and is super clean. We then rolled into town for a kid you not, some of the BEST wood fired pizza I ova e had in a LONG time. No photos here. scoff time. If your in town, hit up Grassroots Deli cafe, handmade dough, cold drinks, hot wood fired oven. need I say more.
Full and happy with the night sky looking clear it was back in the van and back to the 12 apostles lookout, this time heading towards the furthermost lookout to the left facing Gibson Steps for some Astro Photography. Facing the camera in the direction of the Milky Way just slightly left of the Monoliths, I played with shutter speeds until I reached the correct exposure, starting at ISO 3200 and F2.8 for 20secs, then increasing my Shutter speed until I was happy, reframing as I went to better compose my shot once I had seen where the Milky Way Core was situated within my frame, I came away with a shot I am reasonably happy with, granted there is some cloud in there that I had to wait out but thats all apart of the learning ( and patience) experience for me.
This is a long exposure I set up Using my Manfrotto Tripod, Canon 5d mkiv paired with a 24-70 f2.8L USM II Lens
30secs
F2.8
ISO2500
After this long and cold night session, I recommend a blanket, some tea and some tunes to make the time more enjoyable for your partner (sorry ness) it was time for bed to be fresh for an early start at dawn.
an hour before dawn, 6am, we woke up to a mass of low lying fog making everything invisible. Theres 2 trains of thought here..go back to bed its a write off, or give it a crack and see what happens. We chose the latter and were rewarded with cascading waterfalls of mist rolling into the sea off the land. We headed back to the same spot, Gibson Steps lookout and met up with amazing local photog Craig Richards, go check him out, he's huge, an amazing shooter, and suuuoper nice guy!(fellow chef too).
This time with the camera firmly pointed towards the amazing Gibson Steps I fired off a bajillion shots as the light changed and illuminated the fog in all its glory. I hope you get this lucky too!
Here is on of my fav long exposures that really dramatises the way the mist falls into the ocean I think.
This is a long exposure I set up Using my Manfrotto Tripod, Canon 5d mkiv paired with a 24-105 f4L USM and a Hoya 10 stop ND filter
60secs
F9
ISO100
Wrapping things up after a delicious bowl of oats for breakfast it was off to The Great Otway National park for some Waterfall adventures. Driving for another 1.5hrs we headed straight to Hopetoun falls to get some more dreamy long exposures as the morning light was cascading through the dense rainforest. Head along the Great Ocean Road and into Beech Forrest and you will fins Hopetoun Falls nestled within the Californian redwoods forrest.
A great spot for long exposure photography from almost any angle, this waterfall is so picturesque with a tree trunk that has literally fallen and landed in the waterfall.
A short 10 min walk down some wooden steps from the carpark and you are in another planet of lush jungle foliage, be careful, be considerate, be respectful of the forest and enjoy this gorgeous part of the world.
This is a long exposure I set up Using my Manfrotto Tripod, Canon 5d mkiv paired with a 24-70 f2.8L USM II Lens
0.4secs
F9
ISO100
Thats not all the spots you can visit, such as Loch Ard Gorge, Beauchamp falls, The Grotto, The Shipwreck etc but just some food for thought to hopefully help you plan your own little mission!!
Last weekend we set off on an epic adventure. Something new. Something foreign. Something exciting. For a long time now I have had the urge to load up everything you need for a night camping in the outdoors, and with nothing but your own steam and good intention, trudge off into the wilderness and "survive" for a night or 2.
I have been collecting the right "lightweight" gear for a few months now and finally everything lined up, the weather looked good, the gear was tight, and had a few days off to pursue the adventure. So with backpacks full of sleeping bags, blow up mattresses, a tent, jet boiler, cooking implements(too much but I"m a chef c'mon)travel pillows, tools, warm spare clothing , water, and of course camera gear, we strapped up and headed off onto the Razorback trail to Federation hut and on to Mt Featherop in Victorias high country.
Starting at Diamantia hut, around 2.5kms before Mt Hotham village on the Great Alpine road, we parked the jeep, loaded up and made our start on what was to be a hot, wet, grueling, 11km hike through some rugged, shingled, mountainous terrain. I thought i was fairly fit. Strap a backpack weighing 20kg plus, throw in some mountains and an 11km hike and you will find out just how fit you are.
Slowly but surely we made it to our destination of federation hut, nestled beautifully in the Victorian alps, and no sooner than a hammered the last tent peg in the ground, the skies opened and there was a downpour that went on for a solid hour! We waited it out and cooked dinner on the verandah of the hut, along with all the other campers that made it in, kids included. They bring me to shame with their fitness levels:)
After a well earned hot meal we cleaned up and headed to the summit of Mt Feathertop for some sunset pics. This is where things started to get a little disappointing for me. Don't get me wrong, its stunning up there, gorgeous. the rolling hills seem to stretch for miles and miles, and there were ridges, valleys, trees and clouds a plenty. But i was really struggling with trying to find a composition and lighting situation i was truly happy with. I shot a bajillion pics and experimented with all sorts of different angles, view points and scenes, but was ultimately underwhelmed with my results. I found the light to always be behind a hill, or cloud, popping out only for a second, to vanish again once i chased it. But that's the mountains for you, the weather can change in an instant, so you had better be ready.
We trudged up again for sunrise but much of the same, really struggling, but tried to make the most of it photographically. Like i say, it was glorious up there, so stunning, and cant wait to go back, but taking images up there is something i was not completely happy with, and at the end of the day, i think we all need to experience these situations and try to learn, overcome, and adapt to the situations and conditions to better yourself from them and grow as an artist.
All in all, once we got our selves out of the rugged and dry Victorian alps we were battered, blistered, bruised and buggered, but had a feeling of pure achievement and satisfaction from really giving it our all and getting stuck into some outdoor activities we have never experienced before.
Cant wait for the next hiking adventure, already planning and cant wait to share the experience!
Man she came around quick! 2018 is already well and truly upon us and its got me thinking about my goals, what I would like to achieve, and how I aspire to achieve them.
In the past i have always been a new years resolution kinda guy, don't get me wrong, I'm all for a resolution, but this year I have opted for more of a realistic approach to setting some goals and mapping out ways in which i plan to achieve them.
2017 was a year of learning for me. I made a resolution to devote every spare minute I could to learning more about the art and science of Photography, and what a year it has been. I have been out shooting in some jaw dropping places, many of which I live surprisingly close to, which i count my lucky stars for trust me. I have watched every tutorial, read every blog, studied every magazine I could to learn more and more about this craft, and I am stoked with my results thus far. By no means do I have it all figured out, but boy am I enjoying the journey. Literally.
More than taking photos themselves, Photography has become a vessel to me, a cause for adventure, and has opened up so so many amazing places to me, and opened my eyes to countless more.
Below is my list of goals I have for my photography and the journey I am on, so if you feel like seeing where i hope to head, please enjoy, and i wish you all the best in your own goal setting.
So here's to a cause for adventure and a prosperous new year to all and I hope you get all the banger shots and go on all the adventures to get them!
1: STYLE - something I am working on, thinking about, and constantly developing. I am pumped to continue to develop my own style.
2: TRAVEL - I have always loved to travel, and have been fortunate enough to have seen soo many amazing places in this world, but it seems photography has sparked something deep inside me that has fired up the desire to see and travel to as many places as possible. This year I hope to get to NZ, JAPAN, HAWAII, and as many new places in AUS as i can to shoot shoot shoot!
3: PRINTING - I have always been a fan of prints, they blow me away. This year I intend to work with some local printers and get ome of my works calibrated and printed/ framed. Who knows maybe I can even sell some!
4: PEOPLE - I am so lucky to have a beautiful partner like Ness to take pictures of, she is my partner in crime and travel! Looking forwards to taking more shots of people in their environments and developing more skills to capture their stories and emotions.
5: WEDDINGS - I love em. Everything about them. The people, the places, the style, the food. I just want to shoot em. Portfolio coming soon!!!
6: BLOG - I love writing, adding images, and telling a story, I think that's a really intrinsic part of photography. I Intend to create as many stories and updates as I can through the year of projects I embark on and hopefully some useful information for those who are interested in the subject at hand.
7: BUSINESS - I am really going to knuckle down and focus on marketing, creating a brand, and how to position myself in the big wide world of photographers. At the end of the day- getting my work out there would be a huge buzz!
8: WATER PHOTOGRAPHY - This year I am going to get a housing, and start getting some of them epic water shots, the amount of times I'm surfing and harp on about "how i wish I had a camera out here".. its coming.
9: COMPETITIONS - I plan to enter as many competitions as I can that come my way. Not for the sake of winning. But to put myself out there and to take the critique and criticisms that come my way so I can learn, grow, and develop as a photographer.
10; WORKSHOPS - I already have a few great workshops in both on location and post processing booked with the legends at Project Rawcast ( if you havn't heard it, check out their podcast on itunes!) and plan on attending as many as I can squeeze in . Definitely stoked on learning more technical aspects of shooting outdoors and how to best utilise my equipment and continue to develop my skills post processing!
The 12 Apostles
Canon 5Dmkiv + 24-70mm f/2.8L @30mm
1/5 sec
f/ 9.0
ISO 100
A few weekends ago my lovely lady flew up to QLD for her sisters hens party leaving me to consider what to do with myself for the next few days. The weather looked promising and it just so happened that I had in my hot little hands a brand new canon 5dmkiv with the 24-70mm f/2.8!! I thought right, I'm off down the Great Ocean road to see what i can see!
Living in Torquay, VIC, its pretty damn accessible to say the least! I loaded up the van and drove for just shy of 2 hours to arrive at the 12 Apostles to setup for some hopeful sunset shots. Scored. The light and cloud looked like it could do anything and I wasn't hopeful but I posted up along the viewing platform with the 45 million other hopeful sunset goers and waited. Literally 20mins in and the lightshow went nuts and i stayed there for a solid 2 hours shooting, long exposures, single images, bracketed exposures, just really playing with light, composition and my new camera!
The 12 Apostles on Sunset
Canon 5D mkiv + 17-40mm f/4L @ 26mm
Hoya 10 stop ND filter
30seconds
f/10
ISO 100
Once I had watched the penguin show I set off to my campsite in Port Campbell, made my camp chilli and called it a night ready for an early sunrise.
The next day headed to Loch Ard gorge for sunrise, met some fellow photogs, got some shots, made some epic oats and coffee for breakfast from the van and then headed off to the Otways for some waterfall action, The Redowwd forrest, Hopetoun falls, Beauchamp falls, and then a Cheeky drive along the Great Ocean road home, stopping at many vantage points along the way! If i have an extra hour up my sleeve I would have got a surf in too!
All in all, 24 hours on the GOR and i barely scraped the surface, cant wait to get back for my next mission!
The Gorge
Canon 5D mkiv + 124-70mm f/2.8L @ 24mm
1/3 second
f/11
ISO 100
Canon 5D mkiv + 17-40mm f/4L @ 17mm
0.6 seconds
f/10
ISO 100
Canon 5D mkiv + 17-40mm f/4L @ 40mm
1/8 second
f/11
ISO 100
Canon 5D mkiv + 17-40mm f/4L @ 36mm
0.3 second
f/10
ISO 100
Vantage point along the GOR
Grassy Farmlands on the way
Princess Pier, B&W
Canon 6D + 17-35mm F4/L USM @23mm
Shutter speed: 4.3 seconds
Apeture; f 9.0
ISO: 100
HOYA 10 stop neutral density filter
On a bright, sunny and deliciously warm day last week whilst I was on a mission to Melbourne to pick up some camera gear that had just been serviced, I ducked down to the famous Princess pier to try out a friends camera setup as I am looking at upgrading.
Now being that I am a hobbyist landscape photographer, and avid follower of many amazing photography accounts out there, I love to see the places these talented people shoot, and if possible, get there myself and have a go at shooting some compositions and enjoying the places for myself.
There is something so cool about admiring these places, marveling at the photos, and then making my own pilgrimage, be it near or far, to these places and experience them for myself.
On this particular day it was Super bright and sunny out so I opted for a long exposure shot with a 10 stop ND filter, which i calculated my exposure length with an app from lee filters. I am super happy with the results and cant wait to get back there under some different lighting conditions for sunset in the near future.
As far as the camera goes, going from a canon 60d cropped sensor, to a full frame 5d mkii, to the borrowed 6d, i really noticed the difference in image quality, dynamic range, color and noise in this image and am looking forwards to getting perhaps a 5dmkiv to hopefully take my image making to the next level soon!
So if taking photos is for you, check out some inspiring photographers and get out there and give some places a go, call it a cause for adventure!
Princess Pier Color
Canon 6D + 17-35mm F4/L USM @23mm
Shutter speed: 5 seconds
Apeture; f 9.0
ISO: 100
HOYA 10 stop neutral density filter
Canon 6D + 17-35mm F4/L USM @26mm
Shutter speed: 10 seconds
Apeture; f 9.0
ISO: 100
HOYA 10 stop neutral density filter
Its always a special feeling when i get back to Wanaka, a place where I have spent a fair amount of time enjoying ski seasons and all the crazy times that go with them.
I look at the place a lot differently these days...call it age haha. There is so SO much on offer down here, the more you look , the more you find. Snowboarding in the winter is always my favourtie go to down here, be it my old stomping grounds Cardrona, or the always epic Treble Cone..and if the bank account allows...EPIC heli skiing! But this time we found ourselves exploring waterfalls, hiking to glaciers and looking for those special moments of light that only this part of the world can provide.
I am really looking forwards to making the trek down here again in Summer for some campervan/ hike life and exploring some of the amazing DOC huts you can hike and camp in!
We spent our fist Night in Lake Tekapo after flying into Christchurch, had dinner at a local, watched the mighty ABs take the Bledisloe again then i tried my hand at astro for the first time. FAIL. the clouds came to ruin the party but i did learn alot!!!
We spent the majorty of the trip based in Wanaka, this included waterfall photo shoots, river crossings, mountain walks, lakeside sunset beers, snowboarding, glacier hiking, roadtrips for burgers and views, more snowboarding, more beers, and good times with great mates.
We then decied to head to Methven for our last 3 nights for some epic snow at Mt hutt, BIG MOUNTAIN, properly stoked on that place, we scored epic blue skies and cold conditions making for some of the best riding of the trip! Followed by Hot tubs, beers, bike rides, shack rests, river sunsets, this was a trip to really soak in the NZ nature- but it feels like after living there till i was 25, i have only scratched the surface! CANNOT WAIT to get back there, hike more, camp more, photo more, explore more!
Peep some pics below from our time! Have already printed and framed some of these and so stoked on the results!
The deserted Glendhu road that takes you to Raspberry flat for numerous hikes, waterfalls, huts.
Ness trying not to get too wet from all the mmist from these amazing Falls
Charlotte and Brunos trusty Pajero making one of the 11 ford crossings at pace
Looking towards Rob Roy glacier
Amazing, secluded, great spot for a shoot and some lunch
Ness looking on as we photo nerd out
Ness the lunch goddess making the epic sandwiches
Char getting the shot as she does
Amazing getting to see these icons in real life
ness appreciating our first NZ trip sunrise
getting set for our bike session around lake emma
essential nz snacks- tea and gingernuts
The old sheeo musterers hut on lake emma
Our last sunset on the Methven river
always sheep
Hiking rob roy glacier
Every time I land in Bali and head straight to my local fav beachfront bar and sip on the first delicious ice cold Bintang i always wonder why I wait so long to be here.Our first week in Canggu played all the crowd favorites, with a few new additions thrown in for good measure. We had a mixed bag of weather, cloudy, sunny, cold, hot and the swell was not in my favor this time but that's ok - good opportunity to get out and about, take some photos and enjoy the Island of the gods in a different light!
Once we spent a few days on the mainland we ventured over to our favorite little island Nusa Lembongan for some sun, cold beers, warm water and a few cheeky little waves - until i broke my one and only board. Rookie error.
Finally we spent the last few days nestled along the clifftops of Uluwatu soaking up the rays, the cocktails and getting absolutely rattled on the reef! A few sunset sessions at Singlefin was enough to ease the pain of not being able to surf from too many deep reef cuts..until next time Bali, thanks for always delivering the good times!
Tides out at Nusa Lembongan
A frosty winters morning has delivered the goods to us yet again down on the Surfcoast in Torquay, Vic.
My Swedish wave assasin Jonte and I geared up and rugged up to brave the icy chill and hopefully score some ahhhmazing winter waves!
Poor Jonte didn't wear any booties or shoes on the always treacherous walk down the steps and rekons his feet were frozen halfway down, i had to chase him with the camera as we was trying to move fast!
We saw some epic sets roll in as we were walking (running) down and some people got totally cleaned up, one guy we saw go over the falls and snaped his leash, losing his board, poor bugger. Good old Jonte went for a swim and grabbed his board before the reef turned it into scraps.
We paddled out and scored some absolute gems, glassy, clean and a solid 3-4ft with the odd bigger one that came through just to keep everyone on their toes.
Thanks winter:)