Photo tip: Get 'em out of centre.

I see so many people line people up dead centre of their photo. I guess we may have been taught to do this - everyone seems to do it. But there is a thing in photography called the 'rule of thirds'. Our eye tends to drift to a spot that is not dead centre, and we are taught to place our focal point there instead. 

If you draw two lines through horizontally and two lines vertically through a photograph, where those lines meet is supposed to be the sweet spot. There are four spots you can choose from. 

Try it next time you take a pic. Leave some empty space to one side. Put your focus on something in the top left or bottom right - anywhere but centre. And then take the same pic, but centre the focused object. Which one looks better?

If I had taken this photo, centring the man, I would have lost the amazing shadow play to the right of him, and the framing of darkness that surrounds would have altered. I also love how he is looking down and out of the frame, as if his mind is elsewhere. A time of reflection, emotion and power. If I had gotten more body, it may have not let my eye delve so close, to see his emotion, the chin strap sitting tight around his face, the shine of light on his jacket.

But, of course, rules are made to be broken, and sometimes, it's just better with focus in the middle.

I guess that is art for you. Do what you want. Just tellin' ya what I know. 

Looking Differently Photography Tip

We are taught to walk forward, watching where we go, eyes up, and standing confident. But some times, the best photos can not be found this way. A photographer needs to be curious. Here are a few tips to consider when you pick up the camera (or iPhone) next.

Look around you.

Get down on the ground - like a childs view.

Turn around when walking, and see what it looks like. You will be surprised at how different the view can look.

Look up.

Look at the details - go up close and get the bubbles, the signage, the food, the beautiful colour of the flower.

You don't always need a face in the photo to tell the story. Hands, feet, even a whole body with head cropped. 

Reflections can be interesting.

Windows and mirrors - use them. So many stories to be told - infront of you and behind you in the one image.

I love to sit and watch the world go by. In the image above, I was at a cafe in Mount Gambier SA, working on the laptop, but needing an 'eye strain' break. I can't last, even for an hour, on the computer without breaks. I'd been watching people come and go, conversations through the window, laughter, waitresses keeping everyone happy - and wanted to capture the hive of activity. Cafes can be a hive of activity.

I entered this photography in the AIPP Awards (Australian Institue of Professional Photography) and gained a Silver at State level. I love that you can see me (normally a pro no-no) and the outside world, but also have the dialogue of legs sitting at the window.

I wonder what they were talking about? Did they indulge in a pastry? Who knows.

We can make our own ending.

Playing with water and cameras...

So I really admire www.aquabumps.com.au (Eugene Tan) and now realise the skill that goes into his awesome photos. While staying at Port Elliot recently, I took my back up camera out for a play, in an Outex housing. It's a bit clunky, but seeing as I don't do a load of water stuff, I didn't want to fork out lotsa $$$ for a proper housing. It does mean though, that zooming, changing settings, or even seeing what I'm taking (the way I set it up) is hard.

Anyway. I never jump in the water without a wetsuit now, but taking these shots, I was having so much fun, I went in with just bikini and rashie and couldn't feel a thing. That's fun. That's excitement. That's me happy.

I'm going to have a play with these and see what I can make of them… then get back to you with a before and after. (I'm still excited…)

Bonython Park, SA. A bit of fun...

These kinds of parks are awesome. Bike safety parks. Get into learning in a safe environment while having fun.  

SAPPA and APPA photo awards 2014

The results are in. Over the last couple of months many photographers have put their hearts on photographic paper and entered the AIPP (Aust. Institute of Professional Photography) APPA (Aust. Professional Photography Awards) and SAPPA (SA Pro Photog. Awards) awards. I was one of them. And although I may not be completely happy with my results, I know I should be. These awards are hard. Getting an award is something to be celebrated.

Below are my prints that I entered in the APPA's. (These all received Silvers at SAPPA). At APPA all received Professional Standard, with one gaining Silver. One other image was one point off Silver too. They were judged by the best of the best of my peers, so to impress them is something.

BE DETERMINED TO MOVE ON AND UP… ALWAYS BE READY TO LEARN. EVEN FOR THE MASTERS.

Bali - but different.

[gallery] So, Bali is boganville. Right? Well, if you go to Kuta area, yes. But go just thirty minutes north to Canggu, and it's completely different. Sitting at Echo Beach, watching the sun set, we see one hawker, a handful of locals, a few handfuls of surfers, a bunch of expats and some more tourists. All calm, all chilled, all getting on with the relaxed life. No smutty stickers, no drunk obnoxious grots. I find myself saying many times that I can see why people fall in love with the place, and live here. Expats sit at beachside cafes, tapping away at their laptop while swigging a beer. Everyone(well, nearly) rides a motorbike down, except for me and hubby, on our bicycles. Everyone knows them though too, branded with The Chillhouse, an accommodation in the area. It's like one big, happy family. Even further north is The Menjangan. It's the quietest part of Bali I've set foot on. Well, that is, until , we, and particularly, my kids, get there. The squeals of excitement that echo through the forest as we bump along the dirt rocky tracks in a double decker open minivan surely scare the monkeys back a step or two. The deer grazing at the beach don't seem to mind the curious kids sneaking up on them either. And the calm bay, bordered with white sand beach, framed by mangroves, is perfect to burn energy. After coming back from a canoe exploration, we wander the boardwalks through the mangrove, chancing upon a Monitor Lizard. The huge lizard watches us as we scuttle past, then slowly moves on.

So, for somewhere different, but still easy and cheap - Bali can deliver. Think outside the square - or from the stretch of  hectic tourism that is Kuta, Legian and Seminyak - and head up. Canggu, Medewi, and Menjangan. Treat yourself. We met a few travellers from Australia, travelling up around the North West of Bali, and all of them were very impressed, and so glad they made the effort. Even the girl that wobbled around like a walking bandage after coming of her motorbike on the way up.

www.themenjangan.com

www.thechillhouse.com

Job: Due South Launch

I photo'd the launch of HWR's Due South last week. It was fun. So many people to see, and say hello to again. I like the people here. Along with doing the normal event pics, I had some fun with photographing some randomness...

SA AIPP Awards 2014 and APPA National Awards 2014

I entered these pics in the SA AIPP Awards a while back… and did well. Silver awards for the family legs on the beach, cafe window, SUP'ing at Glenelg and the life savers packing up at the end of a long day.

The rest were awarded professional standard - which of course, I'm very happy about. This weekend, my four silvers are in Sydney being judged for the National Awards. Fingers crossed for me.

I'd love to hear what you think… everyone has their own opinion.

52A The Esplanade, Middleton SA

A while back a group of girls went down to Middleton for a weekend away. A weekend of wine, food, surf, massages and walks along the beach. Whales were spotted, muscles soothed, stories told, and plenty of cheese devoured. Surf was, well, tragic. But we had a go.

Booking through SA Beachhouse, we stayed at 52A The Esplanade. The stay wasn't without any hiccups - not being able to work out appliances or downstairs heating the main ones - but nothing was to detract from this fabulous holiday home and i'ts location. Or our weekend away from the kids. I loved crawling out of bed in the morning, making an (unfortunately instant) coffee and costing up on the sofa watching the waves roll in. Being winter, we were also spoilt with whales frolicking just behind the break.

It's a great house, in a fabulous location. Nothing but a stobie pole to block our view of the beach. Perfect for winter or summer. Great for families, and even better for a bunch of friends (split the cost!)

www.sabeachhouse.com.au

Casting the net

Sometimes we have to take our chances to expand our catch. Take risks to grow. Sometimes we will miss. But we can always try again.