Exploring close to home...

Explore your backyard. We have all heard it. But I seem always to find more interest in exploring far away places. Wrong, isn't it? Especially since I love my backyard and champion its beauty whenever I can.

Well, this years October long weekend marked the fourth year in a row of holidaying at Port Elliot Caravan Park. After spending many summers there as a child and living in the neighbouring town of Victor Harbor for my teenage years - I finally decided to discover some new things. 

Here are some of my fave places...

Beaches...
Instead of heading to Horseshoe Bay, we veered left and wandered along the Coast path to find ourselves on an untouched, semi-deserted beach. We spot a little (4-5ft) shark playing in the shallows. Watching for five minutes, we saw it twisting and turning before disappearing, only to reappear in another spot and repeat. Swim? Not today, thanks.

There are rocks to the right of the beach, at the headland, where a man is shark fishing. And there is a surf break called chicken run right there - which I'm told only breaks in a large swell. I do see some surfers, and the wave is nice. I wonder why it's called Chicken Run? Playing chicken with the sharks is my guess. 

I continued walking up towards Middleton, on my left, is Bashams Beach, or as my dad likes to say, Lewis beach. He's re-named it after the land he owns just back from the shore - just not sure if anyone else knows. A man can dream. 

Go further, and you hit Middleton, my fave surf spot. This long stretch of beach is popular for surfing but beware of rocks under the water level while swimming, bodyboarding or surfing. 

Retro Vibe Cafe - a casual cafe decked out in, you guessed it, retro furniture and furnishings. It's near the train line and quieter than the main Victor Harbor to Goolwa drag. There's a kids corner too to keep the little ones entertained while you enjoy your coffee. A trip down memory lane is inevitable. 

Too much indulgence? Bike ride through the backstreets and headland near the caravan park for a bit of exercise. Or if you are feeling more energetic, cycle the Encounter Bikeway that runs from Encounter Bay to Goolwa. It's 30km long, reasonably flat and well made. Do as much, or as little, as you like. 

Of course, there is much more to do, but that is the beauty of the Fleurieu. You can do as little or as much as you like. 

Keeping inspired and creative...

work in progress...

I know how important personal projects are to keep creatives inspired, learning and creative. It's just that while raising two small children, running a commercial photography business and keeping the house - it's one of the last things on my list. This year, that changed. 

In September I started what was to become the biggest personal project I have done to date. I decided to partner with La Bomba, the dance school where I take lessons and tell her story through her people. 

Part documentary, part art, I asked for dancers - teachers and students - to tell me about themselves and think about how they would like to be photographed. I wanted to create a photograph that showed them, and their life outside of dance. 

Some people have chosen to show their profession or other hobbies, but many are creating photographs that inspire and connect with them. I compiled a Pinterest board of inspiration, and they are 'running' with it to co-direct their photo shoot. 

Nature and the beach are popular locations, Mother Nature playing a big part in calming and inspiring dancers of all sorts. I've photographed people in costume, in everyday clothes and sports uniforms. We've done shoots with horses, children, smoke bombs, motorbikes and flying powder. 

But one of the most interesting parts of this project has been to read and hear what draws people to dance. I've always said it is like a moving meditation for me, and this is the case for many people. Recurring themes of forgetting about their worries, being someone else, going somewhere outside of the thoughts and feeling free. 

This project also shows how diverse dancers are. We have doctors, physios, photographers and marketing managers. Students, retirees, couples, and singles. Young and old. And everyone in between. 

The exhibition will be displayed early next year; I will keep you updated about it. I'll also be captioning the images with snippets of quotes to show each dancers story. Inspiring people that have thought about dancing, but never tried. 

Summer dreams at Seawall Apartments Glenelg - check them out!

Summer loving! 

I can not wait until the warmer weather hangs around for day after day...

What better place to spend those summer days than at the beach. I'm lucky; I now live just a few minutes walk to the beach. But I'll still be taking a break at Seawall Apartments in Glenelg this summer. I love the place.

I've photographed Seawall a few times now over the years, as they renovate their rooms. And with each room being different - I will never get bored. 

But what is so great about Seawall?

I love the style, the comfort, and the location. 

My fave apartment?

Any of the beachfront ones... but Olive Court is kinda cool. 

I love a beachfront spa - relaxing as I watch the sunset over the ocean. Ok, so it does take a bit to get used to seeing people while bathing... but I know they can't see me. Cue glass of bubbles and some music and I'm set for a good half hour. I just need to learn not to run the water so hot that I overheat. 

The beach is just a few steps away, or I can walk a few minutes and be sipping a macchiato in a cafe along Jetty Road. Seawall is far enough away from the hustle and noise, but close enough to walk whenever I want the vibe. 

Check them out! And visit www.seawallapartments.com.au for more info (and to see the rest of my pics:))

Just a thought on travel and exploring...

No surprise I love to travel. I believe it's a great learning experience. And it's a great way to immerse myself in the idea of...

Question. Be curious. Explore new places. Meet new people. Do different things. 

CLIENT SHOWCASE: Dudley Wines

I've been to Kangaroo Island many times. I love wine. So why have I never been to Dudley Wines? 

Interest peaked when I read about it on yTravels blog, talking about having one of the best views from a cellar door ever - which is quite a statement. So finally I am here. And I'm photographing them. 

It's a whirlwind, arriving straight after hiking the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, late in the day. But it's fun. 

I'm soon laughing away, bossing people around, trying to work as quick as I can. I do feel slightly sorry for everyone, copping my craziness after being alone for almost a week. I know what I'm like after working in front of the computer for a day, I can only imagine how whacko I act today.

Dudley Wines had organised friends to be our talent in photos, and they did such a good job. 

Of course, everyone enjoyed the wine with cheese platters.

Clearly, the boys loved having a hit with the golf clubs.

And the kids loved running around on the grass.

What did I love? Lots of things. But the Shiraz was pretty good! At the end of the shoot, I sat and chatted with family and staff, so welcoming and friendly.

If only all shoots were like this....

Shooting people... with your camera

Disappointed by your photos of people?

No matter the device (phone or camera), here are my top three tips...

Moving your subjects under some shade will eliminate a lot of ugly shadows on their faces. 

1. Look at the light on your subject - are their eyes in shadows? Is the background too bright or dark? 

Are they looking into the sun and squinting their eyes? Perhaps turn them away from the sun, or have the sun to the side of them. 

Turning your subject side on to the light makes for great shadow and three dimension on the face but also means they are not squinting into the light.

Some of the best natural light is in a shaded area where sunlight is gently falling in. Near a window, just under a verandah... 

Keeping the background out of focus is one way of removing distractions. White paper also reflects beautiful light back onto faces. 

2. Look at the backgrounds - declutter to make sure the attention is on the person. 
Check there are no trees, poles or other things growing out of heads. 

If you have to use the on-camera flash, move your subject away from the walls. That dark, harsh shadow on the wall doesn't add to the photo (in a positive way).

And of course, you can expose for the background and make silhouette portraits. 

3. Get them naturally - either by taking candid pics or talking to them when you are taking the photo. A real smile is always going to be better than a tight-lipped fake one. 

Photographs were the subject isn't looking at the camera are great for story-telling. 

Kids photos will be much better when you allow them to play rather than making them sit stiffly smiling at the camera.

Want to learn more? Check out my Better Pics for Business eCourse... I'll teach you how to get better people, event, product and landscape photos. Easily. With any camera. 

3 adventure places to visit on Kangaroo Island...

Giant boulders that make up Remarkable Rocks.

1. Flinders Chase National Park - Admirals Arch, Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, Remarkable Rocks. Get about on day hikes, multi day hikes, guided tours or cruise in your car. The coastal views, rough cliffs, and natural scrub combine beautifully (of course, it's Mother Nature). And animals? There are kangaroos, Cape Barren geese, a smelly seal colony (which is totally worth persisting with), and various bird life.

Pups at Admirals Arch... playful and inquisitive. 

Where the southern ocean hits Kangaroo Island - dramatic and beautiful at once. The road to Remarkable Rocks.

The road that leads into the park. 

Just wandering about... the entrance to the the last campsite of Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. 

Remarkable Rocks. They truly are. 

2. Seal Bay - there aren't too many places I know of where you can get so close to these cute animals. Stand on the beach with them, watch the males fight, smell their unremarkable stench, hear the pups cry for their mums to return from fishing. A guide is always with you ensuring we don't get too close - although the seals sometimes don't know the rules, coming right up to groups to say hello. While I was there, a little pup came sliding down the dunes right up to a group. He checked them out then waddled on.

Meeting cute critters at Seal Bay. Tourists can't approach the seals but nothing stops them coming up to tourists. 

Where's mum? The young seals let out mournful cries while searching for mum and the food she brings back for them. 

3. Little Sahara dunes  - clamber up the top then whizz back down on a toboggan or sand board. Repeat. Grab some beautiful views while there too - it's worth risking the camera (or keep it in a sealed plastic bag to improve your chances of a sand free camera when you slide back down. This place is just fun. Prepare to get sandy. 

Wind patterns atop the dunes at Little Sahara.

Don't let the legs get away from you... running down Little Sahara dunes.

Monkey fun at Little Sahara.

Where the dunes meet the bush. Little Sahara.

CLIENT SHOWCASE: Clare Valley Wine Food and Tourism Centre

In July 2017 I worked with Clare Valley Wine Food and Tourism Centre... here are the pics. These are all taken within a half day shoot. A 'basic' to 'medium' retouch has been done on these keeping the images real but removing distracting objects like 'Exit' signs. 

Many more images were taken, proofs given to the client for selection, the client selects finals for delivery.

Let me tell you... there's choice. :)

If you want some ideas of what could work for you - email me. 

CLIENT SHOWCASE: Flinders Bush Retreats

Billy tea and scones by the campfire in the Gorge

How old are the Flinders Ranges? I don't know, but apparently, some of the worlds oldest fossils have been found here.

View from the property

I used to camp up at the Flinders Ranges with my grandparents and family as a child. We’d set up camp by a creek, sit around campfires at night, hike during the day and construct gravestones for the baby rabbits accidentally caught in my Grandpa’s traps that day. We’d name them, bury them, have a ceremony and put a headstone on top. 

Mt Scott Homestead kitchen

Twenty years later, and a few visits in between, I’m back. But this time I’m not camping, I'm staying in a three bedroom home complete with indoor fire, fire pit outside and bath overlooking the gorge hills. There is even a coffee machine. Luxurious. There is a water trough out the back which emus come and drink. Each day I take a bath mid-afternoon, so I can laze back and watch the sun play hide and seek with the stormy clouds while the emus slurp away. I laugh as sheep come running to the trough and scatter the emus one afternoon. I wonder who rules the roost?

Mt Scott Homestead

The Quarters

Eco tent

Eco tent

Flinders Bush Retreats is a working station about 10 minutes out of Hawker. There is a range of accommodation. Bush campsites, Eco tent, The Quarters (which are quite luxe shearers quarters) and where I’m staying, Mount Scott Homestead. Something for everyone, I’d like to think. 

Getting hands on and learning in the shearing shed

I love the isolation of Mount Scott Homestead. Five minutes drive from the nearest house through paddocks. I hear nothing but the wind, birds and occasional creak from the trees. I sit at the breakfast bar and see the outback farm for as far as my short sighted eyes can see. Adventuring up into the hills of the Willow Waters Gorge, I am comfortable knowing if I get lost I only need to head west, and I’ll see ‘home’. 

Walking through the Gorge

I am alone, but I can imagine having a few nights away with friends or family. Willow Waters Gorge, the gorge on the property is old. Very old. Boringly old apparently. So the scientific folk said when they came to survey the area. But it is perfect for wandering. It’s small enough not to get lost but big enough to walk for a few hours each day. I climb up to a peak one chilly morning and get a 360-degree view of the gorge. It’s a little utopia amongst the barren farmland over the other side of the hills. 

One of the campsites

Another day I climb up the hills, losing the track I'm meant to walk up, but find my way around on the goat and kangaroo tracks. I get over to the gorge side of the hills, but rain and wind lash in. I retreat, slipping down the hill on the scree. Just as I get back to Mount Scott Homestead, the sky opens and a storm rolls in. The wind makes a song as it hurtles across the farmland and through the gum trees lining the front of the house. I’m glad I turned back when I did. The hills were steep, and I can imagine the wind picking me up and throwing me somewhere further down if I’d been up on top still. 

Meet and greet with the farm animals

Sharon and Allen McInnes are working farmers. They live nearby with their children and have a farm of animals for guests to meet. Mini ponies, geese, chooks, sheep, pigs, cat, dogs… City kids (big and small) will be amazed. Unfortunately, due to weather, I missed out on shearing, but at the right time of year, guests can get involved with farm chores too. 

The Eco tent view

CLIENT SHOWCASE: Kangaroo Island Day Tours

Did you know that Kangaroo Island is a hot spot for Italian honeymooners in July/August every year? It is one of their must-visit places. 

I can understand why. There aren’t too many places where you can see kangaroo, koala, seals and a variety of other animals and birds in the wild, all in one day. Pretty much guaranteed. 

Many international tourists come for just the day or one night. It’s a big investment, but obviously worth it. 

I go to Kangaroo Island in July and hitch a ride with two of Sealinks tours - Remarkably Wild Tour and Kangaroo Island Odysseys 1 Day Kangaroo Island Wildlife Discovery Tour. Italian and American guests dominate, what starts as a quiet trip ends up in laughter and jokes at the end of the day with me teaching them some Aussie slang. The Americans think it's hilarious, converting words and the different meanings. It is two fun filled days of work. 

I’ve been to Kangaroo Island quite a few times for work and pleasure, so I’m no stranger to the island. But I still haven’t discovered it all. 

I am especially happy to hear we’ll be visiting Seal Bay. I’ve only been once and lost all my images from that visit on the beach with these cute creatures so am keen to photograph them again. I am even happier when yesterdays stormy weather disappears, and blue skies roll in. It’s July, middle of winter, blue skies and no rain is never expected. I thank the weather gods. 

Another stop is at Sealinks private property. We lunch in a marquee surrounded by koala filled trees. Sealink owns this Heritage-listed property, planting many trees each year. Guests have exclusive access to this, making the day even more memorable.

We drive in darkness back to Penneshaw. Everyone battles with staying awake. I’m thankful for not having to drive as I close my eyes. Guests are sailing back to the mainland and onwards to Adelaide, ready to take off the next morning. They still have another four hours ahead of them. I feel tired thinking about it, but they are smiling ear to ear.