Location photographer. Getting behind the scenes. Showing off the secret, and not so secret, treasures of the world.
Summer holidays...
Summer holidays. Where I expect sun and warm weather, but get rain and grey skies. Moreton Island and Tangalooma Resort is still fun.
When I booked an island holiday in Queensland, I just presumed it would be sunny and warm. After all, it was going to be October. And coming from Adelaide, even mid-twenties would be a treat.
So, grey skies, rain and 18 degrees was a bit of a shock. So much for the summer holiday to Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island. Where are my relaxing afternoons lazing on the beach after touring around? Instead, we are scrambling around for umbrellas and ponchos and venturing about the resort when the rain subsides a little. We don't even get to see outside of the resort. Something that annoys me - I love to know where I am and go discovering when somewhere new.
But, we adapt. We grab the umbrellas and ponchos and wander. Ashton wades through puddles. Belle cartwheels across the lawn. They both build a fort with their umbrellas on the beach. They even get me in the pool once. Brr.
Reception has board games, we play a few games of pool, and visit the marine centre where we learn about marine life. I am shocked at how dolphins and sharks have been slaughtered. I never knew that sharks were caught for their fin and then chucked back in the sea to die.
I'd definitely like to re-visit with the sun and warm weather. Moreton Island looks magical, and the resort itself is a little haven of relaxation and chill.
CLIENT: Lush Pastures
A one hour Editorial photo shoot at Lush Pastures. The results…
Ever wondered what you get for a one hour Editorial style photo shoot? Here’s a recent shoot with Lush Pastures… great results for their Instagram and social media feed.
Streets of Havana
Streets of Havana, Cuba exhibition by lifestyle and location photographer, Heidi Lewis of heidi who photos. Come join us for some Cuban fun on 1st November at Howling Owl!
In May 2018 I went to Cuba for two weeks. It's been on my bucket list for many years, so I was very excited to be going, finally. Even if it did mean over 36 hours in travel to get there.
I went with Adelaide dance school, La Bomba. We stayed in Havana most of the time - discovering the neighbourhoods, visiting a local family, taking dance classes, watching an intimate dance rehearsal and of course drinking mojitos and salsa'ing through the night at many concerts and night spots.
During the day we discovered the streets - by foot, taxi, the yellow coco taxis and bicitaxi. Tourist areas and the not so frequented areas.
Streets of Havana exhibition shows (predominantly Old) Havana through my eyes. The buildings are crumbling but beautiful. Life happens on the street. It's a mix of colour, rubbish, beauty, smells (mainly fumes and petrol) and old relics.
Launch will be on Thursday 1 November from 6pm at The Howling Owl. Cuban inspired cocktails will be available and a Cuban dance class (with La Bomba) will be held at 7.30pm.
INFORMATION:
Streets of Havana
10 Vaughan Pl, Adelaide SA 5000
Launch 1st Nov at 6pm
CONTACT HEIDI 0402 716 406 for all media enquiries
The streets of Trinidad, Cuba.
Trinidad, Cuba. A place of colour and culture. Some photographs from an afternoon exploring her streets in May.
Trinidad is known as one of the best preserved, oldest towns in Cuba. I venture down for a quick overnight discovery. It’s touristy - there are souvenir shops everywhere and tourists roam the streets.
The old pebble streets are thin and make for slow travel - either by foot or vehicle. Horse and carriage trot around, allowing tourists a higher vantage point to view the streets and architecture.
A lot of Cuban homes and buildings are colourful but run down, cracking and dusted with grime. Cubans just don't have the money to maintain them. And to be honest, I'm not sure they even have the desire (from experiencing their relaxed lifestyle and attitude to work). Here, the buildings are clean and freshly painted with colour. Making it look more attractive to the tourists, I presume.
Spending a few days here, experiencing the town as it goes about it's day to day life, rather than coming in for the day with the other busloads, would be ideal. Something I plan to do next time in Cuba.
Discovering Jo Eastaff with Fleurieu Living Magazine
Discovering places and people on the Fleurieu Peninsula. A recent shoot at the home of Jo Eastaff for Fleurieu Living Magazine.
One of the best parts of my job is the discoveries I get to make. Of places and people. Recently I met, and photographed the home (and studio/gallery) of Jo Eastaff. She lives in a charismatic home at Middleton.
I could not get enough of the views, the art she produces, and all the little things to see around her home. Her bathroom (and toilet with hand-washing water recycled to flush the toilet) is pretty wow too. It is a true reflection of who Jo is. Creative, fun, social and very talented.
I had to concentrate on taking photos as it was so easy to talk to Jo. We shared common interests of the love of the beach (which was right out the front of her house), need of travel and creativity in work and life.
Here are some of the pics I took in the hour or two I was there. As I said… I had to drag myself away from her coffee and biscuits, goggling the surf and chats. ;)
Escaping for a relaxing night at Lush Pastures
A relaxing weekend away… close to home. Eat, drink, sleep. And a wander.
Ever since I photographed Lush Pastures a few years back, I knew I wanted to come here for a night (or more). Now, I'm here. And not for work. And I'm excited.
The experience, for me, all starts with the drive down. Lush Pastures is just outside of Yankalilla, so I get to drive along one of my favourite roads away from Adelaide. The winding curves, the big bosom hills (that are looking so lush after winter) on one side and sparkling ocean on the other. I feel like I am a race car driver, scooting around the hillsides - even though I'm sitting on a speed that is similar to Granny driving (well, that's what I'll tell my Mum and Dad anyway).
When the road turns to dirt and we venture upwards, I know we are getting close. Surrounded by green paddocks, trees arching over the road and the odd farmhouse... Mother Nature's design of countryside, hills and valleys, I have no choice but to breathe deep and soak it in. Relaxation begins.
Cheryl and Andy greet us as we are getting out of the car, and show us around the property. The views from the pavilions are beautiful - especially with the blue sky and green winter grass. We look out over the hills to the ocean.
It's mid-afternoon, I have grand ideas of tramping around the paddocks but instead, find ourselves sitting with a bottle of wine and cheese board in the huge chairs that look out of Romeo, our pavilion. It's like a painting, the panoramic window framing the hills, ocean and sky perfectly. Chatting away, sipping wine and nibbling Fleurieu cheese, figs and gourmet crackers, it's hard to move. So we don't. Until dinner. When we have to wander a few metres over to the Lodge for more wine and three-course meal with Andy and Cheryl.
Blue cheese and fig creme brulee, spanakopita and dill pancake rolls with smoked salmon start us off. Beef short ribs, potato crisp and bok choy fill the tummy even more. Homemade vanilla ice cream with red desert lime marmalade, chilli plums and chocolate brownie nearly make me burst. All washed down with local K1 by Geoff Hardy wine.
The conversation goes from personal stories, the theatrics of a soccer game, sports stars, hilarious Australian humour to wine. Cheryl and Andy are great to chat to - but by 10 pm I'm ready to collapse into a food-induced coma. I waddle back to Romeo.
Waking up with no blinds, I love watching the sun change the shape and tone of the hills from under the covers. Gemma comes to the door for a pat before breakfast - and probably to tell us breakfast is ready, which (in the gentlest way) finally forces me out of bed. It is 9 am after all.
Breakfast is waiting for us in the Lodge. Luckily, I had a good nights sleep to rest my tummy after yesterdays food because this is a big, yummy feed of cereal, fruit, eggs, toast, yoghurt and endless coffee.
Now is definitely a great time for that walk. We wander through the paddocks to the dams - with Bella and Gemma in tow. Or, more so, leading the way. And then it's time to leave.
Driving back to Adelaide, we stop off to walk Normanville to Carrickalinga beach. My body is craving movement. I wonder why? Food coma, lots of wine and a good dose of relaxation... I feel like a different person.
iPhone TIP: Better exposure
An easy tip to get better exposure with your iPhone.
You are framing up a photo, and it’s too dark or light.
What do you do? Take the photo anyway?
Well, there is something that can help you get a better photo. Whenever I show people this, they light up with joy.
Press the screen where you want to focus.
See the sun symbol. Hold and drag the sun up and down to lighten/darken photo.
Take the photo.
Inkwell Wines and Hotel California... stolen a piece of my heart.
Inkwell Wines and Hotel California is in McLaren Vale. I went to photograph it for Fleurieu Living Magazine recently. Made from shipping containers, my camera (and I) love all the architectural design and vineyard views, snapping away in the cellar door and on the viewing deck above.
But, it’s when I go down to the micro hotel of ‘Hotel California’ that I’m audibly going ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’. The baths hook me. Deep, freestanding and open to the views of the vineyard. There are only 3 suites, so the likelihood of someone seeing you taking a dip is, well, lower. And hey, all part of the fun?
Inkwell releases single vineyard wines which express the "fingerprint of place" from its iconic Mclaren Vale vineyard winery. By fermenting without additions, we produce age-worthy wines that retain natural freshness and intensity. We are the only winery in McLaren Vale to produce estate-only wines in this way. But, we keep things simple: one tractor, one de-stemmer, one press, small fermenters and one dog. We've removed as much of the “man-made” from Inkwell’s sustainable wine-growing and wine-making as we sensibly can so you can share in the fruit of our special site and labor for years to come.
My old stomping ground... Victor Harbor.
Reminiscing about old times in Victor Harbor… while at work.
I had a photo shoot around Victor Harbor recently. I was very excited. I spent my late teenage years in Victor Harbor and hadn’t spent much time wandering the streets since. I wanted to see how it has changed. And boy, has it changed.
Now there are juice bars, health stores, coffee shops, funky plant stores where plants are named along with the old favourites like the lolly shop and cinema. The main street (Ocean St) has had an upgrade and now has artwork and seating areas while the whale tail in Warland Reserve still draws the crowds. I remember doing ‘mainies’ (doing laps of the main street) down here in the 90s, and now I’m sipping on double-shot lattes.
It still has the country feel but with the little niceties of quirky cafes, protein bar, wholefoods bulk store, and an outstanding collection of coverture chocolate that looks more like artwork than a treat.
I also went for a drive... as everyone does when down here. Out to Encounter Bay, to the Bluff and further out to Middleton. To check the waves of course. It's what I do when I'm down here. A day well spent at work.
Check out the map and story in the current issue of Fleurieu Living Magazine.
Leonards Mill with Fleurieu Living Magazine
Leonards Mill… in the (Second) valley down south. Worth the drive. You can stay overnight too.
That one time when on a shoot, I got adventurous. And ate pigs head. (It’s the crumbed balls and actually tasted ok).
A great place to eat while on a day trip down at the Fleurieu Peninsula. Just make sure you book first. I went down with Fleurieu Living Magazine and photographed staff, food and venue. Here are some of the pics…
