A day out + lightroom 2.0 test + fifty mil test = Great fun

I caught up with a friend for coffee and then went shooting today.

I am finally using ADOBE Lightroom 2.0 people. FINALLY. And I am so pleased with the post production results. Just take a look below. However I am still very confused with the layout of the software at this stage. Might take some getting used to.

Plus I am testing out my BRAND NEW Nikon 50mm F1.8 lens. She's a teeny weeny thing and I love it so much already.

Please click on the image above and take a look at the guys behind Laura. I love that moment. Please leave your favourite caption for that photo in the comments at the end of this post.











Please give me feedback on this stuff. I would like to see what you think.

Cheers

.....and the wave that did come. With horrible force

This post is basically to share with you the devastation left by the terrible tsunami on a remote Island in the Tongan Islands group, called Niuatoputapu.

All photos belong to the NZ Defence Force. This is the work I was performing while on the the Navy's Multi Role Vessel when we travelled to Tonga and Samoa just last month. All photos here were taken on a tiny remote island of Tonga called Niuatoputapu, where 9 people lost their lives.

Please take a moment to remember those who were lost in both countries by looking through these images.








The above image appeared in the NZ Herald along with a few others during our trip.














It was an honour to be able to help out these people in a time of such need, and they were very grateful for our presence.
Below are two shots of yours truely.

I am standing on a slab of concrete where a house used to stand tall.

The wave that never came

My love goes out to all those effected by the Samoan Tsunami.

A lot of people here in Auckland felt like checking out the beaches to see if we would also be effected however thankfully it did not eventuate.

The best camera is the one thats with you!!

We all have our idols. Someone to learn from, someone we aspire to. For a number of years I have followed a great photographer and creative genius and he goes by the name of Chase Jarvis from the USA. Lately he has been posting heaps of photos taken with his iphone on his blog in order to make a point. The point was, as stated in the title of this post, that "The best camera is the one thats with you". It doesn't matter how many mega pixels it is or what ISO is goes up to, how good its dynamic range is BLAH BLAH BLAHDY BLAH, as long as you have a camera with you all the time. Almost everyone does........ even if its a cellphone its still a camera. The most important thing is that you share your images, your vision with others. There's no point on them staying locked up on your memory card or hard drive.

I don't have an iphone, well not yet anyway, but I have really taken this advice on and plan to do something similar, with whatever camera I have on me at the time, whether it be my 4 year old mobile, or my rather flimsy looking sony touch-screen compact job or my professional gear. The point is I will shoot. Anything, anywhere.

But I don't want to be alone. Maybe you could take some of the inspiration I got from a crazy dude all the way over in Seattle, USA. Join in with me. It'll be fun.

CREATE ---------> SHARE

Check out Chase Jarvis' new 'The Best Camera' initiative here - It will truely open your eyes

Or check out his site & blog

Anyway time to practice what I preach.







More soon

Vampire breath

I took this last year. I thought it was time I shared it. If you have been to my apartment you would have seen it printed and signed by owner and pilot, Brett Emery.