photos

Buying A Camera: A Quick Guide

Posted July 27, 2010 - 12:35am

Over the years, friends and family have asked me questions regarding what camera they should buy. I've always given the same couple of tips. So I figured I would expand on these tips and post them online in the hopes that someone finds them useful.

My Digital Camera History

Posted January 30, 2010 - 11:38pm

My first experience behind a camera was taking control of my parents film camera at family outings. It often came to be that thirty-six shots was not enough to keep me entertained. With film and processing costs, they felt it would be cheaper in the long run to get me a digital camera.

The Fujifilm MX-2900 was to be my first digital camera and cast me as "that weird guy in high-school who always had a camera on him". Over the next few years I was to take countless shots with this little 2.3 megapixel beast. Many of them were lost over the years, a lot were deleted on purpose as I was far from skilful. But damn I had fun with that camera. Eventually I felt it was finally time to upgrade.

I Sold A Photo

Posted November 27, 2009 - 12:27am

Yes. You read that right, and I'm just as amazed as you are.

The photo that sold was titled "Handful of Stars" and has been available to purchase from RedBubble for a number of years. In fact, I'd all but forgotten I had a RedBubble account until this happened. But with this new development, I've now been encouraged to process a few more photos and make them available for sale.

One sale does certainly doesn't pay the bills. But honestly, if I'd received no percentage of the sale I'd be just as psyched as I am right now.

Woot!

You Stay Classy

Posted November 17, 2009 - 10:44pm

History has always fascinated me. Not only ancient history, but the more recent times as well. The era of my grandparents, and great-grandparents. The decades before, during and after the two world wars that so epically shaped the world.

To this end, a friend has recently setup a photo-blog with images sourced for various historical archives around the world. The Old Road has just over a dozen photos so far, and a lot more content has been promised.

As an amateur photographer (over selling myself?) I also find it interesting to see the framing and general style the photographers of the time were going for. It's a reminder that fancy whiz-bang buttons can take us away from the subject we're trying to capture rather than help us capture a moment that people might just look back on 80 years from now.

An Experiment with Mustaches

Posted January 23, 2009 - 11:37pm

I was coming up to the 1400th post to this site, and I figured I'd attempt to do something different for the big number. Instead, here's a few photos of me... With different mustaches. Big thanks to Danamania for the Photoshop work with these.

To start with, here's Original Me:

A little bit too much like a geeky Chopper in this one:

Still looking like a geeky Chopper, just with added sideburns:

In this one, I look like a missing musketeer:

Far too much like a hobo:

The New Toy

Posted December 16, 2008 - 7:53pm

The best advice I can give regarding photography is to never get a DSLR. You'll either always be wanting, or always be broke.

A short while ago I thought I could get away with a bargain on a DSLR lens. A Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO. Turns out... There's no such thing as a bargain.

Ever since I got my Canon EOS 350D, I've been told by many people to never go for a third party lens. Since I never had much money to invest in new and better lenses, it was never really a problem. But one day I started looking about and decided to replace the kit lens with something better, I was drawn to the Sigma lens mostly for it's price. At $485AU it was a down right bargain.

Today's (lack of a) Photo of The Day

Posted December 8, 2008 - 8:39pm

No photo of the day today, I'm too annoyed that my new lens is apparently a dud.

Back to the stores seeking a refund during the holiday period - fun times ahead.

Photo a Day Throughout December

Posted December 1, 2008 - 2:19pm

Today being the 1st of December, it's a perfect time to start something I've been thinking about for awhile.

Throughout December I plan on posting at least one photo a day.

I know. I'm an ideas man.

So, these photos will either be from my DSLR or from my iPhone. Either way, I plan on posting a minimum of 31 photos this month. The first will be uploaded shortly.

If anyone else wants to go with the flow they're more than welcome to post them daily in the forum.

PhotoSwap

Posted September 22, 2008 - 4:28pm

Thanks be to Mike for sending me a link to PhotoSwap.

This awesome little app encourages you to share your surroundings with random people. You simply take a photo of whatever you want and it gets sent off to a random person. You'll then receive whatever photo they've just taken. The idea is simple, but it's strange addictive. I've been wandering around for the last hour or so taking random photos to send to people I'll never meet.

The app gives you the option to reply to someone's photo - so you can send another photo to the same person. As well as a "show on map" option so if you want you can see a rough location of where the photo was take. But this can be turned off if you're concerned about privacy.

A key thing about PhotoSwap is that you must participate to receive any photos. You can't simply run the app and expect to receive anything. Unless you send out photos, you get nothing back. A couple of expected features are missing, but it's only at version 1.0 so I'm expecting plenty of improvements over time.

Some of the photos I received have been attached for just laughs.

I forgot where I put it...

Posted September 2, 2008 - 5:49pm

Earlier in the year, I was taking my camera anywhere and everywhere with me. I carried it to work every day, always had it in my bag, or slung over my shoulder. It was like I'd grown another limb - A strange limb that had interchangeable lenses and could take photos.

Then, several months ago... I put my camera down for some reason and in all honesty, I haven't picked it up since except for the odd happy-snap or random family photo.

In recent weeks I've made a small attempt to get back to what I used to really enjoying doing. I've even taken the camera out of my bag where it's been living these past months. Only now instead of the bag gathering dust - my camera is gathering the dust while sitting on the desk. Maybe I should put it away again...

Maybe I really am all photo'd out?