Underwater Photography

Wow!!! Long time no post....
Anyway just wanted to share this image, my first time snorkelling and first underwater photo.
I used a Dicapac bag and my old Canon 30D with a Sigma 10-20mm as I didn't quite trust the bag with my other gear.
It wasn't super clear as we have had some strong westerly's but I'm happy for a first time pic.
I think I'm going to like snorkelling and underwater photography!!! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Choosing a shutter speed

I am currently going through a phase where I like to see some movement in my seascapes, I have come away (for now) from the 15sec or even 30sec exposures where the water goes like fog.

This image was taken using a 25sec exposure

This one was a 1.6sec exposure

A personal preference but currently I like the look of the 1.6sec, it still shows motion while retaining some blur in the water.


Personal preference, next year i will probably like something totally different. :)

Stormy Skies, taken yesterday.
Most think cloudy skies are not the best times to shoot but in fact can result in images with atmosphere, interesting skies and in this case bring out colour in the water.
This image is not HDR, none of my images are, this is a question I get asked alot. I do use Lee Filters which allows me to get it right in camera.
Settings for this image... ISO 50, F18, 1.6sec, 0.9 ND Grad. 6 Image stitch allowing for HUGE prints.
My camera did get a bit of a hammering with the rain. :(

The Milky Way....

Clear skies last night allowed me to do some test shots for a shoot I have planned over the next few weeks. I love the night sky, I could just sit staring for hours, all the troubles in life just seem so insignificant.

Sunrise WA Day 2012

Today is WA Day and thought I would head to the beach to see what I could get. It was really cloudy and wasn't sure if it was going to light up, but knew if the clouds broke on the horizon while the sun was rising then it could be good. And it did and it was...

One morning 2 shots...

Up early, think I got frostbite from the sand. Went to the beach, then when the light had done its "thing" I went to the wood while it was still low.
Wood shot....
I noticed a young tree so tried to make this the focal point by a)using the rule of thirds, b)using the back light to hi-light it, c) using the shadows as a lead in. I wanted to show the large trunks around to contrast against the small.
Gonna name it Young and Old

and here is the beach shot...

Settings used...

One Rock at Two Rocks

This was taken at Two Rocks Western Australia, I have been trying to keep my exposures shorter latley <2secs so there is still clarity but still movement.

RAAF Air Show 2012 at Pearce Airbase

Great time had over the weekend at my first Air Show!

Dawn at Burns Beach WA

Taken at Burns Beach Western Australia at Dawn.

I was hoping for cloud but didn't get it although I am happy with how this shoot turned out, The sky had a nice colour for a while and the green on the rocks finished it off. I tried to keep my shutter speed below 2 secs so that the water showed some movement and wasn't blurred completely. I waited until a wave had come in and filled the gaps in the rocks, then waited until the water had started to flow back so it created a better lead-in.
I have included a video showing a brief look at the area and the processing process. It is not a tutorial but I am planning on doing one. I will include more on the taking the photo and location finding in future videos.

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Video can be seen here 

Busselton WA

Took a trip down south in the hope of a break in the weather which didn't happen. I will be returning to this spot, it is a photo minefield!
This image is not what I am after but it does show the area and possibilities, cant wait to get down to those rocks!

Sunrise - Anzac Day 2012

A beautiful sunrise for Anzac Day.

NEW FREE DESKTOP BACKGROUND RELEASED

We have released another FREE desktop background!!!!
http://www.waynewrightphotography.net/freedesktopscreensaver.html

Another Stunning Sunset

I haven't taken a landscape/seascape image for a while and have to get it out of my system. I have been so busy with Weddings and Sports that I haven't physically had the time. Driving to the location I can see the wispy clouds and I can see the trees blowing in the easterly wind, perfect conditions. It was a great sunset and I have had my fix.
Enjoy your weekend!

Nic Naitanui's Dunk at Wildcats game.

Westcoast Eagles player Nic Naitanui took up the challenge at the NBL Perth Wildcats game last night against the Breakers, he proved he has skills other than AFL by executing an awesome dunk!
I love this image...

WA Sunset

This sunset was taken in Two Rocks WA, one of those unplanned shoots that sometimes pay off. I usually do a fair amount of planning for a shoot, find a location, see where the light falls a different times of the day/year and return time after time until mother nature provides just the right elements. On occasions just turning up to a location you know and crossing your fingers does work.

WHICH CAMERA SHOULD YOU BUY?

A question I get asked fairly often is "I want to get into photography, what is the best camera to buy?" usually they are deciding on Canon, Nikon or some other brand.

I am a Canon shooter, but I could just as easily have been a Nikon shooter. I purchased a Canon years ago and my lenses are canon, so I have essentially brought into a lens system. The technology in cameras these days is amazing and it is getting better all the time.

Photography is more about vision and light than megapixels and camera manufacturers. My opinion is don't spend too much on your first DSLR, get something YOU feel comfortable with and can afford. You will get more out of photography by just getting out there and practicing regardless of your camera, maybe take a lesson or two.

Don't get me wrong, there is a difference between say a Canon 60D and a Canon 1d but believe me if you give a good professional photographer a point and shoot and a non photographer a top of the range Hasselblad, the better image would come from the experienced photographer.

This image below was taken with a Canon point and shoot (G10).

Quick Tip: Creating a sense of SPEED.

CREATING A SENSE OF SPEED = MOTOR SPORTS
When photographing motor sports it is all too easy to set your shutter speed to just freeze the action. This is a safe setting as there is very little skill involved, you will end up with a sharp and boring image, you might as well of taken a photo of a parked car.

Try lowering the shutter speed and panning the camera while taking the shot, it takes practice and the success rate is lower, but what you end up with is a shot that shows motion by the way of blurred backgrounds and wheels.

Sports mode on a camera generally just means it will use the fastest possible shutter speed, try switching to Manual or shutter priority and give it a go.

Happy snapping!

Photographer + Fire

Met up with a few fellow Photographers for a bit of creative Photography. We used steel wool in a cage then lit it and spun on a chain (or cord). These are some of the results...

Using Google Earth for scouting locations

In a recent trip to the Stirling Range which is a 5-6 hr drive for me, I decided to use Google Earth to "scout" the area. I have been here before (about 6yrs ago) and got a great shot but for the life of me couldn't remember where I took it from. By using Google Earth I found it which saved me a lot of time when I got there. Scouting an area is a very important part of Landscape photography and tools like Google Earth make it that much easier. Of course you cannot beat getting out there and physically scouting an area and seeing how the light hits the land, but it certainly helps to have an idea of what you could see if you have a fair way to go and a narrow time frame.
Here you can see the image taken and the Google Earth image of the same vantage point.

Stirling Ranges

The Stirling Ranges are located in the South West Region of Western Australia and are the highest point for a 1000km's.
I took a trip there last week to photograph the mountain range and to highlight the beauty of this area.