Location photographer. Getting behind the scenes. Showing off the secret, and not so secret, treasures of the world.
TRAVEL IS THE ONLY THING YOU BUY THAT MAKES YOU RICHER.
Don't feel guilty. It is a cost worth it's dime, or penny, or dollar, or cent. Learn and experience through life, not just at a desk. Don't plod your way forward, throw yourself in and see how far you can swim. Life is full, and the world is your pool.
Herdenkings Day (Remembrance Day) in the Netherlands is... today.
Remembering the Netherlands.
the coffee shops
the red light district
the windmills
the sex museum...
but also,
Texel island
the bike rides
being able to drive to another country in a few hours
daggy looking exterior apartments with gorgeous fit outs inside
and the pop up male toilets in the city square at night time.
Also...
Compare the Netherlands to my home suburb and it's like comparing a pancake with a piece of home made rockyroad.
A holiday to visit friends in the Netherlands about 10 years ago saw us getting to know the way the locals live, have fun and see their own country. We did the touristy must-do's also, but some of the most fun came from getting out of town.
One day we hopped on a ferry, hired a few bikes, and rode around Texel island. Over 50km's on a hire bike doesn't make your bum very happy. But the scenery and local tourist feel did make me very happy. Picnicing on a deserted beach, riding through fields of yellow tulips, popping in to the locals shops. Not seeing another international tourist the whole day. I felt like we had insiders knowledge, and an experience that was truly special.
Doing this sort of thing, visiting where the locals holiday, is becoming a done thing on our holidays. Spain too, saw us down the bottom of the country, at Matalascanas in off season. To the point where, after a few nights, we got kicked out of our hotel due to it's closing to be cleaned and de-bugged. And more recently, even with kids, we travel the backstreets of our destination. More fun, more knowledge, more locals, more experience.
Simple portrait
Sometimes people just don't have the budget to hire a photographer. Be it for personal use or for business use. There are some simple ways of getting a better photo that you can employ - point and shoot, iPhone or with a DSLR.
Though I don't normally photograph babies, I love it when I do. My friend and I do a contra of services. This photograph above was shot just inside a wall of windows. And that's it. We lay a white sheet or rug down as the background, put the aperture down to f2 or something similar, and shoot away.
How to do it yourself?
Get your set ready in front of an area that has a lot of light coming in from a door or window.
Put a heater on if it's cold. Baby will be happier.
Lay baby as far away from background as possible. This will minimise what is in focus in the background. A good way of disguising creases and dirty marks while drawing attention to baby.
Get in close to baby, as close as the camera can focus.
Focus on the eyes.
Get someone to help with getting babys attention. Baby likes noises, clicking, colour, talking, and a book swished in their face, the breeze making them smile. Go with whatever a newborn wants - not much you can do here.
Baby doesn't always have to smile. Some of my favourite images are those where baby is screaming or looking disgruntled.
Use an editing program - there are a host of free and paid ones around - to crop, edit colour or make the image black and white. Have fun with it.
This technique can be applied for business portraits, or simple product shots that don't have a reflective surface. Perhaps exchange the clicking and baby talk for recounting funny stories and jokes, or asking the person to think of their favourite things. Think holidays, yachts, winning the lotto, relaxing...
For more interest, turn the subject side on to the window. It creates beautiful three dimensional light.
And remember, light bounces in all directions. If the side facing the inside of the building is too dark, get a white/gold/silver board, sheet or similar object and put beside them, facing towards the window. This will bounce light back in on their face.
Sony World Photography Awards
I'm frequently looking at photos. I love looking at photos. I just bought a photo. Gee, I take photos. Every day. I have an excuse. I am a photographer.
This is a stunning collection of images that really speak. Take a peak, it's good Sunday night viewing.
@ Lush Pastures
I was fortunate enough over the weekend to go down south of Adelaide (South Australia) to Bald Hills and shoot a boutique property, Lush Pastures. We went down for the night, and were treated like guests. And may I mention, guests are treated like royalty. Fully hosted accommodation by Cheryl and Andy Lush, with a whole range of home grown produce and locally sourced wines to match. Mmm. And don't forget Cheryl's liquers for after dinner.
Pick your own! A veggie patch, herb garden, and fruit trees await.
Home grown figs. Tasty.
Overland Track hardships...
I've just finished walking the Overland Track with my Dad. A beautiful walk, with a good share of mud and tree roots. But that's not the hard part. The hardest part of the Overland Track for me. Getting used to sleeping on one bunk with four other people. Only having a self inflating mat and sleeping bag for comfort. Thanks though to Scout Outdoor Centre in Rundle Street for the cosy One Planet bag I got!
Lake Bonney at Easter time...
Easter is a great time to get away with the family for some fun. And working from home, to get away from work. The laptop and phone did come with me, but didn't get much of a work out. 
My niece loves taking photos... and I decided to give her my D800 and 70-200mm lens to have a play with. While my sister held her breath with anxiety, I let my niece go. She got some great shots. A penchant for angles - or maybe just a heavy camera weighing her down. Love the fact that I am inspiring a new generation of photographers. Whether it be for capturing family moments, or creating a living from it.
Lake Bonney is about three hours from Adelaide. The lake is a wonderful place for skiing, fishing and sailing. The waterfront in Barmera is grassy, long and scattered with fun things for the kids. A monster playground with 'dinosaur bones' in the sand, a skate park, a sandy volleyball patch and in front of the caravan park, two giant trampolines sitting on the water.
With Berri and Renmark just up the road, it is a quieter spot to base yourself for a few days. And down the other way, towards Adelaide, is Banrock Station. Perfect. For big boys and their toys, they are not forgotten. Loveday is on the doorstep - fun for four wheel driving action.
If you are after a good coffee though... don't stay over a public holiday. With one coffee shop in town that is closed most of Easter, I am in withdrawal mode. The Tourist Infomation Centre has coffee too, but I never made it in to try. An excuse to go to Berri was made.
Hope you all had a great Easter!
10 tips for baby travel
1. Don't call it a holiday - it's travel 2. Baby wipes
3. iPad or dvd player
4. Bubble blower
5. Baby food squeezie sacks
6. Nibbles and bribes
7. Sling, backpack carrier or lightweight stroller
8. No expectations of sightseeing - you will do what you can do
9. Stickers and craft packs
10. Pipecleaners - amazing what you can do with these furry things
CARE 10,000 steps
For the last week I have been wearing a pedometer, making sure that I walk over 10,000 steps a day. Why? Raising money for CARE and all the women across the world that have to walk thousands more steps sometimes, just to get drinking water.
About mid week I discovered that the pedometer wasn't working properly. It was counting only a percentage of the steps that were actually taken. No wonder I thought it crazy that an office worker could clock up 10,000 steps a day. I was running after two kids all day long, and walking for nearly two hours each day - and still sitting around 8000 steps.
I wonder how many I did take? Probably nowhere near the amount that some women step, just to get water. 92,000 steps each day! That would surely curb our obesity problem in Australia.
If anyone wants to donate, head over to https://walkinhershoes2013.everydayhero.com/au/heidiwhophotos
