
Location photographer. Getting behind the scenes. Showing off the secret, and not so secret, treasures of the world.
Dear Hotel, give us what we really need... Please.
* I am not talking about the Hotel in this piccie, I'm talking generally...
Just wanted to say that I really love the ambient lighting, funky fit out and the long room service list, but...
Can I please have curtains that close all the way? I love the view sometimes, but not when I'm trying to sleep in (on the odd occassion that I can).
Could you please have spare phone and laptop charges for loan? So many times I forget one of these, and have to run down to the shops to buy a new one.
Can you put something healthy on the room service menu? When you travel frequently, fresh vegetables and plain food can be the ultimate meal.
Conference rooms. Can we please have them warmer so we don't shiver to death? It's probably just me, but I hate having to carry around a jacket in the middle of summer so I don't freeze when I go inside.
I love staying in hotels, don't get me wrong. But a few little extras would make it all the nicer.
What do you guys love, or want, in hotels?
AirAsia X ADL-KUL
'the skies are filling'
Good news for South Aussies wanting to travel to Asia. Low cost long-haul airline AirAsia X have announced they will begin flights direct to Kuala Lumpur in October, increasing to five flights a week by end of November.
Extra good news to the SA tourism industry, increasing accessability and affordability for a big Asian market. Especially with the link to China, the fastest growing international market in SA.
And good news for international students studying in Adelaide also - with affordability enabling family and friends to visit them while they are here.
Good news all round. Happy days.
SA AIPP Awards 2013
Recently, photographers over the state (and some judges from interstate) gathered in Norwood, South Australia, to see how SA photographers were stacking up in the industry. We were able to enter up to 12 images in any of the categories. Categories I entered were Commercial, Travel and Landscape.
Having had a few years off, and only achieving one Silver award previously, I was unsure of how I would go. It can be hard to impress the judges with imagery that is above 'professional standard' - it has to be something unique, quirky, technically excellent, and convey story. And let's not even start on how un-nerving it is.
The below images are all Silver award winning prints. Some of these I will take forward to the National level in September, after a few tweaks.
What is the most desired airport feature?
Recently, Skyscanner revealed data suggesting 49 percent of respondents would like to catch a movie while waiting for their flight to depart.
I'm not sure about you, but the last thing I want to do is sit down between long flights. Sore bum! Not to mention the cramping back.
Other features that made the top ten list for travellers included sleeping pods (definately!), library, gym, an outdoor park and a man made beach.
I get these. Anything that gets me moving. Recently, on a trip to Phuket, we had a long transit in Singapore. Going to the roof top pool, having a swim and relaxing in open air, we easily passed a few hours. I'd also appreciate a gym in airports, but then again, when do I want to pack sports clothes as carry on?
What would you like to see in airports?
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources photo shoot
I normally pride myself on my navigational skills. However, getting to the nursery at Murray Bridge (South Australia) for this job, was not one of those days. I relied on my mobile GPS, against my better knowledge. The GPS sent me on a 40 minute round trip to Callington (a small town nearby) and back. Where I was when I checked my GPS before my country drive was a mere two minutes away from where I had to go. Lesson learned: trust my instincts. Always.
Rainy Days and Tourism photography
Sometimes things seem impossible. Today we want to simulate a warm, summer holiday at the beach. And this is the type of weather we have. What do I do? Well, option one would be to cancel the shoot and wait for a better day. But when you have organised talent to be there, and the rooms are free, we need to forge ahead. That means we go to option two.
Option Two - Make use of the sun when it does break out (if it does). And work damn quick. I may only have five minutes. One shot in five minutes can be achieved. Yes, it won't look quite the same as if we actually had beautiful weather, but Photoshop can save the day sometimes.
I also concentrate on indoor shots, which keeps the talent happy. It's not exactly nice to be standing outside on a 14 degree day with 20km winds, beachfront, in a flimsy summer dress. I freeze, and I get to rug up, so can only imagine the pain they tolerate. Let's not even mention the hair that would be getting thrown around.
Inside shots can be lit, some rooms would suffer tremendously when there isn't much light bouncing around outside. Speedlights hidden in corners and bounced softly. Or we take multiple images, lit for certain areas, composited later when editing. We can then composite a bright, sunny outside image into the window, for interiors with views. Or, if there's no view, pull the sheer and the viewer wouldn't know any different.
On a plus side, light difference from interior to exterior isn't going to be as drastic. So harsh light falling on the floor will be reduced. Glass half full thinking!
Melbourne - the city of laneways and a shot of coffee.
Laneways. The back end of town.
Not normally the most elegant or tourist worthy part of town. But there are exceptions. Take Melbourne for example. Cafe lanes, bar lanes and artworked lanes litter the city. Litter that is shutterworthy for the International tourist. A photographer looks at it different though. Although we love to sit and have coffee we also see character, life and intrigue in the empty or littered lanes that everyone scurries past.
While most people are looking that way, we look this way. Look up and look down.
TIP * When going for a walk with your camera, don't forget to take a look behind you. Things can look different from another angle. Light, shape, form. Even people continuing with their lives, thinking you have passed. Click. Moment captured.
Seawall Apartments Glenelg photoshoot snap...
And they say they are working... we all had a great time!
On a plus side to travelling with kids...
I have been compiling a top 100 list about travelling with children for an eBook recently. Let me share one with you...
Tip: bless 'em.
Going on holiday doesn't stop the tantrums, the dirty nappies, the naps, the getting up in the middle of the night, the need to go to playgrounds. It does stop late night jaunts, long lazy meals, relaxing with a book, and lazing in the bed every morning before ambling to a mid morning breakfast.
It closes a number of doors, but where one door closes, another opens. Literally.
IN MOST CULTURES, CHILDREN ARE THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION.
You are invited in to families homes, people stop and chat, the children encourage conversation, you are looked after, and above all... you learn and experience more. You get out to the where the locals hang, venture to new frontiers (heck, go out the back gate!), meet many people in one day, and see a different way of life to your own back home. Whether you are travelling in your own state, or across the other side of the world.
In Phuket we were welcomed into a villagers home for the night. A woman on moped asked only families to come in. We were fed, offered a place on their lounge floor, and taken care of while a tsunami warning played out down below. Going up, locals even carried (yes, carried) our strollers up the hill in sections for us. Helping to get us away from the impending tsunami even faster. Thankfully, it never came, but we were safe indeed with locals.
In Bali we played on the beach and grass with local kids. None - adults or children - could verbally communicate with each other but so much fun was had.
Here in South Australia, we are constantly chatting to locals, finding the best coffee, playgrounds and places to go.
Have kids, will travel. Use it to your advantage to get more adventure and fun into your holiday. Get curious, and have it sated.