Location photographer. Getting behind the scenes. Showing off the secret, and not so secret, treasures of the world.

Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

Strathalbyn paddocks

Strathalbyn paddocks Silver Award winning photograph in the Landscape category. Australian AIPP Awards in Melbourne, September 2013.

Let the debate begin. With a varying score with a difference of over 10 points, this image sparked a lot of chatter between the judges. After many comments were made, some loving the sense of miniature this image conveys, it was awarded. Thank you!

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Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

Woman insulted by airlines entertainment unit

This may be what happens when the IT department are frustrated, or bored... A passenger on an Air India flight was shocked after being called an "idiot" by the in-flight entertainment unit.

The woman said she tried to watch a movie but the entertainment unit wouldn't work properly. While adjusting the switches and buttons, a rather rude message popped up on the screen.

It read: "The selection is not currently available. Please try again." The message continued toward the bottoms of the screen: "Lie low... Sit down you idiot!".

The airline has commented that it may have been a glitch in the system, with the subtitles of the movie the woman had been watching coming up on the screen.

A rather unfortunate matter of timing. Perhaps.

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Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

International Traveller's Top 100 List

http://www.internationaltravellermag.com/100-best-hotels-and-resorts/

One of my favourite magazines, International Traveller, has released their list of top 100 hotels and resorts. It's so exciting to go through, adding places to my bucket list, and seeing where I may have already been. Doing a lot of my travel as a budget traveller when I was younger, as we call a 'backpacker', I can't tick many off my list. Actually, none. Not physically anyway. I've considered a couple of them for recent trips, and now, perhaps am kicking myself. 

Have you been to any on the list?

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Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

Byards Road wetlands

Byards Road wetlands City of Onkaparinga have, in the last few years, built a number of projects within the Waterproofing the South project. A project I am photographing for them, detailing the different stages of development. I am now photographing a number of the wetlands at sunset. Well, attempting to. I went to Byards Road the other night, and had zero magic hour to play around with. There were some nice blues but nothing else. I got to watch a number of people using the new paths and walkways for their daily exercise or dog walk ritual while waiting for... Maybe on the next shoot?

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Photography Heidi Lewis Photography Heidi Lewis

Trails in the City of Onkaparinga

ImageImageImage While it's raining outside, cold and dark... I've been editing photos from the summer of 2011/2012. I can't wait for the warm weather to come back.

For over a week I photographed trails around City of Onkaparinga, and found some beautiful areas. So unknown. On many, I only saw a handful of people as I wandered, or cycled, along. And yes, I tell myself on a few occassions, how lucky I was to have a job that got me out there.

It's a great idea from City of Onkaparinga to promote these trails more through their website and brochures. So many tranquil and beautiful places to explore in our own backyard.

www.onkaparingacity.com

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Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

Victor Harbor weekender

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You don't have to go too far from home to feel like you are on holiday. And you don't have to go for too long either.

Growing up in Victor Harbor, one hour south of Adelaide, and with all my family still living there, I don't normally feel like I am going on holiday when I go down there. But this weekend, with the sun out, and the kids happy, we couldn't have been further (mentally) from home.

Splashing in the ultra fresh (aka freezing) water while watching the clydesdales pull the tram over to Granite Island. Clambering over rocks at the Bluff, looking for crabs. Enjoying a sunset drink while the kids play in the sandpit at Eat @ Whalers. Surfing some glistening green waves at Middleton (my biggest and longest yet). Then getting back to basics on the farm, watching newborn calves feed on colustrum.

Returning home, it feels longer than one night away. A refreshing break, energised and ready to start the normal life again for another week.

Where, or what, do you do to recharge and get away from it all? And if you are in South Australia, where do you go?

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Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

Scoot Airline and AirAsia X child free

Image 'Scoot in silence' cabin.

Scoot, a budget airline of Singapore Airlines, is introducing a child-free zone on their flights. Passengers will sit in an area behind business class, with more leg room, where under 12's are banned. Is it sound proof?

Tracey Spicer, family columnist of Traveller, says the concept of child-free areas  on planes is 'offensive'. 'It's something I feel very strongly about, it's treating children like they're animals in a zoo," she said. Then continuing to say that some of the worst flights she has had have been because of adults. Drunk, smelly or not fitting in their seat.

I don't mind there is a child free zone. I understand the glares I get when we sit down next to someone. I can feel them looking, and hoping, that the children are going to be quiet, still and behave. Then they look around to see if there are any free seats before burying their head in the inflight magazine. Perhaps they then order a scotch.

Children do have a bad reputation, but on the whole, children fly quite well. And babies that cry, well, it's not their fault. And look at their parents. Normally they are doing everything they can do stop the crying, and are ripping themself up thinking everyone is glaring at them.

On a flight back from Singapore, we sat next to a woman travelling with a baby and toddler. She was on her way back from Ireland, where she had visited family. Her husband had to leave early to go back to work. So she was doing the trip alone.

Her toddler did a great job, but her poor baby girl was having a hard time. She cried for the majority of the overnight flight, and distraught mum couldn't do anything to stop her. She tried. She tried hard. Another passenger tried. I tried. Not much worked.

Yes, it disturbed the people around her. Yes, we didn't sleep much. But I feel a lot more for the poor mum who not only had to try to calm her baby, look after her toddler, and deal with the thought of glaring, whispering passengers.

Think about it next time.

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Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

Bali Kids and The Bali Ball

Image When I was in Bali last, I photographed the kids at Bali Kids. I was taken to the hospital, schools and home where they live. An amazing experience, to see such happy children - children from devastating backgrounds.

Bali Kids ask tourists going to Bali to take over supplies, clothing, donations and various other things to help run the orphanage and hospital. Tourists can visit at specified times also, and meet the kids.

The Bali Ball, now in it's third year, also raises money for Bali Kids. Last year the event raised a whopping USD $136,000, enabling Bali Kids to build their new medical and dental centre. This year, The Bali Ball, held on August 16th, raised money for not only Bali Kids, but also Yayasan Samaritania (charity that helps the children living on the rubbish tip in Sanur) and Bumi Sehat (two community health centres in Bali and Aceh).

www.balikids.org

Think about who you might be able to help, next time you head overseas.

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Heidi Lewis Heidi Lewis

Tourism crime and scams - the opening of first Crime Crisis Centre in Phuket

Image This week, the first Crime Crisis Centre, at Phuket International Airport opened its doors.

Another will be opened in downtown Phuket, both operating around the clock, in an aim to crack down on tourism crooks.

Crooks that range from ripping off tourists in jet-ski scams, accusing tourists of damaging the rental jet-skis and demanding huge sums for repairs to threat of physical violence.

I went to Phuket last year, and can certainly see how many scams there could be, and how the unassuming tourist is an easy target. Thai newspapers report that Russians, Koreans and Chinese have been active in both Phuket and Pattaya, some using Thais as nominees in setting up businesses to con foreigners. So it's big business.

It's just another reminder of how we need to be careful when travelling. Travel not only securing your personal belongings, but thinking with your head screwed on. Don't trust people on the street. Don't buy drugs. Don't say you will buy something, then change your mind. Don't go down into the slums. Don't take too many chances.

Do have fun. Do take notice of things. Do secure yourself. Do let your family and friends know your plans. Do get things in writing. Do use reputable companies.

I have been conned, probably more often than I know it. The one that comes to mind, is arriving at Peru airport at midnight, hotel booking in hand, being led astray by a tour company saying the hotel had closed, and they will find us a better hotel. They found us a hotel, but also at an extra cost. They also had us come in for a meeting the next morning, where they sold a 'cheap' package for travelling through Peru and Bolivia, including a tour of the Inca Trail. We weren't in any harm, the tour was brilliant, but we did pay much more than we should have.

That, I guess, is where planning and common sense comes in. Research what things cost, know what you want to do, and have options.

Travel is a wonderful thing, and can be so fulfilling and exciting. But with all excitement comes its dangers - stay safe.

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