Way out west. A slice of WA.

Perth has been on my travel radar for a while now. Lots of people have come back raving how great it is. But to get there - it's an effort. The cost of flights, the travel time, and then, hate to admit it, the unknown of whether I would like it. After all, it is a city. And cities don't normally leave me 'wow, I love this city'. 

Ok, so I admit. I still don't know what Perth is like as a destination - unless you consider going to a Convention at the Crown complex with an outing to a bar one night, an experience. But I did stay in Fremantle. And there is so much to do there, that four days just wasn't enough. Talk about the conference revealed Fremantle was on the down slope - shops closing, not much happening, lacking atmosphere. So, driving down the main road on a Wednesday night, cafes buzzing, people wandering - I was lost. Is this the same Fremantle? 

For the following couple of days, I did a cafe tour. Ootong and Lincoln and The Raw Kitchen for healthy yet delicious treats. Little Creatures (downing about a schooner of beer tastings before realising it wouldn't be gluten free) for some culture and Saturday afternoon vibe. Ruocco's Italian for the best calamari I've eaten. Indian and some very yummy Lebanese. And let's not forget Third Wheel at South Beach Cycles in South Freo - a trendy little spot for coffee mid-morning while the pug gets watered after her short stroll. My taste buds are alive.

There are some honest people in Fremantle. On ordering my coconut milk short latte and offering to buy my cousins, I reach for my money in my pocket. No money to be felt. And I did put it in there. Damn. I must have dropped it along the way when I took my phone out. I ran back along the esplanade, not hopeful but having to give it a try, and found the colourful $20 note sitting near the footpath. People must have passed, as there were people everywhere - good karma was with me that day. Thank you, Fremantle peeps.

Freo would be a great place to live - casual vibe, artists, beach (and surf beach nearby), and of course, the choice of eateries. My place. Just need to find that in Adelaide. Hmm.

Thoughts become actions, actions become reality.

I often look up to other people, see what they achieve and wish I could have or be like them. Negative thoughts enter 'I'm not good enough' or 'I don't have time for that'. Or even worse, 'people will laugh and talk about me'. It causes procrastination.

Lately, I have come across a few sayings I want to be my mantras.

'If they can do it, so can I.'
'People are too busy worrying about what they look like to worry about what you are doing.'

What is your mantra?

Better pics: memories worth keeping.

Ever got back from your holiday, excitedly looking through your holiday snaps, only to realise that they don't look like what you remember? Perhaps the beautiful shot of your child playing on a tropical beach is somewhat blurry, blue or missing the emotion. Or the food you ate, you remember how yummy it was, but can't describe the fruit that you discovered to your inquiring family and friends. Or the fancy room, where you sit and watch palm silhouetted sunsets every night while sipping a Mojito. Everyone wants to see where you stayed, but your photos only show a snippet of the room and the view out of the window is so bright there is nothing to see. Or, you can see the view outside, but the room is too dark. And the colours don't reproduce as bright and vivid. It's disappointing. 

But here's the thing, you don't need to be a professional photographer to get photos that tell the story of your holiday and create the memories you want to treasure forever. 

Food
Sit next to a window. During the day, light will filter in and give nice side or backlight to your plate of food. 
Try and keep it out of direct sunlight. 
Use a white napkin to direct light back into the shadow side of the plate.

Accommodation
Turn the flash off. 
Steady the camera on a tripod or lean camera on something as the shutter speed will be slow. If you hand-hold, the photo may be blurry from handshake.
Take a photo of the room and the view at the same time at night or sunrise/sunset when the light outside is not as bright.
Keep your camera straight - don't point up or down. 

People
Get in close to see the emotion. 
Don't pose them. Let them keep doing what they are doing. That way, you tell a story instead of getting a 'cheese'.
Turn them side on to the sun for some fun light. If they face the sun, they will squint, if they have the sun behind them, the camera will expose for the sun and make them dark.

Street
Talk to people and get to know them before taking a picture. It will have more meaning.
Respect cultures. Don't take a photo if they don't want one taken.
Take wide shots and close-up shots. 

Landscape
Sunrise and sunset are the 'sweet spots' for special light.
Use the 'rule of thirds' and compose the photograph with something of interest on one of the 'thirds' lines. 
Keep looking behind. It always looks different from another angle.

Story-telling
Don't forget to get the little details. Flowers on your bed, produce in the market, tuk-tuk interiors, worn pavers on the cobbled streets. Doors, windows, food, tickets. These all add to your holiday story and are easy to forget when returning home.
Detail photographs add interest to your slideshow or coffee table book. They turn a 'look at me' presentation into a story of adventure. It's more interesting for others to look at than 200 smiling pics of you in various locations.

And the biggest tip of all. Take your time. Think about what you want to say in your photo. Should the camera be horizontal or vertical? Should you get in close to the person or show what is around them? Is there a pole or tree growing out of someone's head? Look at your photo before pressing the shutter button and double check. Have fun - that's where the magic lies.

*This blog post is part of my entry to the Virgin Australia Top Travel Tips competition. #pbevent @virginaustralia *

Z Ward with Adelaide Haunted Horizons

Believe in ghosts? Doesn't matter - Adelaide Haunted Horizons' tours are fun for everyone. It's a Saturday night with a difference. Check them out. www.adelaidehauntedhorizons.com.au

I photographed in Z Ward at Glenside (criminally insane ward) for them but did a recce at Old Tailem Town about an hour from an Adelaide a few weeks prior. The stories told, the ambience, the intrigue of not knowing what lies beyond the torchlight. It all leads to me jumping at someone whispering 'boo' while I'm standing up the back of the group in a shop. Honestly, I thought it is whispered in my left ear, the ear that has nobody standing next to it - but obviously not, when the guys next to me apologised. I could swear I felt the air push onto my ear - but I guess that is my mind playing tricks on me. 

Do I believe in ghosts now? Not sure. I can't say until I experience it. Would I go on a tour again? Definitely. It is so much fun, scaring myself in the dark while listening to stories that make me squirm. 

SAPPA 2015 (SA AIPP Print Awards)

I thought about it. 'No, don't think I'll do it.' I thought about it some more. 'Ok, I'll give it a go.' Then I thought about it again. 'No, no. I'm not.' And so the story goes on. One week before the deadline, I email Atkins and ask if it's too late to get prints done. It's not - as long as I have them submitted that day. Argh! The Mad rush to finalise the selection of prints, tweak said prints and send through. 

Over the weekend, judging took place. I was coughing way too much to go but watched via streaming. It's just as scary and nerve-wracking watching from home as it is watching in the audience. I got sweaty palms. I didn't want to watch. I did want to watch. I held my breath. I tried to think positive. 

My first print judged, a blue volcano, got Silver. Yay! Now - just continue like this, I beg. My next two prints rate in 'professional practice' - my heart sinks. 'Why can't I get it right?' But the judges make comment, and I realise, what they are saying is right. In my heart, something didn't sit right with these images. I tried hard to make them something more than what they were - pretty pictures.

The last print up was probably the print I was most concerned about. 'Does it tell enough story?' But I entered it anyway, and it got Silver! Yay again. 

Of course I wanted more, we always do. But I am happy with what I have got. And more importantly, I have a takeaway from these Awards. 

Listen to your heart. Don't close the door to what your heart is saying. Trust yourself. You know what is best.

Just do it

Kangaroo Island - going overseas without a passport.

Kangaroo Island. It's one destination why overseas visitors come to South Australia. But how many South Aussie's have been? I've been quite a few times now, but only once for a holiday. It's truly a beautiful place and has so much to do. In one week, I could not possibly discover it all. 

My three favourite things about KI?
1. Little Sahara - yippee. Grab a board, and skid down the dunes. Laugh a minute, and spectacular views across the dunes from the top. 

2. Seal Bay - watching sea lions grunt, groan and heave just metres from you. What's not to love about watching these creatures? So cute.
3. Stokes Bay - a beach with access through a small opening in a huge cliff. It sounds so secret. Bright white sand, rock pools and peace wait on the other side. Squeeze through.

Three things I'd love to do on KI?
1. Stay at a luxury holiday home with views over one of the gorgeous beaches.
2. Stay at Southern Ocean Lodge
3. Sail the coast on a beautiful summers day, dipping in the ocean to cool off wherever I please.

Who has been? And what is your favourite thing?

So, what are you waiting for?

We are only in this life for a short time - what are you going to do with it?

For the love of life. Personal and professional development.

Do you believe in constantly improving yourself and your knowledge? Do you like learning new things? Do you strive for getting better? I do. I love learning. 

This year, I made a resolution to stop learning and start implementing. That resolution got broken a few months in when I signed up for Marie Forleo's B-School. Then, again, when I signed up for a blogging business pack. And now, here I am in Perth, with a sore bum, having been in a three-day conference. 

The 2015 Nikon AIPP Event is an annual event held each year, for photographers and videographers to learn, be inspired and network. This year, it was in Perth. Next year it's in Melbourne.

I love the conference, and although I didn't have major 'aha' moments this year, I have come away massively inspired and with warm fuzzies, having gained more photography friends. Listening to amazing creatives such as Ryan Schembri, Patrick Moreau, and Cameron Frost while chatting with photography icons David Dare Parker and Brooke Shaden, I love the passion we all share. 

Takeaways for a making the most of a conference?
1. Talk to as many people as you can. Overcome your shyness. We are all in the same situation.
2. Give away more positivity - in the form of comments, compliments or just telling someone they did a good job/you like their product.
3. Three-day conferences are long. Don't feel bad if you have to stand up at the back of the room. Also, don't eat too much heavy food at lunch and get the snooze happening.
4. Enjoy the networking nights that are booze filled - but not too much. You paid good money to go, why waste it on needing to stay in bed or feel crap.
5. Get out and wander outside whenever you can. The fresh air and sun rejuvenates you for the next session.
6. Don't be afraid to approach the speakers - they are only human, like us. They are not a better human being than us; we are all the same.

So, what do you do for personal development? If we aren't growing, where are we going? If life is a journey, we need to be constantly moving forward, pushing ourselves to learn and experience new things. Imagine being stuck at a crossroad for life - never experiencing what lies beyond. Imagine what we are missing out on while waiting and not moving forward.

Tell me your plans...

The perfect time for photos - is when you have a camera.

There is no such thing as the perfect day for taking photos. Or weather. Just get out there and take them. 

Yes, the light at the start and end of the day is beautiful, soft and colourful but you can still get great shots during the midday sun. 

Grey sky? At least there are no shadows to deal with. 

Bright, sunny day? You have colour that pops. And you can have fun with shadows and lines of geometry and design. 

Night? Pop the camera on a tripod and get star trails. Or have fun with painting light. Use a torch and run around. 

You can get great shots in summer or winter. Rain and wetness add vibrancy and colour to objects. It gives them punch. And raindrops on objects is a macro subject in itself.

So, don't let the rain and cold weather put you off getting outside with your camera. Grab a camera protector - even if it's a plastic bag - and go have some fun. 

You can't get better without practice.