Darren Stones

Darren Stones – Interviewer:

Bev Woodman is chiefly responsible for hosting the Newcastle NSW, Lake Macquarie & Surrounding Region group at RedBubble. It’s plain to see her passion for running the group by searching through the various challenges she’s conducted.

In running the group, Bev strives to raise awareness of a region in Australia which is crucial to tourism. Contributions to her group are a showcase of what the area has to offer. Bev’s efforts in hosting the group are recognised by the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group, and we wish Bev every success in the future.

Bev Woodman states in her profile: “I am grateful to the RedBubble community for the support offered me since my first post.”

Therein lies an acknowledgement of what RedBubble and its community means to her, and importantly, it’s a definite statement wishing to let people know how much she appreciates their encouragement and support.

Having browsed through Bev’s work, it’s plain to see her love for travel photography. With a photograph of The Three Sisters – Katoomba NSW, through to various coastal scenes around Newcastle, Bev has a passion to travel and photograph what she’s seen and experienced.

Bev, a warm welcome to the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group. Great to see you here and enjoying the group.

You state that: “My late father had a strong love of the Australian bush and this has rubbed off on me, spending almost all of my childhood roaming the bush, creeks and rivers in search of gold, plants and photographs.”

Bev, tell us of some of the places you roamed and what are some of the standout memories you have of your childhood days?

And of course, we’re all dying to know what age you started photography. Tell us about that. What was your first camera?

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Bev Woodman – Interviewee:

Thank you Darren for inviting me to participate in this interview.

I’m very proud that my father’s line were all from convict stock and I firmly believe that their fight for survival in the early days of settlement in Australia has been passed down through the generations to me. Dad loved the bush and this rubbed off on us kids. It was second nature to us as a family and today I realise how important these trips were in providing me with the love I have for getting away from it all, exploring strange roads and paths and always wondering what is down that road I just passed.

Dad was brought up on the highest point of Kurrajong Heights on the Bells Line of Road in the Blue Mountains and so we spent most of our childhood roaming the 40 acres that my grandparents owned. From there it evolved that weekends would mean being pulled out of bed, you would be thrown a blanket to snuggle into in the car and we would end up along the Hawkesbury River, Barrington Tops, Gloucester Tops, Chichester & Dungog State Forests but my most memorable spot would have to be the Upper Allyn River where we would play all day in the river at the Lady’s Well. Dad would be busy searching for bush orchids, tree ferns or whatever nature had spare after the trees were felled for the sawmill there.

Dad was a mad gold prospector so we spent many days at Nundle, Copeland and Barabra just to name a few spots. I have inherited three of my Dad’s gold nuggets that he had turned into pendants.

Photography was always important in our family, and I have a cupboard full of my late father’s slides from his trips around Australia and beyond. One day I will sit down and take a good look at them, and who knows, I may even put some on RedBubble.

I was given a Kodak Box Brownie camera when I was 10, but it was my Dad’s involvement with the then Wallsend Hospital Camera Club back in the 1960-70s that whet my appetite for a better appreciation of what a camera could produce. We would hold slide nights in the backyard, and friends and relatives would congregate to view his collection.

In my married life, we always had a camera for family pics and our whole married life has been recorded in over 100 albums. The invention of the digital camera though has in my opinion really opened up a whole new world in photography. Since getting my very own Nikon D80 in 2008, and joining RedBubble, I feel my photography has improved considerably. I am enjoying capturing the images I love and sharing them with the RedBubble community throughout the world.

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Darren Stones:

Bev, I’m sure there’s many of us here who have access to our parents slides – me included. They are part of a family’s history which needs to be kept and passed down through the generations.

Your family are keen photographers, too, and you make mention of them in your profile. Do you feel their interest in photography is due to you, and if so, have you taught them aspects of the craft?

Which locations in Australia do you feel have been most productive for you in a photographc sense?

Also, I’d like you to choose two images from your portfolio and post them here. Give us a background as to why they mean something special to you.

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Bev Woodman:

My three sons were brought up with having to have their photos taken for special occasions – they groaned at the time but now love to come home and grab the photo albums and look back at happy times. I would like to think that both myself and my husband’s passion for photography influenced them in some way. I’m not sure I’ve taught them much other than to love what they see and they all do see things so differently and it shows in the presentation of their work. I actually gave my 10 year old granddaughter a digital camera for Christmas, so watch out, we may have another Woodman on the site soon.

I love promoting my own backyard around the Newcastle region, from the ocean, the lake, the mountains and the Hunter Valley. Next I would have to say the Hawkesbury River area, as this is where my ancestors originated from and I feel at home there amongst their spirits. The Blue Mountains area holds a special passion for me, as it is so rewarding with what it can offer the photographer.

These are just three spots, but the whole world is my favourite spot!

MacDonald River NSW Australia by Bev Woodman

The Macdonald River region holds so much history and beauty. Situated just off the Hawkesbury River in NSW, it is known as the Forgotten Valley and its a real step back in time. The ghosts of my ancestors still roam this region and we visit often. The Great North Road is a spot everyone should visit to explore the magnificent work carried out by convict labour.

Blue Mountains NSW Australia by Bev Woodman

Like the Macdonald/Hawkesbury region, I find the beauty here so intense. The mood changes constantly and can offer so much to the photographer – from moody or misty sunrises to the magnificent colours on the sandstone cliffs. It’s a spot you really need to go and stay to capture the many moods it presents.

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Darren Stones:

In honour of your mother, you published some writing about her for Mother’s Day 2009.

An Amazing Mum – A Tribute! by Bev Woodman.

Having read that, it reinforces my thoughts that you take pleasure in recognising your family. Beautiful writing, Bev, and a piece I thought worth pointing out.

I’ve noticed you like to write, and much of it is from personal experience. Link us to a couple of your written works and provide an insight as to the motivation behind writing them.

Are there any travel-style publications such as newspapers and magazines you read on a regular basis? If so, why do you like them?

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Bev Woodman:

Thank you for recognising my tribute to my mother – a truly amazing lady!

You are right Darren about my writing, I get inspired by my family or sentimental times past or the beauty around me and I love to put it down in writing, whether it be in journal style or poetry. I would dearly love to have the time to devote more to writing but with a full time job I will have to be patient for a little while yet.

I have chosen a short story on my grandparent’s old property at Kurrajong Heights just off the Bells Line of Road. It was on the highest point of the mountain and was known as Panorama Point, or the NRMA Picnic Grounds but after my grandparents sold out in the late 1950s it became known as Cherry Park. Today it sits deserted, overgrown and vandalised. I still go back and sit looking at the view that stretches clear through to the Sydney skyscrapers and shed a tear and remember. If you would like to read my story click here.

Next I chose a poem, What’s Gone Before, written about the elderly folk that I deal with daily in my work in geriatric medicine. I have learnt not to judge a person because he or she has grey hair – we need to remember that these people were vital to our country at some stage in their life and if we take the time to speak to them and ask them about their life, then we will be amazed at the stories they have to tell. As a family historian and genealogist I realise how important it is to document our life – you may not think it interesting but future generations may … and what’s more, your story is history and its worth documenting. I hope I managed to get my message across here.

I love travel shows on TV, as I love to learn about what is out there in the world. I have travelled extensively throughout the USA many times, and on three trips we drove the Alaskan Highway delivering motorhomes from Canada to Whitehorse. We got to use the motorhome for a week for free – then we would catch the Alaskan Ferry from Skagway to Bellingham near Seattle. Other wonderful spots visited outside our own beautiful country have been Hawaii (Oahu and the big island) plus Norfolk Island and New Zealand (North & South Islands).

I don’t buy travel magazines on a regular basis, as the budget doesn’t stretch that far these days. The NRMA does provide some good travel stories and tips, plus I like to access it for accommodation information. I do enjoy the travel section in my local Saturday newspaper (Newcastle Herald) as well as the Telegraph on a Sunday. I also use the internet for much of my travel research.

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Darren Stones:

Your What’s Gone Before! piece is eye-opening writing which really does say it as it is. People such as yourself are a rare breed, whereby you’re prepared to honour those you come into contact with. I find that inspirational, Bev, and commend you for making us aware of it. It’s sure worth reflecting upon.

Bev, as someone who joined the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group at its inception, what advice can you give to group members who are maybe a little hesitant to put their own travel experiences into writing, so as to share with us here in the group?

I believe we have talented up-and-comers in this group, and have any caught your eye to date?

And, if you were given $20,000 to travel in Australia, what places in Australia would you visit and photograph, and possibly write about?

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Bev Woodman:

Thank you Darren and I’m pleased you enjoyed my poem, and I’m pleased it gave you some insight into what inspires my written work.

I loved the concept of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group right from when I first became aware of it. Travel and writing are two subjects, along with photography, that I am very interested in and the three all come together naturally for me as a package. I believe that if a scene inspires you enough to capture it as an image then it’s worth going that little bit further and adding a comprehensive description to accompany it. This is especially so when exhibiting a scenic image of somewhere in our travels. I hate it when someone gives an image a gimicky name, but doesn’t go that little bit extra to say where it is. If it is a beautiful scene, people will want to know where it is in the world and maybe a little bit of history or travel infomation as well. I often have to Google history or information to add to my images, and it isn’t difficult to cut and paste and then put it in your own words. Or, if that is difficult, then at least link it to a website that has the information.

So, after that long ramble, my advice would be to those hesitant about adding their travel experiences, start small to gain confidence. Try adding the place and where it is in Australia, maybe how far it is from the major city, then as you feel confident build on the story.

This site is a wonderful starting ground to experiment and I’m sure Darren wouldn’t mind if you bubblemailed him a sample of your work to test the water. I have found everyone so supportive, and especially if you ask for advice others will give it. I did this when first experimenting with waterfall images and I was amazed at how many of the RedBubble community came forward to boost my confidence.

I hate to just choose a few of the talented artists in this group as there are so many, so please don’t be offended if I omitted your name. There are three who instantly spring to mind. John Vriesekolk has been a great friend and support, and he started off very hesitant at first, but has written a wonderful story of his Tasmanian trip and it is worth having a read. While your there, check out his images, too.

Next is Sonia Ellem EarthGipsy. Sonia lives not too far from me, we have never met, but have been a great support to each other since our early days on RedBubble. Sonia has dabbled in the field of travel photojournalism and really excels at what she does. Her dream I believe is to work in this field, so please check her out – it’s well worth it.

Marilyn Blossom is currently doing a series of images and work on Tasmania and whatever images she puts on RedBubble you can bet they are brilliant. Marilyn has also been a great support to me along with so many others. My thank you to each and every one of you for your friendship and support.

Now, if I had $20,000 to travel in Australia, well, I would see the whole darn lot! I would dearly love to go to the Kimberly region of WA, and re-do Tasmania at my leisure. I want to see the Undara Lava Tubes in North Queensland, cross the Simpson Desert, Kakadu, Kangaroo Island and just roam around in a comfy camper van enjoying the people and scenery, camping by a river bed with my wireless laptop, adding my images to RedBubble at night, gazing at the wide open night sky, and writing of my experiences. Pure magic! All our photo albums contain complete daily diaries of our trips, so documenting our travel has become second nature. As I said before, the two come together.

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Darren Stones:

Seems like you’ve worked out how to spend that cash on Australian travel if it comes your way. And if does, I’m ready and willing to carry your bags.

Yes, you’ve spotted some good talent rising through the ranks there, Bev. In regard to travel writing and photography, Sonia and John seem inspired of late, and it’s defintely showing in their work. They’ve both been featured with their works in our group. Marilyn is improving – that’s for sure.

Spent some time viewing your gallery of art, and I’m impressed with these two travel photographs in particular. Your Leura Cascade photograph and the photo of the surfer at Newcastle beach. The images are well composed, have good points of interest, and represent good travel photography of the respective regions.

Leura Cascade NSW Australia by Bev Woodman

The Leura Cascade photograph has my eyes leading through the scene from left to right. The lighting conditions seem perfect, and the ferns are a beaut backdrop to the creek. The green moss on the rock in the lower right provides excellent balance.

1,2,3 – Jump – Newcastle Beach NSW by Bev Woodman

Shipping and surfing are pretty much part of Newcastle, and you’ve combined the two components superbly, Bev. With the surfer heading out to enjoy his recreation, and that breaking wave caught at the perfect moment, it all comes together for a fantastic travel photograph. My favourite travel photo from your gallery of art here at RedBubble.

Bev, I’d like to wish you continued success with the Newcastle NSW, Lake Macquarie & Surrounding Region group that you generously host, and trust you continue to find inspiration from the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group.

On behalf of our group sponsor RedBubble, I’d like to present to you a RedBubble Gift Certificate to the value of $10.00.

Bev Woodman, it’s been my pleasure to interview you. Continue to enjoy your Australian travel photography and writing.

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Bev Woodman:

Thank you so much Darren for interviewing me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and the compliments on my work. It has given me great confidence to achieve even higher. I would like to encourage others that you choose to do the same. The work you are doing with this group is outstanding, and with everyone’s input it can only get better. Thank you for the RedBubble Gift Certificate and I will post what I buy in the buyer’s booth.

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