WOW! Just landed at Heathrow airport on the way to Milan, and logged on to my favourite website, and before I had a chance to order a dri…
WOW! Just landed at Heathrow airport on the way to Milan, and logged on to my favourite website, and before I had a chance to order a drink – I was amazed at the awesome comments on “Bored Intersection” – I couldn’t believe it… very much appreciated, especially the comment on the water reflection on the hand rail…. I know this sounds a little corny but I feel you guys are travelling with me… Lovin’ the comments along the way and lovin’ the RedBubble thing with a passion… thanks for the great support and there is nothing more exciting than sharing you creative work with like minded people. I will be stuck in a small Italian village for the next week, hoping for a internet connection there, but not holding my breath…
This is really big! We’ve tracked down some of the coolest photography prizes we could find, passed the hat round the office for some b…
This is really big! We’ve tracked down some of the coolest photography prizes we could find, passed the hat round the office for some bubblecash, stuck the megaphone out the window, and now we’re ready to launch the RedBubble Real Photography Competition. Prizes include: / – Leica M4-P plus 50mm F2 Summicron (or a Canon 400D + 17-85mm IS USM) / – Elinchrom D-Lite 4 – Studio Lighting Kit / – Gitzo Carbon Fiber Tripod with a Really Right Stuff BH-40LR Head / – 15 x great photography books / – $2500 bubblecash There are five categories, and you can only enter once per category. Simply upload your entry and tag it as follows: 1) Landscape, Travel and Nature Tag your entry with landscapephotocomp 2) Portrait, Fashion and Commercial Tag your entry with fashionphotocomp 3) Black and White, Street, and Reportage Tag your entry with bwphotocomp 4) America Tag your entry with usaphotocomp 5) Europe Tag your entry with europephotocomp See www.redbubble.com/promo/photocomp for full details
I can’t whip the smile of my dial, hehehe! Oh and dont’ forget my discount Fire Sale...
I can’t whip the smile of my dial, hehehe! Oh and dont’ forget my discount Fire Sale I’m really excited to share this news but over the last week, my wife has decided to send me on a trip to Egypt for a 15 day tour. One of our friends had mentioned in passing he was going to be doing a Egypt tour alone, and my wife had a brain wave and within a few days had all the flights booked so I’ll be travelling with my mate checking out some great sites which include the Pyramids, Sphinx, Alexandria, Luxor, Kom Ombo, Awan, the Red Sea. I’m pretty excited, a little bit scared, but overal excited at a great opportunity. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been before, any tips, suggestions etcs While the tour is pretty well defined there are some stages where we can do our own thing. I’ve decided I’m going to have to start some training and get a bit fitter before I go, as I’m sure the heat will knock me around a bit. If you can’t tell I’m almost dancing a jig right now imagining it, I’m sure I’ll have a great time, I really hope I can capture some great photos while I’m there. Thanks everyone and again, check out my sales if you haven’t! Craig
Come on you RedBubble arty farty blokes and sheilas – do you all smoke pot or do drugs? Is drinking piss a thing of the past? Sorry I…
Come on you RedBubble arty farty blokes and sheilas – do you all smoke pot or do drugs? Is drinking piss a thing of the past? Sorry I can’t offer some useless bit of controversy, but surely some of you indulge in grog to dampen the senses? Click here for; Your favourite Aussie country pubs
Hey All, Firstly I want to apologise for talking up my previous weekend of Beautiful goodness and never delivering, but a number of r…
Hey All, Firstly I want to apologise for talking up my previous weekend of Beautiful goodness and never delivering, but a number of recent events, both in the RB community and around me have taken most of the shine of that story, so in respect I’m just skipping over that for now. I will say that I’m getting damn excited about the trip to Egypt! I have my visa, I have a brand new pack (for my birthday), got lots of cool travelling gear for Xmas and things are starting to get very real. I must admit I’m a little nervous, and the friend I’m meeting in Egypt to tour around with is current trapped in Kenya, so I pray he’ll be able to leave shortly (and safely). I’ve been doing a fair bit of reading, I’ve grown my beard out (its a shaggy mess at the moment). I have a new camera as a backup, a Canon G9, (so I’ve got a foot in both camps now). Its a great little camera for street photography and being a bit more discrete then the D200 and massive lenses attached. Not long to go! I’m hoping to keep a diary while I’m over there, and when I return post a series of illustrated travel stories, thats the intention, if it actually happens will see :) Take care everyone and a Happy New Year!
Farewell but not for forever, just for three exciting weeks while I travel Egypt, see some amazing things and hopefully meet some great c…
Farewell but not for forever, just for three exciting weeks while I travel Egypt, see some amazing things and hopefully meet some great characters too. I’ll miss you all but I’m looking forward to a break and a de-stress, and I can’t think of much more relaxing then kicking back cruising down the Nile at sunset. Take care and behave yourselves while I’m gone :P (Yeah Right).
Hey Everyone, / I’ve been back a few days from Egypt now, but recovering from a respiratory infection I picked up over there, so been a b…
Hey Everyone, / I’ve been back a few days from Egypt now, but recovering from a respiratory infection I picked up over there, so been a bit quiet and snowed under at work. I also lost my baggage but have been told I may be receiving it later then week (which is great news). / I had an absolutely fantastic time in Egypt and enjoyed myself to no end, I dressed as a local and wander the streets, ate fantastic food and made lots of new friends and penpals. I didn’t take as many photos as I predicted and that was partially due to me really embracing the holiday and just enjoying myself and the culture first hand rather then behind the lens. I still managed to rattle off over 7000 images and some movies to boot so I’m still importing the full collection onto my PC at home. Last night was my first chance to play with a few shots and I picked my favourite three portraits to share with my RB friends. I hope you all like them and the stories behind the captures. I was keeping a loose log of my adventures and travels so I am considering doing a slow release day by day account, with illustrations to accompany the account. There is a fair bit of work to get it up to scratch, but if there is any interest then I think the photos and stories compliment each other better then just images alone. Well I’m glad to be back, and while I struggle to get on top of my work and into a normal routine please enjoy my three favourite portraits (thus far) from my trip photos. Blue Eyed Stare / Cheeky Grin / Bright Eyes /
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/ Cruising by Mark Higgins Possibly the most awesome early birthday present ever – a long weekend in Tasmania I think it’s supposed to be a mushy couple thing, but I insisted on at least one afternoon of bubbler fun. The boat lands early on April 24th and we’re driving around for a few days doing the tourist thing and drinking coffee at every cafe on the way. Ideas? Places to visit? People to see? Things to do? What & Who to photograph? Where to stay? So excited.
I sat in many cafe’s / Discovered an …
I sat in many cafe’s / Discovered an old photo location had burned down (except for the chimney) / Went on a ferry and got a bit sick / Went to Church / Checked out display homes / Visited a car show / Had lunch at mum’s place / ...where she asked my aunty (a nurse) to take the stitches out of the cat who had recently been desexed / / (thankfully she said no)
As you might remember, for my birthday James gave me a trip to Tasmania, which makes me tot…
As you might remember, for my birthday James gave me a trip to Tasmania, which makes me totally and utterly spoiled rotten. (and very happy, tee hee) So how does one have a Tasmanian Holiday? / Start by getting on the Spirit Of Tasmania. There was this crazy guy doing all the announcements and he kept giggling and then trailing off at the end of each one…. strange. / Have a “Final Destination Moment” on the way from the ship. If you don’t get that, you’re not cool enough. / Prepare for self portraits by testing all the furniture for it’s climbability… result? Low climbability options, proceed with care and a cup of tea. / Visit some cows, lots of cows. Black cows, spotty cows, even cows with flies on their ears. / Learn how to do landscape photography without even looking at what you are doing. James calls this “Landscape photography 101.” I call it silly. / Take embarrassing tourist photos of unwashed hair in front of a vaguely attractive looking landscape from a lookout that takes ages to get to and isn’t worth the effort. / Visit sheep… / Many sheep… It’s at about this point that I should confess that the highlight of my trip to Tasmania was sheep. I love sheep, and wool, and it was so sheepy and so woolly. ah, love the sheep…. baaaaaaa! / Stay in dodgy accommodation (not that it matters, we were sleepy by this point) / Have many many toilet stops. So James can take many embarrassing photos of said stops. / Eat awesome food and take Hien-style photos of the food while telling James he has to wait until I get a good shot. He was hungry. Sorry hon. / Take photos under fences of grass and pretty trees and stuff that I never take photos of. / Drive up and down nine mile beach until Jo chucks a tantrum and makes James go back to the first look out we saw and then insist it was another one and then realise she is wrong and chucks another tantrum. / Have RedBubble meet ups with the Tasmanian Locals. Of course in Tasmania, five minutes down the road is a ‘long distance’ so they might not consider themselves as local as we did. “Are you local?” (If you get that joke, I love you and you are a huge geek) / Stop several times and stay on the alert for “the tree” for many hours before James can swerve off the road to take a photo with power lines in it. / Find crazy camping grounds where they are obviously killing all their naughty visitors and warning off other naughty people by hanging their victims’ shoes out the front. / Be majorly big tourists and carry heavy cameras around busy markets and buy nice photography books which have nothing to do with Tasmania as souvenirs / What was that? Jo is into sheep and wool? Yes I actually dragged him into the wool centre so that I could touch and feel all the different types of wool and re-educate myself on the production process from sheep to suit. Um…. / Say hi to Rambo / James says that this was his ‘careful planning of schedules.’ I say it is technology dependency. / Have an unplanned and surprisingly good last stop to kill time before getting back on the ship. The guy who owned the place was going around offering to take people’s photos which we saw right through- he just wanted to play with people’s cameras. / This has nothing to do with Tasmania… James made me add it
Hello All, / Back once again from busines travel and glad to be home. Actually got otu for some shooting for the first time since May I …
Hello All, / Back once again from busines travel and glad to be home. Actually got otu for some shooting for the first time since May I think. Air travel sure is fun these days huh? Anyway I trust all is well and I shall hope to get busy processng some of the backload of images from April/May here! Take care Mike
Hey Guys & Gals…...just wanted to share some exciting news,I just won first prize in the Underwater.com photo comp for 2008,all expense…
Hey Guys & Gals…...just wanted to share some exciting news,I just won first prize in the Underwater.com photo comp for 2008,all expenses paid dive trip to Indonesia,I cant believe it :-),could someone pinch me please.There were so many outstanding images for the year,cant believe they picked one of mine,anyway just wanted to share my disbelief with all who have supported me,cheers /
to washington dc :):):) hehe gotcha! lol / i will be out of town for a week, heading up to washington dc, to shoot a friend’s wedding….
to washington dc :):):) hehe gotcha! lol / i will be out of town for a week, heading up to washington dc, to shoot a friend’s wedding. then go check out the captial, then go hit the coast, then stay with a friend in WV, and then head back here. / after i get home, a week later on my birthday, im heading to texas to shoot a friend’s bed and breakfast he has just restored. he needs promotion shots for his place while a wedding is being held there (bummer im not shooting that wedding too..lol), but that will only be over the weekend. alittle leary about flying “gulps” / so i thought i would let you know why i am awol for this month. / im so excited about heading up to the captial, havent ever been there, wish i had more time to spend up there!! so im grabbing my camping gear, and taking off! / wish i could do stuff like this every month!! / so you guys, bear with me on catching up on checking out your work, please! ill be checking things out when i get home. i wont have interenet access while im gone. / if anyone has any ideas of what all to shoot along with the captial and such, please add your input.. and if you’re in the dc area, contact me bmail, and maybe we can hook up! / i LOVE october! :):) and you can bet i will be uploading all sorts of shots when i do get back! i sure will miss you guys!!
Hey there beautiful peeps! / We are two weeks into our honeymoon and having a ball! / Haven’t had too many opps to get onto the Bubble and …
Hey there beautiful peeps! / We are two weeks into our honeymoon and having a ball! / Haven’t had too many opps to get onto the Bubble and I’ve been hanging out to share some piccies with you all. / I hope you enjoy what’s below (these aren’t the happy snaps, I’ll save those for facebook, these are me being typically artyfarty!!) just a mixed bunch from Dubai and Sicily, and towns like Deira, Sant Agata, Falcone, Milazzo, San Marco and Lacarra. / Love ya’s! :D / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
By Darren Stones Tasmanian photographer Anne O’Connor...
By Darren Stones Tasmanian photographer Anne O’Connor is highly regarded in Australian photographic circles for her photography skills and voluntary contributions to the Australian Photographic Society in which she’s been a member since 1996. At the society’s annual convention – APSCON – held in Launceston during September 2008, Anne was awarded the FAPS and AFIAP photographic honours. Anne is delighted to have achieved her honours, and particularly more so due to not having to travel overseas to achieve it – she did so by photographing Australia. Anne became a member of RedBubble in November 2008 and settled in seamlessly. Her contributions to the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group are high quality and have been well received by the RedBubble community. Anne’s shown a keenness to participate in the travel group’s activities, and it’s not surprising given that travel photography is one of her passions. Anne O’Connor, 61, resides in South Launceston, Tasmania and was a social worker by profession. As time and finances permit, she travels to distant locations in Australia with husband Bill. Recently, I had the pleasure to interview Anne, and it was interesting to learn not just of her antics, but how she is prepared to bare all in pursuit of her photography. D.S. – Welcome to the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group, Anne. Having browsed through your portfolio of work at RedBubble, I took particular note of your Camel train panorama photograph. What was your motivation for making it? And, was it a photograph you planned, or one that just happened as part of your travels? / Camel train panorama by Anne O’Connor A.O’C. – Camel train panorama is one of many photographs I took of the camels whilst visiting Broome in Western Australia. My husband Bill and I flew into Broome from Perth on our way to Darwin with the intention of capturing on Fuji Velvia film the camels at Cable Beach. We only had two nights there, but they were well spent. For the camel shots we needed a low tide, as well as a red sunset. There were a number of different camel trains, and for a time I observed what they did and how they travelled up and down the beach. The camels are led on their walks away from the main beach area before sunset, usually from the dunes, and then they return along the water’s edge. Initially, my photographs were taken with the water in front of me and the camels between me and the ocean. This created stunning silhouettes with the setting sun behind them. I remembered seeing photos of the camels silhouetted in the sand, so I changed direction and positioned myself between the water and them. I ran ahead of them and then waited until they moved back towards me along the wet sand. At one point, I was accosted by one of the camel train operators and he sternly told me that the camels were copyrighted, and that he owned the copyright. I ignored him as he wasn’t the only camel train operator on the beach. I wasn’t the only one taking photos, however I believe my keenness made me stand out from others. I then focused on other camel trains instead. D.S. – Which photograph currently submitted to the art section of the RedBubble Australian Travel Photography and Writing group do you wish you had taken? / Get in line! by Paul Grinzi A.O’C. – To me, Paul Grinzi’s image represents Australia, because our nation was built on the sheep’s back. The photograph has an ageless feel to it as an icon-type picture, and that’s important to me. I believe the image is priceless because it could have been taken in the 1800s or the present. It represents our country and our heritage that we should all be proud of. If I had a choice to take one photo that would represent Australia, this would be it. I wish Paul’s Get in line! photograph was mine. D.S. – From your RedBubble portfolio, which is your favourite Australian travel photograph? / Splash by Anne O’Connor A.O’C. – Splash is a photograph that brings back memories of a trip I did with Bill and my daughter. We drove along the coast from Exmouth to Perth and it was a combination trip – catching up with her and taking opportunities for photos. Splash was taken at Monkey Mia in Western Australia. I planned the trip to suit the photographs I wanted to take and Monkey Mia was on my list. I wanted to visit Monkey Mia to take dolphin photographs, but my better photographs were of pelicans. I was informed that I needed to arrive at Monkey Mia by the first feeding time at 7.30am because more dolphins come in then and they may or may not feed them at later times. That suited me photographically, so we were up at the crack of dawn and travelled from Denham to Monkey Mia. / / There were strict rules in getting close to the dolphins. Everyone had to stand in line and wait until the dolphins came in close. Some children were selected to feed them and they were allowed out in front. I managed one or two shots, but found it impossible to get anything worthwhile. / / I noticed some half-asleep pelicans on the sand earlier, so began creeping towards them. I took a photo, and then took a few steps. I continued to do this for some time. I also sat on the sand near them and one of the pelicans decided to make for the water, and of course I followed it into the water – slowly. I was up to the top of my legs in the water and just waiting, hoping the pelican would do something. Suddenly it did a big stretch and then a gigantic splash. The photos were on slide film at the time, so I had to wait to see what I had, but I was sure I had got the “photo of the day” amongst them. I was right. The movement and splashes were recorded perfectly and I got an image that I had not ever imagined. D.S. – When undertaking a photographic journey in Australia, what is your preferred type of accommodation? And when travelling, do you like travelling alone, with someone, within a group? A.O’C. – I prefer to travel with someone into strange places away from civilisation, but that person has to live with my photography. Bill is great, as he loves to drive, and he understands my idiosyncrasies with needing to be somewhere at the right time. He’s happy to drive and sit in the car with a newspaper and wait the hours it takes. Ruth Timperon and I go away a lot together within Tasmania. We’re like-minded and we never get in each others way. Interestingly, we may go to the same place, but our photos are never identical. We have a different eye and that makes for a good photographic companionship. We generally stay in units near the places we want to photograph. Two nights at one place is good as it allows time to look, and two opportunities to get the right light. Having another person with you can also be safer in some instances, and it’s enjoyable to share the photographic experience. I also go away on my own around Tasmania. I’m happy with my own company and during these times I stay in rented units. In an ideal photographic world, I need a driver with patience, somewhere comfortable to sleep, and a toilet. The right light, plenty of tucker, water to drink, and a stream or beach nearby. No mozzies or flies, people far enough away that you have trouble seeing them, no generators or noise, other than the bush and birds. I can live without the shower, but I first need my comfort stop. After that, peeing in the bush is fine. I have got past being able to balance for more than a pee! / Pipers river with storm clouds by Anne O’Connor D.S. – Which location are you considering for your next Australian photographic trip? A.O’C. – There are lots of places I want to experience with my photographic eye before I die. I want to travel on the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide, because I’ll have achieved crossing Australia by train from East to West and from North to South. The Ghan is more special because of the history of the train and the many years we lived in Darwin; however it’s something that will happen one day when the opportunity comes along. In Tasmania there are many places that I have not been to. Corinna and the Pieman River are first on the list to visit on my next few days of exploring. D.S. – When travelling on longer photographic trips how do your store and care for your digital images? A.O’C. – Storage is something I have investigated for a while. The information I sourced was through various online photographic forums or through reading various reviews online or in magazines. I did my homework prior to outlaying any money for equipment. When I found a name of something, I’d Google it, and then look at the specifications, etc. before making choices and spending money. My decisions were based on the ease of use, capacity to do what I wanted the devices to do, technical data, size and weight, and the input or reviews from other photographers. My philosophy has always been if you take things, you need to be able to carry them yourself – so light and small is best. Initially I took my laptop computer everywhere – especially in the Ford Bronco on long trips. I used to backup my images onto the laptop as we travelled. I eyed off the Epson portable storage devices when they came onto the market, and have purchased an Epson P-5000 with an 80 gigabyte hard drive. I’ve found the Epson to be everything I wanted, and I recommend it to any person considering one. It has the ability to provide a slide show of images and a screen that is large enough to show people what photographs have been taken on the spot. It has software within it to transfer files to a computer, and the battery lasts quite a long time. It charges fairly quickly and is a great external drive. I have a variety of memory cards and find that more often than not, what I have is enough for a day or more of photographing. I always take RAW images and I never revert back to JPEG – even for happy snaps. In the past, I have forgotten to switch back to RAW after the happy snaps and have been very cross with myself for forgetting. / Bridestowe lavender by Anne O’Connor D.S. – What’s the funniest or most interesting moment you can recall whilst taking photographs on an Australian photographic journey? A.O’C. – Some time ago, Bill and I drove from Cairns to Cooktown to visit Gisella, a friend of mine, who I’d met at an APSCON in Queensland. She and I went on a pre-convention tour to Fraser Island, and we got to know each other well. When we were in Cairns, Bill and I made the decision to drive up to Cooktown to see Gisella and stay for a few days. Whilst there, Gisella took us on a fairly long hike up into an area with a waterfall at the end of it. I cannot remember exactly where the place was, but it was quite a strenuous climb with lots of rocks to scramble over. At one point, Bill took the tripod and camera bag so I could clamber over things to get to the end point. Once there, I took back the tripod and camera and began looking for the right angle with my concentration purely on what was in front of me. It was not an easy place to get the image I wanted and there were lots of rocks and things to move around. Eventually I got myself into some weird position against a rock and half way up a small tree. My eye was stuck to the viewfinder and I was looking at the waterfall as I was trying to fit it within the frame. Suddenly, I experienced a very sharp bite that was excruciatingly painful. I grabbed at the sore spot on my torso to try and get rid of whatever was causing my pain. Before I could blink, I was being bitten all over my body and in some places that I can’t say here. By now I was yelping and slapping myself. My camera and tripod were soon forgotten as I searched for what was causing my agony. My clothes were flying in all directions, and Bill and Gisella came over to see why I was stripping my clothes off. / / In manoeuvring for the perfect shot, I managed to back up against a green ants nest and I became covered in the little darlings. Of course they were only trying to defend their home from a human invader, but I didn’t see it that way. I sure did some weird and wonderful manoeuvres, with Bill helping to pick the ants off me in spots only he could reach, whilst I stood almost naked as a jay bird. Gisella was trying hard not to laugh, and Bill was probably holding it in, too. Before I got dressed again, I had to check my clothes and pick off the ants. I never did get the shot I wanted. I only saw green ants that day and I still had a long hike back home. Gisella and Bill later said they wished they had had a movie camera. It’s something that I remember and have a chuckle over now and again – especially when I see a green ant. I would have liked someone to have had a movie camera to document me doing contortions in the nude and to prove that it really did happen. I have since seen a close-up photo of a green ant in battle formation at the Mindil Street Markets in Darwin. I had to buy a copy so as to remind me of my experience. Green ants make wonderful subjects photographically, but I don’t recommend becoming their enemy. D.S. – Anne, what two pieces of advice can you offer photographers who are about to undertake a travel photography trip in Australia? A.O’C. – I suggest researching before leaving home. Find out about the area before going and use the internet as a place to start. Check the tides, and the sun path – a compass is good to have. Check sunrise and sunset times, and the moon phase. I generally ask questions within a photographic forum, because there are photographers who have visited these places and know what to look for. If you go with a tour group, try and get a photographic one. Otherwise, you will be sitting down to dinner in a hotel, just when you want to go out and shoot photos, or you will be having breakfast and loading up in the mornings when you don’t want to. Think of photography first, food second and sleep third. Make sure you have food available in case everything is shut when you come back to your accommodation. This can happen in small towns and even in larger ones. D.S. – Anne, it’s been a pleasure to interview you. A.O’C. – Thank you for wanting to know more about me as a photographer. © Darren Stones 2009 / Published 11/1/2008
not what you might think!!! lol A Home Page Feature! / !http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/size:ularge/view:main/2660888-2-homepage…
not what you might think!!! lol A Home Page Feature! / for my image What Are You Looking At! I just want to say a big thank you for the feature, in particular to Darren Stones and the Australian Travel Photography and Writing Group as home page featured this Group and it was the Group’s feature of my work that got me there…. So whatever you are looking at, I’m smiling….
I’d like you all to meet my Redbubble Devils. !http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/size:ularge/view:main/2822487-2-redbubble-devils….
I’d like you all to meet my Redbubble Devils. Yes, there are four of them, and no, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you they do indeed each have two heads… Mock them at your own risk. Those teeth are sharp, and they are not shy about using them. I know, I have the bandaids on my ankles to prove it! Ever since they followed me home a couple of weeks ago they have been getting up to all sorts of mischief. They won’t let me near my laptop. They growl and hiss and spit so I can’t get any work done! They stole my mouse and I’m sure they must have had a midnight party on my keyboard one night, because the next days the keys were all sticky…. eeeuuuuwwww. Yesterday I found one of them playing cowboys with my dog. And this morning… well… I’ll show you that bit later. Suffice to say I have decided that this gang of ratbags needs to be broken up. I am keeping one of these little devils, who has very aptly named himself Mischief and Mayhem, because he is the absolute worst of the lot and I don’t think it would be safe to let him out of my sight. The other three however, I am going to send on a magical journey through Bubble Land – all will be revealed soon (insert Twilight Zone music here). Before I can experience the joy of wrapping them up and sending them off to the four corners of the Redbubble Globe though (far far FAR away from me!), they need names. That is where you, dear reader, come in. I’m throwing it out there to the community to name the three Redbubble Devils who are going travelling. Remember, two heads, so we need two names for each devil. Also, if you think you might have what it takes to play host to one of these merry mischief makers for a few days, send me a bubblemail to register your interest. But be warned… should you invite one of these Redbubble Devils into your home for a visit, there is every chance you may wake up one morning like this… Mischief and Mayhem thought it was a great laugh to scrawl all over my face in magic marker while I slept. That ain’t never coming off!! Anyone know a good way to remove this stuff without taking half my face with it? I better fly… I can see the four of them huddled together underneath the kitchen table. I fear there may be trouble a-brewing. I keep hearing whispers of “protest” and “forestry” and “we shall not be moved!” Put your thinking caps on and name me some names people, while I go sort this rabble out :)
As a result of my travels over the last four years, I’ve had the chance to visit a few places and meet a few folks. Here’s my new Austral…
As a result of my travels over the last four years, I’ve had the chance to visit a few places and meet a few folks. Here’s my new Australian Travel Photography video featuring the people, places, animals, events and festivals of Australia.
I’ve always loved reading about and looking at beautiful photographs of Australia. I love seeing it for myself even more. Earlier this …
I’ve always loved reading about and looking at beautiful photographs of Australia. I love seeing it for myself even more. Earlier this year I decided to combine these loves and try my hand at photographing and writing about it myself. Being a bit of a research nut, I looked to my good friend Google for some more specific information. One of the first sites that Google suggested was the Australian Travel Writing & Photography group on Redbubble. I hadn’t heard of Redbubble before, so I had no idea what to expect. After an initial look through, I couldn’t believe my luck. This group seemed to be exactly what I was searching for. Not one to leave a stone unturned, I checked out the other Google suggestions, but kept going back to Australian Travel Writing & Photography. Although not as large as some of the other resources, the images were just beautiful and the members seemed to share a common passion. So I joined. As a virtual newbie to both photography and writing for anyone other than myself I was initially pretty nervous about participating. However, the members soon made me feel very comfortable, with their supportive comments and helpful advice. Many of the members are published and are quite willing to share their expertise – invaluable assistance for someone like me. They’ve answered my (possibly) silly questions and guided me along in the few short months I’ve been a member. I’ve even had a buzz out of seeing my work featured a couple of times. I’ve been writing a personal blog for about a year and have come across a number of good writing and photography resources already. However, none of them focused specifically on travel writing and photography, and certainly none had the community behind them that Australian Travel Writing & Photography has. I particularly enjoy learning from other’s comments and work. Added to that, my list of places to visit keeps growing and growing as they introduce me to more and more of Australia. Within a few weeks of joining, I came to realise just how hard the group host, Darren Stones, works to foster this wonderful community and to develop opportunities for its members. His encouragement, liaison and expertise have played a very large part in the success of the group. A major coup by Darren has been securing a number of sponsors for the group, including Greg Barton, editor of Australian Traveller magazine. Buoyed by the support of the group, I decided to have a good crack at the inaugural Australian Traveller Travel Writing & Photography challenge held recently. The opportunity to be published in a major magazine isn’t one that comes along often to new writers so early on. I picked my topic, researched, wrote and rewrote. I scoured my photo library for suitable shots. Then I edited everything again. And probably again – I’m not sure, I lost count! Finally I was happy with what I had. I shut my eyes and pressed the submit button. Yesterday, I received the most exciting news I’ve had in a very long time. I’d won the challenge! My story and photos will be published in Australian Traveller magazine. I haven’t stopped smiling. I’m sure their distribution will spike from me buying copies for all my friends and family. I can’t thank Greg enough for giving me this opportunity (and for the wonderful feedback), Darren for organising it all and the group members for sharing their knowledge. I’d also like to congratulate the other participants. I know it can be a nerve-wracking experience putting your writing out there for everyone to see, but it was a pleasure to read all your work. Well done especially to Sonia and John. With the work that Darren’s doing and the continued passion of the Australian Travel Writing & Photography members, I can see this group flourishing. I’m so grateful to be a part of it.
My dearest, Wide-eyed, with my suitcase full of disbelief and bewi…
My dearest, Wide-eyed, with my suitcase full of disbelief and bewilderment, I stole the witch’s slippers and took it upon myself to begin my trek to The Emerald City; lions, tigers, bears and all. Twenty-three gruelling hours after leaving the warm clutches of Australia’s love behind, I stumbled into the marble art deco stone lobby of the Moore hotel in Seattle… and found myself smack bang in the centre of Oz. So began a week of dreamy green days in the emerald gem of America’s Pacific northwest. If there was a place behind the rainbow, Seattle could very well be it… or at least a damn fine stop over: every corner and edge of this city bubbles in a melting pot of colour, culture, energy, people and art. The vibrancy of this laid-back understated American metropolis is still somehow manic and overwhelming. An afternoon spent coveting the stalls and treasure troves of the Pike Place Market leaves you exhausted with enchantment, colour and bruises from too many collisions with cameras hanging from tourists like Christmas tree ornaments. A walk to the waterfront through the myriad of downtown’s street vendors, buskers, charity workers, homeless and idle leaves you a little breathless, a little grateful for whatever fortune it is you have and desperately seeking the solace that the silvery slate waters of Elliot Bay and the mossy Puget Sound islands gently deliver and placate you with. For all its city barbs though and despite the unignorable locust-swarms of Starbucks (Seattle, a city that operates on coffee, is the birthplace of the bean-burning-charcoal-flavoured mega-cafe chain: there are 70+ in the downtown area and 300 outlets in the greater area), this is a city built on music, art, technology, a hybyrid of indigenous and colonial heritage, organic fresh produce, ferry boats and seaside mountain scenery that honestly reaches into your lungs and runs away giggling with a loot bag full of your breath and heartbeat. As I revisited this city, this place that has bloomed green in my blood since the first time I visited it as a nine year old girl, I madly jotted and scribbled sights and wonders in my little red notebook: a collection of threads and buttons and feathers and shells and souvenirs of moments I pressed between the pages to one day make a kaleidoscope of and turn in the light round and round. Allow me to glue them to this postcard along with a few grains of black sand from these northern shores for good luck… Falling asleep listening to the sounds of the city toss and turn outside my window… intermittently interrupted by the hysterical squawks of the bay’s seagulls… and laughing for a good five minutes solid on my own in the dark. Strolling along the Elliot Bay boardwalk and smarting at the sharp unexpected warmth of the Seattle sunshine on my skin. Discovering basement vintage shops filled to the brim with everything from snakeskin kitten heels to strawberry polka-dot apron dresses. Stumbling upon the independent Elliot Bay book store… Borders and Barnes and Noble eat your heart out over their creaking floorboards, floor-to-ceiling cedar bookshelves, bustling cafe selling $1 organic Fair Trade coffee and a corner space for local musicians instead of in-store CD of the week. Wondering how to overcome the bamboozle of countless fast food outlets and literally accidentally walking into a little Mexican flag beside a bright red hole-in-the-wall window that opened to the haven of a Mexican kitchen offering mouth-watering lime-infused chilli-and-guacamole feasts for $2 a plate. Thinking to myself that I was feeling as though I had fallen into one of Mary Poppins’ chalk drawings… only to round a corner and come across a beautiful girl with a nightingale voice singing ‘Chim Chiminey’ on an accordian. Sitting at a kitsch cafe overlooking Puget Sound at twilight and savouring mouthful after mouthful of fresh crab and parmesan risotto washed down with a violet martini. Taking a trot up Capitol Hill to find Molly Moon’s, an organic ice creamery that sells their mouth-watering fares by the pint and features such flavours as salted caramel, red currant and honey lavender cream. Walking to the Seattle Centre, the hub around the Space Needle, and sitting on the rim of the fountain where when Kurt Cobain killed himself, Courtney Love read out his suicide note to the thousands gathered there. I smiled to myself at the young fans in flannel with peroxide and eyeliner who keep vigil there with candles, flowers and out-of-tune guitar still. Reuniting with Cinnamon Works, my favourite over-the-counter cafe in the world that homemakes gluten free treats the likes of which my taste buds have never encountered anywhere else: fronting up every morning to greet the girls with my uber excitement and on my fifth morning visit, being given my breakfast and coffee on the house for managing to be the most ‘joyous’ customer they’d ever served. Hankering down with a still-warm-out-of-the-oven homemade gluten free oatmeal and raisin cookie the size of my head and a double-shot Americano to take in the Pike Place Market: flying fish, dried flowers, dried fruit, dried cow (beef jerky obsession here)... a patchwork of vibrant mouthwatering colour, music, vendor personalities (the dairy creamery is run by Nancy Nipples and the Salmon Saviour guarantees all seafood is sold with fishy love) and second-hand treasures (a stuffed meerkat, the entire works of Colette and a bottle of ‘guaranteed’ hair replacement tonic were all on one $5 stand). The fresh produce here is genuinely mind-boggling: for one day I ate nothing but the organic fruit I found at the market: bananas with the colour and taste of the sunlight that ripened them, perfect globes of peaches that made my cheeks ache with their juicy sweetness, so-red-they-were-almost purple pomegranantes, bright yellow cherries (!) grown in orchards at the base of nearby Mt Rainier that almost warranted eating pips-and-all just to pop more into my mouth they were so flavoursome… and red star krimson pears that were so ornate, I felt like I was eating a decoration every time I sunk my teeth into their tangy sweet flesh. Taking some time out on a ferry boat ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island where I had a lunch of smoked gouda with rye washed down with a pomegranate margarita, while I watched the tiny township pass me by. The island people like their days slow and the living vintage; as I sat in the park under an elm, a retired cowboy drove past me in his mouthwatering Chevrolet, his equally salt-and-peppered dog in the tray with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, and strains of Don Henley singing ‘take it easy’ coming from the cab. Needing some open-eye meditation away from the bustle of the cityscape: going for a run along the shoreline and bellowing out towards the gem-coloured islands of Puget Sound, wondering if my Australian doppelganger could hear me… and if she in fact was bellowing right back at me from the East. My time here draws to an end and I can hear the chimes of Big Ben and the whispers of time calling me. So I leave this green glass place, this first stop on my yellow brick road. replete with northwest sunshine, stories and inspiration tucked into my Mary Poppins bag for a rainy day. More postcards to come as soon as I find my feet and ink. And, of course… Wish you were here. Love, / Holly x
Share this with your social networks. / “B…
Share this with your social networks. / By Darren Stones When travelling, photography can be an integral part of your journey. Sure, we all enjoy savouring the sights, tastes and tourist hot spots, however travel photography provides opportunity to create and enjoy a memorable experience. Here’s 5 tips to assist you to take better travel photographs: No. 1 – Use the golden hour for better landscape scenes Serious landscape photographers utilise the golden hour to their advantage. Inspect the best landscape photographs, and you’ll notice that the sun is generally low in the sky. The first and last sunlit hour of the day produces a softer light for quality landscapes. Even though photographing during these times can be difficult due to a busy travel schedule, make the effort and you’ll be rewarded with better quality images. No. 2 – Photograph people Taking photos of people is a vital part of travel photography. People like to know about people and they like to know what they look like. So, take people photos and expand your portfolio. A city or town is about its people and culture – not just its buildings and scenery. Walk around with a smile, greet people as you pass them, and become part of the surroundings. If you see someone engaged in an activity, approach them in a friendly manner. Introduce yourself and tell them you’re a visitor to the region. Tell them you’re a travel photographer who likes to take photos of people. Ask if you can take their photograph as they’re engaged in an activity. Go in close with a wide-angle zoom to create a dynamic portrait. No. 3 – Stick around for sunset, and linger a little longer When travelling, most people don’t take photographs at sunset, preferring to dine and savour a region’s tastes. Take a look behind you when the sun is setting as it may be highlighting buildings or trees. Sometimes the best photographs are taken during sunset. Stay for the afterglow, because this can assist in producing unique architectural shots. With fading light, and street lights aglow, it’s an ideal time to photograph buildings. No. 4 – Image format Some subjects look better in portrait format compared to landscape. If in doubt, shoot both formats. When you’re home analysing your photos on the computer decide which looks best. For instance: lighthouses can be framed tightly in portrait format, or, framed in landscape with interesting surroundings. No. 5 – Less is more I believe the best travel photos are uncluttered and simple in composition. There’s a tendency amongst less experienced photographers to try and fit everything in, with the eventual image becoming a lot of tiny objects. I’ll share a method I use. At times, I’ll slowly walk around with the camera to my eye searching for a strong composition. Of course when doing this, take care of where you walk, otherwise you could end up on your backside or over a cliff. Commence planning your next journey with the intention to create attractive travel photographs. Research the places you intend to visit via the internet, newspapers, magazines and travel guidebooks. Sharpen your photographic eye before you leave by photographing in your local area or nearby region. Increase your chances of producing quality travel images by researching, preparing and skilfully executing. Happy travels. Cheers, / Darren Stones / Group host / Australian Travel Photography and Writing View the Darren Stones Australian Travel Photography video on YouTube.
Through my cyber travels i have come across many photographers work that has been stolen and used without their knowledge / And just recen…
Through my cyber travels i have come across many photographers work that has been stolen and used without their knowledge / And just recently i have found a site that tracks back photos and shows where they are being used on the net / http://tineye.com/ / you simply enter the image address (URL) or choose an image from your HD and the site looks for it in their archives / it even works for images that have been cropped after being stolen or partially photoshopped this is a good example / http://tineye.com/search/0ac89241ed4c8ccd104094f6412ded2e0acfc2d7 / The original is the profile pic of someone who friend requested me on Facebook as something seemed odd/funny about it I put the image through Tineye.com / and you can see the results Another image site which you might like (if you use flickr) is / http://clipyourphotos.com/FP / they serch through the Flickr Front page history for your photos that might have been featured there that you missed any way I hope these are useful for people Cheers Richard
To all members of Red Bubbles: / I want to share with you all the immense joy I feel for having sold an image of mine to National Geograph…
To all members of Red Bubbles: / I want to share with you all the immense joy I feel for having sold an image of mine to National Geographic Traveller Magazine!!! Can you imagine the thrill!!! I received an email from their editor telling me they were interested in one of my images and they wanted to buy it for the Jan/Feb 2010 issue. I feel this has been a great accomplishment and wanted to share it with all of my friends in Red Bubble!!!! / Wow…. I can assure you…. it feels GREAT!!!! / Haydee (Mariarena) MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO CONGRATULATED ME FOR THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT. I really mean a BIG thank you!!! This could have been any/either of you because you are all great photographers and artists… really! Many of you have asked to see the photo. I promise I will upload it as soon as I see it published in Jan/Feb issue… In the meantime, I feel so lucky to have you here in RB giving support, advice and sharing our creativity! It is great to share this space with you. Thanks a lot. / Haydee
I would like to introduce my new book The Spirit of Southeastern Anatolia, now published and available on Blurb...
I would like to introduce my new book The Spirit of Southeastern Anatolia, now published and available on Blurb / In Southeastern Anatolia, the ancient Northern Mesopotamia with the rivers Euphrates and Tigris are numerous traces of different cultures, religions and traditions. This photobook is a photographic journey, searching for the spirit of cults and religions and documenting traces of history, impressive places and landscapes, people and street life in Southeastern Turkey. / Book Preview / Buy Book Details: / Available as Softcover, Hardcover (Dust Jacket) and Hardcover (ImageWrap), / Size: 10×8 inches / 25×20 centimeters, 80 Pages, Premium Paper. / Collection of 118 images and descriptions. Language: English Book Content: / Sunrise on Mount Nemrud – The cult of King Antiochos / Summer Residence – The antique city of Arsameia / On the water and overland / Hasankeyf at Tigris River / The old quarter of Midyat / Kasimiye Medrese / Streets of Mardin / Deyrulzafaran – Syriac Monastery / Abraham’s pond in Urfa / The traditional Urfa Night / Cone and cubic formed houses in Harran / Kelaynak – Rare birds at Euphrates River / Gaziantep – Historical impressions Book – The Spirit of Southeastern Anatolia – Preview / Buy
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