How I stay safe as a photographer

How I stay safe as a photographer

Cliffs around Cape Spencer lighthouse

My experiences and some advice on staying safe.

 

I’ve discovered as a photographer I must stay safe and reasonably fit. I regularly clamber over rocks, walk up high hills and mountains, climb sandy dunes, wade through tall grasses, fossic through low trees and bushes, slush through piles of snow, scale fences and so on……

*I’ve fallen over so many times I’ve lost count, my back is quite scarred from trying to slip through barbed wire fences, naa just kidding, but many a good article of clothing has been ripped and never worn again.

*I’ve been hit by a rogue wave, only once as I learnt my lesson well and truly, I lost some good camera gear and all food and drink were gone, and all towels and clothing, back packs and chairs were soaked and unusable for the rest of the day. The surf was pumping,  a huge swell was rolling in, however I noted that spectators and other photographers sat well away from the shoreline….not me,  I thought, I’ll get up close and personal for that one in a million brilliant surf shot!! Within moments a wave crashed on to the shore, the surge was extremely strong and totally unexpected. Hmm, that’s why all those others were well away from the surf break! Consequently I am extremely cautious around the ocean. I will never wonder too close to the shoreline when the surf is up and the waves and swell are big. Camera gear is very expensive and not readily replaced.

*I’ve been lost, oooohh I must say perhaps this is the worst moment of my photographic career. The time was sunset, my location was a massive salt lake which was surrounded by quite a lot of bush land. So having happily snapped away till the sun sunk below the horizon, I then turned to head home. I must point out, I have the worst sense of direction known to human kind.
I realised quite quickly I was very lost and would head in a direction then back track and start again, this process was repeated until it got quite dark. I then began to panic and started rushing, finally I back tracked a last time to my initial starting point, I calmed myself down took a few landmarks, and tried to keep heading in a straight line. Eventually I came out near a road and saw my car in the dim light about half a kilometre down the road. What a relief. If I go out photographing at this time of day and to this type of location I now take a compass and a torch! And I will often leave little landmarks, you know piles of rocks and twig pointers, but never breadcrumbs like Hansel and Gretel.

*I’ve been bitten by a deadly brown snake, it was a dry bite, phew..(a dry bite means no venom is released as the snake gets a fright but it can apparently distinguish between prey and other obstacles, so somehow it knew my leg was not a mouse.) But I still spent a day in hospital. Side note here.. I was wearing sneakers and shorts and stepped into a pile of leaves to get that golden shot of a blade of grass in the morning sun. I only felt a faint sharp twinge in the back of my leg and upon examining the leg there were two clearly defined fang marks. I looked around and saw nothing so decided it cannot have possibly been a snake, so I walked home, checking my pulse every so often, just to make sure I was still alive. When I finally got home I remembered an awful story I had once read about a man who had been mowing his lawn, never felt a thing but died that night as he had been bitten by a brown snake. So I headed for the hospital where they monitor you for 12 hours. Another lesson learnt!

*I’ve been completely blown over by the wind, on the big storm day READ HERE.  I tried to climb down to a beach we regularly frequented, the car door practically flew off its hinges and I struggled to close it, then I began to try to get to the staircase which descended to the beach. I had to grip the wire on the side rails and when I let go it literally blew me over onto the rocks nearby. I kind of crawled back to the car and figured…well, we wont be getting many photographs today.

*I’ve been soaked by the rain so many times. Anticapating exactly when the rain will arive is not one of my best insights. And my journey back to the car always takes a lot longer than I think.

*I’ve fallen down a huge concealed hole, which happened to be a mutton bird nest. I stepped into the hole and disappeared up to my waist. I don’t have the foggiest notion why a tiny mutton bird would build such an enormous nest beneath the ground. My thigh was very badly scratched and quite painful I might add.

What a life hey? There are not many times in my life that I can look down at my legs and not see scratches and scars!

Life as a dedicated landscaper photographer is not for the faint hearted!

 

My advice and tips for staying safe:

1. Carry a bit of first aid.

2. Take your phone and if there is no reception, which most times there isn’t, always tell someone where you are and what time you’ll be back.

3. Carry a compass.

4. Carry a torch if photographing at sunset.

5. If it is a long journey, of course, carry food and water.

6. Stay fit, I try to exercise every day to maintain strength and fitness for those steep hill climbs and traversing rocky terrain. Yes and sand dunes are quite huge and can take large amounts of energy and time to travel over.

7. Watch the sun and head home before it is too dark to see. This is one rule I stick to religiously.

8. Don’t take unnecessary risks, it is just not worth a photograph if your life is in danger. Around Yorke Peninsula there are many huge and dramatic cliffs, I always keep well back, as there are some rocky cliffs which at the upper most point are suspended at least a metre or so out into the air. A heavy human could easily cause this to break off and fall into the ocean.

9. Wear snake protectors if traversing any types of terrain in Australia.

 

Want some extra info:

Here is a great blog article  for those photographers that do a lot of travelling. READ HERE

Wave on Ethels Beach
Looking down steep cliff faces and ocean below

Above. Don’t look down!!

Cliffs around Cape Spencer very green sea water
Foam on the beach no sand left

Above. Foam and waves have washed a normally golden sandy beach completely away. This is a day not to take a walk along the beach.

A salt lake in Yorke Peninsula

Above. This is the vast salt lake that I was photographing on the day I got lost. You can see the colours as the sun sets, and in the distance you can see the lake is surrounded by bush. 

Rough terrain

Above. Much of South Australia’s outback is rough and rocky terrain.

Looking down from a steep hill

Above. Climbing a cliff that had an old track winding up the hill.

Don't stand too close to the cliff edge
Over hanging cliff face

Above. Never stand too close to the cliffs edge.

Walking over the sand hills
Dust storm on a sandy hill

Above. Never change a camera lens in a sand dune or on a windy day

Photographers travel many roads
New Zealand camping holiday

The life of a photographer often takes the road less travelled. But this road can lead to so much enjoyment, adventures, and scenery beyond description. There is always a story untold.

Just make sure you do adequate research and check out the locations you intend to photograph, and if I can repeat and repeat again never take unnecessary risks. it is worth the time and effort to check your clothing, the weather, camera gear, your vehicle and locations before you set out.

How to handle negativity and criticism of your photography.

How to handle negativity and criticism of your photography.

umbrella

 

So just how do you understand and deal with comments made about your photography, either to your face or on social media accounts you post on. The good the bad and the ugly….. The big question here is….Do you change your style to suit others? 

Here are a few of the comments I have had.

Why are you adding things to your photograph?
Have you changed the colour of that tree?
What is that object you’ve put into that image?
Have you touched that up?
Why have you done that to a perfectly good photograph?
That’s not real?
Have you added that house in?
Was that bird really there?

We can’t take away from the fact that most people believe that a photo should represent the facts exactly as they were seen by the naked eye. That’s after all what cameras were originally designed for. To record an event exactly, for a visual memory of what has gone before.

Along came editing.

Oh the joy of having some control over what the camera has captured. When I discovered editing it was so exhilarating I tried all sorts of colours and techniques

One particular day I was showing my images to some friends. One man looked at a particular photograph, (the surfing image below) and said, “Have you touched that up?” to which I replied, “Only a little.”
He said, “I don’t like that.” and handed my photograph back very quickly not looking at it a moment longer than he had too. He had a most disdainful look on his face.
I was deeply insulted, but found, as time went by, a similar reaction from a few other well meaning humans!

I found myself regularly trying to explain that I was a photographic artist and not a newspaper reporter.

Times have changed and now photography is more accepted as an art form.

However somehow their negative comments influenced my editing process. I would hear their words in my head and try to make my images what people wanted.

Let me tell you “That’s not a good habit.”

How I dealt with these comments:

1. I now edit exactly as I want and I try to understand that the  person firing the comments at me does not not know what I am doing or how I am doing it. (If it is a comment on social media, I delete it.)

2. I try to portray a feeling in my photographs. I am not offended any longer. If I have to …. I just simply say, “I’m an artist and it’s a wonderful privilege to be able to do with my images whatever I dream about.”

3. Discover who you are and what makes your heart sing and be proud of that. Hold your head up high, speak with authority on your subject and if you feel not to respond at all, simply smile and say nothing.

4. Do a little research and discover how to respond to well meaning humans.

5. The bible is full of wonderful quotes about speech and how to treat others. It also teaches us to rise to our full potential and not to allow others to destroy our journey with the abilities, gifts and talents we have. Understand that you are unique and your art and photos are part of who you are.

Matthew 25:14-30 This scripture speaks of our requirement before God to use our gifts and talents to promote goodness and peace on earth. if you use what is entrusted to you, more will be given. No good sitting and twiddling your thumbs, we were created for a life of adventure and productivity. I love that!!

Proverbs 15.1. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15.2. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 

 

 

Surfer

The above image is the photograph that I proudly showed to some friends when I first began my journey in the photography world.

Old house in the valleys
West Cape light house

The above two images are almost the same view but I have added an object in to the top image, namely the little white house. On the second image I have darkened the hills and added extra mist in the valleys. 

Foggy day
Trees on snowy hill

With both tree images I have lightened and darkened far beyond the original image. In the top tree image I have used Silver Efex and left  dark brown in the lower half of the image.

Motion blur surfer

Motion blur applied to this image of a surfer. Slower shutter speed and higher aperture.

White clouds
Tree in the snow

It is obvious that the tree above is fake, but I dont mind because I liked it that way. It’s about what you enjoy and like, not all art is real!  It was an actual snowy hill but I darkened it in a programme called Silver Efex.

A thought……. I wonder how AI will change art?

Pink sand dunes
vintage yacht

The yacht above had no sails up, so I copied some red sails and edited them in using photoshop. Then added a vintage preset.

Umbrellas
Dust storm
Sunny summer days
White sail and grasses in foreground

All the images above have been altered for my enjoyment. It may seem quite obvious what the alterations are but that is how I like the photo to look. Ummm maybe not the line of umbrellas on the cliff edge. I am working on that image…

Can I reiterate, please create photographic art how you want, put aside negative thoughts and fill your mind with what it is you see with your heart. Your mind is a powerful tool and you have control of it, not someone else.

Is pink a good colour in photography?

Is pink a good colour in photography?

Pink snow and sunset

Pink

Pink is rich in symbolism and can portray many concepts. Pink is timeless and over the years has been used for love, romance, babies and a general feeling of warmth. Pink is a combination of red and white, and sometimes soft hues of orange. Red is one of the primary colours and very bright and stimulating, hence the addition of white produces a soft and warm shade which appeals to our feminine side. However even men have a feminine side and can appreciate the beauty of pink!!

Pink is calm and soft and warm. A predominant shade when the sun sets and when the sun rises, pink is often spell binding in its ability to lighten and soften our thought patterns. Pink is used regularly and often in photography and is a great choice when photographing outdoors.

Here are some ideas on how to get the best out of your landscape photography incorporating the colour pink.

 

1. Sunset. I regularly see people gather in various locations to view a sunset. Why because of its beauty and no doubt its tendency to calm and soothe us. A sunset is a great opportunity to visit your favorite photography locations and experiment with settings as the sun goes down. I have learnt to slow my shutter speed as the sun gets lower in the sky.

2. Sunrise is not so frequented by the crowds, perhaps because they are still sleeping. A sunrise has a sharper and crisper element to it, whereas a sunset is more musky and muted. Sunrise does require you to get up early but when I visit the mountains I am never disappointed. So get up early and take a stroll to a good spot to sit and watch the morning light. I am not good at using a tripod, but I always do for early morning shots.

3. Pink is often associated with babies, children, girls and clothing and rooms. watch out for shades of pink in homes, and clothing.  And as I said before don’t exclude men, Rick Stein a TV food presenter very often wears a pink shirt and it looks great! Hence when putting people into your landscape shots a hint of pink will make them stand out and yet add a touch of gentleness and warmth.

4. Most times in a setting sun I will actually not photograph the sun but will turn in the exact opposite direction and photograph from this angle. In fact most of my shots below are of this type of shot. The pinks are vivid and and slowly turn to a purply blue shade. Timing is critical so be in your location at least an hour to 30 mins before the sun sets.

5. Try slowing your camera shutter speed down to create an even softer effect. Practise and practise again. I constantly check my shots in the view finder and then make any alterations to my camera settings.

 

CHECK THIS OUT a great article by Lisa Michelle Burns on how to achieve those pastel shades in your landscape photography.

Enjoy the evening hues when you next view the heavens as the sun is setting.

Girl on a pink sandy hill
Pink water tank in a wheat field

5 ways to photograph fog.

5 ways to photograph fog.

Fog on the jetty

Fog…a moment in time when one cannot see what’s right in front of you.

Fog adds a dimension of ethereal beauty to our world. What was so obvious the day before is now enshrouded in mystery. For a photographer it is a wonderful opportunity to gaze upon a landscape that is out of focus, magical and vaporous.

One particular morning last week I got up early and photographed the fog lingering along the shoreline. As the sun rose the colours turned from dark grey to pink, then to orange then back to pink, then a purple blue.

Minimal imagery, which I love, is ideally suited to foggy days.The fog limits any background objects and adds a hazy, watery feel to the picture.

A few quotes about fog:

 

Fog stimulates your imagination into places where it may be afraid to go.

The fog always lifts.

You may not see clearly in the fog, but rest assured peace can be found simply enjoying its beauty. 

Sometimes when you lose your way in the fog, you end up in a beautiful place.Dont be afraid of getting lost. (Author, Mehetmet Ildan)

So here are my five points on making some awesome foggy photos.

Birds on the jetty

1. If you dont want just one big haze you must put a relatively close and clearer object in the foreground. In the image above I placed the begining of the jetty in my foreground.

Foggy morning
2. Chose a brighter object in the middle of the fog.  
This can really make the fog stand out. In the image above the sun started to rise and made a perfect scene.
Sunrise on a foggy morning
Seagull on a foggy morning
3. Chose a darker object that is standing out from the fog.
Two sea birds in the fog
Trees in the fog
Yacht in the fog.
4. Find a point of interest to include in your image.
This yacht (above) just caught the morning sun and looked beautiful in the quiet of the morning.
Fishing boat in the fog
5. Be patient and walk as far and wide as you can.
The fog changes very quickly as it moves and then is absorbed by the sun. You can get some very interesting images.
Fishing boat in the fog
Misty morning
Tree top in fog
Sea bird flying in fog
Minimal is probably the concept that comes to mind when photographing fog.  
Remember to adjust your settings to gather in a bit more light.
Lower shutter speed for darker scenes and a higher iso.
But you may need a tripod for those early morning shots. 
For more information on fog photography CHECK THIS OUT

Is yellow a good colour in photography?

Is yellow a good colour in photography?

tree in yellow canola field

Yellow the brightest colour in the spectrum.

Yellow is perfect for capturing the vibrancy of life. Fields, flowers, and yellow sunsets, captivating and stimulating. Yellow is a great colour to use in photography especially putting in an important element that you want to stand out. in your picture.

Yellow is fun, stimulating and picturesque, not really the colour one would paint a whole house in. But touches here and there add a vibrant and happy feel to a home. 

Here are my thoughts on how and when I like to use yellow:

1. It’s a magnificent sight to drive along a country road and behold an enormous yellow field. Nothing quite like it! If you live in the country or near some farmland, do take the opportunity to drive and photograph some fields. I don’t put myself into a farmers canola field any more for a selfie, I prefer to be on the edge of the field. I have learnt they work hard and dont need people tramping through their fields.

2. I usually photograph canola fields on a cloudy day. This is just my preference because I prefer the combination of yellow and grey to yellow and sky blue. So chose your weather conditions depending on what you would like to photograph.

3. Yellow cars or scooters are great to photograph, make sure you have your camera with you when navigating the city or when you take a drive on the beach. Use a fast shutter speed if you do not wish to capture any movement.

4. I like a touch of yellow in my home, my yellow linen duvet cover is lovely to photograph… and lovely to sleep in.

5. I do find yellow, maybe a car, maybe a church spire. maybe a yellow dress a very inspirational colour. However too much and it is a little blinding and over powering, as they say..”Everything in moderation.”

6. Yellow is not a common colour in our landscape so hence the power of uniqueness is very evident when you use yellow in your images.

Have fun.

Gallery

Setting sun over Kaikoura mountains
Is light blue a good colour in photography

Is light blue a good colour in photography

Cloud on a bee beach

 

Colour lightens our life and adds such a beautiful dimension to all we see.

How clever is our God to come up with a concept like colour. Through our eyes we absorb the beauty of creation in an array of colours. Each sunset, each green grassy slope, each red harsh desert, the ocean, greens to deep blues… one certainly could write pages of descriptions, endless and timeless.

We need light to see these colours, darkness cannot comprehend or display any colour at all.

 

One of the most tranquil and calming colours apparently is light blue.

 

Soft and gentle, cool and clear. From snowy mountains captured in the South Island of New Zealand to brilliant coastal sights captured in South Australia.

Light blue is good for your health and your soul. As we view this soft colour endorphines are released and we are calmed and soothed. Being a cool colour it also has a cleansing and refreshing effect on us.

Conclusion….Yes, light blue is a fabulous colour to use in your photography!

Tips to get that soft light blue colour.

*Editing your photos becomes a must, as the blue of the sky or the ocean is quite a vivid blue and very often is not that soft gentle shade we want. I generally desaturate my images and try and tone down the brightness of the blue. I often raise the exposure a little as well.

* You may try adding a haze of white over your blue sky to soften it. I use photoshop for this.

* Snowy scenes are often perfect for that light blue shade. The sky in the early morning around the mountains can look quite spectacular. Once again try the desaturation slider if the blue is too intense.

* Try photgraphing on a cloudy day and try different settings. Experimentation is a great way to perfect your art.

* In South Australia there are some magnificent salt lakes that are that exact soft light blue shade. So if you are fortunate enough to live near some salt lakes, try your hand at photographing those.

* Dial the shutter speed down a bit so your images are a fraction lighter. Take a look and make the necessary changes.

Good luck and have fun.

 

Gallery

Yacht sailing by
sand dunes
Moon
Yachts at sea cliff
Snow in the cool of the evening
Misty mountains at dawn
Snowy mountains NZ
Frozen grass
girl in desert sands
Sand dunes
Blue wave
Alone on a hill
Spponbills flying