September 8th, 2010 at 8:10pm
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Homelands&id=1386
The more we can get to sign this the better the chance we have of making the Kimberley industry free. There are better places for this gas plant. Let the premier know.
Send this link to all your friends who care about stopping the government from doing whatever it wants. Today the Kimberley, tomorrow the southwest. Hope they don’t find oil and gas under your patch of soil.
I want all you young people to sign too, get your noses out of Facebook for five minutes and think about what sort of future you want. My generation have had it good and we have not treated your inheritance that well. Make sure you don’t make the mistakes we made and help bring about change. You are the ones who will make or break our planet. Please don’t leave it up to the old, don’t give a shit I’ll be dead before there is a problem politicians that only see money and power as their goal. Sorry, was I just talking about Barnett. Let’s get the message out that this is important, we HAVE TO CHANGE OUR WAYS. Don’t leave it up to a handful to do the work for you, do it yourself and think about how else you can help. We need a revolution a total shift from our current thinking. Let’s save the only thing that can keep us alive, our planet.
No I haven’t been drinking!
September 7th, 2010 at 11:55am
STOP THE PRESS – IT”S FULL
Nick Rains and I are doing it again, Bunker Bay 2011.
There are only 9 spots left for the 22nd and 23rd of January 2011 to be held at the Bunker Bay Resort and it hasn’t been advertised yet. This workshop has been very popular and last January this filled very quickly. The cost is $995 for the two days. Doesn’t include Accommodation but includes morning and afternoon teas and lunch. We will have your photography to a professional standard by the end of the weekend. Hands on shooting and photoshop techniques will be the order of the day with advanced colour management techniques and printing.
We will have an Epson 3880 printer with us and will print out images we have shot over the weekend. There will be 3 or 4 shoots as well as the classroom workshops all in the luxury of the Bunker Bay Resort. A special rate for staying at he resort is available for those who don’t want to have to drive in from Dunsborough or elsewhere. Bookings can be made with the resort just mention you are on our workshop.
Nick will show you the subtleties of RAW conversion, how to master Lightroom or Camera Raw and get the perfect file every time. What this guy doesn’t know about photography and post production isn’t worth teaching.
I will be “butchering pixels”, in a good way, to show you how to get that WOW light in your images, the software I use and how I use it. You could say we have it covered what ever your style, clean and pristine or full on Glitz and glamour! If you like what Nick and I do we will teach you.
To book got to Nicks Website . Get in quick for this one.
Comments from recent Bunker Bay Workshop :
“Rated individually both Nick Rains and Christian Fletcher are easily placed amongst the top six landscape photographers worldwide with immensely successful careers, and a magical ability to pre-visualise and turn the most ordinary of scenes into beautiful works of photographic art.
Now working together as a team enlightening, enthusing and empowering the next generation of photographers these two guys offer what is arguably the most comprehensive and valuable of learning experiences currently available worldwide.
From capture to process to print these two good-humoured wizards have undoubtedly now influenced my career and enabled me to take my own photography to a higher level that I’d long aspired towards but struggled to attain.
Thanks Guys!”
Dennis
South Africa
September 6th, 2010 at 3:37pm
Ben from Team Digital went to Sydney this week to talk to Epson about their latest Printer promo. It was sure worth it. There simply has never been a better time to get into a Epson STYLUS Pro 7900 or Epson STYLUS Pro 9900. Not only are these printer the best on the market but now they represent the best value on the market. I wish I had bought mine when this deal was announced.
When you purchase a Epson STYLUS Pro 7900 you receive from Epson just under $ 4000.00 worth of bonuses.
When you purchase a Epson STYLUS Pro 9900 you receive from Epson just under $ 5500.00 worth of bonuses
Now this would have to be an easy sell to your partner, “honey, how would you like a kick A55 home theatre”?? When you tell them that is is free it will be a shoe in! Just don’t mention you have to buy the printer first. My 9900 is like one of my children but it makes me money not cost me! You will love it too.
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:48am
Have a read of this. It is inspirational stuff and proves that the people can make a difference.
http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/wild-rivers/franklin
If anyone wants to meet at James Price Point in Early October and get some photos let me know.
Some of Peter Dombrovskis photographs have been instrumental in the conservation of various Tasmanian wild places including the prevention of the damming of the Franklin River. Lets carry on that tradition and save the Kimberley.
In 1958, photographer Olegas Truchanas became the first person to kayak the length of the dangerous Serpentine and Gordon Splits in recorded history.
Most of Truchanas’ early photographs were destroyed when his house was destroyed in the Hobart bushfire in 1967. However, over the next five years, he substantially rebuilt his collection of photos of the Lake Pedder area. Though, as a clerk temporarily employed by the Hydro Electricity Commission, Truchanas was forbidden to speak about the increasing controversy surrounding the impending damming, his photographs began to play an important role in publicity for the campaign. He was once quoted as stating “This vanishing world is beautiful beyond our dreams and contains in itself rewards and gratifications never found in an artificial landscape or man-made objects.”
After taking what are now among the only remaining records of the pre-dam Lake Pedder, Truchanas realised that the campaign was lost, and turned his attention to the Pieman, Gordon and Franklin Rivers. In 1972, Truchanas drowned in the Gordon River after slipping and falling into the current. His body was found, trapped beneath a log, by his protege, Peter Dombrovskis.
These two guys made a difference back before the internet and social media, imagine what we can do now in this day and age to get the message out there.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:35pm
Another great video by my brother Michael. Shows off the Gigapan and the fun you can have with it. Now before you guys go, hang on that Sugarloaf shot wasn’t taken with the Gigapan, it is there because the actual image we shot wasn’t that great. Not in quality, that was awesome, in light and feel. It was the wrong time of day. For the video Michael thought this shot looked better, see even with all the best technology in the world if the light isn’t on….
The Landscape 500
September 1st, 2010 at 3:50pm
The rally in Sydney last weekend was a huge success with what seemed like a thousand people turning up to support the rights of artists to go freely about their business without overly restrictive and expensive laws. All the big guns were there and of course the biggest gun of all Tommy Putt, ok I mean’t Kenny D Duncan. I had the unenviable job of saying a few words to the crowd after Ken and was thinking having my arm chewed off by a pit bull with braces would have been more fun. I have never been so nervous in my life. There were cameras and videos everywhere and it was a little daunting. I had a speech organised but because Ken covered everything I was going to say that went out the door. Oh no I thought, I’m going to die in front of every photographer in NSW. As it turned out I didn’t but I didn’t set the world on fire either. I don’t think anyone laughed at my jokes and that confirmed my fears that people on the East coast have no sense of humour!! Couldn’t be because I ain’t funny! Could it?
If you look closely at this photo kindly sent to me by amazing photographer Gavin Blue, you can see none other than the great Thomas Putt in the dark shades. He was my body guard for the day and made sure I had all the right hair products available at all times. Nick Rainsy Rains is next to me and Leo Meier is just to my right. Also there protesting was some West Aussies, Sandra Herd, Matt Matty Saul and Adam Monk. Also Brent Pearson, Antonio Ranieri and Dan Capobianco were there. Pete Eastway turned up to hear my speech, the last I saw he was pissing himself, at my expense. David Oliver was there also, he said, You have to make a speech?, what have you got to say? Then laughed uncontrollably! There were so many other people there too many to mention and it is always great hanging out with your peers.
Thanks to the crew from Arts Freedom Australia, especially Renee for doing so much for this day and pulling it all together. And to Kenny D, you are the man! The rest of us mere mortals could only hope to have your profile. Your a great ambassador for photography. Nick, your a great MC, a little bit of rap now and then, scratch a few tunes and you could do the wedding circuit. You are the man after the main man!
August 27th, 2010 at 9:34am
I am running what might possibly be my last workflow workshop for the year. i have been trying to get one up and going for months now but the calendar has been so full. I know it is short notice but the details are below.
Date – Saturday night the 4th of September 2010 at 7.30pm
Location – My Dunsborough Gallery, Shop 4/27 Dunn Bay Road
Cost – $250 per person
What you get – 4 to 5 hours of learning, A printed workbook with the nights topics, Free wine and Desert.
What I cover -
Composition
Light
equipment, camera etc
Shooting in RAW
RAW image conversion
Photoshop examples
Other software I use to get the results I do
Stitching
Colour Management – Working spaces, colour profiles, colour settings
Soft proofing
Monitor Calibration
ICC profiles
Sharpening Resizing
Printing
Tips and tricks to make your images pop!
Plenty of time to ask questions
This is my workshop that will get you on the right path to professional results and is suited to all levels of knowledge. A basic understanding of photoshop would be helpful as well as and understanding of the basics of photography and the operation of your camera.
Let me know as soon as you can if you can make it down for the night.
August 27th, 2010 at 9:29am
Benny from Team Digital gave me the heads up on some new Canon gear that is coming out very soon.
Canon demonstrates the company’s commitment to continually improving lens technology for SLR cameras.
Announcing today:
- Four new Canon Super – Telephoto lenses
- Two new Canon EF Extenders
- One New canon fish eye Zoom lens
- One Canon Tele photo Zoom
The first of these new products will be available toward the end of October and extending through to 2011.
August 17th, 2010 at 11:16am
Benny from Team Digital just told me some good news, all the Nik software is now soon to be 64-bit. That will be awesome with CS5 and my newly upgrade Mac Pro with 24gb of ram. Thanks for the heads up mate.
How To Update:
If you are a current Viveza 2 customer, you can get the 64-bit update from the websitehttps://www.niksoftware.com/site/ simply go the Support and then FAQS then you will see “Is Viveza 2 compatible with 64-Bit host applications”. Then follow the prompts from there
Next in Line:
The next products to be released are:
• Silver Efex Pro &
Color Efex Pro 3.0
• Dfine 2.0 &
Sharpener Pro 3.0
We are currently completing these updates and reviewing them to assure the highest level of quality.
I use Nik software all the time when working my images. It is worth getting Colour Efex and Silver Efex alone but the whole suite is nice. Don’t forget if your getting some awesome results with Nik software, enter the Landscape 500 Awards. Show us what you can do!
August 13th, 2010 at 9:51am
Jetstar have just thrown in free flights for the winners of first prize from any capital city in Australia to Sydney for the cruise on True North. How good is that. So now there is an even better reason to enter the competition. Well unless you live in Sydney that is!! Thanks Jetstar.
The Landscape 500 Photo Awards
August 13th, 2010 at 9:40am
Click here to go to it. Make sure you bookmark it and check out all the good stuff coming up. Team digital blog
Don’t forget my comp The Landscape 500. Enter Now
August 13th, 2010 at 9:36am
JOIN NICK MELIDONIS ON THE TOUR OF A LIFETIME, GREEK ISLAND ODYSSEY MAY 2011
Join Master Photographer Nick Melidonis and SBS journalist Costas Demetriades on a remarkable journey to the Cyclades Islands nestled in the deep blue Aegean. These Iconic islands are renowned for the beauty of their expansive seascapes, whitewashed villages spilling down slopes, blue-domed churches, soaring windmills, and stunning sunsets.
For full details of the tour see http://nickmelidonis.com/tours/aegean-odyssey-itinerary/
To attend a free information evening on August 3oth contact Nick on nick@nickmelidonis.com
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR
- Visit the Monasteraki (flea market) and the ancient Agora of Athens
- Enjoy professional photography tuition to capture images from one of the world’s most photogenic destinations
- Marvel at the perfection of the Parthenon set on the imposing heights of the Acropolis
- Share a musical and cultural feast in an ancient castle with a descendent of the 13th century ruler of Naxos.
- Stroll through the vibrant streets of Mykonos and explore the sacred island of Delos, steeped in mythology
- Explore the Cyclades Islands most charismatic port, Naoussa, on the magical island of Paros
- Visit Tinos, island of artists, also known as the Lourdes of Greece
- Wander along the awesome caldera’s edge in Santorini, one of the world’s most amazing landscapes.
The Landscape 500, over $10,000 in prizes just for entering a pretty landscape image of Australia. ENTER NOW
August 12th, 2010 at 9:52pm
These Sculptures are fantastic models, bulimic, stand still and never complain. Oh and they are nude! Not that that interests me but I know there are some out there who like that! This is another slant on the trip to Lake Ballard with Markie Mark Stothard and David Davo Bettini. DRAW!!!!!
The Landscape 500 is now open and only 470 entries left!! Get in quick to win one of these awesome prizes. Go to the Landscape 500 website to enter and bask in the glory of being the best landscape shooter in Australia, well after me that is!!!
www.landscape500.com
August 12th, 2010 at 8:55pm
Ok Markies pic was favoured over Mine in the super pit challenge, but get your choppers on to this baby! That is a sand pit for big kids, scale, scale, scale!
The Landscape 500 is now open and only 470 entries left!! Get in quick to win one of these awesome prizes. Go to the Landscape 500 website to enter and bask in the glory of being the best landscape shooter in Australia, well after me that is!!!
www.landscape500.com
August 12th, 2010 at 7:25pm
I found this cool little program last night called Disk Aid that allows you to copy your iphone photos and videos straight on to your desktop. You can then edit them as you would with any other file from your dslr. What I really wanted to do though is make a movie from my iphone videos and typical Apple make it hard to get anything off of these devices. Luckily 3rd party apps come to the rescue. I knocked up a imove clip in minutes from my iphone. It was very cool. Here is a pic shot from the iphone and edited in photoshop. Did you know you can get a usable 8×10 print from these puppies? Cool.
Don’t forget to enter the comp. The Landscape 500
I am working on a deal with Jetstar at the moment which is looking good. Basically means who ever wins first prize will get free flights from any major capital in Australia that Jetstar flys from. Cool.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:31am
It’s now open and only 500 entries left!! Get in quick to win one of these awesome prizes. Go to the Landscape 500 website to enter and bask in the glory of being the best landscape shooter in Australia, well after me that is!!!
www.landscape500.com
August 9th, 2010 at 9:45am
Now at first glance this might seem like a really great prize and you would probably prefer to come fourth just so you can listen to me bang on about photography for a day, but I’ll let you in on a little secret………………. ok it is the best prize! Imagine getting to suck my brain dry for the day, ok that might only take a couple of hours and it will be more baron than the governments view of James Price Point. Still that will be a cool couple of hours. I then turn into a blibbering idiot. Hang on, I’m that anyway, maybe I get worse?
Anyway what you will get is a morning and arvo shoot and the rest of the time we will go through my workflow and techniques one on one. We will have lots of computer time and if you don’t come away full of enthusiasm and knowledge then I have failed the mission. Wow I’m even getting myself excited.
Maybe we should call this the MEGA PRIZE!!!
Thanks to Markie Mark Stothard for the pick of some great big wonderful guy!
August 9th, 2010 at 9:24am
I have tried this baby out myself and for complicated stitches it is a must. Here is the scenario, you have just arrived at the Bungle Bungles and want a shot of Cathedral Gorge. When you get there you realise you are surrounded by this enormous cavern. Even with a super wide angle lens you just wont get it all in. Not only that, it is high as well as wide. Try stacking 3 rows of 12 images manually and even worse with a standard 3 way head. Enter the gigapan. Enter where you want it to start at the top then where you want it to finnish at the bottom and press play. Perfect every time. Save this panorama on the gigapan easily move to the other side of the gorge and press play again. Done, no worry that you have missed a vital shot.
Now thats worth its weight in gold if you are a commercial shooter and can’t afford to mess up.
Epic Pro Highlights
- DSLR Compatible EPIC Pro works with almost all DSLR cameras.
- Large lenses are supportedCamera and lens combinations of up to 10 lbs can be used with the EPIC Pro.
- Precision accuracy Powered camera movement and simple fore/aft up/down adjustment for optimal positioning of the nodal point and varied camera/lens combinations.
- Quick set up Easy to secure EPIC Pro to tripod. Fits standard tripods with 1/4″ thread.
- Onboard bubble level for horizontal alignment.
- Clear and simple to navigate menu Access frequently-used functions with the touch of a button, such as to move the camera or set the shutter delay.
- Screen is highly visible with back lit display.
- Strong and durable yet lightweight Excellent design with magnesium chassis and aluminum arm, the EPIC Pro weighs less than 8 lbs.
Special Features
- Rechargeable battery pack (7.2V, 4300mAH) Charge the battery on its own or while inserted in the EPIC Pro, convenient for charging while shooting. Battery pack and charger included.
- Multiple Triggering Option Allows the EPIC Pro to take multiple pictures at each image location up to 20 times per position for exposure bracketing or multiple image enhancement.
- Optimized range of motion 360 panoramic and -65/+90 tilt range of motion with precision incremental movement.
- Remote trigger port Enables you to start taking a panorama from a different location using a remote trigger switch (not included).
- Settings include: Option to repeat last panorama, pause and scroll, and order pictures as rows or columns.
- Adjustable features include: Time between exposures, motor speed, aspect ratio, and picture overlap.
- Precision movement The pan-tilt precision for the EPIC Pro is 0.04 degrees/step for tilt and 0.12 degrees/step for pan.
- Electronic Trigger Cable Seven cables are provided when you purchase the EPIC Pro. Please see ‘Compatible Cameras’ to find out which cable is compatible with your camera.
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July 30th, 2010 at 9:01am
Now this printer is one to get excited over. I have one at right next to me as I type. I love this machine as it gives me the ability to proof my work before going off to the large Epson printer for our massive prints. It is every bit as good as the Epson 9900 in quality and is so reliable. I actually take one of these on my workshops to print out work we have completed. My recent APPA entries were printed on the 3880 which gives you an indication of the faith I have in this machine. You would be a happy camper if you won this. Thanks to Epson and Team Digital for this prize
PRODUCT NAME: Epson Stylus® Pro 3880
PRODUCT CODE: PRO3880
SIZE 17 inch wide (A2+)
INK MODE 8 colour
RESOLUTION 2880dpi x 1440dpi with Epson Variable-sized Droplet Technology
INK SYSTEM
9-Colours pigment ink (C, VM, Y, LC, VLM, LK, LLK, Photo K, Matte K) with 9 slots 8 colour printing
Auto switching between Matte K and Photo K
Individual high capacity ink cartridge
Ink Capacity 80ml
PRINTER SPEED
4″x6″ Colour Borderless 1440dpi x 720dpi: Approx. 1.17 minutes (Premium Glossy Photo Paper)
A4 Colour 1440dpi x 720dpi: Approx. 2.02 minutes (Premium Glossy Photo Paper)
A3 Colour 1440dpi x 720dpi: Approx. 3.35 minutes (Premium Glossy Photo Paper)
A2 Colour 1440dpi x 720dpi: Approx. 5.80 minutes (Premium Glossy Photo Paper)
PRINTER DRIVER Windows® 2000 / XP / XP64 / Win7, Mac® OS X 10.4.X
HEAD CONFIGURATION 180 nozzles x 8 with VSDT
PAPER SUPPORT
CUT SHEET Paper Size Borderless 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″, 8″ x 7″, 8″ x 10″, A4, 11″ x 14″, A3, A3+, A2
Thickness (ASF) 0.08mm to 0.27mm
Thickness (manual feed front) 1.2mm to 1.5mm
Thickness (manual feed rear) 0.29mm to 0.5mm
PRINTING AREA (CUT SHEET)
Width: 89mm to 431.8mm Length: 127mm to 950mm
TOTAL PRINT VOLUME 12,000 A2 sheets
CONSUMABLE PARTS Maintenance tank
MAINTENANCE PARTS Pump unit, flushing box, head cleaner, cap assembly
MEMORY 64MB
LANGUAGES ESC / P2 Raster
INTERFACES(STANDARD)
USB2.0 high speed (Compatible with 1.1)
10/100 Base-T/TX (Ethernet)
VOLTAGE / CURRENT / FREQUENCY 220 – 240V version
POWER CONSUMPTION
PRINTING 25W or less
STANDBY 5W or less
POWER OFF 0.4W or less
DIMENSIONS
STORAGE 684mm(W) x 376mm(D) x 257mm(H)
PRINTING 684mm(W) x 1042mm(D) x 550mm(H)
WEIGHT Approx. 19.8kg (excluding Ink and Media)
LIGHTFASTNESS TEST CRITERIA (INDOOR DISPLAY CONDITION)
Test Conditions
1. Under fluorescent light (Indoor Display Condition) with glass mount
2. The data is calculated by Epson’s accelerated test and it does not mean Epson guarantees periods.
3. The estimated longevity does not indicate the colour changing and the durability of the paper itself.
Light Source: Florescent Light
Intensity: 70,000 lux
Temperature: 24°C
Humidity: 60%RH
Glass mount: 2mm, soda lime
Fade criteria: Pure YMC 30% loss at OD = 1
Display-life calculation: Total illuminance/(500lux x 10hours x 365days = 1year)
July 29th, 2010 at 8:19pm
Now if you say you like this better you will be struck off my blog!! :-0)
Shot with the Nikon D3s BTW. Lovely camera.
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