Practical Philosophies


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Practical Philosophies


The art of photography is not about the camera, it's about what you do with it. Change your attitude to change your photography.

Half The Job

Taking a photo is only half the job. The other half is editing them. Join me on a visit to temples in the Annapurna Ranges and a chat about the creative potential and learning potential when editing your RAW files.



Getting Out of Struggle Town

Even professionals get stuck in a rut sometimes, but with the benefit of a little inspiration we often find our way out again. On my latest journey through Nepal I found an old tool that helped me see things in a new way.



Be Positive About Negative Space

Negative Space is not empty space. It's there for a reason and it can help you find a path to better composition and more intentional composition.



Birds Are Hard

Bird photography is hard because birds don't like humans most of the time. This is not so much a technical challenge, but one of finding your path to connect with nature. Let's delve into the art of walking around park and being snubbed by the birds.



Always Winter Light

The winter light is always changing. That’s what I love most about it. I love that it’s low on the horizon. I love that it’s softer and gentler than the burning light of summer. And I love that it moves so quickly, giving glimpses of gold in between the greys. Winter light is my favourite light.



How To Be Creative With Your Camera

There's a tension between mastering technical control of your camera versus exploring your own creative potential. How much technical focus do you actually need to pursue a creative path in photography?



Transforming Your Photography

We're talking about how photography can transform a moment, transform the subject, and even transform ourselves. With a little inspiration from Bhutan and the Himalayas we walk through a range of ideas you can focus on to move your photography forward.



The Part For The Angels

Leaving room in your photography for the imperfections and the flaws is a nice thing to do. When we strive for a perfect image, we leave little room for the magic to happen.



What Is A Photographer

When so much of our lives exist in the digital landscape, what does it mean to be a photographer these days and does it matter if your work is never finding its way into a physically printed form?



Slow It Down

Walking with a macro is nice, but only works if you adjust your pace to suit the task. Macro photography is process of exploration. Slow it down. Slow. It. Down.



4K for Minimalists

How much gear do you really need to get started with quality 4K video production? We tend to think that better video is about adding more gear, but smaller rigs and zero accessories is fast becoming the ultimate setup for engaging cinematography.



AI Is Not Your Friend

The lines between photography and digital art have never been more blurred. But what happens when you remove the role of photographer entirely?



WrenFest in the City of Melbourne

November is #WrenFest in the City of Melbourne, an event to help researchers attract support for identifying and submitting sightings of the Superb Fairy-wren in our urban parklands. I'll be running an online photography presentation that is open to anyone who wants to learn a little about birds and cameras, plus a photo walk for those living here in Melbourne.



Learning To See

Capturing in B+W is not merely about getting a better handle on light and dark. Given a chance it can drag you much deeper into the entire point of photography as an art form.



Why Is More Important Than How

Sometimes we focus too much on the style and not enough on substance. What motivates us to capture images is far important than the camera itself.



No Bystanders

It can be very very difficult to connect with people, to crack open a gap and peer inside the lives of others. It demands patience and honesty. There is no camera upgrade or new technology to make it easier.



Transformation

Curation is not just about finding a balance, it’s about finding a story. Your story.



What An Image Should Be

How do you know what processing an image needs? I get asked this a lot. “What should I do to make this image better”. The problem is, that depends on what constitutes your idea of better! The answer lies in you, not the pixels.