When I teach I learn

We've just had the most marvellous weekend of photography here in the beautiful Blue Mountains.  As I wrote previously, we had a workshop last Saturday and then on Sunday we enjoyed a walk with some of the photographers along the Charles Darwin walk @ Wenty Falls.  Incidentally, only a few minutes to where to current bush fire is in Leura.  I think we have a nasty summer ahead of us in the mountains bushland.  It's had a lot of growth with the rain and now it's dry and crackly.  I live adjacent to bushland, and there is a deep layer of fallen leaves and mulch that will burn very quickly if a fire was to come along. Thankfully, the Crown Lands department have been working on the section immediately beside our house and have cleared away a few dead trees and quite a number of overhanging branches so we now have a bit more separation between house and bushland.  Fingers crossed for a safe summer in the Blue Mountains this year!

The title of this post came to mind after I have been doing a bit of teaching and offering support to friends and colleagues with a few basic photography practices.  Having retired about 18 months ago from a long career in education and management, I have begun to miss a little of the joys of teaching.  Although I hadn't had my own class for a good 20 years, working in schools ensures that you are teaching and learning every single day.  So it is quite natural to meander along my new life's path adding daily to my own learning and knowledge bank.

I'm not a professional photographer and never will be.  I have no intention of encroaching on a field where professionals have often done many years of study and full time practice.  However, the edges of this area of work are the aspects that interest me.  How do you manage your photography files, your prints, your archiving?  How do you ensure that the images you take today of your family and friends are available to your grandchildren in years to come?  How do you become a more competent photographer, able to use your camera's settings to ensure you capture the world no matter what the conditions?  How do you learn from art?

It's been a slow realisation of what I can do outside my earlier life in education.  My previous world was very regimented.  I loved it for its connection with people and for the way people worked together to make the world a much better place.  I don't want to return to the commitments, lack of flexibility and sheer hard work that was my life.  I now have the luxury of choosing a new path.  And I think it has finally found me.  Thank you to to all those other wonderful photographers who have encouraged and nurtured me as I dipped my toes into the beginnings of a new life.

So, what am I doing now?  Well, I'm trying to learn a bit about housework for a start!!!  Still a long way to go!

I'm also working with a a few photo buddies (Kay, Sue, Dot, Robyn) to improve my photography practice.  I'm still enrolled in Lens School.  I'm working with Len on a beginner's course and again, with Len, I'm writing an introduction to Lightroom.  I've been trialling components of the new Lightroom course with my mates and it's getting closer and closer to a launch.

"When I teach I learn" is a truism for me.  In all the work I have been doing on Lightroom, each time I take a new client or walk a group of people through the program, I dig deep into my own practice and each time I come up a little short.  It's about learning.  It's as much about my learning as my teaching.

This past week I have been privileged to work on some stunning images from a local photographer.  I've also supported a couple of people with setting up Lightroom on their own systems.  Busy, tight time frames but absolute joy at the challenge and the opportunity to view wonderful images from other photographers.

From both of these exercise, I emerged with deeper knowledge of my subject area and inspired to revisit some of my photography that will be better edited and presented with my new skills.  Teaching is truly the best way to learn.

Enjoy!!  I certainly am.

Eastern Turkey, 2010.  In a small village, this bridge underpass leads to a deserted old bathhouse.  New editing to soften and enhance the brickwork and peeling paint.

Evening light in Istanbul visiting the Blue Mosque with many others, we were enthralled by the beauty and significance.

In the shadows of Mt Ararat, Eastern Turkey, a local village has planted their field.  In the re edit here I have again tried to soften and bring out the colours and lines.

This tumble down building in a village in Eastern Turkey, has been someone's home in a a past life.  I loved it cropped and published as a mono but again, by softening the patina and bringing out some colours I think it is much more handsome.







The next 3 (below) were taken in the succulent garden @ the Botanic Gardens, Sydney a couple of weeks back with Len Metcalf's class.  Been there many times but this particular day the patterns and lines were my focus.  Oh, and I discovered a couple of baby penguins as well??

The image (below) was shot in Tarana, just west of the mountains late afternoon.  Had never quite worked out how to display it and I've recently decided to not hold back on "oomph!"  It wasn't quite this bright in real life, however, it did have a strong visual punch to it at the time.  This image reminds me of the absolute beauty and tranquility along the riverbank that day.

These cute little eucalypt leaves (above) were in Dunne's Swamp.  Again, I've been a bit creative with my colour treatment but the rich colours are there for the taking in the bush.  When the late afternoon light shines around and dribbles through the trees it makes beautiful imagery all around.

The Fish River @ Tarana (above)

Another view of the late afternoon light adding its magic to the Fish River.

In Search of an Early Waratah

I was in the upper Mountains this morning and I made a point of taking my camera and monopod because I knew that I had a small job to do up there after my other work was finished.

It was glorious bright sunshine, blue sky and spring blossoms in all the gardens.  The famed rhododendrums of Blackheath were quite spectacular and I was driving along wondering if indeed the whole Spring thing had arrived too early.  Many of the flowers were falling and being replaced by new leaves.  

But it wasn't the European gardens of the upper mountains that I was looking for.  I needed to know if the waratahs were out.  Not the domestic ones planted in gardens, but the bush waratahs.  The ones that appear out of the blue as tall, strange looking creations.  Big, solid, bold.  Different to so many of the other natives around.  I'm always taken aback when I see them.  The leaves look so cumbersome and they are an unusual green compared to the other plants.  The flower is usually so tall that short photographers like me need a bit of luck to get to eye level.  But they are spectacular and not to be missed.

I've always found quite a number along the path to Evans Lookout from Govett's Leap in Blackheath.  I think they are often the easiest to find, especially if you don't have much time.  

I hadn't been down that part of town since the big storm a few months back but today there was no mistaking what had happened.  The National Parks' workers have done a lot of clearing of the fallen trees and there are piles of chopped wood right along the walk.  I have a sense that perhaps a few of the waratah plants are missing.  Maybe the storm?  Maybe the fallen trees?  Maybe it's just not their year? 

I did find three plants.  Two were in bud but not yet full flower and the third was showing the early green bud only.

So why today?  And why waratahs?  My local photography group has organised a fantastic workshop and weekend of photography this coming weekend.  We are so privileged to have a number of professionals and serious photographers joining us to share their work.  Mostly they are sharing their knowledge and amazing photos with us for the sheer love of photography.  It will be a great weekend.  

Darran Leal http://www.worldadventures.com.au is flying in from the Sunshine Coast and to be our main presenter.  For some reason, I have this little nagging thought in the back of my mind that just maybe he might like to see a waratah in bloom???  

However, it wasn't just the waratah that was beautiful today.  Even though it was early afternoon, and not quite late enough for perfect light, the upper mountains were stunning.  I love the abstracty sort of look that appears in images when there is a bit of light, a bit of wind and raw native bush.

Enjoy the selection!

This waratah (above) is not quite out yet.  Another few days.  

Challenged to try to reach this waratah bud (above).

I love the form of this leaf (above).  They are always so photogenic and when you get some sun around the background becomes a painting.

Banksia hiding (above)

After the wattle.  (above)  I've included this one because I was quite attracted to the little red tendrils appearing after the best of the wattle has gone.  Another look altogether.

I'm not sure what this plant is.  I will find out.  There were a lot of them and they were quite beautiful.

These peas are everywhere.  Different varieties throughout the mountains.  Our own bush is full of yellow - these and wattle.  

The white gums behind the waratah are quite stunning.  Simple and strong.

And again here, behind the waratah.

A little extra contrast and the eucalypt leaves pop out.  Background could have been hand painted.

The banksias were very fresh and new today.

Let's celebrate a small country town

Stayed overnight quite unexpectedly last Thursday at Rhylstone in the central west of NSW.  I was with Robyn, one of my photo buddies, and we were a day ahead of our tent at Dunnes Swamp.  Undeterred and ready for an extra night out with our cameras we booked a hotel room at the Globe, headed out for some late afternoon light before dinner and found some of the most beautiful buildings.  I think our favourite at this time of the day was the old Goods Shed at the disused railway station.  I have always loved the goods sheds at country railway stations.  Maybe its because we lived across from one for years and dad had the parcel run.  They were only busy for certain times each day but every day you could see new boxes lined up straight off the train and ready to be delivered around town.  They had quaint old cardboard tickets and packing string.  I loved them and occasionally got to sticky beak inside if no one was looking.  I think they must have used the one design right around the state as they always look the same.  In recent years as my photography has got more prolific, I've been eyeing them off.

This particular beauty was all alone and it had some pretty rotted beams on the landing.  But beautiful colours in the late sun.  The big double doors on either side were designed with slanted timber panels, making good patterns now that the paint was wearing off.  A local builder pulled up and had a chat and told us he used it as a storage shed.  We loved it.

The Cudegong River was another spot we pottered around.  Obviously home to wombats and the locals said there were platypus too.  I only lasted a little while down on the bank as I was being eaten alive by some insect.  Did get a couple of lush looking slow water shots tho.

Dinner at the pub was fabulous!  Robyn and I wandered about after dark with our cameras taking silly shots really.  Couldn't be bothered with the tripods but we had fun and looking at a couple of them now on the computer screen the beauty of this little town shines through.

So, if anyone is contemplating a stopover in this part of the world, you could do worse than drive into Rhylstone.  The next day I spread my love around any shop I could find.  The Anglicare Op shop was great - bought lots of small bits and pieces and a beanie to die for!  Fresh eggs from the deli were rich and yellow, good coffee from the corner cafe, amazing bread at the baker and on the way home I also picked up some great meat at the butcher.

So, thank you Rhylstone and all the town folks for making us so welcome.

A few images I've pulled out and edited in Lightroom 3 and Nik software.  Enjoy!!

This image (above) is of the old doors on the goods shed.  Great textures and tones.

Another image of the good shed.  This one is a section of the old steps.

The Cudgegong River (above) in slow motion.







Now, these next few are from the street after dark.  Beautiful old buildings, wide open streets, very few cars around and a quiet country town feel.

I think I actually like this side wall of the old building (above) the best of all.  It just has something about the textures and shapes that really intrigue me.  I'd love to return and take some more images.  Now, there's an idea!

A close up (above) of the window and a bit of outside electrical conduit and perhaps a water pipe? (below) that made an appealing design.

I've called this one (above)  "Rob in Rhylo".

And this little piece (above) is "Self Portrait with Dancing Woman"

Inspiration, Opportunity, Great Company, New Knowledge

Just returned form a few days camping in the Wollemi National Park at Dunne's Swamp.  Our photography group organised a guided weekend with Len Metcalf and had an amazing few days in a truly beautiful part of the world.


I'm trying to process a few images to upload and will do a full post in a few days time but here today I'm offering a handful of mono images.


On the drive home I detoured into Blackheath and found a second hand copy of Ansell Adams Trees.  Couldn't believe my eyes!  So, with this lovely book in mind, I was inspired to start with mono and trees.  Here are just a few.

Along the Cudgegong River @ Rhylestone on Thursday (above).  Glorious light in the late afternoon on this stand of trees.

This stately old white gum was lit by the setting sun.  Again, along the Cudgegong River, Rhylestone.

Dunne's Swamp and surrounds are full of the most beautiful white gums.  No matter where you look, the sheer number, the curves, the light, the interplay are stunning.

Len Metcalf has been a wonderful and very generous teacher and mentor for me over the past couple of years and I love his subtle composition and framing.  This image (above) was seen and captured with Len's images in the back of my mind.  I love it!  I'm hoping that it prints well.

Huge boulders amongst the pagodas, trees and logs and everywhere brilliant wattle.

This year the wattle is spectacular.  I can't remember seeing it this beautiful for a number of years.  The blossoms (above) play beautifully with the white trunks and forest floor.

These beauties (above) remind me a bit of the men drinking in the Rhylestone pub.  Strong, solid, earthy.

Looking across the dam in the late afternoon sun.  This sapling stands tall.

The critics will comment that the overhanging branches detract from the image and they may well do so.  However, the sight of these young trees growing above and among the boulders and rocky outcrops were beautiful.  "Pruning" this image will clean it up, but this is what I remember so i include it.