I captured this image with the fabulous Fuji X100 on a recent trip to Paris. It was probably not the ultimate experience of Paris that I had wished for however it did have some amazing memorable moments. Winter in Paris is like no other, the colour, the roof line of the city and the water ways are spectacular in filtered light. I love this scene, it is one I had in mind before I even began the trip some 3 months ago. Seine Paris, Fuji X100 AWI Images ©

This afternoon I caught up with Jamie Paterson at Cottesloe Beach. Jamie is a huge fan of Cott Beach particularly Nrth Cott but tonight it was the South side that took our interest. So here is my favourite of tonights brief but stunning sunset. Canon 24-104 @24mm ISO 100 f/11

Its amazing and somewhat depressing how time flies. I’ve been home from Europe for almost a week and have finally found time to work up an image. I travelled Europe with my full kit packed inside my f stop bag and there was absolutely no drama whatsoever. Boarding numerous flights and trains, there was never a question about size or its contents. Along with my full kit I had the Fuji x100 which was perfect for those times when galleries and locations did not allow the use or presence of a DSLR. This image was shot with Fuji X100 from the hip , if you can work out where it is, the beers are on me!

Just a quick view across the Seine. Have to say the country landscape in the United Kingdom would have to be my favourite though and certainly worth a return visit to shoot with Joe Cornish or Charlie Waite, its good to dream!! Fuji X100

After arriving in Venice I must admit it didn’t really do much for me at all. Yes it was busy, yes it was hot so maybe that was the likely reason. However after a few days and drifting into the unknown areas I found myself falling in love with what is known as the Jewish ghetto. This is an area of canals lined with artists, fine restaurants and ornate, antique style residences of the Venetians. The canals here are full of history and synagogues of different nationalities, something I won’t go into about here but all in all still a city worth a visit. Just make it your own and don’t follow the crowds. Fuji x100

Everywhere you look in Florence you are reminded of the beauty of the place. From the colours of sunrise and sunset to shop fronts to lane ways of bygone eras, Florence for me is a wonderland. Another little image to wet your appetite. Cheers Adrian

Bongiorno ! Enjoy a few images from the past few days travelling Rome and Florence. The morning light in Florence is simply amazing, there is light and then there is light. Enjoy cheers Adrian

How’s this for a local cheese shop. Literally 50 steps from the hotel door we wandered past this place this morning on the way to Trevi Fountain. Couldn’t resist the opportunity to take this image. Taken with the X100, not bad for a little camera. Don’t worry the DSLR will be out tonight when I visit Trevi in the late or early hrs when no one is around hopefully. Stay tuned!

This image is just one of the many perspectives from the Botanic Gardens at Araluen. Brett Morgan and I started the day at 4am and finished up here for a few hours shooting until the batteries ran flat. It was an adventurous day, pinging off ideas from each other. Bannister Farm was also another location from this memorable day out shooting so check out Brett’s work here cheers Adrian. Canon 5 D MkII 24mm IS f/4

This image was captured from the side of the road 50Km out of Williams. The Canola fields are a stunning sight however I imagine they are now passed there used by date. Check out Mark Stothard and Paul Pichugin as they also captured some stunning images from the area. Canon 5D Mk II 24mm

Most of you will have read in recent posts about the abundant colour and glorious tulips & Cherry Blossom on show at the Araluen Botanical Gardens in the Perth hills. Seriously get out there its certainly a feast for the eyes. If your a garden nut this is the place for you. If your after a nice cascading water fall or silky rapid section to photograph well its all here.  Enjoy cheers Adrian Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8

Well hello again, its been almost a week since the last post and now that I have finalised all client projects I can enjoy the 6 day count down to my trip to Europe next week. The image above is a side profile of the old coach house from the recent Bannister Farm shoot. It begs the question, is it an altered landscape, well maybe it just is. From years of neglect, mother nature and the use of the digital darkroom  it certainly can be. Throw your thoughts into the debate before submitting your images in to the GoldenTrolley Altered Landscape Photo Competition by Team Digital.

Hey folks, different process of a previous image. Giving a subtle vintage touch. Layered textures and sepia colour scheme. Let me know your thoughts regards Adrian

Just another scene celebrating Spring in the country and again, Bannister Farm turned it on. This was taken late in the afternoon. I was waiting for a break in the clouds and then a bright wash of sunlight took over the scene. I was lucky not to blow out the highlights, I had time for one shot, then the light and colour was gone. Simple, vibrant colours and amazing clouds. These clouds behind the Lee Big stopper are insane – stay posted for more. Canon 5D MKII 24-105 @24mm

After a 4 am rise and a quick dash out to a clients farm in Bannister Brett Morgan & I stumbled upon this little scene. This image is reflective of the still, fresh conditions of life on the farm. With the light rising over the tree line and warming the old ute it was time to set up with the 100mm Canon Macro Lens and capture the moment. Its certainly a classic piece of history sitting in a paddock, imagine how many of these are scattered amongst properties in WA. Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8

Now days my kit includes the very versatile Fuji X100. The image above is a 4 image vertical stitch taken with the x100. I also selected to use the  ND filter which is a built in function and one I find very useful. Now this is no DSLR or medium format camera but for a second camera in the bag this is the pick of the bunch. Fuji X100 ISO 200 ND filter Aperture Priority Tripod Mounted

After a Saturday night that consisted of conducting 5 classical concertos from Vivaldi, Seitz,Albinoni and Acollay I found myself having 3 hrs sleep before starting the next day at a spritely 4am. A mad dash down Albany Hwy to Bannister followed by a 5 hr shoot at Araluen Botanic Gardens I must confess that delirium had set in. The image above is one of many compositions that blows your visual senses. Cascading waterfalls, Flowering tulips, vivid green ferns, a favourite of Brett Morgan and a plethora of macro opportunities could be found around every corner. If you can make a trip out here yourself,  its a perfect place for a picnic, wedding or insane photog session, I would recommend getting out there. Stay tuned for more from this not-so-lazy Sunday and some crazy Fuji X100 images. Canon 50D 24-105 @ 24mm, f/11. Lee Big Stopper ISO 100

Another perspective from the Bannister Property I was invited to photograph last week. I had a Black & White conversion in mind when I was shooting this location. Another visit out there tomorrow will be focused on the old Coach House and some farm machinery so stay tuned for a touch of the altered landscape. Canon 5D MK II 24-105 IS f/4 @ 24mm 6 Image Stitch PTGui

This is another view from Bannister Farm, looking towards modern day shearing sheds with the old Coach House in the back ground. As you can see the wind on occasions was getting up creating this nice effect on the blades of the windmill. Helped along with the use of the Lee Big Stopper. Canon 5D MkII f/8 24mm single image

Spring is here and all you have to do is drive out of Perth for 100km’s and voila, Sunny green fields, wild flowers and canola as far as the eye can see. This image was from a recent photo shoot for a property owner/family in Bannister, 1.5 hr’s drive South East from Perth. 2400 acres in total, the Bannister property is home to what used to be the “Old Coach House” seen on the left of the image which Im told was the old Inn. Also close by are derelict shearing sheds, machinery, cars and trucks of an era gone by. The entire image above is a 9 image stitch and encompasses the whole property on both sides of Albany highway. The canola field in the distance is the boundary line. An amazing property with so much history. Thanks to Alex Pollard and Frank Murray for the invite Regards Adrian. Canon 5D MK II 24-105  f/11 PTgui.

Captured this serene image yesterday on my way into the office. There was not a breath of wind which allowed for one of the best reflections Ive seen in a long time. Taken hand held 24mm ISO 100 f/11 Enjoy cheers Adrian

This is the view that rewards you for the trek over some gnarly goat trails into the depths of Bells Rapids, Swan Valley. Three image stitch, Lee Big Stopper, Canon 24-105. I literally stumbled upon this place many years ago walking my dogs. I hadn’t been back here for over 12 months and last time I didn’t take my kit so it was certainly nice to be back and take a mate along for the ride. It would be great to see it after a month of heavy showers but none the less still a great place. Cheers Adrian

This is the first of a few images to come from the Swan Valley. I headed out there this morning with Brett Morgan. and stumbled upon some stunning country. Located deep inside some ravine I don’t think I even saw the sun rise until we started walking out to the car. Massive hike but the effort certainly made for some great memories.Taken with the Lee Big Stopper on a Canon 24-105 f/4.

Many of you will know my connection with Mandurah and with all the time I spend there I find myself searching out new photographic locations. Most tend to be isolated in and around the vast estuary system or further south on the 4wd beaches. Mandurah Quay is a great residential location where a local pair of Osprey or Sea Hawks reside. This image was taken a week or so ago on a walk along the estuary. The low tide allowed me to walk right and around an area called the “Chimneys” which are old decaying tree trunks where the Osprey perch looking over the shallows hunting. The image above is the nesting site on the other side of “Chimneys” located on the south bank.

Tonight I went for a walk around East Perth. The wife went out for her run so I grabbed her Fuji X100 and headed for Claisebrook Cove and the Wyndam Bridge. It was pretty much dark by the time I got out but I found a jetty pylon to use as a make shift tripod and captured the rush hour train from Burswood to East Perth. I really like this image and the movement of the train over the Wyndam Bridge. The Fuji x100 has proved itself a very worthy purchase as a walk around camera. It is versatile, brilliant in low light and attracts little attention, something I am hoping for later this year when touring Europe, particularly the U.K . Cheers Adrian

Sugar Loaf Rock must be one of the most photographed and iconic locations associated with a visit to our South West. Most of you Photog blog followers and readers would have photographed this many times but as I said to CF the other day whilst in Dunsborough I had never seen it or photographed it. So here is my very first impression and image capture of Sugar Loaf Rock. There was a light shower when I took this image and another one approaching fast. Let me know your thoughts. Hope to be down there again this weekend. Its only 2.5 hrs drive from Mandurah so I will most likely do an early  morning run from there if any one is interested. Cheers Adrian

Another place I often visit when down this far south. Its a dramatic coastline and on previous visits this rocky out crop had been covered with sand or simply not a place to reach by foot due to the swell. This was taken just as the sun was setting on the cliffs cliffs behind me providing that golden hour  warmth to what was a freezing evening. Enjoy !

Finally get into Team Digital for the latest firmware update for the X100. Read about the improvements here from Team Digital. Big thanks to Benny for working it out !

The cloud formations over the past 48 hrs having been strange to say the least. Is it partly due to the volcanic ash cloud, who knows but it does make for an interesting horizon when down on the coast. I took this the other day after work amongst the rocks and waves at Trigg Beach. The Lee “big stopper” was in action again at 24mm ISO 100 @ f/8. Cheers Adrian

Most of the coastline found north of the river that stretches from Trigg Beach to Burns Beach looks a lot like this. Its just a matter of isolating a small section and working on composing an image. With the setting sun blanketed by an incoming storm front this was the scene that presented itself down on the coast tonight. Taken with the Canon L IS f/4 24-105 @ 24mm, ISO 100, f /8. Enjoy Cheers Adrian

A dramatic and beautiful Time Lapse video has been created by Terje Sorgjerd. Entitled ‘The Mountain’, the sequences were shot on an EOS 5D Mark II on El Teide, Spain’s highest mountain.

http://vimeo.com/22439234

Due to recent disasters in Japan, Fuji has had some difficulties in shipping the very popular Fuji X100. Thanks to Ben and his team at Team Digital I was more than happy to learn that mine had arrived today. Cant wait to get out and do a shoot with this little beast. It will be the perfect travel companion for street reportage, Music gigs and candid portraiture when I head over to Europe later in the year. I will be still taking my EOS kit but this will be a work horse when time or location does not permit the use of a tripod. This little X100 will have a secure and permanent place in my F stop bag for sure. For the full review and technical specifications go to www.finepix-x100.com

Another image from Lights Beach. I arrived well after sunset on this particular day but with heavy cloud and rain being the forecast it certainly felt like winter  had arrived. A cold morning for sure but a stunning location none the less. Double click to see full Res image.

The summit of Mount Frankland is a stunning location. Known to the indigenous community as “Caldyanup” it was sighted and named Mt Frankland by Dr T.B Wilson in Dec 1829. It has views to the Irwin Inlet 24km, Conspicuous Cliffs 24km, Nornalup Inlet 21km, Chatham Is. 35km and Brooke Inlet 30km. The image above has views of Mt Lindsay 49km and on a good day you can see Bluff Knoll 145km. If your down in Walpole or Nornalup head out on North Walpole Rd and take the climb, its well worth it.

After shooting this location well before sunrise I sat and watched these perfect chest high bowls of water roll in. There where no takers around except for some ominous shadows lurking … mmm. B&W NIK conversion.

Mount Frankland is located off North Walpole Road. A great climb at 411metres and with no wind and plenty of cloud it was certainly well worth it. This image is half way up the climb and I just like the detail and abstract composition the rock face provides.

This image came about by pure chance. I hit the road early for a drive out to Crystal Springs just north of Walpole. (The place of some of my macro images in previous posts)  There is no fancy photoshop techniques going on here, what you see is what you get. The dense karri forrest in the background was layered with the morning fog rising off a creek bed with the trees in the middle of the pasture creating a ghostly effect. Nature has certainly done the layering on this occasion. A levels and curves adjustment with a calculation sharpening and thats it folks. Enjoy !!( Bottom Image re-edit for Tony, Glad you like it mate)

Williams Bay and the bays within it, Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks are stunning locations. This image was taken well before sunset at Greens pool. I was testing out the Lee big stopper and can I say I love this filter.I had been working on three and four minute exposures so it all comes down to experimentation. One thing I must get is a loupe to view my images for correct exposures.

During my recent trip to the South Coast of WA I ended up finding a secluded section of the Bibbulmun track located behind the Valley of the Giants. I have walked many sections of the track while camping for weeks at a time, covering quite a few Kms. However this was a few hours with my camera around my neck and deep in the forrest. It was amazing and I loved every second of it. If you sit and listen there is actually so much going on in there, a number of times I would stop and sit and the place came alive. The wildlife didn’t seem to care about me, wrens came within an arms length, kangaroos did not seem bothered by my presence. It was a few hours of complete solitude until I re-entered the world of backpackers and camper vans. This compilation of images reflects just a small moment in time within the forrest of the Great South West. Cheers Adrian

This is such an iconic view of the South West. This particular road is North Walpole Rd. It takes you into some of the most serene farming areas of the region but more importantly for me it takes me to where my father lived from the early 1950′s. My family still live in Nornalup and I have always had a sense of belonging in the region. I have been coming here my whole life and some of my first fishing recollections come from here. Nothing beats the smell of the forrest and the crisp clean air. It wont be long before I have my own piece of paradise down here.

The South West coast is dotted with rock pools just like this. This particular area of Lights Beach in Denmark is a dog exercise beach. Amazing I know and the best thing about it was that you would not even know if it where not for all the foot prints. Taken well below the dunes under the light of the rising sun

This was such a rewarding sight after the 40 min drive from Walpole. Sharing the highway with Kangaroos and the occasional emu in complete darkness, with the light growing by the minute on the horizon, I was more than relieved to reach this location. There was no other soul around for more miles and it was such a surreal moment in time just standing taking in the sounds and sight unfolding in front of my eyes. It had such an effect on me that I almost forgot to press the shutter to capture the first sunrise of the trip south.

Best wishes Adrian

Jamie Paterson  got me onto a macro photog by the name of  Kingsley Burton. After looking at his latest work I went off in search of the mighty frangipani. I have a few in my own garden and it so happened that one of them flowered for the first time this weekend, so here it is in all its glory. Cheers Adrian