After my weekend workshop and visit to Benalla Camera Club the Local Newspaper (Benalla Ensign) published an article outlining the event.

I have not been down to King Island in the middle of Winter before and thought its would present some different and interesting challenges for Landscape Photography. It certainly did that! I have the opportunity to photograph some incredibly wild weather on a couple of different days and took advantage of it. With the roaring forties whistling through the Island which is so famous for battering the coastline and the high waves as well, I did manage to grab some lovely images between squalls! Needless to say I got wet a couple of times…. this weather was wonderful too for the Kelp harvesters who were out in force gathering the seaweed and loading their trucks. I also searched out old houses in various states of decay both inside and out, abandoned machinery and even the odd coastline or two for a particular reason….Looking for photographs full of contrast so they would lend themselves to being converted  to various shades of Monochrome. I now firmly believe this Island is an amazing destination in any season and would not hesitate to recommend it even in the middle of Winter!

I was invited to go up to the Benalla Camera club again this year to attend their meeting,  judge their monthly competition and hold an informal workshop with the members. The night meeting was great, many of the members and especially the newer ones had some excellent photographs in the competition. I spent some time after the judging, demonstrating some landscape and HDR techniques in Photoshop. The next  morning it was arranged for an early start out at the Winton Wetlands. We arrived well ahead of the sunrise and were able to capture some beautiful pre-dawn and sunrise images. The dawn colours were magnificent and the frost on the ground as it was minus 3 degrees! only added to the magic  of the place at this early hour.

I have just teamed with well known Photojournalist Ewen Bell to conduct a photographic Workshop in Nepal in late February to Mid March next year in 2013 ……. there is more information above in a special page that has all the details for this wonderful workshop. Limited to just 8 participants it will be a unique opportunity to photograph Landscapes and people in this superb and diverse region.

Another great VAPS convention has just finished. I arranged to take  a large group attending the convention out early on Sunday morning around Lake Wendouree.

We had the most Beautiful light and a great start to the day. For those that have not been to a VAPS convention before… I urge you to try and attend the next one

which will be held about the same time in 2013….Dates and location to be advised soon.

Check out the VAPS website for more information. Go to…..http://www.vaps.com.au/

I had organized a weekend for about twenty members of the Southern Suburbs Photographic Society along with members of Knox and Frankston clubs to get together for some social activity and some good photographic opportunities. We had an amazing weekend photographing around the South Gippsland hills, with one full day down in the Wilsons Prom National Park. We all got some very interesting photo’s of Tidal river reflections in misty conditions and many of the members were able to get some lovely light shots around the Farm districts in the nearby hills. Another great weekend for all those who attended.

Another wonderful workshop has just been completed on King Island with eight lovely participants. We had the most amazing blue skies and warm weather. Low contrast due to the Autumn light and being 40 degrees south helped tremendously too. Had some great photographic opportunities at British Admiral’s Beach, Quarantine Bay, Yellow rock beach, Seal Rocks state reserve, The Gulchway, Penny’s Lagoon, Cape Wickham, the Calcified Forest and Broken Arm Beach. One morning out on an early shoot, the light was beautiful and we all managed some great images at Grassy, well positioned to grab the early light as it swept across the old Scheelite mine and the harbour. Everyone ate well of course (they always do as King Island food is so delicious) and the three days went so quickly, it was a little sad to fly out leaving behind such a beautiful place!

The July workshop is fully booked….. But a Spring flower Workshop Special for November is open to bookings, and dates for this workshop will be on the King Island page on this blog very soon!

Four days of Photographic Bliss has just been completed! Below is a small selection of images that I managed to take during a workshop conducted on the Island. We were extremely fortunate in that the weather was very favourable for good outdoor photography. The nine participants who came on the workshop were impressed by the coastlines, old buildings and machinery and wonderful land and seascapes that we could drive to and discover. Thanks again to our wonderful hosts Ken and Carolyn at Vista’s on Trousers Point for their wonderful food and hospitality……………… For anyone interested in booking this amazing photographic workshop I shall be conducting this very popular one again next year.    The dates are March 21st to March 24th  2013.     “Great photography is assured”  (check the page for flinders Island on this blog)