Petite Fleur Bleue

We have a whole pot of those little blue pansies, and they are so delicate, yet I hadn't managed to get a good shot of them previously. But I am quite happy with this one - I like the composition, the sharpness all through the flower, as well as the blurred background with other little pansies providing some nice blue hue

I'm also still very happy with my new D750 body - so fast, and great focus, exposure, etc. Coupled with my trusted macro lens (the Tamron SP AF 90mm 1:1, 1st generation) images keep piling up in my LightRoom library!

"Petite Fleur Bleue" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

As always, this image is also posted on my +500px page: https://500px.com/photo/123923427/petite-fleur-bleue-by-gilles-royer

And one my FaceBook page, here: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianLightSeeker

Thanks for your visit

Spring is here!

With Spring (officially but not technically) kicking into gear here in Melbourne, the garden offers growing opportunities for my macro / close-up shots, with buds, blossoms, flowers and trees all enjoying the warm rays of the sun.

So this is perfect time for more in-the-field testing of my new camera, the Nikon D750. Full frame and as light as my (9 year old) D200! 

Below are a few shots that I've taken over the last few weekends.

"Peach Blossom" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

"L'Arome" (c) Gilles Royer 2015 

"Purple Cornflower" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

"Splash of Pink" (c) Gilles Royer 2015

These have also been published on my +500px portfolio: https://500px.com/groyer

And please also Like my +Facebook page dedicated to photography: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianLightSeeker

Thanks!

"Spring Has Arrived!" photo posted

Down Under, in Melbourne, this is Spring time - perfect season to get a beautiful strong light, as well as heaps of flowers and blossoms. 

Below is an example of this - a blossoming tree, taken just around the corner from where I live. I love the pink colours and tones, contrasting with the blue sky.

"Spring Has Arrived!" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

I've also posted the photos in my 2 active galleries:

• 500px.com -> http://500px.com/photo/83235135/spring-has-arrived!-by-gilles-royer
• Kujaja.com -> http://www.kujaja.com/en/photo/38422

Please let me know your views

"Boats... An Impression" - 2 versions posted on 500px and Kujaja.com

Last weekend, with the arrival of Spring, I headed off to the beach, in Sandringham, with the family. The light was really strong around lunchtime, yet it was beautifully reflecting on the water. Sailing boats were out on a race on the horizon, and the whole scene reminded me of some impressionist paintings (think Monet or Seurat), given the quality of the light.

I tried to render that impression in the below shot:

"Boats... an impression" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

The link to my 500px gallery is as follows:
http://500px.com/photo/81716257/boats-an-impression-by-gilles-royer and is also on the Kujaja.com website: http://www.kujaja.com/en/photo/36783

I also tried a B&W edit of the same image, that further conveys the subtle tones and atmosphere of the scene:

"Boats... an impression - B&W edit" (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Respective links are as follows: http://500px.com/photo/81842781/boats-an-impression-b&w-edit-by-gilles-royer and http://www.kujaja.com/en/photo/36918

Please leave me a comment and let me know which photo you prefer. Thanks!

"Portrait of a Heron" posted on @500px gallery

I shot this image during my early mornings shootings around Melbourne City a few weekends ago (refer previous posts). This one was taken at the end of one session, as I was walking back to the car, near Swan Street Bridge. 

I saw this white-faced heron (or egretta novaehollandiae) on the banks of the Yarra, and took a few portrait shots. I really like this one, as the grass by the water gave a nice brown background, that I blurred with a wide aperture (f/2.8), leaving the profile of the Heron standing out.

"Portrait of a Heron"

The photo is also posted on my +500px gallery, at the following link:
http://500px.com/photo/79954861/portrait-of-a-heron-by-gilles-royer

I hope you like it, and please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Thanks for your visit!

"Morning in Melbourne - With Balloons" posted on my @500px gallery

I've now posted on 500px the second photo highlighted in my previous post (http://australianlightseeker.blogspot.com/2014/07/morning-in-melbourne-posted-on-my-500px.html)

The link is below:
http://500px.com/photo/76953623/morning-in-melbourne-with-balloons-by-gilles-royer

Thanks for your visit!

"Morning in Melbourne" posted on my @500px gallery

The series "Morning in..." continues with this shot from Melbourne CBD. Amazing what motivation can do to me - waking up at 6am for a morning photo shoot seems easy that the same on the Monday morning to go to work. Go figure....

When I got the car out of the garage, I also noticed that it as a beautiful full moon, and once again, a perfect crisp clear sky, typical winter morning. So I headed off closer to the city this time (see my previous posts in St Kilda, Bolte Bridge, and Swan St Bridge), precisely on the St Kilda road bridge.

I set up my tripod, went to Aperture priority mode to get long exposure (I wanted that smooth/mirror effect on the water), and the remote control, and started to shoot, fine tuning to get the best angle and composition. First shots are a bit too dark, not enough light yet, but I got this one at about 7.05am, so technically, just before the first lights. The moon was full, and on her path to disappearing behind the foot brings you can spot in the background.

I was soon joined by a few other photographers and iPhone snappers, so it must have been a good spot!

Here's the shot I selected to post on 500px gallery (http://500px.com/photo/76655195/morning-in-melbourne-by-gilles-royer):

As the sun rose behind me, a hot air balloon appear on the left, in the background, soon joined by a couple more, and they made their way towards the Rialto towers (those 2 towers with an electric blue light at the top - quite a landmark in Melbourne), but it was hard to get both a long enough exposure, and the hot air balloons sharp enough.

Anyway, it was worth fighting the cold (must have been one of the coldest mornings so far) to get a decent shot

Thanks again for visiting!

"Morning in Docklands" photo posted on @500px

Another photo from the series "Morning in..."

Winter is cold down here, and quite wet, but this is also a great time of year to get out early and catch the first lights, whilst the air is very clear and crisp. I went last weekend around Docklands (check the other post from the Bolte Bridge: http://australianlightseeker.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/new-post-on-500px-gallery-morning-at.html), and made my way along the river towards the city. 

By the time I arrived in Docklands, the sun was up, which gave me a beautiful warm light. I took this shot of the marina near Webb Bridge, and opted for a long exposure (6 seconds) to enhance that calm mood, and get the smooth effect you can see on the water:

I've also posted it on my 500px gallery, at the following link: http://500px.com/photo/76077427/morning-in-docklands-by-gilles-royer

Thanks for your visit!

New photo on @500px gallery - "Morning by the Yarra"

Following my new series of morning shot, this morning I woke up early to capture the lights on the Melbourne CBD, starting from Swan Street Bridge / Henley Landing. Direct link to the 500px gallery  is here.

Thanks for your visit!

My entry for One Minute On Earth 2014

If you haven't heard of it (and I hadn't before this year!) please go and check the www.kujaja.com website. It is a group of photographers who are running photo competitions, but also books for dedicated charities. One of their key book is the "One Minute On Earth" (OMOE) where photographers from all over the world all take a shot at the same time - this year it was at 9pm UTC on Saturday 21st June.

I decided to enter, because the photographers running it are so passionate, and it is such a great cause. For the Eastern coast of Australia, it meant it was Sunday 22nd June at 7am that I'd have to click, which is a great time to capture the first lights before the sun rises.

After a bit of to and fro, I decided to go for a shot in an iconic location, being the view of the Melbourne CBD, from the St Kilda Pier.

I put my alarm clock early enough, to have time to wake up, drive there, and set up before 7am (the photo must be taken between 7am and 7.01am). But... alarm went off, I snoozed, and I went back to sleep, only to look again at the clock to see 6.20am!!! I can tell you I've never been ready so fast, and the drive, luckily, was quick at that time of the morning (lucky - no cops either, I might have sped a tiny bit!!!), and I parked at 6.50am, with only 10 mins to walk the length of the pier, set up the tripod, and do a few tests shot. 

But apart from that, I must say it was weather perfect conditions for such a shot - although very cold (not to self - bring gloves next time!) - the air was very crisp, which made for a very sharp shot. Also, no rain, no wind, and at 7 am, the first lights are about to arrive (official first lights were at 7.10am, with sunrise at 7.35am).

Anyway, here's my entry for this year's OMOE 2014 photo book:
http://www.kujaja.com/en/photo/29362

Also, please have a look at all the entries posted on that website (http://www.kujaja.com/en/photobooks/photos/one-minute-on-earth-2014), the level of quality is really great, and the initiative is really fantastic - imaging a virtual community of photographers, all clicking at the same time around the world, unified for a common cause. Great work Gido and Francisco for organising it!

I also stayed a bit later than 7am, waiting for the sunrise, and posted one on my 500px gallery:
http://500px.com/photo/75013109

A Visit to Phillip Island - Part 1

Last week, I took the family away to Phillip Island, for a nice break. 

Phillip Island is located in Victoria, Australia, to the East of the Port Phillip Bay, as per the map below:


The island is famous for at least 2 main things:

• The moto GP that happens every year in February, that sees hoards of motorbikes fans invade the island for the week, to listen to the beautiful sound of fast bikes going around the circuit at the south of the island
• The penguin parade, that sees hoards of tourists come in buses to sit in the cold, waiting for the night to come, to then see little penguins come out of the water in hundreds, walk across the beach, and get into their burrows for the night

Sounds a bit sarcastic?! Well, I guess I'm not a big fan of either. However, Phillip Island has lots more to offer. 

I went there soon after I arrived in Australia (and yes, I went to the Penguin Parade!) for a day trip, but hadn't been there for years. Then, a few weeks ago, whilst my parents are visiting, we decided to go somewhere we hadn't been before, yet close to Melbourne. When you leave there, the obvious choice is to go somewhere along the Great Ocean Road (which is fantastic), but we had been there, so we opted for a visit to the Island.

I must admit I was really surprised, in a nice way. It's a great place to go to, especially for families (I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter) as well as photographers (I try to be one in my spare time). There are many little cafes and restaurants, nice walks, and the views are truly amazing, especially when you get a nice weather.

I am not going to do the job of the Information Centre and list all the things to do, but here are some of the highlights:

1. The Phillip Island Wildlife Park (http://www.piwildlifepark.com.au) 

This is quite a small park, set up in the middle of the island, not far from Cowes (the 'capital' of the island). 

The nice thing about this one is that you buy a little bag of seeds with your ticket, and you then walk around the park, with no clear mandated path, and can feed the animals. Here are a few shots of the ones you'll see:

Kangaroo eating seeds in my wife's hand - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Kangaroo - Mother with a little joey in the pouch - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Emu posing for a portrait session - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Blue-winged Kookaburra looking serious - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Tasmanian Devil - Better to leave him alone.... - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Portrait of a Koala - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Goose - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

Portrait of a Cassowary - (c) Gilles Royer 2014

And many more animals to be seen, with lots of kookaburras, parakeets, eagles, wombats, etc.

In summary, a nice way to spend a few hours of fun, whilst having plenty of opportunities to take nice shots of animals, and get close to them

To be continued....

Nikon lens - Buy or Repair? What to do?

I'm devastated! My trusty friend of many years, aka my Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8 D (see below photo), stopped working a few weeks ago... Impossible to turn the zoom ring anymore, something is blocking it (and I don't want to force it for fear I'll make it worst - it usually turns so smoothly).

So I sent it for examination at one of the Nikon certified service and repair centre, here in Melbourne. It just came back to me with the diagnostic -  they've unblocked it, but to properly repair they ask me for over 1,000 Australian dollars! Nearly fell off my chair!

I know it's a beautiful lens, and a professional one at that, but I can't spend that much on repairing a lens, especially when I can find a (used) one for that same amount of money. I can't believe fixing something nowadays is more expensive than buying new - I know that I sound very old school (well, I'm over 40 now :-) but I still can't get used to the idea. Sure, had I paid $200 for a lens, I would expect for it not to last that long, but this one is a professional grade lens, made in Japan, out of metal (inside and out), not a plastic cheapie. 


So - what should I do? Any tips? Is there something I can do myself by buying a spare part on the internet? I really want to keep using this lens, but my budget cannot afford the Nikon service cost. 

I'm keen to get your point of view on this. 

Thanks in advance