Cloning a Wing Tip in Photoshop

We went through this technique at the last workshop but it wasn't in the notes so here it is. A quick and easy way to fix an image of a bird in flight when you have cropped the tip of one wing. This same technique (the first half of the video) can be used to reposition the subject in the frame to make a more pleasing composition.

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Little Desert Field Workshop

Well I made it back from the Little Desert Field Workshop and what a good weekend we had. 12 brave folk got up a 5am both mornings to dubious weather. With brave faces we headed out regardless and the gods smiled upon our tenacity and made for some fantastic shooting conditions with amazing clouds, fantastic light and great landscapes. We shot a variety of subjects from old wrecks (above) to landscapes, flowers and birds. Everyone involved getting into the spirit of things and doing their up most to improve their photographic skills and vision. Druing lunch and after dinner we headed back to the lodge for some digital darkroom lessons with a few brave souls staying with me til 11pm knowing that in a few short hours they had to get up and do it all again.

All in all we had a great weekend. I learnt a thing or two myself (isn't photography great) and made a bunch of new friends and caught up with a few old friends from previous courses.

We are in the process of finalising the dates for a few courses next year so stay tuned over the next couple of weeks.

Thanks to those how came along and hope to see you at another event soon.

Cheers

Craig

Photo info - D3, 14-24mm f2.8 finished in Nik Colour Efex Read more...

Little Desert Workshop, one opening...

I just received an email an email from one of the participants from this weekends Little Desert National Park Field Workshop telling me that they are sick and not going to be able to make it this weekend. I have left messages with those on the waiting list but not heard back so here you go, your chance to come along and develop your skills and photographic vision. The Little Desert National Park is looking great at the moment with flowers, grasses and wildlife a plenty. I was there a few weeks ago scouting locations for the workshop and really excited about this weekend.Here is a link for the details of the trip and if you are keen then email me a to reserve your spot. It’s first come, first serve so be quick. Hope you can join us! Read more...

Spring Photography Madness

Well things haven't eased up around here. Spring has been going crazy with interesting projects taking me allover the country, shooting loads of interesting and different subjects.

From cityscapes here in Adelaide.


The wet(ish) spring has been great for the native flower populations all over the country. Orchids have had an especially good year including the exciting King Spider Orchid


As well as mammals and birds galore.

It has been a hectic season for me with well over a 100GB of new images added to the library, plenty of new experiences and loads of new friends made out in the field. Both the people I have been working with, workshop participants and folk I have met out in the field have all added to a wonderful spring.

Things won't be easing up too soon either, with the next few weeks full of workshops, shoots and deadlines I will be pretty busy but loving every minute of it. Hope you spring has been as fun and successful and I will return in a few weeks to share some of the things I have learnt over the last few months. Read more...

Spring Nirvana for Photographers

I love spring, best time of year to be a photographer. The birds are concentrating on breading and the flowers are coming into bloom in their thousands. We haven't had as good a year as this for wildflowers in a long time now too, which gives us more reason to celebrate. So time to dust of the camera and tripod and head for the hills.


We are working on a few projects at the moment including capturing some rare and endangered orchids in the Adelaide Hills region that I am sure some of you will be interested in. I will post s few pics from those shoot soon.

Both photos taken with D3, 60mm Micro with 36mm extension in natural light. Read more...

New Photography Workshops Announced

We are very pleased to announce the dates for our 2009 Broome Bird Observatory Field Workshop. We will be based at the Observatory from the 29th of September to the 2nd of October 2009 (That's next year folks!) and focusing on all that the BBO has to offer, namely birds. And with over 300 species on record we stand to have quite a good trip. We have already announced this to previous workshop participants so we only have five spaces left of a maximum 12, so be quick.

For more information click here.

I am heading up two Broome next week to scope out some locations for the workshop next year. Really looking forward to going to one of Australia's best shorebird photography locales that is for sure. With a little help of some of the locals we will have all the inside knowledge on the best locations and the best light to pass on to you when you join us next year.

We are also looking for expressions of interest for an exciting adventure a little later in 09. We are planning on running a Himalayan Photography Trek in partnership with DCXP hosted by myself.




This trip will be structured as a ‘Travel Photography Workshop’ concentrating on the stunning landscape surrounding you, as well as people photography and documenting local culture, customs and history.

It is intended that this will be a small group to enable the participants to get personal instruction in photography. We will offer customised assistance on camera equipment choice for the trip if needed. The aim will be to help participants with their equipment choice so they are not burdened with tonnes of camera gear but have the right equipment for what they want to achieve. As with all DCXP treks, the group will be superbly supported by wonderful local staff, so that each day participants need only carry a day pack, and can concentrate on improving their photographic skills.

The inspiring environment you will be trekking through almost begs to be recorded, so it will up to you to look and learn and do justice to the panoramas laid out in front of you!

We are currently looking at expressions of interest for this one, so please contact us if this looks like your next adventure! This trek is tentatively planned for October 2009.
If you would like more information contact me or DCXP direct on +61 8 8232 4433 or email

Cheers

Craig
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Sharpening Digital Images

Never has there been a better time to be a photographer. We are spoilt for choice when it come to cool tools to create our images and just recently we have been bombarded with new and exciting equipment. From the amazing D700 and D90, Canons new 50D a bunch of new lenses and tripods and now an update for my favourite way to sharpen images. Nik Software has just released an update to it's Sharpener plug-in for Photoshop and Aperture, Nik Sharpener 3.0. To call it an update is an understatement with version 3 bringing not only better sharpening but also Nik's own U Point technology. U Point controls allow you to precisely control sharpness and detail selectively within an image without the need for complicated selections or layer masks, making my job easier and leaving me with less time in front of the compute and more time to shoot. Great! Read more...