If You Want to Fly a Drone Legally in Australia There’s Just One Website You Need To Know About
There’s little doubt in my mind that the rules governing the use of drones in Australia are unreasonable and excessive. Those rules were written by people more used to regulating the safe flight of helicopters than tiny remote control devices and they do not reflect how drones perform in the
Fujifilm X-T4 – A Canon Switcher’s Review
The Fujifilm X-T4 has reignited my love of photography by combining amazing technical capabilities with a stunning design
Saving the South Coast – Progress is Not Always a Good Thing
As landscape photographers it falls to us to document the destruction of the natural environment.
Goodbye Canon – Hello Fujifilm
After 16 years with Canon, I’ve switched codes and moved over to Fujifilm
Landscape Photography in the Time of Corona
Some personal reflections on the incredible series of events that have affected my home in Australia and the impact they have had on my landscape photography
My Decade in Photography 2010 to 2019
I look back on a decade of photography, year by year and pick out my best images.
It’s Okay to Lose Interest in Photography
Quite often when I’m browsing my Facebook photographic communities I see posts from people who are depressed because they have lost interest in their hobby. They usually say that they can’t work up the enthusiasm to get out there and photograph anything and that they haven’t even picked up their
Is There a Design Flaw with DJI’s Mavic 2 Intelligent Flight Batteries?
Like a lot of folks I put my order in for a Mavic 2 Pro the week DJI announced it. The combination of that portable Mavic form-factor and that Hasselblad camera technology made for an enticing combination and I had no qualms about shelling out two and a half thousand
Luminar 4 – Skipping the Learning Curve
The world of digital photography is moving forwards at an incredible pace, thanks to advances with in-camera technology and also with post-processing software. It used to be the case that Adobe’s Photoshop was the only game in town but these days you’re spoilt for choice, whether you want to go
Photolemur 3 and AirMagic – Drag and Drop Photo Enhancing
Can a one-click drag-and-drop AI-enhanced photo editor take the place of some Adobe software? I put Skylum’s free software through its paces.
Luminar 3 – Modern Post Processing
Skylum’s flagship tool for digital photographers has a lot to love, but work needs to be done on the asset management side.
How to Create Seamless Carousel Panoramas in Instagram
In this video guide I detail precisely how to create awesome looking panoramic posts in Instagram using the carousel post format and images prepared in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Take Back Instagram
Is it too late to start using Instagram as a platform for real photography? Only if we choose to carry on taking the easy way out.
Unrating – South Coast New South Wales
The Vienna Tourist Board created an awesome campaign designed to encourage travelers to break free from “rating pressure” and focus on what really matters on vacation. Inspired by them I sought out reviews of our local beaches and visitor hotspots and created my own Unrating campaign for beautiful South Coast NSW.
Has Social Media Turned Photography Into a Competition
Has the online sharing of photography destroyed the pure heart of this artform? Let’s look at the evidence.
90% of Photography is Simply Showing Up
Technical knowledge is not the key to a good photographic portfolio – persistence is.
The 2019 iMac – The Perfect Photographer’s Workstation
Apple finally released an updated version of their popular iMac range of desktops and I ordered one the day they became available. It’s one month since I took delivery of this hardware and I thought it was high time I shared my impressions of the machine with you guys from a photographer’s perspective.
Asset Management is the Reason I Can’t Quit Adobe
Asset Management is the Reason I Can’t Quit Adobe Everyone’s unhappy about Adobe’s subscription pricing model, but until the competition come up with a better assett management system, they’re still the best option. When I first started taking photographs consistently and began taking this hobby seriously, I ran into the
Photographers – Put Your Website First Not Social
Put your website at the centre of your online presence and take control of your personal brand.
Confessions of an Autistic Photographer
I grew autistic in an era when nobody knew what autism was and found photography as a way of coping with my strange brain chemistry.
Hey Old People and Stay-At-Home Mums – We’re Not Spying On You With Our Drones
Time for a reality check – drones are not spying on you and they never have been. Here’s why.
Building My Perfect Camera and Drone Adventure Pack
After many years of searching for the perfect load-out for all of my camera equipment I finally arrived at a solution that works perfectly for me, accommodates my DSLR and drone and is comfortable to carry on long hikes.
The Race to the Bottom – My Unsplash Experiment Netted Me Nothing But Goodwill
I decided to put Unsplash to the test and surrendered all rights to 10 of my photos. Did I find wealth and fame? What do you think …
Airspace for Dummies – a Guide to Using OzRunways for Aussie Drone Pilots
This is a guide to the OzRunways app which can be used by Australian drone pilots to ensure they are not flying in restricted airspace.
The Change – Nine Signs You Might be Turning into a Lifestyle Photographer
Do you have a strange urge to add tan-and-teal filters to all your photographs? Have you started using the prayer 🙏 hands emoji all the time? You might be going through ‘the change’.
Which is the Best Royalty Free Subscription Music Service for Photographers and Filmmakers?
The days of scrambling around in Soundcloud, YouTube or Facebook’s free music libraries are over – you can improve your videos with top-notch music that is 100% legal. Here are the seven best sites – rated and reviewed.
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro for Landscape Photographers
The Mavic 2 Pro is DJI’s most refined quadcopter yet – but is it the best choice for landscape photographers? We put it through its paces, test it rigorously and let you know if that Hasselblad badge is all show and no go.
Western Australia Leading the Way on Drone Use in National Parks in Australia
Forward-thinking park authorities in Western Australia have completely relaxed their drone regulations and removed any requirement to apply for permission before using them.
But Seriously, What’s With all the Drone Hate?
Quadcopter fliers are a target of hatred and violence and are being attacked by governments, local authorities and neighbourhood skunk farmers. But why and what can be done about it?
Hey Photographers – When You Give it Away You Diminish All of Our Work
Companies will continue to take the piss out of photographers for precisely as long as we let them.
How to Photograph Bioluminescent Oceans
Bioluminescent algae is an amazing and rare natural phenomenon and an amazing occurence to photograph. Here’s how to maximise your chances of seeing it and how best to capture it if you do.
Building the Perfect Website for Photographers – Mission Impossible?
Is building the perfect website for photographers really Mission Impossible? Surely someone can improve on the woeful sites that are already out there.
My Most Meaningful Photographs – Celebrating World Photography Day
Celebrating World Photography Day with a blog post about how photography has shaped me and helped me muddle my way through life.
Lightning Strikes Twice – The Tale of the Bolt
I photographed a lightning bolt striking Seven Mile Beach National Park and discovered later that it had started a small bushfire which the local volunteer fire brigade responded to.
Why ‘Scientific’ Permits Make a Mockery of the Drone Whale Laws in Australia
Drones are not harmful to whales or dolphins, unless ingested, so why all the bullshit laws about flying near them?
How I Got the Shot – Sunset Lightning
My lightning shot got a bit of attention and I was asked how best to capture such scenes, so here’s a little guide.
Hugged To Death – The Instagram Generation Are Really Bad News for Beauty Spots
Beauty spots across the world are being ruined thanks to a new generation of photographers who care only about their standing on social media and not about the landscape they exploit.
Drone HDR – How to Easily Improve Your Low-Light Photographs
Drones can’t handle low-light and high dynamic range scenes such as sunrises and sunsets. With a couple of simple techniques, however, you can successfully photograph even the most visually demanding of scenes with your drone.
Flying Your Drone in Australia – Where, When and How to do it Legally
Most people who buy a drone in Australia do so in total ignorance of the laws surrounding their use. So here’s the low-down on flying a drone legally down-under.
Fear of Missing Out – The Photographer’s Dilemma
The social media buzz is that a hot new platform’s arrived and ‘fear of missing out’ drives every photographer to set up an account. But why?
Get the Most out of the iPhone Camera App
The best camera is the one you have with you – and that camera will probably be an iPhone. So here’s how to get the most of the built-in camera app.
How to Photograph Killer Sunsets
If you like colour in your photos then you need to nail your sunset shots, because that’s when nature lays on a lightshow. Here are my top tips for snagging a stunning sunset keeper … or two.
The Real Meaning Behind Instagram Hashtags
They adorn every Instagram post ever taken – but what do all those hashtags mean? I take a (not so serious) look at their definitions.
Top Ten Travel Photography Cliches – Instagram Edition
Why do you see the same sorts of shots again and again on Instagram? Whatever happened to originality? Why do I care? Most of these questions, answered within.
Has Instagram Sucked the Originality Out of Every Photographic Possibility on the Planet?
How the fuck did the amazing become so commonplace so quickly? Why am I no longer excited by the incredible sight of the Northern Lights? When did photography turn into a never-ending competition for spectacle? When did it all become so fucking boring?
The Real Reason You Suck on Photo Sharing Sites – The Bots are Beating You*
Once you started posting, you are in competition with every other photographer on the site. Whether you like it or not, your photograph is judged alongside those of the entire membership, rank amateurs and seasoned pros alike. But it isn’t a level playing field.
Which is the Best Online Platform for Photographers
Well known photo-sharing sites are showing their age and the new ones, while often starting out with the best intention, often get the formula woefully wrong. So where should you post your photos?
It’s Illegal to Fly a Drone in a Commonwealth Park
It’s illegal to fly a drone in Booderee and there’s a massive area of restricted airspace covering a great swathe of south coast New South Wales. Here’s the deal.
Making the Transition to Drone Photography from DSLRs
There are benefits and disadvantages to moving from DSLR to drone photography. Here’s how to make the transition successfully.
Five Things They Never Tell You About Drone Photography
Get a drone they said, we’ll get together, have a few laughs. Well here’s what they don’t tell you about owning and flying a drone.
Attending a Popular Event? Consider Leaving Your Camera at Home
I think you should consider leaving your camera at home when attending an event like Vivid Sydney. Let me explain my thought process.
Why “Right place, right time” Is An Insult to All Photographers
You were just lucky, that’s all. This is without doubt my most hated expression.
The Real Meaning of Common Photography Expressions Explained – Part 2
All of those mysterious photographic expressions explained in a (not so serious) fashion. Don’t read it if you’re a snowflake.
The Real Meaning of Common Photographic Expressions
Small dictionary of photographic terms explained. Humorous article – don’t read it if you’re a snowflake.
Ten Things Every Landscape Photographer Learns the Hard Way
Landscape photography can be a troublesome hobby thanks to its reliance on the weather, but we photographers don’t make our lives any easier some times. Here are ten home truths I’ve picked up along the way to photographic enlightenment.
The Slow Death of ©opyright
The notion of copyright is being devalued day by day with image aggregators happily ripping off photographers without a care in the world. How did we get here?
I don’t want your constructive criticism
If someone doesn’t specifically ask for ‘criticism’ of their photograph, then don’t offer – you’re just being insulting.
The Great Photo Competition Swindle
Read the small print, read the small print, read the small print. Most photo competitions exist purely to make money …
Is 1x.com the serious photographer’s last best hope?
I had high hopes of 1X, but the site turned out to be an incestous temple to photographic hubris.
Are you a snapper or a photographer?
I saw a heated debate on Reddit the other day about the nature of photography and how it applies to the Instagram generation. There was of course much to-and-fro on either side of the argument, but the general consensus seemed to be that if you took photos then you were
500px – Why I’m No Longer a Subscriber
I wrote this article more than six years ago now. It continues to be the most viewed post on my website, which would kind of suggest that fuck all has changed over at 500px. Do you agree?