Kangaroo Island - Amazing Wonderland

Day 1

Thursday 19th September 2013

Wow, another amazing workshop to add to the list. This was our inaugural Kangaroo Island workshop and I'm pleased to say, an outstanding success.

Michael carried out a recce back in January to set up the workshop and was astounded at the difference in colour on the island. The recent rains gave us a wonderland of green and our timing, arriving in early spring, saw wildflower in abundance.

Our first day saw an easy start with our superb guide and driver, Ron (from Exceptional Kangaroo Island) doing the run around to collect the group from various accommodation. Once Annette, Esther, Marg, Peter and Alan were safely on board we were off.

Our transport for the week was an Isuzu 4x4 fitted with a custom built 12 seater coach body. High seating gave us all a terrific view as  we drove from place to place. After a pleasant drive through Flinders Chase National Park we arrived at Wallaby Heights for a BBQ lunch.

While Ron starting cooking the King George Whiting the group wandered around the picturesque setting taking in their new surrounds.

Then the hail arrived! Luckily we were under cover and enjoyed a delicious lunch straight after which the storm passed.

We then proceeded onto Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat to check into our home for the next five days. The retreat is located in the south west corner of the island and truly is surrounded by wilderness. It was the perfect staging point to visit the many wonders that the island had in store for us, the first of which was Admirals Arch and the resident colony of New Zealand Fur Seals.

Along the way we spotted dozens of Cape Barren Geese so a deviation from plan was called for and we held an impromptu bird photography session. Pretty hard to resist when chicks were spotted.

When we arrived at Admirals Arch the weather wasn't doing us any favours as the wind was extreme and the odd shower passed over but the fur seals more than made up for any discomfit. We watched as the young ones frolicked in the ocean leaping out of the waves practicing for when they would need those skills to escape predators. It was simply enthralling. As we proceeded down the boardwalk we found a number of juveniles very close. Ron commented hat he rarely saw them up this close so we were really given a special treat.

Back at the resort we cooked up a super welcome BBQ and hit the sack. It had been a big day and we would be up early for a sunrise shoot.

Day 2

Friday 20th of September 2013

The weather had a sombre mood to it for our first sunrise shoot at Remarkable Rocks. We were treated to the odd sprinkle and a rather cool breeze but the scenery was spectacular.

After breakfast back at the retreat we headed for Little Sahara. This area of sand dunes offered some spectacular landscape opportunities with ripple patterns and dune grasses offering excellent foreground detail.

After another superb lunch of chicken and pesto with salad we headed to the Rocky River precinct.  More Cape Barren Geese, kangaroos and Tamar Wallabies had the group captivated.

Vivonne Bay was our next destination with stunning coastal scenes followed by sunset at Point Ellen.

it was a very long day finishing with my Post-processing session to help everyone get the most from their images.

Day 3

Saturday 21st of September 2013

After a small sleep in we headed to Seal Bay and the Australian Sealion Experience. Our EKI guide is also a trained National Parks guide and we were indeed in for a treat under his guidance. The sealions were in fine form with the teenagers having a few squabbles and the huge old bulls showing everyone who was the boss.

Then we headed off to the Raptor Domain free flight show for an avian treat. Kestrels, owls and other raptors were on hand and we were all able to get up close and personal.

Some free time for everyone to catch their breath and then we were off to Grassdale for twilight and sunset photography. Kangaroos and incredible grass trees abound. The grass trees were huge with many being hundreds of years old.

Another sensational meal at KIWR and then the group were treated to a Wildlife audio visual from Michael.

Day 4

Saturday 21st of September 2013

Up early again for another sunrise shoot at Remarkable Rocks. Totally different conditions and light rewarded the group with another stunning landscape shoot.

Back to the retreat for brekkie  followed by an  Image Critique session followed by a macro shoot.

Off to Western River and another superb EKI picnic lunch. Grass trees and fields of colorful dandelions and then we visited Snellings Beach for panoramic landscapes and a gorgeous sunset.

Day 5

Monday 23nd of September 2013

All too soon we are checking out from KIWR and heading for Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. There is a large wild koala population in residence easily spotted and bird life abounds.

Duck Lagoon for lunch and finally we nail one of the shots we had been pursuing all week. The tiny Scarlet Robin put on a show posing for us momentarily before flitting off to another tree with a hoard of photographers in hot pursuit.

Finally we visit the very picturesque  Pennington Bay and Pelican Lagoon before saying our farewells.

What an amazing week with so many, many photographic opportunities. A fantastic group, fantastic island, fantastic guide, fantastic food, fantastic accommodation. Yep it was all pretty fantastic.

Bring on KI 2014!!!

See the Rainbow

Every day I have huge flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets come around to the garden to display their amazing colour. I love watching their antics as they hop around squabbling and working out who's the boss. Sometimes I think they all reckon they're in charge. It truly is hilarious. 

I guess, as they are always around, you tend to get a little blasé and just take them for granted. 

Sometimes, though, the camera has just got to come out to capture their amazing display. 

The light was gorgeous but failing fast so I used a little flash fill to bring out the colours of the rainbow. 

Have a great week everyone and enjoy the wonders in your garden. 

The Future of Post Processing for Photographers

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So, I've just completed a booked out Digital Processing Bootcamp weekender at Redcliffe with a great group and I got to thinking about a few things. 

It is becoming more and more obvious that to me that photographers don't need all the whiz-bang tools and features in Photoshop. 

In fact the user interface of Lightroom 5 is very easy to learn and most tasks performed by most photographers can be carried out without needing to resort to the 'heavy lifting' in Photoshop. 

Sure, there are many professional photographers out there who have some unique and specific uses for Photoshop with tried and tested formulas, actions, scripts and so forth, me included. But, for the everyday 'hobbyist/serious amateur' photographer Lightroom will do the job. 

When I talk about heavy lifting, I refer to layers, composites, large blemish removals and the like.
For most though, the import, library, cataloging, adjusting, cropping, straightening, colour correcting, exporting, printing, etc. etc. can all be taken care of more than adequately in Lightroom. 

Of course, add in a couple of magic plug-in suites such as NIK or OnOne and you have a very powerful editing tool.

The reason I bring this up is that we spent less time in Photoshop over this last weekend's bootcamp but it really made no difference. We accomplished all that was needed in Lightroom and a couple of inexpensive plug-ins.

With the recent changes that Adobe have made to the way you can purchase Photoshop through the Creative Cloud (or rather can't purchase photoshop) you may be better served using Lightroom 5 (which has the very latest whiz-bang RAW convertor) and Photoshop Elements. 

Elements is far cheaper and has many, many of the important features found in the full version of Photoshop. It could just be your perfect post-processing solution.

As an added bonus with the money you save, you can come along to my digital processing bootcamps and learn how to get the most out of your images with Lightroom  

Here is our happy group at the end of their gruelling weekend bootcamp. Have a great week everyone. Cheers, Mark

Bali and Borneo Amazing Photography Adventure

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Bali Culture, Volcanoes and Orangutans in Borneo - Just released for late November 2013

I have just officially released an amazing photographic tour and workshop for late November in Bali and Borneo.

Dave Metcalf (Dayak Dave) and myself will lead this incredible adventure over 8 days taking in (amongst other things) the following:

• Ancient temples of Bali, 100 dancers at special performance in an ancient temple just for our group, Balinese landscapes, cultural ceremonies
• West Bali -Buffalo races plus colourful Bugis boats, terraced rice fields, volcanoes
• Orangutans in Borneo plus birdlife and native Dayak culture
• Monkeys and the stunning Bali Bird park
• Borneo traditional villages, beautiful rivers, stunning sunsets
• Special dance performance on a private island - Kalimantan
• Challenging travel photography
• Feedback sessions on photography and post processing techniques

and much, much more.





Read more here...

The Art of Shooting in the Wild

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Guest contributor, Julie Roper, shares the Trekabout philosophy of enjoying and photographing  Australia's landscape and wildlife responsibly. We trust you enjoy her enlightening article.

The Art of Shooting in the Wild 

by guest contributor - Julie Roper

Australia is a continent of wide-open spaces, from its panoramic coastlines to its outback and mountains; there is an abundance of photographic opportunities available for enthusiasts who want to capture the essence of this country’s wilderness. By following a few guidelines about shooting in the wild, you can create stunning vistas and animal portraits on your trek that will be long remembered.

Panoramas

Australia’s landscape is made for the panoramic shot, but this can be difficult to capture on film, with lenses covering up to 90 degrees, so you may find you need to take a series of photographs of your panorama and join them up to create the full effect.

In the old days, this would mean lining the shots up by hand to frame them, but now with the software available, the job is made easier for stitching together shots. You should aim to overlap your shots when you take them by up to 50 per cent so that you make sure you capture the entire subject. Shoot from left to right, so that they are in the correct order and then choose a stitching software package such as Adobe Photoshop, Double Take or Adobe Elements.

Some tips for capturing the best panoramas on your camera include shooting on manual to ensure the exposures have continuity to them. Avoid polarisers and keep the horizon near the centre of your picture so that it doesn’t curve too much.

Shooting the Outback

The Outback has been fascinating photographers for many years, with its lunar like landscape and panoramic views. Understanding this environment is important to being able to capture it successfully. The Outback can reach temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius and you and your equipment need to be vigilant in the heat. Cameras can be damaged by excessive temperatures, whilst photographers become dehydrated quickly. Preparation is the key to an Outback expedition: make sure you invest in the appropriate cover for your gear in case of any accidents and damage occurring. Your equipment is expensive and you need to protect it, particularly out in the open where it is more vulnerable and at the mercy of the environment, or where it might be dropped. Keep your camera in a bag and away from direct sunlight where possible. The dust is another major factor to consider as it can seriously damage your equipment so make sure you only take your camera out when you are shooting.

Another useful tip when shooting in the Outback is to make sure you carry enough water for your trip. A dehydrated photographer will not be thinking creatively about the next shot.

The light in the Australian Outback is remarkable and will give your photographs a unique, surreal look to them, but be careful of glare as this can destroy shots. Adjust your camera to take harsh glare into account and consider using filters to create the effect you want.

Wildlife

The key to photographing wildlife is to focus on the eyes, as this ensures you have the animal in your sights and can capture it accurately on film. A good tip is to shoot quite a few frames, pausing to refocus to make sure you iron out any errors that might show up later on. Wildlife is notoriously difficult to shoot successfully and practice definitely makes perfect. If the subject is still, the job is made easier and you might use a manual focus for a long lens. Remember that the eyes should always be the focal point to your shot and that the centre of the focus will be the most accurate part of the composition. Many photographers use a flash, which is on a low setting when they shoot wildlife pictures. This will fill in any shadows and highlight the eyes, bringing animals and birds to life on film.

There is a code of conduct that photographers should adhere to when shooting in the wild, to avoid too much stress being put on animals and birds in their natural habitats. Observe conservation laws in local areas, taking notice of restricted areas. Obtain permission if you need to gain access to private land. Birds that are nesting may be put at risk by photography and detailed knowledge of the species and their habitat should be sought before shooting takes place.

Shooting in the Australian wilderness is a rewarding experience and, by following some simple guidelines, you should be able to create some stunning photographs of this fantastic land and its wildlife.

New Melbourne Post Processing Bootcamp Announced

Weekend Photoshop and Lightroom Bootcamp Workshop Class with Mark Rayner

Where: St Kilda - Melbourne
Next workshop: 31 August - 1 September 2013

Due to increasing requests we are pleased to offer a digital post-processing and workflow program with particular emphasis on Adobe Lightroom 5 and Adobe Photoshop in Melbourne.
The workshop is spread over two days, incorporating 5 two hour sessions and a 3 hour 'Phototrek' to begin the workshop. Held in the air conditioned Oakley South Pacific, Head Office at St Kilda, there is plenty of parking available with easy access. Morning teas will be provided.

The workshop will cover:

Importing and opening images ◦ Image resolution ◦ Selections and masks
Colour and white balance adjustments ◦ Retouching ◦ Histograms
File formats ◦ Filters ◦ Actions ◦ Scripts
Plug-ins ◦ HDR ◦ Metadata ◦ Batch processing
Presets ◦ Keyboard shortcuts ◦ Exporting and saving ◦ Automating tasks
Re-sizing ◦ Sharpening
Noise reduction ◦ and much, much more.
Program:

Saturday and Sunday 8:30am to 5:00pm
The Phototrek

We commence proceedings shooting the St Kilda foreshore, Luna Park and surrounding areas during a 3 hour photo walk. We will all be photographing together and this shoot will provide much of the imagery for the weekend's processing tuition. You will be working from scratch on images from your own camera.

Session 1
This session covers the basics of Adobe Bridge and Camera Raw and de-mystifying the connections of both with Photoshop. Mark will show you how best to transfer your images to your computer and some convenient protocols for folder naming and storage. We will also look at how Adobe Lightroom can be incorporated ion your Photoshop workflow.

Session 2
This session will cover image adjustment and enhancement in Camera Raw and look at a number of techniques to speed up the post-processing workflow. We will look at the various adjustment modules and tools which will become the backbone of your image processing.

Produce amazing black and white results

 

Session 3
We will start to get into some of the new user friendly aspects of Photoshop and really begin to make a difference to our RAW files to produce images with that "Wow" factor. We'll look at the best way to set up your tool panels and optimise your workspace to suit your style and needs. You will explore the different tools available in Photoshop and how and when to use them.

Learn how to turn an overexposed washed out image ........................................into a dramatic, punchy photograph in just a few easy steps.

 

Session 4
To help speed up the workflow process we will begin to incorporate plug-ins, presets, actions and scripts. As well as providing you with many ready to use presets and actions, Mark will guide you through the process of creating your own actions to speed up processes that you find yourself doing more often.
You'll learn how to create stunning, unique and interesting backgrounds for your "studio" portraits and much more.

  

Session 5
By this session you will have a new understanding of presets, actions, scripts, plug-ins, batch processing, curves, layers, masks, resolution, filters and many more terms.This session will put your new found knowledge and skills to work and consolidate what you have learned into a smooth and efficient workflow. We will also look at the basics of some of the hot topics of digital photography such as HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama stitching and more.

All attendees will receive a complimentary Photoshop actions, presets, scripts, printable cheat sheets and more.

More....

Trekabout July August 2013 Workshop Bulletin

July August Workshop Program G'day everyone, We've got some fantastic workshops coming up over the next couple of months and if you like wildlife and nature we've really got you covered. Check out the details below. Please take note that if you book the Macro Experience and the Reptile and Frog Experience together (they are held on the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon) we reward your enthusiasm with a 30% discount for both. Michael and I would love to see you along. Call me on 0459 221678 to book. Cheers, Mark Australia Zoo Experience Sunday, 14 July 2013 $273.90 Join Michael and Mark for an exciting day of wildlife photography at Australia Zoo! After an initial group tuition session and once everyone is ‘up-to-speed’, we start our day of wildlife photography. Our first stop will be Australia Zoo’s famous crocodiles, followed by Tasmania devils, dingoes, koalas, cassowaries and much more. The cute otters will be sure to put on a show. Mark and Michael will be on hand throughout to talk to you one-on-one, and make sure you are utilising your camera to its potential. After morning tea at a nearby café, we will head to ‘Roo Haven’ where there are different species of kangaroos and wallabies to photograph at close range. There are also echidnas nearby, which always make for great photos. We then head to the ‘Asian’ section of the zoo to photograph tigers, Asian elephants and red pandas on display. After lunch at one of the cafes (or bring your own) we will venture to the new ‘African’ section, where giraffes, rhinos and zebras are on display. To finish off the day, we will spend a reasonable amount of time in the huge walk-through bird aviary, where there are loads of different birds to photograph. Before each of the different sections we will be heading to, Michael and Mark will give you instruction on the best settings and photography techniques to use, in order to get the best wildlife photos. Weekend Post Processing and Workflow Bootcamp 3 -4 August 2013 - $396.00 The workshop is spread over two days, incorporating 5 two hour sessions and a 2 hour 'Phototrek' to begin the workshop. Held in air-conditioned comfort at the new Lantastic Centre at Redcliffe, there is plenty of parking available with easy access. Morning teas will be provided. Topics covered will include but not be limited to: * Importing and opening images Image resolution * Selections and masks Colour and white balance adjustments Retouching * Histograms * File formats * Filters * Actions * Scripts * Plug-ins * HDR Metadata Batch processing * Presets * Keyboard shortcuts * Exporting and saving Automating tasks Re-sizing * Sharpening Noise reduction Pre-workshop Phototrek We commence proceedings shooting the Redcliffe foreshore and surrounding parklands during a 2 hour photo walk. We will all be photographing together and this shoot will provide much of the imagery for the weekend's processing tuition. You will be working from scratch on images from your own camera. Session 1 This session covers the basics of Adobe Bridge and Camera Raw and de-mystifying the connections of both with Photoshop. Mark will show you how best to transfer your images to your computer and some convenient protocols for folder naming and storage. Session 2 This session will cover image adjustment and enhancement in Camera Raw and look at a number of techniques to speed up the post-processing workflow. We will look at the various adjustment modules and tools which will become the backbone of your image processing. Session 3 We will start to get into some of the new user friendly aspects of Photoshop and really begin to make a difference to our RAW files to produce images with that "Wow" factor. We'll look at the best way to set up your tool panels and optimise your workspace to suit your style and needs. You will explore the different tools available in Photoshop and how and when to use them. Session 4 To help speed up the workflow process we will begin to incorporate plug-ins, presets, actions and scripts. As well as providing you with many ready to use presets and actions, Mark will guide you through the process of creating your own actions to speed up processes that you find yourself doing more often. Session 5 By this session you will have a new understanding of presets, actions, scripts, plug-ins, batch processing, curves, layers, masks, resolution, filters and many more terms.This session will put your new found knowledge and skills to work and consolidate what you have learned into a smooth and efficient workflow. We will also look at the basics of some of the hot topics of digital photography such as HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama stitching and more. Space limited to a maximum of 8 participants to ensure quality of learning. To find out more have a look on the Trekabout website here. Macro Experience Photography Workshop Saturday 10 August 2013 - $163.90 Where: Brisbane Botanic Gardens - Mt Coot-tha, Toowong In this half-day photographic workshop, Michael and Mark will instruct you on how best to achieve sharp, evenly-lit and well-composed photos of anything “macro”. You will be shown how to use different types of lenses, extension tubes and filters as well as ways to achieve perfect lighting using various flash methods, diffusers and reflectors. Depth-of-field, an important component of macro photography, will be discussed at length as well as the best ways to steady your camera/lens. Our subjects will include various types of flowers in bloom, insects and more. Program: 8.15am – Meet at the café entrance at the bottom of the car park (Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens) There will a brief session covering the best types of equipment recommended for macro photography. Michael will then instruct you on various macro photography techniques “in-the-field”. 10am – Morning tea We will work our way around the gardens, photographing other macro subjects, showing you how to achieve the best results in-camera 12.15pm - finish More here.... Reptile and Frog Experience Saturday 10 August 2013 - $207.90 Where: Geckoes Wildlife , Marshall Lane, Closeburn (Approx. 6kms from Samford) This half day workshop is designed to get you the opportunity to photograph an amazing array of reptiles and frogs at close range. Some of the species are virtually impossible to photograph in the wild, so this is a chance you will not want to miss. Mark and Michael will also give professional photographic tuition throughout the workshop. They will teach you how to take better photos as well as getting the most out of your camera. Meet at 1.30pm at the front gates of property – Marshall Lane, Closeburn (North West Brisbane) 1:35pm – Tuition given by Michael and Mark on best techniques for photographing reptiles and frogs 2:00pm – Reptile and frog photography in natural bushland setting. 4:15pm – Final discussion on techniques discussed, questions and answers. 4.45pm - Finish Some of the species available on the day (depending on availability) may include: Leaf-tailed Gecko Knob-tailed Gecko Bearded Dragon Southern Angle-headed Dragon Pink-tongue Skink Blue-tongue Skink Shingleback Lizard Carpet Python Diamond Python Green Tree Python Magnificent Tree Frog Green and Gold Tree Frog Green Tree Frog White-lipped Tree Frog Various other reptiles More here...

Get Up Early

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Michael and I are about to head off to the outback to run our Seven Day Red Centre Experience Photography Workshop and Tour.

We elected to drive out this time, camping along the way, and giving ourselves some time to capture images of our amazing country. Smell the outback roses if you like.

One thing that you can be sure of is that we'll have some very early starts. Sunrise in the outback is pretty special, well, it's pretty special anywhere really. The dawn of a new day brings with it a fabulous array of colour and mood. On many of our workshops you'll see a number of sunrise shoots mentioned and for good reason.

Seeing the new day in is rewarding in other ways too. I always feel that I have accomplished more on a day when I have seen the dawn. The magic images that often result are a bonus.

So get up early, get out there and experience the wonder of a new day. You'll look back on the experience and say, as I often here said on our workshops, "I really must do this more often".

Have a wonderful day.

Cheers, Mark

Borobodur