You all know how much I love flowers and gardens…well a couple of weeks back we visited Sutton Forest and Bowral in the Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia.
It was a particularly cool day but the gardens didn’t disappoint. First up we visited Red Cow Farm, a beautiful garden with lots of hidden garden rooms, a lake and somany glorious tulips. I took a stack of photos and we enjoyed meandering through the garden.
Our next stop was Milton Park, an amazing estate built at the turn of the 20th century by the Horden Family of retail & pastoral fame.
There are breathtaking views at every turn and the gardens are the most beautiful I have ever seen {seriously.}
I love the sweeping lawns {with grass so soft you could roll around for hours} cobble stone paths, rose gardens, mazes and hundreds and hundreds of flowers. Think tulips, camellias, roses, azaleas…..it is spectacular:)
The gardens of Milton Park have inspired painters and writers since the early 1800’s.
This photographer 🙂 was particularly inspired by the beauty and colour of this magnificent garden.
Enjoy the pics ~ remember to click on one to view them as a slide show.
I’ve been really lucky over the past couple of weeks to have been out whale watching from TWICE from Sydney – yes TWICE 🙂
Both days were warm and sunny and we were SO lucky {and grateful} to see some ‘Humpback’ whales heading north during their annual migration.
Each year – around May, Humpback whales leave the cold waters of Antarctica and swim north to the warm tropical waters of Queensland, Australia, to mate and give birth to their young.
They are such amazing creatures…We spotted our first couple of humpbacks not far off Sydney heads..
These majestic creatures can grow to an average length of 12-18 metres and weigh as much as 45 tonnes.
The two whales travelled along together for a while, diving and giving us a glimpse of their tails – {click, click, click went my camera :)}
Humpbacks are VERY acrobatic {considering their size} and one of the two whales we were observing really decided to put on a show…
Breaching is said to be either purely for play, to loosen skin parasites or it may have some social meaning. Check out the splash he made when he hit the water!
He then ‘spyhopped’ {poked his head out of the water for around 30 seconds} to check out what was going on.
Again this was followed by a playful ‘splash.’ 🙂
Finally, he waved good-bye…and they continued on their journey north…
Then just to top off a fantastic day, an albatross flew past {for anyone that knows me, I LOVE albatross.}
Our second day out whale watching was completely different…it was two weeks after the first trip and the whales seemed to be more intent on heading north as quickly as possible….
We just observed them for a while before we headed back to Darling Harbour…
I can’t wait to photograph them again when they head south down the East coast. Have you seen any humpback whales this season? I’d love to hear your stories. Please let me know in the comments below 🙂
I love getting out and about with my camera and particularly enjoy starting the day early, photographing a sunrise 🙂
Last Saturday we discovered a brilliant spot for photography – Mahon Pool, Maroubra Beach Sydney.
The first part of the morning I used my ND {neutral density} filters to create slow shutter speeds and movement blur in my photos….I love the effect the slow shutter has on the water – each photo is so individual…the swirling water looks like mist and gives the image an ethereal look.
So, what is a neutral density filter and what does it do?
As you all know {well I’m hoping you do} to SLOW DOWN YOUR SHUTTER SPEED you need low light….
So at dawn, dusk or night time, it’s easy….
But during the day {when the sun is shining :)} even if you set your camera to a small aperture {like f20} and your ISO way down to 100….sometimes the shutter speed is STILL NOT SLOW ENOUGH to record movement and blur within a photograph.
So, in comes the neutral density filter {ND FILTER.}
There are several different types of ND filter on the market. Circular threaded screw-onND filters are the simplest to use, but have the disadvantage that stacking them together soon leads to vignetting issues.
A more recent innovation are variable Neutral Density filters, which screw onto the lens but have an adjustable outer ring, which you rotate to adjust the density depending on the light conditions and the effect you want.
Variable Neutral Density Filter
Slot-in filters require you to first attach a filter holder to your lens via a ring adapter {the same size as the diameter of your lens – in my case – 77mm}, then insert square or oblong filters into the holder – the chief advantage is that, once set up, it’s easy to swap filters, stack them or add different kinds of filters to the mix. Slot-in filters are usually the most expensive option when purchasing ND filters.
Here’s my Lee slot-in filter set up below.
Lee adaptor and holder attached to the front of the lens
Lee .9 ND filter inserted into holder.
It’s SUPER easy to use the slot-in ND filter system.
I have 4 filters –
.3 – reduces the s/speed by 1 stop.
.6 – reduces the s/speed by stops.
.9 – reduces the s/speed by 3 stops.
‘The little Stopper’ – reduces the s/speed by 6 stops.
So, how do they work?
Lets say you meter a scene at f22 and the s/speed is 1/250 sec in Manual mode.
Now, insert the .3 {1 stop} ND filter into the holder on the front of the lens. Roll the shutter speed dial till the exposure level indicator meets in the middle. The s/speed will now be 1/125 sec – 1 stop slower than 1/250 sec.
Remove the .3 filter from the holder.
Now insert the .6 {2 stop} ND filter. Roll the shutter speed dial till the exposure level indicator meets in the middle. The s/speed will now be 1/60 sec – 2 stops slower than 1/250 sec.
Remove the .6 filter from the holder.
Now insert the .9 {3 stop} ND filter. Roll the shutter speed dial till the exposure level indicator meets in the middle. The s/speed will now be 1/30 sec – 3 stops slower than 1/250 sec.
Remove the .9 filter from the holder.
See how it works? You can also stack the filters in front of one another in the holder – eg
I could insert the .3, .6 & .9 filters into the holder and reduce the shutter speed by 6 stops -{1 +2+3 = 6 stops.}
Another really cool thing about ND filters is that they enhance the colours and will create more contrast in your image.
So, experiment with ND filters and different shutter speeds to achieve some really cool effects in your images:)
Click on each pic to view as large image…..
The second half of our shoot I experimented with FAST and SUPER FAST shutter speeds. Using the Canon 70-200mm zoom lens in AV mode, I raised the ISO to 640 and varied the aperture from f5 to f7.1. The shutter speeds ranged from 1/800 second up to 1/5000 sec. Don’t you just love the frozen action of the waves?
Click on each pic to view as large image…..
If you have any questions about ND filters, please email me at bernasconiphotography@gmail.com
Chris 🙂
P.S If you would like to connect with me on Instagram – click here, Facebook – click here& Twitter – clickhere.
Don’t you just love autumn? The colours, the textures and the way the plants change….
This year in Sydney we’ve had a really warm autumn….25 degree days – for the last couple of weeks – even as I speak – today is going to be 25 degrees again!!
I thought I might have been a bit late to head up to Mount Wilson and photograph the colours…but they surprised me….when you are way up high the temperature really does its thing to the trees and landscape…
Here are some pics I took yesterday at two ‘Open Gardens’ at Mount Wilson…. ‘Windy Ridge’ and ‘Breenhold’ – Ray and I really enjoyed soaking up nature and being in the open spaces of these awesome properties.
I shot with two cameras {Canon 5d mk 11 and 5d mk 111} – I had my 24-105mm and my 100mm macro on both canon cameras – {thanks Ray for helping me with them.}
Remember to click on each photo to enjoy a large view…
I’ve just returned from a month in the Arctic {more about that later – and yes, it was sensational.}
I added a couple of new lenses to my kit before going away, one of them being the sensationalSigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens.
I hired the previous model of this lens when I visited the Antarctic a couple of years back and overall wasn’t very happy with the sharpness of the lens. Everything on the latest model – Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens – has improved significantly, especially the image sharpness. I am ecstatic with the results 🙂
Here’s the rundown:
Overall build and cost
The build of the lens is SUPER SOLID and is very well designed. It retails for around $2245 AUD and at this price, it makes a very welcome addition to your kit.
The 150 to 600mm sports lens is heavier than most of the opposition. Weighing in at 2.860kg, this is not a lens that you want to hand hold for long periods of time. I used a monopod whilst we were on the land. In the zodiacs, I either stood up or sat and used my elbow and the side of the zodiac to take the weight of the lens.
The lens features dust and splash proof construction and a water & oil repellent coating on the front and rear glass elements of the lens.
The lens is packed in a very substantial padded carrying case and features a VERY SOLID LENS HOOD which offers great protection to the front of the lens {especially with rain, splash and general knocks etc.} and can be reversed over the barrel for transportation. The overall length of the lens {with the hood reversed} is 121.9 x 289.6mm. This lens fitted easily into my Lowepro Pro Runner RL x450 AW rolling camera bag.
With the lens zoomed to 600mm and the hood attached, the entire lens grows to 480mm in length {be prepared for lens envy.}
The filter size is 105mm {not many suppliers will stock this size.} I had to really hunt around to source the UV filter for this lens.
This lens is available in a Canon, Nikon and Sigma mount.
The only annoying aspect of this lens was for some reason Sigma didn’t supply a lens cap? I purchased one direct from Sigma for $20AUD.
Focal Length
At 150mm to 600mm, this lens suits wildlife, distant landscapes, street scenes, sports photography and more. I could capture a complete iceberg at 150mm {as they were a fair distance away.} However, I used the lens at 600mm for most of the trip to photograph wildlife and closeups of icebergs and mountains.
Aperture range
F5-6.3 to F22. This lens has a ‘variable max aperture’ which means that wide open aperture exposure settings will change as the lens is zoomed from 150mm to longer focal lengths.
Image sharpness
Using the lens at 600mm required faster shutter speeds to deliver sharp hand held results. At times I used a monopod, but most shots were taken in a moving zodiac, standing up, with the lens at full 600mm zoom.
The lens has ‘image stabilization’ but I did find I had to increase the ISO to obtain a fast shutter speed to freeze the action. The results were fantastic. 9 out of 10 shots were ABSOLUTELY TACK SHARP.
Take a look at these shots for sharpness!!
It was easy to photograph this harbour seal at 600mm. He hardly knew I was there. F6.3 1/320 sec ISO 1250.Now for a close up of the whiskers 🙂 Super sharp huh?And the eye…again, tack sharp.Here’s an iceberg in Greenland. Taken from a moving zodiac. Focal length 600mm. F11 1/2000 sec ISO 640.Now, lets zoom in…still sharp!This shot was taken on a research station near Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Note where the weather station is 🙂 F8 1/250 sec ISO 200.Here’s the weather station taken at 600mm on the Sigma lens. F8 1/1000 sec ISO 400.This is the zoomed in shot..Super sharp!
Conclusion
If you are looking for a SUPER SHARP, AFFORDABLE telephoto lens – then this is the lens for you. Yes, it’s heavy {always use a tripod or monopod and you’ll be fine} but the IMAGE SHARPNESS is the real WINNER.
I am super impressed! Rush out and buy it now. Right now 🙂
If you have any questions about this lens, please email me at bernasconiphotography@gmail.com 🙂
Vivid Light transforms our beautiful city into a wonderland of ‘light art’ sculptures and super cool light installations for everyone to enjoy – for free. It is the world’s largest outdoor ‘art-gallery.’
Last week I took off to visit VIVID SYDNEY 2015 with my photography buddy Kris…
We had a great night out and particularly enjoyed the ‘back street’ installations this year..
If you are into photography, or just want to enjoy the colourful lights head to VIVID SYDNEY…This event runs until the 8th June…
Click on the first photo to view the pics as a slide show 🙂
Getting out and about with my camera is one of my favourite things…
Last weekend, the Southern Highlands Botanical Gardens hosted the ‘Autumn Open Gardens’ weekend…
We visited the area last Sunday and for me, it totally nourished my soul and had me clicking like crazy 🙂
The first garden we visited at Bowral was ‘Bellagio’…WOW…who lives like that? They had a lake, an outdoor kitchen that looked like my indoor kitchen and two waterfalls…unbelievable!!
We also visited three other gardens in the rain and practised ‘what to do’ when the rain falls in relation to photography….hmmm…that was interesting 🙂
During the rain especially, we practised ‘macro’ photography…It is SO technical and had all of us on our toes…
Macro is an area of photography that I particularly love…as you focus on a ‘small’ area of a scene…lots of new ‘subjects’ come to light…..
Flowers, plants, statues and garden beds were all photographed..
It holds a very special place in the hearts of everyone in our family…
Every Easter, some, or all of the family head to a private property situated on the shores of Cobrabald Bay, Lake Eucumbene, NSW.
This years trip was fabulous. We all enjoyed each others company, sitting around the kitchen table talking, eating chocolate, playing boggle and just being together.. Of course there was the fishing, but this year not one fish was caught!!
Naturally, I took the camera with me and really enjoyed photographing with my neice Claire and family friend Kimberley.
The weather provided many seasons in a day, which meant I could photograph many of the fantastic landscapes in so many ways…
We drove to Adaminaby for the annual Easter fair and then to the remains of ‘Old Adaminaby.’
I love the story of the original town of Adaminaby 🙂
In 1949, the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme announced that the town would be flooded to make way for a large dam – Lake Eucumbene.
The residents were given three options for a location for their town, and surprisingly chose a site 7km NE from the original town.
In 1956 the painstaking work began on moving the buildings to the site of the new town. Some buildings were demolished, other’s were left in their original location – St Mary’s Catholic Church was taken down brick by brick and rebuilt in its new location.
Within 18 months all 102 buildings were moved to the new town on the highway and life returned to normal for the residents of Adaminaby. In 1957 the flooding of the Eucumbene Valley commenced and by 1958 construction of the ‘Eucumbene Dam’ was complete.
Under the waters of Lake Eucumbene still lay the remains of the old town – including brick and stone building foundations, a brick pit, farming machinery, fence posts, the main road and the town’s six mile bridge.
We saw some steps and the remains of a couple of old buildings scattered along the edge of the lake.. I kept peering into the water wondering what it would be like to see the town in its watery grave…
In 2007 the dam’s capacity was at a record low of 9.4%. Parts of the old town ‘reappeared.’ Many relics, buildings, steps and farm machinery were ‘revisited’ by locals and tourists at this time.
The rest of the weekend was spent taking more photos, relaxing and enjoying the magnificent scenery.
If you would like more information about this fantastic part of NSW visit lakeeucumbene.com
Enjoy the pics. Click on the first pic to view all the photos as a slideshow:)
The Andaman Resort is located on the north side of the tropical island of Langkawi, Malaysia.
This 4.5 star resort is one of the best places I have ever stayed 🙂
Hidden away between a 10 million year old rainforest and the jade coloured waters of Datai Bay – this really is heaven on earth 🙂
view from the beach
What I loved the most was the how the hotel was immersed in the rainforest…I could feel it. I literally felt immersed in it.…
Our room was gorgeous, well appointed and the beds were super comfortable.
The amenities and service were fantastic – from the way they called me ‘Miss Christine’ and ‘the dancing queen, {more about that in another post!} the service in the restaurants, the cool ‘orange’ spritzers on the beach and the AWESOME band all added to the ambience of this beautiful hotel…
Each day, we sat on the beach and swam in the cool waters of the Andaman Sea…I love being nurtured by the sea….I think all of us have forgotten how wonderful it is just to float and be…I loved it….silently beneath the waves, taking it all in…fabulous 🙂
As the hotel is very secluded….{think partner} you can walk, listen and observe all that exists in this magical place.
I enjoyed one of the best massages I’ve ever had at the V Wellness Spa. I was massaged in an open air villa overlooking the Andaman sea…It was absolute bliss.
There was SO MUCH WILDLIFE to be seen and enjoyed at the hotel..
I was lucky enough to see the Malaysian flying lemur {or Sunda} right outside my room…I mean literally…
The Sunda flying lemur is not a lemur and does not fly. Instead, it spreads out with it’s membrane and leaps amongst the trees. It is strictly arboreal, is active at night, and feeds on soft plant parts such as young leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruits.
Each day, they looked like this…back from their night flight, resting and chilling out…
Look closely, there are three lemur’s..resting quietly, right outside my door…
The next day, I saw something moving beneath one of the lemurs and quickly went and got my camera.
This is what I saw….
A baby lemur…peeping out…it was so fabulous, it was as if he was posing for the camera 🙂
The young are born undeveloped and helpless and attach themselves to the mother’s belly, in a pouch formed from the mother’s tail membrane. They are eventually weaned at approx around 6 months old,
How cool is that?
I was also lucky enough to see a Oriental Pied Hornbill. These magnificent birds frequent the tropical rainforest’s of Asia and are characterised by an unusual, long ‘horn like’ bill structure. This large bill assists with catching prey, fighting, preening as well as nest building.
Again, this gorgeous bird was right outside my door 🙂
The hotel had an abundance of monkeys that could be seen at all times of the day {we even had a cheeky monkey come into one of our rooms!}
My favourite was the Dusky Leaf Monkey. Characterised by its dark grey/black fur and two white ‘eye glasses’, it frequents the tropical rainforest’s of Malaysia..
This subject was SO much fun to watch…
There were so many gorgeous photographic opportunities at this resort – my camera just wouldn’t stop clicking… 🙂
My advice? Start packing 🙂
For more information on this AWESOME hotel click here.
I have recently had some time to go through some images from my trip to Italy….to be more specific….Lake Como…
Beautiful. Stunning. Inspiring…
I took a series of images from the ferry on the way to Gravedona – a beautiful town on the northern shores of Lake Como.
How do you shoot for a stitched image?
Use a tripod. In this case I was in holiday mode – so no tripod 🙂
Always shoot in PORTRAIT orientation – This will give you a taller panorama and allow more room for cropping.
My BEST tip? Take a pic of your hand BEFORE AND AFTER your series of images. This makes it so much easier when editing in Lightroom, I clearly know which images I want to use for my stitched panorama.
Shooting from the left, overlap your images by approximately 40% – {this didn’t happen in this case, the ferry was moving too fast!}
Keep your APERTURE constant for the entire series of images. This will ensure the DEPTH OF FIELD is consistent in the final panorama. Also make sure your FOCAL LENGTH is the same for each image – {All the images were shot at f13 at 105mm focal length.}
I like to shoot a stitch in MANUALmode. Take a few test shots to determine correct exposure. Here are my 5 images.
How did I edit this image?
I loaded all the raw images into LIGHTROOM.
HIGHLIGHT all the images for your panorama in Lightroom – click on the first image, hold down the SHIFT key, and click on the last image.
Click ‘CONTROL E’ which will open all the images up in photoshop {I’m using CS5.}
In Photoshop, click on ‘FILE’ then ‘AUTOMATE’ then ‘PHOTOMERGE.’
This screen will open up.
Click on ‘ADD OPEN FILES.’
‘AUTO‘ is the default button selected on the left. I use this function most of the time. You can experiment with the others for optimum results. Click ‘OKAY’ and watch your panorama stitch together before your eyes.
You’ll end up seeing a version of your panorama that looks something like this.
When Photomerge finishes,, you will have a single panorama with each image on a separate layer.
Zoom into 100% and check the seams between the images. If everything looks OK, FLATTEN the image by going into the LAYERS menu and clicking ‘FLATTEN IMAGE.’
Crop a rectangular composition of your stitched panorama. This is where shooting ‘VERTICALLY’ really makes a difference. You have a lot more room to ‘CROP.’
And there you have it, a FANTASTIC large panorama of your series of images.
Make any adjustments you like to your final image. I always add some contrast and some vibrance.
In this case I also had to muck around with the ‘lake’…and the different tones.
Please be aware these files are usually HUGE…and may take up a bit more storage room than usual.
So, next time you’re out shooting and can’t fit everything in the frame, consider shooting a SERIES of images to create an awesome panorama 🙂
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