So this is my final look back to 2014. In the last two posts I have looked at some wildlife and travel photography I did last year. Those are two types of photography I really enjoy but they are restricted to a degree by budget and time off work availability - especially the African wildlife photography.
What I concentrate most of my time on over the course of the year is landscape photography. This is probably the most accessible type of photography for people to start off with and I really wanted to make a conscious effort to improve my landscape photography over the course of 2014. I spend a fair amount of time on websites like 500px and there is some absolutely superb and awe inspiring landscape photography on that website. I wanted to start on the road of getting my pictures up to that standard so that they could stand alongside those great shots.
Now by no means do I think I am there yet but over the course of 2014 I truly felt that my pictures took a huge step forward. They have matured in terms of their composition as well as the feeling of the photo. I have also reacted better to landscape opportunities and I think this is down to putting more thought into a picture and the process that goes into making a good picture and recognizing the conditions that can contribute to a good picture.
These two pictures are a good example of what I am alluding to above. Auckland can often be cloaked in early morning fog during the colder months so there is always an opportunity to shoot something with a bit of drama.
In this instance I headed up Mt Eden before work, the entire summit was shrouded in fog and I knew I was looking for a situation when the sun would start to break the fog up and the that provided the opportunity to get these fingers of light reaching past the tree.
This is another from early morning before work. It is hard to believe this is in the middle of town but once again waling up on a foggy morning and taking the camera to work paid off. The bird entering top right is a huge bonus as well and totally unplanned!
What both these pictures taught me this year is keeping your mind open to opportunities and recognizing that landscape photographs can be made in a wide variety of places. The other thing (which I need to make more of a habit of) is to carry your camera with you whenever you are out, you never know when a picture comes knocking!
Planning has also been a major factor in helping take my landscape photography a step forward. Keeping an eye on the weather and what the clouds are doing has taught me to understand when favorable conditions are brewing and when that sky could be gearing up to put on that light show landscape photographers crave! These two are from a memorable evening out at Karekare. As I headed onto the beach with my gear I passed a photographer coming the other way and he said to me, "Good luck there is nothing happening out there" and off he trudged cutting a pretty disgruntled figure. An hour or so later this is what happened and I have always wondered if that guy kicked himself for the rest of the evening. I was the only person on the beach when I took these photographs and I remember how exhilarating the feeling was knowing I had seen the potential the sky had shown early in the evening and that I had followed my gut to get out there and give myself a chance.
Adding depth to a two dimensional medium can also be a bit of a challenge but goes a long way to improving a landscape picture. When I look at pictures of landscape photographers I admire there is usually and element of depth to their pictures so this is something I have tried to work hard on over the last year.
2014 allowed me to explore and learn more about landscape photography. I think that over the course of the year i have been able to really move my skills forward in the craft and hopefully that has translated to some enjoyable viewing for you all.
As 2015 continues I am going to make sure that I keep heading out to the beach and other areas of New Zealand (or where ever I may be) and work on my abilities in this genre of photography. It is really rewarding and there is nothing better than putting in the effort of getting up before the sun or staying out and missing cocktail hour when the result is an image you are really proud of. I think that is what draws me back to this type of photography.
Thanks for stopping by!
What I concentrate most of my time on over the course of the year is landscape photography. This is probably the most accessible type of photography for people to start off with and I really wanted to make a conscious effort to improve my landscape photography over the course of 2014. I spend a fair amount of time on websites like 500px and there is some absolutely superb and awe inspiring landscape photography on that website. I wanted to start on the road of getting my pictures up to that standard so that they could stand alongside those great shots.
Now by no means do I think I am there yet but over the course of 2014 I truly felt that my pictures took a huge step forward. They have matured in terms of their composition as well as the feeling of the photo. I have also reacted better to landscape opportunities and I think this is down to putting more thought into a picture and the process that goes into making a good picture and recognizing the conditions that can contribute to a good picture.
These two pictures are a good example of what I am alluding to above. Auckland can often be cloaked in early morning fog during the colder months so there is always an opportunity to shoot something with a bit of drama.
 |
| Mount Eden glowing in the early morning (click for larger view) |
In this instance I headed up Mt Eden before work, the entire summit was shrouded in fog and I knew I was looking for a situation when the sun would start to break the fog up and the that provided the opportunity to get these fingers of light reaching past the tree.
 |
| Auckland domain |
This is another from early morning before work. It is hard to believe this is in the middle of town but once again waling up on a foggy morning and taking the camera to work paid off. The bird entering top right is a huge bonus as well and totally unplanned!
What both these pictures taught me this year is keeping your mind open to opportunities and recognizing that landscape photographs can be made in a wide variety of places. The other thing (which I need to make more of a habit of) is to carry your camera with you whenever you are out, you never know when a picture comes knocking!
Planning has also been a major factor in helping take my landscape photography a step forward. Keeping an eye on the weather and what the clouds are doing has taught me to understand when favorable conditions are brewing and when that sky could be gearing up to put on that light show landscape photographers crave! These two are from a memorable evening out at Karekare. As I headed onto the beach with my gear I passed a photographer coming the other way and he said to me, "Good luck there is nothing happening out there" and off he trudged cutting a pretty disgruntled figure. An hour or so later this is what happened and I have always wondered if that guy kicked himself for the rest of the evening. I was the only person on the beach when I took these photographs and I remember how exhilarating the feeling was knowing I had seen the potential the sky had shown early in the evening and that I had followed my gut to get out there and give myself a chance.
 |
| Karekare |
Adding depth to a two dimensional medium can also be a bit of a challenge but goes a long way to improving a landscape picture. When I look at pictures of landscape photographers I admire there is usually and element of depth to their pictures so this is something I have tried to work hard on over the last year.
 |
| Karekare waterfall |
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| Lion Rock, Piha |
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| Piha - low tide |
2014 allowed me to explore and learn more about landscape photography. I think that over the course of the year i have been able to really move my skills forward in the craft and hopefully that has translated to some enjoyable viewing for you all.
As 2015 continues I am going to make sure that I keep heading out to the beach and other areas of New Zealand (or where ever I may be) and work on my abilities in this genre of photography. It is really rewarding and there is nothing better than putting in the effort of getting up before the sun or staying out and missing cocktail hour when the result is an image you are really proud of. I think that is what draws me back to this type of photography.
Thanks for stopping by!
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