Sydney Gets Vivid

The last week of May saw us take a quick trip across the Tasman to catch up with some friends in Sydney, this worked out well for me in a photographic sense as the Vivid Sydney festival also began that weekend. I’ve seen a few pictures of the last couple of years from Vivid Sydney and was really stoked to be there over this time to get some of my own.

Being based in Darling Harbour was a huge plus – along with circular quay this is where most of the action takes place in terms of lighting.  Darling Harbour has a laser symphony that runs for about 10 to 15 minutes every half hour or so; what is great about this is that you don’t have to race to get a “primo” spot for a one off show.  You can take your time and even change locations throughout the evening to get a variety of shots from different angles.

Now for me this was not a photographic holiday so I was more squeezing in shooting around other activities, however with a bit of planning and a patient partner I was able to get a few snaps in!

Lazer lights - f/8  2s  40mm  ISO 100

Night photography is always fun, it gives you a chance to play with shutter speeds and produce different effects.  Timing though can be a bit of an issue, especially in a show like this were you cannot always predict where the lights will be or what the fountains will be doing.  For me that adds to the fun and can lead you to finding new ways to shoot scenes like this that you probably would never have initially considered.

It is also important to remember to show the entire story.  The main event is definitely the light show but there are also the crowds that come down to see the show and they can also provide subject matter to shoot.

Captivated - f/3.5  6s  20mm  ISO 100

The other area where there is a heap of lighting going on is down at Circular Quay – with the obvious centre piece being the Opera House.  One of the shots you have to tick off the list is the classic, and much taken view like the one below.   I never feel bad about getting a picture like this, yeah I know it has been done a million times before but this time I am doing it so it is unique to me.

I think that is a really important philosophy to remember when you are taking pictures of significant land marks like this.  You are very rarely going to get a shot that is completely new or different to everything out there, but remember that it is your shot of it and no one can take it like you.

Opera - f/4.5  6s  36mm  ISO 100

Once I had this classical shot of the opera house it was time to experiment a bit.  Playing with focal lengths is a great way to get some shots that feel different and have a different look.  Another way is to 'zoom with your feet' and that is exactly what I did with the shot below.  By getting closer up to the Opera House I was able to concentrate on a group of the "petals" and get a shot that is different but still definitely recognizable as the Sydney Opera House.

Opera take 2 - f/4 1s  27mm ISO 100

City-scapes really shine at nighttime.  Really dull buildings take on a life of their own once the lights come on and when you through in some purposeful psychedelic lighting it is a no brainer that you have to capture it.  All of the buildings around Circular Quay really get the treatment during Vivid Sydney, ranging from simple coloured lights to more complex to entire stories being played out in front of you very eyes!!

3 Photo Panorama - f/3.5   8s  18mm  ISO100

Explosive colour - f/3.5  0.8s  18mm  ISO 100

Story Wall - f/3.5  1s  23mm  ISO 100

Needless to say it evenings during Vivid Sydney were a really exciting time to out with a camera in hand.  If you ever have the chance to get across there for the festival I cannot recommend it more.  I would definitely like to get back there again with the sole purpose of taking photographs and everything else taking a back seat.  However, even with that said by taking a bit of time out and really having an idea of what you want to capture in the back of your mind then while you enjoy the sights with friends you can come away with some really cool pictures.

Just beg for a bit of patience and shoot to your plan and you'll leave smiling - I know I did.

Thanks for dropping by!!  

HDR: Why I love it and why I think everyone should give it a go.

So I was a relative late comer to HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography.  This technique of blending multiple exposures together seemed really daunting; would I have the ability to pull it off?  I had also seen some really garish HDR pictures on the web, the kind that are really crunchy and slap you in the face with all their glorious HDR’ness.

It is also a really divisive type of processing and photography.  Some people absolutely loathe it and make no bones in letting you know that.  Others, and I think I fall into this group, really enjoy it and there is no question that there are some gorgeous HDR shots out there. 

I took the plunge when I came across a programme called Photomatix which is specifically designed for producing HDR images.  What makes this programme so appealing is it does a lot of the leg work for you. All you need to do is load up you bracketed shots and it goes to work putting them together and produces some stunning results.  It also allows you to tweak the final blend to you hearts content so if you want to go crunchy, eye-popping HDR you have that option and if you want to go for the more realistic HDR look then that option is there too. It is a great way to start dabbling with this kind of photography and really lets you start exploring your inner artist.

Now I get that a lot of people don’t like this kind of photography and each to their own.  I don’t think anyone should be put off though especially if you are taking your first steps and trying to work out what you like shooting.  For me it has let me make some of the landscape pictures I am really happy with, the ones you see here. 

As a landscape shooter primarily it allows me to capture wide ranges of light and colour and then conjure up something akin to what I was looking at – with a sprinkling of artistic licence.  For me that is the key; by having the option of tweaking and playing I get to add a little bit of me and how I was feeling into the picture and that is part of the whole reason I do it.  I get to show my version of a location or vision of the world.

Now I don’t apply it to everything I shoot, obviously there will be times when you want to capture a specific feel or look that HDR just does not suit.  I do love having the option though to squash those exposures together and pull out something possibly a wee bit fantastical and I highly recommend giving it a go. 

After all photography is painting with light and HDR photography gives you the option to go a little crazy with those brushes!