Greenspool

This place in Williams Bay National Park is stunning. A natural pool for swimming, snorkling fishing and generally just chilling. A lot of people know about this place. Therefore there are thousands of photos of it.

We went down to take photos at sunset so I could get some misty water photos, with some rocks. This was a lot of fun. I think I took the same photo 100 times and they all pretty much looked the same...but still, I think I am getting better at editing the colours in the sky. There is a graduated filter added to this photo to bring out the tones in the sky and balance out the colours. I like to think of them as pale but intense pastels...

Editing the Sunset

Sunsets (and sunrises too...though I hardly see them) are unparalleled. Nothing beats a good sunset, and no matter how good of a photographer you are, you can't beat God when he turns it on. Sorry, but you can't. It is not possible to capture all those colours as once, even in the highest dynamic range.

Though, it doesn't stop one from trying.

I'm fairly terrible at HDR photos, so I have not attempted them much. What I did experiment on below though, was gradient filters in Adobe Camera Raw. It's not perfect, but its a stepping stone closer. I wanted to capture the running water, and the sunset at the same time. I knew it was fairly futile as I am sill learning, but I thought the result was interesting.

It's a pity about the spray on the lens as well...ahh well, it's all a learning experience!

Wrestling with Wrens - Part 2

The final part of our holiday took place in Harmony Forrest, Margaret River. Those of you who don't know Margaret River...never go there, I'm sure you will be bitterly horrified and disappointed...it's a terrible place....

Actually, it's quite stunning, but we try and not let our secrets out...

Anyway, in the last three days I was determined to capture a wren on camera. Unfortunately there were no splendid fairy wrens staying at our cottage, but there was a family of blue wrens...but with the greatest will in the world, alas, I was unable to capture one that was perfect. Either the background was boring, the wren moved, my camera wasn't set up right...the most frustrating thing the in the world. But still, a challenge. An enjoyable challenge. These birds are just the cutest little darlings.

The next photo is probably the most frustrated I have ever felt when taking a photo. There was the wren, in the morning sun, perched on a rock, green in the background. he was in focus and the timing could not have been better. I take the photo. He flies away. I check the photo....and it's dark. Could not believe it! Spewing! So I've fixed it as much as I could in Photoshop, but it's not ideal...it's included here as a reminder of that little virtue patience and my other word diligence that come in so handy when I remember them...

Wrestling with Wrens - Part 1

Where we were camped was a beautiful spot. One of those places where it doesn't really matter if it's run by bogans, the beauty makes up for it. Our campsite was graced most mornings by a family of splendid fairy wrens. I didn't even know these beauties existed. I have always loved blue wrens, but these wrens were something spectacular.

Capturing then with a camera  though - now that's a different story. Those beggars are fast! They hop around, flit, flap and then gone! Many occasions did we chase them - quite often we would see them in the morning and my husband would keep an eye on them while I went to grab my camera...

I soon learnt that a fast shutter speed was critical - but even so, having the bird in focus was a constant challenge due to the constant movement. I never actually grabbed a shot I was tremendously happy with....but here are a few to give you an idea...

And yes...they really are that colour....

Baby blue - baby male splendid fairy wren

Elephant Rocks - Denmark

Over the Summer break we visited many beautiful places. One of the more stunning of these was Elephant Rocks. I'm sure most people who have visited this place have found this vantage point, however it was fun to venture off the path and up the rocks to overlook the small cove filled with smooth granite rocks that look like elephants wallowing in the water...Battling drops of rain against my lens and the wind and the cold (us northerners get cold quickly).