My Photos

I wasn’t an enthusiastic photographer until 2008.  When I travelled to China in February of that year, I had no idea of the wonderful opportunities I would have to record photos of my adventures there.  I bought a small camera, (one that fits neatly into my handbag), but I needed something bigger. Over the next few years, I experimented with other cameras. I loved my Canon but lost some lenses to thieves (no doubt staff at the hotel where I stayed), and I found it too big and heavy.  (left it in my room when I went downstairs for breakfast and it was gone when I returned – staff denied knowing about it, and as we had to leave shortly, there was nothing I could do!)

All I did in those days was uploading my photos to a blog (not this one), which my family and friends used to keep up with my travels.

Upskilling

When I returned to Australia I joined a Camera Club and attended training at photography schools.  I learned a lot, but I suspect I forgot a lot of the information too!  I enjoyed the classes but I had too many other things to do as well.  Teaching required a lot of after-hours work – lesson planning, completing reports and so forth, and though I loved photography, it was not at the top of my agenda.

Jetty at Wellington Point, Qld.

My Olympus

One day I bought an Olympus EM 10, and just loved it.  While it doesn’t fit comfortably in my handbag, it is not very challenging to carry in its case (along with spare batteries etc), and it is what I use to take photos now.

I frequently put the camera in the car, even when I don’t have any plans to go on a photo-taking mission. You never know what opportunities will arise.

Mostly, I set out with a list of places to go. It does depend on the weather and my destination. I travel a lot – especially in Australia. About 10 months ago, I drove solo from Brisbane to Adelaide and returned via the lower Flinders Ranges in South Australia, a trip that notched up around 5000 kms.

I usually travel alone. Essentially by choice, but I seldom find anyone wanting to do the same trip as me at the same time. Anyway, I am an absolute pain as I am always stopping to take photos. It is not always easy, for many roads in Australia, do not have space to stop along the road. Luckily on my trip last year, there was much flooding and though it impacted me for a couple of days, the benefit was that fewer vehicles were travelling.  I could stop any time, anywhere, without impeding other traffic.

Old ruin of church in the outback.

Outback between Quorn and Broken Hill

My Cards

Some years ago, I started making my own cards after a card-making class. While I made a lot using cardboard cutouts, string, ribbon etc, I realised I could use my photos. So for 12 years or more, I have been printing my photos at Officeworks and gluing them onto cards, which I purchase with envelopes, and then put them in cellophane bags. For a while I sold them, but these days I gift them. It is not unusual for me to visit a friend’s home and find one of my photos framed in a room.

Early-Bird

Sometimes I am up and about with my camera soon after sunrise. As I was today. I drove to the waterfront, a 5 minute drive from home, and took this photo.  It is not exactly what I wanted.  A couple of days ago, it was clear, and the water still, in fact perfect, but I did not have my Olympus with me.  I will have to try again.

Wynnum Waterfront