Surf Coast Social Photography Meet - Sat 12 November 2011

Surf Coast Social Photography Meet

By Darren Stones

Hi folks,

If you would like to join us for an enjoyable day out along the Surf Coast in Victoria, then you are most welcome to come along for the social photography meet I am hosting.

It will be a good opportunity to meet new people who share a common interest, soak in that great coastal scenery on the Great Ocean Road, and of course enjoy photographing whatever catches your eye.

If you have any queries about the meet, please contact me by email or phone. Cheers.

Host: Darren Stones - Darren Stones Visual Communications
Date and time: Saturday 12 November, 2011 at 12pm
Meet venue: Torquay Hotel, 36 Bell Street Torquay, Victoria
Cost: Free
Food: Food and beverages at hotel to be purchased by guests
Group: Numbers for this meet are limited to 12 guests - book early
Transport: Guests are required to arrange their own transport on the day

About the meet
This meet presents friendly people an opportunity to meet new folk with a common interest and socialise during lunch in the relaxed atmosphere of the Torquay Hotel in Bell Street, Torquay. From the hotel, people may head out along the route to enjoy the coastal scenery and snap away to their heart's content. Name tags will be supplied.

Torquay Hotel, 36 Bell Street, Torquay, Victoria

About the Surf Coast
The Surf Coast in Victoria is a brilliant region for travel photography. Part of the world-famous Great Ocean Road tourist route, the Surf Coast can toss up interesting weather conditions at times, which makes for excellent photographic opportunities.

Jan Juc - Surf Coast

Photographic highlights include:

• Zeally Bay at Torquay
• Point Danger at Torquay
• Main Beach at Torquay
• Rocky Point at Torquay
• Jan Juc Surf Beach
• Bells Beach and Winkipop
• Urquhart Bluff
• Anglesea River and Beach
• Painkalac Creek at Aireys Inlet
• Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet
• Fairhaven Beach looking towards Split Point Lighthouse

These are just some of the scenic places you can photograph during a great day out along the Surf Coast on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

About Darren Stones
Darren Stones is an award-winning professional travel photographer, journalist and writer who specialises in Australian themes. His travel photography has been published in travel guidebooks and he licenses his photographs to businesses for their projects. His images can be purchased as framed prints, greeting cards, canvas prints, and calendars. He is a member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, and the Australian Photographic Society. http://www.darrenstones.com.au/

Inquiries
Inquiries about this meet can be directed to Darren Stones on mobile 0419 200 469 or email darrengstones@gmail.com

Future planning
To assist with future planning, Darren Stones will supply each guest of the Surf Coast Social Photography Meet a brief survey sheet to complete and return on the day.

Information
This information is available as a PDF download for your convenience
Surf Coast Social Photography Meet


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Lal Lal Moorabool Photographic Group

By Darren Stones

It's always good to travel to country areas in Victoria, and on Wednesday 19 October 2011, I had the pleasure to visit the Lal Lal Moorabool Photographic Group. What a great group of people who love their photography and a fun and relaxed night out.

The club is new and formed in early 2011 as a result of their first meeting on Wednesday 16 February. Club Secretary Kristina Kitchingman is a founding member who was involved in initiating the group and during my visit was kind to show me some information of how the club is evolving.

The Moorabool Shire is assisting the club with various activities and gave the club a grant of $3000.00 to kick them along. Club members are displaying prints and digitally projected images at the Bacchus Marsh Library, and members are supplying photographs to be included in an upcoming shire calendar.

Lal Lal Falls
Water drops thirty metres into the gorge formed by the collapse of lava tunnel apparently formed from Mt Buninyong, which is an extinct volcano.
Photo: Kristina Kitchingman

Local newspaper coverage has assisted them in promotional activities and attracting new members, and already they have conducted their first exhibition on 26-28 August 2011 at the Lal Lal Soldiers Hall, which attracted 80 visitors each day.

The club is now discussing fundraising activities and they are looking to conduct sausage sizzles at the Bunnings stores at Ballarat and Melton. Field trip ideas are being discussed, with member input being encouraged. The club is conducting a competition each month with the aim to inspiring members to be active photographers.

An end-of-year BBQ and picnic is planned and will be held at Lal Lal Falls on Sunday 18 December 2011 at 12pm. BYO BBQ meat, picnic, drinks, chair, and of course your camera. Visitors are most welcome.

Lal Lal Water Tower
Original water tower built to service the Geelong/Ballarat railway line.
Photo: Kristina Kitchingman

The club meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm (except January) at the Lal Lal Soldiers Hall, 412 Clarendon Road Lal Lal. They invite visitors to join them for exploring all aspects of photography and the local area of Lal Lal. An information brochure is available on the night to visitors and prospective members.

Lal Lal Blast Furnace
Photo: Kristina Kitchingman

For further information about the Lal Lal Moorabool Photographic Group and its activities, contact Club Secretary Kristina Kitchingman on 03 5341 7535.

Photographs courtesy of Kristina Kitchingman.

Bad weather can make for good travel photography

By Darren Stones

When travelling to photograph those picture perfect locations like you see in the guidebooks, you need Mother Nature on your side to help you get the shots that you want. Everyone loves seeing images with blue skies and a few clouds, but what happens when you arrive, your time is limited, and the weather is overcast?

Research
Travel photographers usually research their chosen locations before heading off and try their best to arrive in locations when the weather conditions are suitable for attractive photography. But things do not always go according to plan.

Recently I spent some time on the Surf Coast in Victoria, and was scouting around the base of the cliff face at Rocky Point at Torquay. It is a great looking area adjacent to the Torquay Surf Club when the sun is shining – particularly in the morning.

Rocky Point at Torquay by Darren Stones

On my first day in the area, I decided to go out during the afternoon to check out some potential spots for making landscape photographs. With the clouds looking ominous, a few spots of rain began to fall. Lots of people were around on the beach to that point, and then they decided to scatter. Suited me fine, as the clouds were beginning to look more interesting and I thought I could use them to my advantage.

Filters
With the use of my polariser and graduated neutral density filters, I was able to even out the lighting and use a slow shutter speed. This allowed me to use my creativity and create an image where I could blur the water. My shoes got absolutely soaked whilst taking this shot, as I had my camera set up on my tripod on a small rock shelf and some waves were still coming over the rocks. However, I thought it was worth the effort to photograph the scene, so continued on regardless. It was safe to do so as the tide was going out.

Creativity
So my advice to photographers is that when the weather begins to turn sour, don't run for cover so quickly. Stay behind and work the area with your creative hat on. By using a tripod you will be giving yourself time to slow down and analyse the scene, plus use those slower shutter speeds to create the sense of movement in the water.

If the rain is just a few spots, like it was for me during this shoot, protect your camera with a small cover such as a handkerchief. It worked fine for me and I left satisfied at having created a new photograph.

Photograph details:
Camera: Canon EOS 20D Body
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens
Filters: Polariser, Lee Graduated Neutral Density .9ND G S
Exposure: f/16, 0.8sec, ISO-100, RAW
Other: Manfrotto 190PROB Tripod, Canon Remote Switch RS-80N3

Mental Health First Aid Standard Course

By Darren Stones

At the moment I am half way through the Mental Health First Aid Standard Course under the instruction of Master Instructor Joe Zammit of the Norwood Association.

Joe is an absolute gentleman, and a great instructor, too. I have learnt a great deal about Mental Health First Aid already due to his skilful presentation, and I am looking forward to completing the course this Friday.

I enjoyed spending some personal time with Joe during our lunch break last Friday in a cafe at Docklands, where we shared ideas and discussed various issues about mental health, as well as chatting about presentation methods.

The course is for anyone, and as described on the Norwood Association site it "can help you identify symptoms, causes and risk factors and teach you how to identify and respond to someone who may be suicidal, experiencing a panic attack or acute psychosis."

The 12-hour course is designed to teach adults the skills to assist adults who are experiencing symptoms, causes and risk factors related to depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance abuse.

The course can teach you how to preserve health by minimising the risk of suicide and self harm, recognise different mental health disorders, explore treatment and resources for common disorders, improve mental health literacy and help reduce stigma, and apply mental health first aid in acute situations.

Mental health first aid is designed to assist a person until professional treatment is received or until the crisis is resolved.

The Mental Health First Aid Course is an award winning course, which was developed in 2001 by Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm, with the objective to improve the mental health knowledge of members of the community.

For further information, check the Mental Health First Aid website. There you will find detailed information about the various courses offered and locations of where they are delivered throughout Australia. http://www.mhfa.com.au/

If you are in Melbourne and would like to do the course, consider booking it with the Norwood Association where you will be in the capable hands of Joe Zammit. http://www.norwoodservices.org.au/

Surf Coast Social Photography Meet

Surf Coast Social Photography Meet

By Darren Stones

Host: Darren Stones - Darren Stones Visual Communications
Date and time: Saturday 12 November, 2011 at 12pm
Meet venue: Torquay Hotel, 36 Bell Street Torquay, Victoria
Cost: Free
Food: Food and beverages at hotel to be purchased by guests
Group: Numbers for this meet are limited to 12 guests - book early
Transport: Guests are required to arrange their own transport on the day

About the meet
This meet presents friendly people an opportunity to meet new folk with a common interest and socialise during lunch in the relaxed atmosphere of the Torquay Hotel in Bell Street, Torquay. From the hotel, people may head out along the route to enjoy the coastal scenery and snap away to their heart's content. Name tags will be supplied.

Torquay Hotel, 36 Bell Street, Torquay, Victoria

About the Surf Coast
The Surf Coast in Victoria is a brilliant region for travel photography. Part of the world-famous Great Ocean Road tourist route, the Surf Coast can toss up interesting weather conditions at times, which makes for excellent photographic opportunities.

Jan Juc - Surf Coast

Photographic highlights include:

• Zeally Bay at Torquay
• Point Danger at Torquay
• Main Beach at Torquay
• Rocky Point at Torquay
• Jan Juc Surf Beach
• Bells Beach and Winkipop
• Urquhart Bluff
• Anglesea River and Beach
• Painkalac Creek at Aireys Inlet
• Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet
• Fairhaven Beach looking towards Split Point Lighthouse

These are just some of the scenic places you can photograph during a great day out along the Surf Coast on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

About Darren Stones
Darren Stones is an award-winning professional travel photographer, journalist and writer who specialises in Australian themes. His travel photography has been published in travel guidebooks and he licenses his photographs to businesses for their projects. His images can be purchased as framed prints, greeting cards, canvas prints, and calendars. He is a member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, and the Australian Photographic Society. http://www.darrenstones.com.au/

Inquiries
Inquiries about this meet can be directed to Darren Stones on mobile 0419 200 469 or email darrengstones@gmail.com

Future planning
To assist with future planning, Darren Stones will supply each guest of the Surf Coast Social Photography Meet a brief survey sheet to complete and return on the day.

Information
This information is available as a PDF download for your convenience
Surf Coast Social Photography Meet


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East Gippsland Photographic Society Photography Seminar

By Darren Stones

Had the pleasure of attending the Spectacular Photographic Seminar hosted by the East Gippsland Photographic Society in Bairnsdale Victoria on the weekend of October 8 and 9, 2011. The venue was St Mary's Church Hall and the seminar was great fun.

Friendly members from the club greeted Bronwyn and I, and we enjoyed making many new friends from the local club and various other photography clubs in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

During my visit, I had little time for taking photos due to the busy program, however during the lunch break on the Saturday, I was able to take this shot of the stunning interior of St Mary's Catholic Church.

St Mary's Church at Bairnsdale by Darren Stones

The seminar provided an excellent learning and interactive experience, with a good variety of speakers covering a wide range of topics.

The program consisted of:

Saturday

• Welcome by Bruce Jennings, EGPS President
• Official Opening by Fred Everett VAPS President
• Outline of activities by Elden Marshall
• People in your photos from Portraits to Travel by Marg Huxtable and Jim Weatherill
• Composition with Landscape by Elden Marshall
• Judging Competition Photos: an interactive panel discussion with VAPS Judges - Pete Davies, Adrian Smith, Tuck Leong, Rob Sloane and Jim Weatherill
• Photojournalism by Rob Sloane
• Concept and Production of Digital Photos

Sure was an interesting program on the Saturday, and without doubt the Judging Competition Photos discussion sure stirred up some interesting debate.

All presentations on the Saturday were entertaining and I learnt a few things, too. It was a good opportunity to ask questions and interact with guest presenters.

Day One ended with about 20-25 guests enjoying dinner together at the Bairnsdale Sporting Club. That was a good opportunity to meet some more friendly folks and discuss various photography related topics.

Sunday

• Still Life by Adrian Smith
• Photographing Nature and Understanding Its Definitions by Tuck Leong
• Presentation Skills - How To Present to a Camera Club or Group of Photographers by Sue Rocco
• Travel Photography - Travels With My Wife by Rob and Lyn Sloane
• Thank You - VAPS Presenters and Seminar Guests by Bruce Jennings EGPS President

I have to make mention of East Gippsland Photographic Society club member Ronnie Curtis. Ronnie warmly welcomed Bronwyn and I, and made us feel most comfortable during the two days. She was keen to learn a few things from me and sought some feedback on her photos. I was happy to oblige and share some thoughts and expertise.

Elden Marshall took my rather late booking just a few days before the seminar, and I would like to acknowledge him for being so welcoming, too.

In summing up the seminar, I found it an enjoyable learning experience on two fronts - photographically and professionally. As someone moving towards presenting in the future, the experience was invaluable. I had a great time and met new friends.

Further information:

East Gippsland Photographic Society
http://www.egps.com.au/