I have never had a Flickr photo as popular as this. Over 500 views in 2 days and 30 odd faves.
It has had a bit of work in photoshop to try and clear up the mass of dust bunnies. Damn Eastern Creek is too dusty a place to be changing lenses.
There is a bit of a story to go with this photo.
The night before, Andree and I were sitting at the Can Cafe (70c 435ml bottles of beer) having a cool drink and a feed, when these 3 little kids came up and saw the camera. They asked me to take their photos. Fair enough. Click, click. 2 complete duds (it may have been the beer, but I am blaming the dark) As usual, they then put the grubby mitts out for some money. I gave them what was about the equivalent of AU$1. Well, they laughed and took off and we could still here them laughing a while later. I said to Andree, “I am going to give someone ten bucks, just to see the look on their faces”. Those who know me know, Im not usually the one to be splashing cash around, but hey, I wanted to see what happened, and they needed it more than me.
Next morning, I was up at 4am to go to the markets and see how the real people lived, with no tourists around. I headed off and had a ball.
I originally saw this old bloke walking across the bridge towards me when I was taking a shot of the bridge in the sunrise.
He then approached me and posed for a photo. Right, snapped a couple of quick shots and put the camera down. He nodded and walked off. I motioned for him to stop, then grabbed 100,000 Dong (very roughly, about 10 dollars) and put it in his hand as I shook it. He looked in his hand and his face lit up. He then grabbed me by the arm and dragged me off. I was trying to put my wallet away, secure the camera and not tread on the hordes of tiny Vietnamese minding their own business.
He dragged me through the markets and into an alleyway. There were about 6 old blokes playing Mahjong and eating breakfast. He spoke to jis friends and showed them the 100000 Dong. They all laughed and I thought it was going to cost me a fortune to get out of there. But no, they sat me down and all started chatting away and laughing and eating. They then handed me a plate of food (I still dont know what it was I ate, but it was very tasty) and some steaming tea and I ate breakfast with them. It was a highlight of the trip. They were all nattering away and I didnt have a clue what was being said, but they seemed happy enough and loved the fact that I ate with them. I was a bit apprehensive to begin with, but it was one of those rare occasions that only happen once in your life. And I am glad i met them all and had the experience.
So, to my unknown mate, thank you to you and all your friends. You made my day.
Footnote: I realise some people will frown on giving people money for a photo, but it created a fantastic opportunity and made me just as happy as them. So please, no more emails about how poor my morals are.
Yes, thats right, it is the under side of a flatbed train carriage. I have been driving past some railyards at Lilyfield in Sydney for years and years. When ever I drive past, I always have a quick look and think, “That would make some terrific photo opportunities in there”. So last night, I took a stoll through there.
I ended up wandering around for over 2 hours, trying to get good angles and exploring different areas. You can walk from Victoria Road at the Eastern end, all the way to Balmain Rd (about 1.6km), and maybe further. Access is very easy. But you do need some rather sturdy shoes. My feet were killing me by the time I got home.
At one point, I had just crawled underneath the carriage you see in the picture above, and was setting the tripod up. You have to realise, it is pretty cramped under there, and I am not a hobbit. I had a backpack on my back, camera on tripod and I was under a train carriage. I used the torch on my mobile phone to light the axle and wheels and did a longish exposure. I had just taken the photo, and was thinking about another from a slightly different angle, when the noise of carriages clunking and moving gave me a rather scary moment. I didn’t realise right away, but the line of carrigaes, next to where I was, had just been shunted by a loco further up the yard. I dived out, quickly reached around and grabbed the camera and tripod and then realised it wasn’t the train I was under. Oh boy, nothing like a bit of adrenalin coursing around your system to make you feel alive.
That little fright aside, I had a ball. It is pretty dark and have to say, I was a bit spooked a couple of times, but I hope the photos show it was a worthwhile trip.
More can be found on my Flickr site.
Ok, something that has been bothering me for a while now. Night time focussing. How the hell do people do it. I reckon 90% of my night time photos are all out of focus. Is there a secret to getting the focus pin sharp at night time?
BTW, this was one of the all too rare in focus night shots. (Yeah, yeah, there was plenty of light, but it was still dark 🙂 )
Well it isn’t often I get home and download my photos and see one that came out exactly how I had planned it. But today, I struck it.
Whilst wandering around the northen end of Pyrmont, I came across these weird, but terrific, sculptures. They are located in Pyrmont Point Park. You are probably wondering why I called them sculptures. Well, I am just going off a sign I saw that said “Don’t climb on sculptures”. They are actually moving structures that are powered by the waves/tide and wind. The black part you see holding the ladder is cantilevered off the wharf and has a large float at the other end. When the waves hit it, it move up and down. The ladders have 2 panels in them at the top. You can see them in the photo. The wind hits them and pushes them over. I would love to be there in a southerly buster with a huge sea.
I was pleased with this shot, as I took quiet a bit of time setting it up. I wanted to get exactly in the middle of the ladder. I wanted it to be in a position where it looked like you could climb into the clouds. And the thing that took the longest, was waiting for the clouds to give me a gradual light to dark look in the background. It took some time, but I reckon it was worth the wait.
Last night, I had to pick my girlfriend up from the airport, so I ventured out about 15 minutes early to see what I could find. As part of my “Learn a lense” trips, I only had the 70-200mm f4L lense with me. I have tried this a few times, forcing me to learn how best to use my gear.
So, there I am, driving around the back of the airport, when a find a terrific spot, near the control tower, where you can get reasonably close to the domestic planes taxiing out. Out of the car and try as I might, it was just too damned dark to get any good clear photos. It seems with shutter speeds longer than about 1/20th second, I just don’t have steady enough hands. Whilst I was there, a car with Protective Services stops, and I see him looking towards me. I was done, so I wandered over to see if I was being a naughty photographer. The bloke was great. He told me my car was bit bit close to an access lane and would I please move it. No problems, I am off any way.
I drive over to the domestic terminal and wait for my girlfriend. Hmm, she is taking a while. Might just jump out and grab a few snaps around the terminal. I noticed the luggage trolleys all lined up, so fired of a couple of shots of them, one whilst laying flat on the ground. Then I noticed the lights and the line on the road across from where I had stopped. Check for traffic, nothing. Wander across the road to get the shots. Just as I finished, I notice a woman with traffic control on her vest signalling me to get off the road. I crossed the road to tell her I was just getting aphoto and she launched into me. “You are not allowed to take photos!” “This is private property!” “Delete the photos!” “Why are you taking photos?” She had lost me at delete the photos, so I told her in a not so courteous manner to piss off. I then walked back to my car.
I was having a look at the photos when bugger me, not 2 mins later, 3 Protective services cars appear and approach me. It seems miss bossy boots has been on the blower. Luckily for me, the same guy that asked me to move my car was there and he handled the whole thing. Basically telling me that I should stay off the road, and in the current climate, wandering around late at night with a rather large camera and lense might not be the best hobby in the world. He took some details and gave me a few places that I could take photos in peace. Overall, a top bloke, just doing his job.
Now, the point of this rather long winded rambling is this. The real guys looking after security, that is, a branch of the federal police, were great to deal with. Why is it that a traffic control person and last weekend, some security monkeys are the ones with the attitudes? I say good on the Protective services fellows, they were professional and explained the situation. The other knuckle heads need to wake up and realise there are better ways to deal with situations than to heavy people.
Well, the last couple of days I have spent with my mate Macca, taking photos all around Sydney Harbour. I must say, it is so much more enjoyable taking photos with other people. You get to chat about setting up a shot, watch what they are doing and learn along the way. Its amazing seeing someone else frame a shot you completely missed or thought looked rubbish. Macca , like me is still learning about this dSLR malarky, but it was great fun chatting and bouncing ideas around. Check out some of his ripper photos here.
……. and digital art begin?
I ask this question mainly to start a bit of discussion. The picture to the right has had a fair bit of contrast enhancement done on it, but it is pretty true to the original as far as composition, colour and sharpness. But, I would say this may have over stepped that rather blurry line between what I consider a photograph, and what I consider digital art.
I have looked at many photos on Flickr, and 12 months ago I would have marvelled at how rich the colours were, or how amazingly sharp the image was. But now, I know better. Alot of ordinary photos, can be turned into extraordinary images by some digital shenanigans. Thus the (PSD) on some of my photos. That is a sign that I have given it a bit more than an Auto-Levels and Auto-Colours treatment.
I have heard the arguement regarding people not doing anything that you couldn’t have done in the photo lab, but really, how many of the people could have?
Now I know I am sounding like your typical luddite, but I do have some concerns about this, mainly because alot of people don’t know this is happening.
Is it right or wrong, I suggest most people don’t care, but it certainly matters to me. I don’t know where that blurry line is, but I would love to hear other peoples reactions.
norbs
Another shot with the 50mm f2.5 lense. I love using this little lense. Not a really great macro lense, but plenty for what I want it for.
My 1st prime lense, and apparently a good lense for portrait photography.
One of my 1st photos with my macro lense. A Canon 50mm f/2.5 macro. Boy, f/2.5 at full macro is a bloody shallow depth of field. Its going to take a hell of a lot of practise to get used to using this sucker.
The picture you can see is of a rather large leaf being backlit by the sun. If viewed large, you can see a hell of a lot of detail in the leaf.
© 2013-2026 Todd Norbury Photography All Rights Reserved -- Copyright notice by Blog Copyright
