shapes/and.things

Gone Fishing

2012-03-21T17:09:00.000+11:00

The Old Man and the Sea

2012-03-15T17:38:00.000+11:00

While I am not certain whether this boat is in fact captained by an old man, the photograph does remind me of Hemingway's Santiago heading out to catch marlin.

I wanted to capture how the open sea is grand and beautiful, but at the same time absolutely terrifying.

1000

2012-03-12T23:59:00.000+11:00

Starting a blog was never something I contemplated doing, until I was encouraged to share my photography online rather than letting it collect dust on my laptop.

With that in mind I am amazed that this little blog has amassed 1000 views in such a short time. The very first post dates the 2nd of January 2012, so it has been just over two month.

I have enjoyed this blog immensely since I started and it has been fascinating to read the comments and to observe where in the world the blog has been viewed. Truly fascinating.

So, with lots more to come in the future I hope we can talk again at 10000.

Thanks everyone,
d

Water III

2012-03-11T00:32:00.000+11:00

As promised, here are a couple more water shots. I like the abstract nature of these kind of close-up water photographs, with their unique and ever-changing organic patterns. Both photographs were taken in the Blue Mountains where the creeks and rivers were flowing full of water after the recent rains.

Blue Mountains, Australia

2012-03-06T20:08:00.000+11:00

On a recent trip I was able to take some panoramic photographs of the Blue Mountains, to be more precise the Jamison Valley near Katoomba.

The blue haze, which the region got its name from, is clearly visible in the pictures. Now, before anybody suspects that this might be some Photoshop trickery, I would like to add that it isn't.

I tend to shoot RAW files on a flat/desaturated setting to retain ultimate information in the image. In regards to these photographs I put some of the saturation and contrast back into the image, which was all it took to make the blue haze shine in all its glory.

Sydney Opera House

2012-03-02T18:59:00.000+11:00

Finally, I had a go at taking pictures of Sydney's most famous, most iconic, and certainly most photographed building. The Sydney Opera House.

Walking around the Opera House one finds himself in an ever present armada of tourists happily capturing memories of what is most certainly a highlight of their trip, hundreds if not thousands of photographs every day of the year. Professional shots of the Opera House are not in short supply either, from postcards to tourist brochures to photo guides, the list is virtually endless. Just try Google Image.

Now, I am not aiming at reinventing the wheel here, but I wanted to at least try and photograph the Opera House in a somewhat unique manner, concentrating on its interesting shapes and details.

I think there is something quite animalistic in Utzon's design. A building that evokes a sense of a reptile or a dragon towering over its visitors with a certain amount of menace.

The texture of the roof structure even looks like scales.

Darling Harbour, Sydney

2012-02-28T23:53:00.000+11:00

The other day I happened to walk through Darling Harbour, not necessarily by choice, but rather as a means to get from A to B. For all Sydneysiders, I had to get from Pyrmont to the city, a trip where you can either take the the long way round via car/public transport or you can simply cut across by walking through Darling Harbour.

Now, I haven't been there in quite some time, but it always surprises me that Darling Harbour is such a tourist attraction which is mentioned in virtually all tour guides to Sydney as a must see stop. There really isn't much to look at, even less to photograph.

I should really do a post of all the 'almost' photos I took. The moments where I looked through the viewfinder and decided against taking the shot. Just nothing there really worth wasting a frame on. That would have been quite the post.

Instead, here are two photographs I do quite like. They are not really recognisable as Darling Harbour, but maybe that's exactly what I do like about them.

Gnarlichist, Part V

2012-02-24T18:23:00.001+11:00

This is the 5th and final part of the 2010 Gnarlichist shoot.

'But Julian Dress' by Gnarlichist

2012 - Showreel

2012-02-21T15:14:00.000+11:00

Even though the purpose of this blog is to share some of the photography I take, I thought it might be nice to post my new showreel for 2012 on here as well. I mean, isn't that what half the internet is for these days anyway, a bit of self-promotion.

I hope you all enjoy the moving image as much as the still:

Music: 'Households' by Sleeping At Last

Water II

2012-02-19T18:13:00.000+11:00

I do quite like high-shutter speed water photography, with its ever changing shapes and patterns. They are a little bit like a Pollock painting, just without the color.

In the short history of this blog, this is already the second photo displaying water shapes, so I guess it is fair to assume that there will be more to come. I might turn it into a series.

Gnarlichist, Part IV

2012-02-17T09:05:00.001+11:00

This is the 4th set of the 2010 Gnarlichist shoot.

'Rack Fur' by Gnarlichist

Trains I

2012-02-13T20:21:00.000+11:00

This is my homage to the works of Andreas Gursky and Michael Wolf, whose photographs I really like. They are the ultimate photographs of 'shapes and things'.

I think there is duality in a lot of their work. Each photograph seems to have two levels of perception. The first overall 'reading' is somewhat disorientating, dictated by the heavy use of formal structures and colors, followed by a second 'reading' where in a moment of realization the viewer suddenly understands the object represented in the photograph. I think this is photography in its most abstract and expressionistic form.

Melbourne, Australia

2012-02-10T21:17:00.001+11:00

Gnarlichist, Part III

2012-02-08T14:12:00.000+11:00

This is the 3rd set of the 2010 Gnarlichist shoot.

'But Julian Dress' by Gnarlichist

Melbourne Airport, Australia

2012-02-07T17:08:00.000+11:00

I think there is something interesting about the composition of this shot. The relationship of the gangway, the gate number and the 'Melbourne' writing in the background. Also, you can actually still see some of the reflections of the window I was shooting through (I didn't have my Polarizer with me).

A cloud eating a plane. Bon Appetit.

Man on Bin, Melbourne

2012-02-05T23:54:00.001+11:00

This shot was taken in one of the typical Melbourne lane-ways. What I liked about the moment was how he seemed to hover above the bins. I think he might have been trying to get reception or maybe he was simply taking a moment for some non-work related messages.

Gnarlichist, Part II

2012-02-04T13:32:00.000+11:00

This set is part 2 of 5 of the Gnarlichist 2010 shoot.

'Miss World Dress' by Gnarlichist

Gnarlichist, Part I

2012-02-03T14:51:00.001+11:00

This is part 1 of 5 of an older set of photographs. Each set displays a piece of the 2010 Gnarlichist collection. Gnarlichist is a young Sydney fashion designer.

'Dark End of the Street Pant' by Gnarlichist

Paris, France

2012-02-01T21:29:00.000+11:00

Paris, France

2012-01-29T22:23:00.000+11:00

At the Beach, Sydney, Australia

2012-01-26T09:04:00.000+11:00

This is an old set of photos, from the pre-blog era (there will be a couple more of those to come in the future). They were all taken along the Bondi to Bronte walk in Sydney. Being a beautiful sunny day and all, it made for some nice shots.

I deliberately framed the sign dead center, to give the shot some balance.

This is my favorite shot of the set. I particularly like the angle (straight from behind, so you can't see her face) and the red scarf against the blue ocean. Nice spot for a phone call, for sure!

Girl in Window, Cologne, Germany

2012-01-24T18:09:00.002+11:00

I saw this girl across the street while having breakfast. She was watching something on the street, actually I think she was waiting for someone to arrive. It all seemed very exciting, so much so that I almost missed getting the shot. I particularly like her hand on the window.

London, England

2012-01-20T02:59:00.001+11:00

Wembley Stadium, London, England

2012-01-19T01:18:00.000+11:00

Louisiana (Humlebaek), Denmark

2012-01-11T23:17:00.000+11:00

Copenhagen, Denmark

2012-01-09T22:14:00.001+11:00

Berlin, Germany.

2012-01-05T20:03:00.002+11:00

Berlin, Germany.

2012-01-04T04:13:00.001+11:00

Cologne, Germany.

2012-01-02T18:57:00.000+11:00