Quite likely the best sunrise of my photography life. Woke very early for this one and it was worth more than gold. It’s printed and in the best place in my house.
A rainy evening on Elizabeth Street. A tram rushes by. One of my favourite city shots. Looks great in print. Captured with the amazing Panasonic LX100ii
My cousins came to Melbourne to watch Rodger Federer win The Australian Open. But first we took a road trip. The sunset on 17 January 2018 was bleak at best. But an alarm was set and dawn was much more productive. This one should be printed huge!
High on Mt Buffalo. Clouds drift through in the first hour after sunset. There’s a dusting of snow on the ground beneath the Cathedral.
The Western sky had an unusual grey tone that afternoon. Not the usual fire in the sky sunset. I printed this one and it’s on my wall and it grows on me.
I had been taking the usual sunset photographs from the top. But there were many people in the way. As the sun sank below the horizon and the sky began to catch I scampered quickly below and I liked this more than those above. Looks great in an 18x12 inch print.
I’ve been here a few times at sundown. It’s one of my favourite places. I have so many photographs it’s hard to choose my favourite. But I printed this one large (18 inches by 12 ) and it’s looking very good on my close friend’s wall.
Waking early isn’t my strong point. But on 22 January 2018 I found myself awake at 5am, having spent the night at the Best Western in Port Campbell with my cousins who were visiting for the week. The evening had been completely clouded over without a hint of colour. But the morning sky was more interesting and made the early start worth it. Captured at 6:55am. 22mm F16 0.5s ISO64
Photographed over a duration of about an hour commencing at 18:04 and ending at 18:48 once I was almost too cold to go on. Also by then plenty of condensation had begun to form on the front element… yes… yes… I need to wipe it off if I go longer. I shot North, not South in the Southern Hemisphere. In other words it is NOT shot to the ideal “South Star”. But the Cathedral is obviously North of me; so there is no other way. And it’s impossible to get the same view by hiking around the other end. It’s a big mountain and you need to stay on the path to stay alive.
Each image is: 16mm (16-35mm on D850) 15s F4 ISO1600 with an interval of 17s (i.e. allowing for a 2s gap between shots to make totally sure the camera / card do not lock up). As the intention was to capture star trails I could probably have exposed as 30s F4 ISO800. However I was also keen to run a time-lapse from the output files showing the star trails ‘developing’. For that, the more frames the better. So ISO1600 was the compromise. It’s not too noisy on the D850.
Low tide. Still a real challenge to reach, time and photograph. And afterwards, to choose my favourites.
16mm F16 0.8s ISO64 At 20:03 on 17 February 2018
These are a few examples of photographs I took for commercial purposes. If you need photographs of your project or building email me at midgley.derek@gmail.com
Taken on the steps of the State Library of Victoria between heavy showers on a typical Melbourne Winter’s day.
Camera: Sony RX100ii so small and inconspicuous nobody cares.
One of my all time favourite photo moments. I had just grabbed a coffee at Starbucks and was on my way back to the car. I saw the people waiting to cross. Just instinct, where they stood, had me promptly put the coffee down and I quickly dialled in a shutter duration of a few seconds to get some motion blur / light streams. I balanced the camera on top of the coffee cup and carefully triggered a couple shots just hoping everyone would stand still while the traffic buzzed by. The man with the white shoes must have seen what I was trying to do and paused in the perfect spot to frame the photo. Sometimes it just comes together so easily!
Captured with the incredible little Ricoh GRii.
Life on the streets ...
With a huge thunderstorm late this afternoon and plenty of clouds still lingering I knew there was a chance of a beautiful moody after-sun-down sky. And it really was this good!
This huge bird was unhappy to see me walking beside its pond at DVWetlands. But when it took to the sky it soared right in front of me. So near that I could barely fit it in the frame. This image was NOT cropped!
I think it was just enjoying the golden hour. Just like me.
I couldn’t believe how close I was when I rounded the corner in Shepherds Bush and saw this beauty. It looked back over the shoulder and I grabbed the photograph. In a few seconds it was gone. I’ve been photographing birds for a few years now. I’ll probably never get as close to one of these again. They’re quite shy.
In full cry at DV Wetlands.
This beauty visits Dandenong Valley Wetlands regularly.
I followed this beautiful female and her mate at Nortons Park from 2015 until 2018 (four seasons). I saw the male this year (2019) but not the female. Others claimed to see her. But unless I see with my own eyes, I don’t… you know. Who knows.
In July they head back to the hills. Maybe better luck in April 2020. Of course then he may bring a different girl. Time will tell.
Male Scarlet Robin in the early evening ‘dusk’ at Nortons Park. I’ve followed him (well the pair) from April till July each year since 2015. This would be his fifth year back for the winter. Beginning of August they’ll be thinking of heading for the hills. Crazy tiny beautiful birds.
When I captured this image I’d been lurking near him for about an hour. By this moment he was so comfortable with me being there. He’s just seen something down below. Or maybe he thinks he has.
This is one of a pair that based themselves at Dandenong Valley Wetlands. The two remain in the area and can be found regularly. Haven’t raised a family there since 2017. Here’s hoping for 2020.
This beauty is one of a pair of locals in the bush behind my house.
One of a pair of locals in the bush behind my house.
I think this will be one of my favourites for ages. I had searched out a composition to frame the setting sun. Then this surfer dude walked from the water with his board in hand to add that special human element.
I rescued one snared in fishing line earlier in the day. So maybe this is my one. Probably not.
I’ve fallen back in love with cubes about thirty five years after first learning to solve one. It’s my new photography companion. They say it’s a good idea to try to slow down. If I’m out somewhere trying to take a photograph gonna do some solves while surveying the view. Take fewer photographs. Take better photographs. Average solve time currently just under two minutes. I’m certainly not a speed cuber!
This image is a quick abstract of a Rubik’s cube made on 31 July 2019 for The Raw Room photography challenge. Captured with AFS Micro Nikkor 60mm on D850 at f3.8 1/10 ISO64. Illuminated with a pair of LED desk lamps (one from each side). This image has NOT been cropped and any editing is minimal. See First Man Photography on youtube for more info about the Raw Room.
