Put your hands up for Perth….a lovely city

Hi All,

Yeah nah the title doesn`t have the same ring to it like Fedde Le Grands song but it got played a few times today on my travels north, sounds fully sick mate, so much bass pumpin out my subs! Dad wants me to grow up but that`s not going to happen! Anyway I shot this on Christmas day early in the afternoon, was so stoked the fountain was working and no one was around, would have preferred a little less cloud behind the city but it was just good to get out shooting. Single shot, B&W ND10, 20 sec,f22, ISO 50

I am staying in Geraldton for the night with friends, which has been good as the kids are still over the moon about Christmas, it was good seeing all the presents they got and being able to hijack their quadbike as I am the bigger kid!  But also seeing the pictures on the fridge with santa, the tree and a bin full of wrapping paper basically all the stuff (by my own choice) I missed out on this year. Unfortunately there are no waves and tomorrow is going to be about 43 deg! I was definitely amped for waves after watching my old Billabong movie collection the past few days. Anyway hope everyone enjoys their day and takes care of themselves with this warm weather.

Michael

Pride & Joy

Hi All,

I also managed to reel off a few shots of my ute while I was out sussing locations for a sunset shoot. I was amazed to find the foreshore empty, so stoked to be driving it a bit more reguarly after some recent work and getting around Perth on a mates`s bmx, probably a bit out there for 31 yr old to turn up on a 1st date on a bmx but I think that`s a story for another day! Unfortunately I am super paranoid now after quite a few brazen robberies in my local hood targeting rims and stereos. I am now counting down the days till my Prado returns and I can lock the ute away only to come out on sunny days, which is a sad reflection on society if I can`t enjoy what I have worked hard for, I also had to change insurance companies as I wasn`t covered anymore with the changes I had made, so anyone out there who have made changes to their cars make sure you are actually covered. Take care everyone

Michael

Cottesloe II

Hi All,

Another from last night`s shoot, just a simple shot of the reconstructed pylon painted in North Cottesloe`s club colours, took a few a goes as people either oblivious or completely ignorant kept walking in front whilst I was shooting. Single shot, no filter 30 sec, f22 and ISO 50.

Have a good weekend everyone, I`m just waiting for a mate to turn up so we can head off to the drags tonight, then up to Geraldton for a couple of days surfing then onto Gladstone for some fishing, was planning a trip to Esperance but as my employer has not given me a date that we go back to work, I`m a bit reluctant to go away. Take care everyone.

Michael

Cottesloe

Hi All,

Hope everyone had an awesome day yesterday, I certainly did, it was probably the first time I have embraced being single, I didn`t have to be anywhere and I was able to do what I wanted, maybe a bit harsh and or selfish of me but I`m cool with it and as I have learned that is all that matters. I was undecided in calling this one Cottesloe Gold or Christmas @ Cottesloe, it will probably never see the light of day again but as we all say it`s good just to get out and shoot. This is just a single shot with a B&W ND10, 30 sec, f5.6 and ISO 50. Did anyone else get out and shoot last night`s sunset?

Michael

2009 THE YEAR THAT WAS, IS AND EVER WILL BE.

Hi All,

I guess it`s hard to put into words how the year was, memories blur, the mind changes the feelings felt to suit (or maybe it`s because I am getting older and I`ve forgotten!) but for me it has been one where I have grown up, developed new attributes and healed.

Looking back over the year, this blog was my new years resolution and I`ve maintained interest in dribs and drabs, strangely have not done much photography over the year but my mind is full of images of places I`ve been and some amazing sunrises I`ve seen, the one that stands out was at a mine called Forrestania, after working in the rain all night and feeling very devoid of any emotion, the uplift from something so simple as a sunrise was unbelievable, to describe it won`t do it justice but the spectrum of colour, the reflection of light and changing weather was just awesome, to be under a sky that is blue overhead a new storm coming from the north, patchy clouds to the west and then the sun coming up through rain clouds from the east. Lucky me.

My favourite image this year is one from Beau Mitchell and it`s not from my genre of  photography and I`m not sure about `thrush!`but it struck a chord (as they say) with me. It is a simple image with a perfect quotation that basically sums it all up for me, Beau has given approval for me to use it, but check out his website and blog to view all his work.

What better time to write this when I am going down, I knew it was coming, I don`t fight it anymore, I accept it, I don`t want medication, I`m in control and just stick to routine, I don`t pull the covers over my head and isolate myself. My life is good, so if I have to have a few days every once and awhile where things aren`t so good then so be it there are definitely others far worse than me.

I live my life through music, it is always playing at home and in the car the only time it`s not on is when I`m surfing. Music has to have a beat or words that mean something for me to like it, If you have sometime listen to these songs, they are my 3 standouts of the year – La Mar (The Ocean) by The Beautiful Girls is from a couple of years ago but I have only recently downloaded it and it always takes me somewhere else when it comes on, gives me that feeling of connection with the ocean especially when I am away at work. Breakeven by The Script, a simple line `when a heart breaks no it don`t breakeven` Never a truer word spoken and it basically sums up the last 18 months for me. Riverside by Sidney Samson bet you didn`t see that one coming! Makes me feel like I`ve drunk 10 Red Bulls really quickly just gets me jumping wherever I am.

Most of this year I have spent renovating my unit, I have made some amazing changes to it and it now is a really comfortable place to come home to. All the work was done by myself and a few friends and trades where legally required! It was great learning some new skills – ceilings, floorboards etc. I will get to the backyard next year…. Sometime! It is also the first year in 5 that I have not gotten to Karijini, However I will be there within a few weeks, I`m just waiting for my Prado to return from my cousins trip around Australia. I have a few trips planned overseas for next year and will return to favourites around WA.

2010 I have to something that has been put off for a while and my resolution is to only be around people with common decency, a little bit different but as I don`t smoke, do drugs, drink lightly, already eat healthily and exercise I had to think of something, so as rude people shit me I thought why do I need to associate with them. I am getting back onto the photography bandwagon and will have more time to practice and play with techniques but would also love to be a bit more involved with the crew around Perth rather than hide behind a computer, I have missed out on most things that have been organized of late due to being stuck at work. I hope everyone has a great summer, enjoys their Christmas with family and friends and 2010 is everything that they want it to be. Take care everyone.

Michael

CW: Yallingup Wave, Me and my ride, Koru – New life, Growth, Peace and Strength, Work

Technology

Hi All,

Well you have to love technology sometimes, I`m sitting in my `donga` in the middle of the desert with wi-fi connectivity! I managed to work on this image the other night and I know it is an angle of Smiths Beach that has been done by a local down that way but I just love the set that`s coming through especially because the only salt I`m getting is from the nearby salt lake. SICK, definitely making me miss the water. I would work on some more images and some Scott Kelby books that I brought with me, but am so rooted by the end of the day that I just want to sleep. Mmmm sleep, cat ya`s

Michael

It`s been done soooooo many times b4

Hi All,

How is everyone? What can I say Busselton Jetty would have to be one the most photographed jetty in WA and with good reason, it`s on a perfect angle to capture at any time of the day no matter what the conditions are like, is this good….. nooooooo but it was practice as I hadn`t shot landscapes for a few months, converted to B&W as it looked boring in colour. I was going through Beau Mitchell`s blog the other day and came across a quote he had put on on of his images and as I am a random quote collector was stoked to find it and also the POV of the shot is classic almost legendary status. Go check it out I think it was in May, I could link but I`m too tired big day of swimming, surfing and reading…. ah the life! Cat ya`s

Michael

Waves

Hi All,

Hope everyone has had a great day, I know I have! sleep, swim, sleep, help sister paint bathroom and sleep some more. I played around with camera settings and used my macro lens to shoot some waves, something I hadn`t really delved into before. I shot this after surfing at Smiths Beach with all the grommets on school holidays. The idea came to me the day before when I was sleeping on the beach, waiting for the tide to come in at `The Farm`. I`m going for a bit more of beach feel to my unit now and this triptych is purely put together for me to enjoy.

I have added some new links to photographers that I was impressed with at the recent WAPPA`s, also congratulations to Meleah Farrell for getting an award last month for a category that eludes me. Looks like we`ve got a beautiful week ahead filled with sunshine, might see you out there….

Michael

Powercruise

Hi All,

Just thought I`d put this up to show any carlovers out there how lucky my friend and I are. We went up to Powercruise on Friday and were having a look at this car, as it turns out it is Gup`s HQ `ELVIS`. Gup is the event organizer, as we were admiring he came over and told us we had 3 seconds to get in, we promptly got in and were taken out on the track and treated to some hot laps, the noise and instant pick up of this beast is insane, I did take some video footage, but with the car going sideways at every opportunity it didn`t turn out very good. There are various Utube videos to view anyway. Cheers Gup for making the power bug bite, whilst I don`t think I will get to 1100rwhp, I`ll definitely be upgrading to a supercharger.

Michael

Immersed

Hi All,

I spent a bit of time in the Boranup Forest and completely got lost in my surroundings, I think only 2 cars went past in  1 1/2 hrs, I stalked a Kookaburra for a while, made love to this Arum Lily (Will do a separate triptych some other time) and stabbed my foot with my tripod as I slipped down an embankment, it`s all good though, I won`t stop wearing thongs or go and buy the rubber grommets for the tripod. It was so good to be the only one enjoying this environment, light rain was falling and the birds were still chirping. Have a good day everyone.

Michael