Click the images for a larger view and don’t forget to Like and Share

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Waves crash and poor over this interesting rock formation, the slow shutter speed gives the image a feel of movement and ferocity.

Photographed on the outer rock shelf, Long Reef as water pores over the step like formation.

Good Sunrise/Sunset

First and foremost, clouds make for a good sunrise or sunset. Without clouds your photos are likely to be bland and lack all the beautiful colours of sunrise/sunset. Of course this is not always true but for the most part a spectacular sunset or sunrise is present when the last rays of light hit the clouds. With that in mind, first check where the clouds are siting and point your camera towards them (whilst keeping interesting foreground). This could be in any direction not necessarily East or West.

Pointing into the sun makes for a harder shot especially if you want to retain dynamic range. Multiple exposures (one for the sky, one for the foreground) or sufficient strength ND grads are generally required to keep detail in both the sky and foreground. Silhouettes are easier to shoot as you only need to expose for the sky (see photo below). If you want those cool sun stars wait until only a sliver of the sun is showing and shoot with a high aperture (as show in photo to the right). The higher the aperture (F16, F22 etc.) the bigger the star burst.

Pointing away from the sun or shooting before sunrise / after sunset is far easier and will still give you great results. Try to previsualise the shot you want to achieve or just work with what you have.

Lots of clouds sitting on the horizon blocking the sun is a dead set sunrise or sunset killer. It means that the sun won’t light up the clouds in the opposite direction or any low lying clouds above it. Which brings me to…

Low lying clouds are ace! They will always give you the best results, shoot them where you can. If the are moving fast then all the better, with long exposures you can get some nice motion blur.

Use The Photographer’s Ephemeris to figure out the angles of sunrise/sunset/moonrise/moonset relative to your shooting location. Think of where the sun will hit as it becomes lower or higher in the sky and where you need to be to capture it. Do you want the sun in the shot? Where is the subject relative to the sun? Can I point away or to the side of the sunrise? Where will my shadow cast (and do I really want it in my shots)?

Well as you may have figured out, there is no clear cut magical answer. Best to get out there and work with what you have. Hopefully some of the tips may help and save you from running around like a maniac!

Photographed pointing away from the sun shortly before sunset – Railay Beach, Thailand

Photographed 7 minutes later pointing into the sun as it dips behind some clouds – Phra Nang Beach, Railay Bay, Thailand (Princess Cave silhouetted)

An Accredited Professional Photographer

• Is Assessed and Proven – Accredited members are judged by an assessment panel to ensure that each accredited member achieves and maintains an expected level of craftsmanship
• Is Professional – operates a registered business
• Is Professional – has liability insurance, as appropriate to their business
• Is Professional – agrees to the AIPP Code of Ethics and AIPP Terms and Conditions of Membership
• Is Professional – agrees to abide by the AIPP Accredited Membership Business Requirements
• Is Experienced – every Accredited Member has a minimum of two years industry experience or has completed a minimum two year photographic program before applying for Accreditation
• Is Experienced – Has the skill, creativity, style and ability to get the job done on time and on budget
• Never Stops Learning – through the AIPP Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program, all Accredited Members must take part in workshops and seminars throughout each year to ensure they continue to develop along with the industry

Looking forward to the next year as I get more involved with the AIPP and its members.

Price $29 only. Last orders by 17th December for Christmas delivery (Express post, Australia only).

Australia

Northern Beaches

Europe

With Christmas and the festive season fast approaching time to purchase gifts is running out. I will be spending a few weeks with my family in the bitter cold of the UK, fingers crossed for a white Christmas. So if you want to buy a photography print, photography course or calendar for a loved one time is running out. Here are the cut off times to gaurantee delivery for Christmas day.

Photo Prints: 9th December 2011
Courses (Gift Pack): 12th December 2011
Calendars: 17th December 2011

I will be returning Monday 16th January 2012.

Photography Courses

I have released new group course dates, for more information please browse to my website: photography courses.

Manly, Sydney
24th September – 12.30pm to 6.30pm - price $245
15th October – 1.30pm to 7.30pm – price $245

Sydney City
17th September- 12.30pm to 6.30pm - price $265
22nd October – 1.45pm to 7.45pm – price $265

Latest Images

Click the images below for more photographs from the area.

South Curl Curl

Freshwater

Warriewood Blow hole

Dee Why


Garigal National Park

Greece

Kosciuszko National Park

Some of my best work yet and all it took was a snow shoe hike into the back country of Kosciuszko, click an image to read more and view the entire collection.

Seven Days, Seven Photos

I embarked on taking photos every day a couple weeks back, here are the results. Some of the images you will see above, others not (photos from Sydney City, and Manly).

Photography Tips

For the budding photographers I blogged about the eternal question, UV Filters, should I use one? and also reviewed my new camera bag, the F-Stop Tilopa Back Country.

Q&A
If you ever have any questions about how I do anything please feel free to ask me on my Q&A page here:

Print Giveaway

Pick your favourite photo on my Facebook fanpage to be in with a chance of winning a signed 16×24 print. For more information click here: 

Don't delay the competition finishes on Friday 2nd December.

Photography Education

I've recently created an Education section on my website and now offer personal Photoshop tuition, advanced workshops (see below), basic courses and some videos. Look out for more video tuition in the coming months. Check out my entire offering here: Photography Course

If you are after some advanced tuition and Photoshop guidance I will be holding a workshop in the Blue Mountains early next year. Click the image below to find out more, and don't forget to register your interest at the bottom of the page.

Christmas Hours

I'm off to Europe again mid December to enjoy some rain and cold and will return mid January (via Thaliand..one week of warmth, photography and relaxation). Order cut off dates for Christmas are as follows:

Prints: 9th December 2011
Courses (Gift Pack): 12th December 2011

Calendars 2012

I'm pleased to announce my new 2012 calendar titled 'Australia'. Still to come early next week I have a Northern Beaches, & Europe calendar, click below to view and purchase.

Latest Images

Click the images below for more photographs from the area.

Long Reef, Sydney

Coogee, Sydney

Wollogorang, NSW

Venice, Italy

Tuscany, Italy

Budapest, Hungary

Curl Curl, Sydney

Photography Tips

If you have any concerns about the security of your images online read my post: Dude Who Stole my Pictures

Buying a new dSLR for Christmas, here are some tips: my First dSLR

Q&A
If you ever have any questions about how I do anything please feel free to ask me on my Q&A page here:

As a Christmas gift to my Facebook fans I would like to give one lucky fan a signed 16×24 inch print of their choice.

How to enter:
1. Like my Facebook Fanpage

2. Find a photo you like in my Favourites album (standard ratio only, not panoramic format)
3. Tag yourself in it (click the ‘Tag Photo’ button under the image)

Competition closes Friday 2nd December 2011 and is open to all Facebook fans of Lee Duguid Photography. The winner will be selected at random and announced shortly after.