A big thanks to the Australian Museum, Photology from Digital Camera Warehouse and Australian Wildlife Displays for a wonderful day at the Wildlife Photography for Enthusiasts Workshop held at the Australian Museum, in Sydney, on Saturday, 3 November 2018. I drove up from Canberra to attend the workshop and I had a wonderful day.
The first part of the workshop was viewing the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition being held at the museum. The photography was absolutely superb, with some truly creative shots. I was really inspired, not just in a general sense about wildlife photography but in the way to look at individual photographs.
I really loved the photo below by Ben Goode called ‘Broken Dream.’ The way he contrasted the burnt trunks with the red ground, and then used the rule of threes two ways; with the horizon on the bottom third line while the closest tree to the left is on the vertical, left third. Where others would have seen just burnt trees, the contrast he saw here provides so much more.
‘Broken Dreams’ by Ben Goode, (Source: 2018 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Gallery)
Of all the photos my favourite was the one below. I admit I am biased towards bird photographs but I really connected with this picture as I have seen New Holland Honeyeaters, and I have tried to photograph them. The photograph was gorgeous in itself but to capture the explosion of pollen took it to another level. It really made me want to go out, to keep photographing, to try to catch the perfectly lit-focussed-composed photograph with that element luck, such when my timing gets me the special moment. (She used a Cannon EOS 5D Mk II, cannon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXT, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 800, handheld.)
‘The Pollinator’ by Kim Wornald (Source: Australian Museum Website)
We had an interesting discussion about the photograph below. We all thought it was a magnificent photograph, with most admitting we would not stand over the top of a Death Adder to take that shot. We thought the composition was spot on. If the photograph had been oriented a different way, the photo may not have had the impact it did. The space on the left drew the viewer into the shot.
‘Caudal Luring’ by Nicolas Rakotopare (Source: Australian Museum Website)
After examining the exhibition we were escorted into the older side of the museum, to the old boardroom. The sense of history of being inside this room of quiet dignity was almost worth the entrance fee alone for the workshop. Daniel Smith, the professional photographer from Photology, led us through some theory on photography. It was at a reasonably basic level but he was happy to answer questions and discuss the images meaning everybody learnt something.
The highlight of the workshop came next when we ascended to the experience space to have a private session with some live Australian wildlife supplied by Australian Wildlife Displays. The handler did a great job of not stressing out her charges while still letting us take as many photographs as we wanted. No animals seem to suffer, they all appeared to be conditioned to being with humans. The photography was almost macro as we were generally very close to the subjects. We were allowed to touch some of the animals and carefully handle them. It is one thing to see an animal in the wild but it goes to a different level when you can touch one of these superb creatures. Maybe because humans are tactile creatures, the sensation of touch gives us another learning dimension. I think excitement took over at the start, with all these lovely animals to photograph. I eventually calmed down to focus on my settings as well as shot composition. I wanted to work on my macro photography, so this was the perfect chance. I have placed my chosen shots below of each animal. They are not entrants for next years photo exhibition but I think they are not horrible.
Not surprisingly most of my photos were of the really obliging Tawny Frogmouth
It was the centre of attention for most people but did not appeared concerned
Bearded Dragon
Blue-tongue Lizard
Shingle-back
Diamond Python
Saltwater Crocodile - we all learnt to observe its hind claws to show when they were positioned for action
Splendid Green Tree Frog, small but so beautifully coloured
I bought the book about the exhibition so as to study the photographs more, it is beside me as I type this blog entry.
As I walked out of the museum I really felt elated, the drive from Canberra had been worth it. I had seen some magnificent wildlife photography and I had also had a chance to photograph some of Australia’s wonderful wildlife. I will keep my eyes out for further chances like that day as it was such a satisfying way to spend an afternoon.
Driving back to Canberra was no problem. I was still excited about what I had seen as well as experienced. I took the opportunity to pull over along the Hume Highway to photograph a structure I had seen for the past two decade and always wondered about. I am not sure what it is but at least I have had a closer look.
The abandoned structure
Returning to the car I noticed two Australian Ravens apparently scavenging at the side of the highway. Inspired by the section at the photography exhibition I took some shots. I tried to move to a different angle to ensure I included the oncoming traffic in the shots. The top one is the standard shot, with the focus on the eye on the raven. The bottom shot is the less traditional shot but I think it may be more evocative. It was a good feeling to say that I took a photo I probably would not have but I was inspired by what I had seen that day at the exhibition.
‘Ravens by the roadside’ - A more traditional shot with at least one raven eye visible in the photo.
‘Going against the flow’ - The less traditional shot but these two ravens almost look to be heading somewhere against the direction of travel of the cars, either in defiance or as a sign of an uneven contest.