Monochrome Brisbane

Dampish

2011-01-19T08:54:00.005+10:00

These shots (taken last Wednesday and Thursday at the height of the floods) probably aren't particularly artful, but I thought that I would post a couple I took while out and about seeing exactly where the floodwaters rose, at least in the Graceville/Sherwood area.

While not as bad as the ones in 1974, the flooding that occurred very close to my house was still very bad. We have a number of friends who have had their homes either completely or at least partially inundated. The mess that the waters have made is difficult to comprehend if you haven't stood in the middle of street while all around you is being hosed down, cleaned out or just simply demolished. The smell is particularly distinctive and the colour makes it look like someone has taken a huge syringe and sucked all life from the earth.

The disruption to "normal" life is also difficult to imagine. Simple things like power going off, loss of internet access etc all seem quite trivial, but for those who are already dealing with the devastation just getting power back on is a huge milestone (and many are still in the dark). (Canon 450D, 18-55mm efs zoom)

Sidetracked from the steps ...

2010-08-27T21:21:00.004+10:00

In my last post I mentioned that I was sidetracked on my search for steps (ok, it should have been "stairs").

I think that my admiration for the sandstone had caused me to overlook the quality of the modern buildings on campus.

Two in particular, the Brain Institute and Sir Llew Edwards Building, are particularly striking ... (Canon 450d, 18-55mm zoom)

Concrete steps

2010-08-23T20:58:00.005+10:00

It was a beautiful winter afternoon for my weekly constitutional around UQ and I was on my own with the dog, so I took my time and explored some spots I don't usually go.

I decided to try to focus on one theme (although I did get side tracked) - steps. This was inspired by Nicole's kind comments of a couple of posts past, but I also wondered if setting a narrow topic would force me to look differently at the common things that I might ordinarily pass and not notice.

As it turned out, I found a few likely subjects. I chose these shots because they seem to capture different feelings from the same medium (concrete) that is finished very differently in different settings.

So there they are: the bare; the organic; and the smooth. (Canon 450D, 18-55mm zoom)

Steele Building

2010-06-20T20:23:00.004+10:00

As promised in my last post, here are a couple of images of the Steele Building.

These are taken from the Great Court on a quite dreary afternoon. Regardless of the weather, I still find the sandstone compelling. (Canon 450d, 18-55mm zoom)

UQ trees in June

2010-06-14T13:42:00.004+10:00

Ok, I admit, I need to get out more often ...

Seems as though the only time I get lately to take any photos at all is when I am either watching my children play sport or waiting for their sport to finish.

Found myself with the dog at UQ again yesterday afternoon and took the Canon 450d with 18-55mm zoom in the hope that the sunset would be spectacular. High cloud about all day threatened to clear enough after 3pm to set the sky alight. Needless to say it didn't ...

The quite flat and even light drew me to the trees, jacaranda and figs, around the lakes during my walk. I took these shots, but could quite decide which way to represent the lovely fig by the duck pond (any suggestions would be appreciated).

I did venture up to the great court for some more sandstone studies and I might post them soon.

Cha-cha

2010-04-26T09:06:00.004+10:00

Continuing my atypical trend of people photography, now complicated by movement! This was taken at Studio One on Wickham Street during dress rehearsal for the Autumn Showcase.
The rest of the shots from that evening are lurking on facebook

UQ contrast

2010-04-25T21:26:00.007+10:00

It has been quite some time since I posted, so I thought that I better make a contribution. The last film shots I have taken have been on work trips to Canberra and Melbourne, nothing suitable for posting here!

My youngest continues to run on Sunday afternoons at The University of Queensland (UQ), and I thought that it would be good to take a camera (Canon 450D) today in the hope of getting some inspiration. As I wandered, chatting to my wife with the dog in tow (well, actually leading the way) it struck me that one of the reasons the campus is so alluring is the mix of traditional and modern architecture.

It is almost like the buildings are giving a nod to the knowledge of the past, with their solidity and tradition, while urging the students to energetically embrace what is to come. This seems to create a wonderful tension that helps me see and feel differently on every visit.

The Hand That Moved

2010-02-07T12:55:00.002+10:00

First post for the year! Well, first post in a while from me. And a rarity - a person photo - from my first gig coverage assignment. This image was caught at the Fusion of Music February concert in Windsor. Working in low light, without a tripod, with maximum zoom, I couldn't have made it harder for myself. But this picture came out serendipitously well as I realised that I had inadvertantly tracked the moving hand while the rest of the instrumentalist (who is playing a home-built electric cello) dissolved into the action of her enthusiastic performance.

Most of the shoot is in varying shades of magenta and teal depending on the stage lights, but I gave this one monochrome treatment to post here.

King George Square revisited

2009-12-15T21:18:00.006+10:00

Over the past couple of years the BCC has been remodelling King George Square as part of the major busway construction and it recently reopened to the public. I have been trying to capture images from this site for a few weeks and have been wholly unsuccessful. Late last week I changed from using my wider lenses to clamping my trusty old zuiko 135mm f3.5 lens to my om2n.

My aim was to play with trying to get exposures correct, having basically given up on creating new and interesting compositions. The best that I thought was that I could learn something from attempting to correctly expose HP5+ @ 400 in the harsh morning light when shooting highly reflective bronze (ie black) statues.

I had forgotten how sharp this lens could be and I manually metered each frame and developing in Microphen 1+1. The results are better than I imagined with good shadow detail without blowing the highlights completely.

You might recognise at least one of these subjects from my earlier posts, but it is always good to go back and see how your composition and development can create a different feel to the final image ... and I can't wait to see how these turn out when wet printed as postcards.

Kurilpa Bridge

2009-10-27T21:18:00.004+10:00

I shot this film a couple of weeks ago, but I promised myself that I wouldn't processes it until I had completed my tax return ... so I developed it tonight ...

These are early morning images of the new Kurilpa Bridge that spans the Brisbane River from east to west and links Tank Street to Kurilpa Point. It is constructed using a new technique and seems almost too complicated for its own good. From some angles, it looks to me like the coming together of a crazy assortment of hull-less tall ships.

It is nice, however, to wander to work by crossing this bridge and strolling along Southbank before crossing back to the George Street madness ... (om2n, Tamron 24mm, fp4 @ 125)

Dusty day

2009-09-24T21:31:00.006+10:00

Brisbane experienced an interesting weather "event" yesterday when an unusually large dust storm blew across town. I have never seen so many people out and about taking photographs during the usual lunch break.

I decided to head across the Victoria Bridge to see just how dusty things had become. Given I had the camera loaded with HP5+, I wondered how the images would look or whether it would just seem like a foggy morning in black and white ... you be the judge.

While I was on the Southbank side of the river I swung under the bridge and came up at the Art Gallery. I liked the pattern that the jacarandas make now that their trunks are becoming more substantial. It is sometimes funny that you see different things when the light is not what you come to expect.

While under the jacarandas I bumped (quite literally) into happy snapper who was carrying an old Pentax SLR. I wonder how his shots on BW400CN turned out. (om2n, zuiko 35mm f2.8, hp5+ @ 400)

Rankins at Dusk

2009-08-26T20:30:00.003+10:00

I have been slack the past two weeks and have not shot a fresh roll of film. In fact, my photographic efforts have been limited to recording my son's hockey semi-final (and there were not many frames worth a second look, but that's another story).

Anyway, this shot was taken at dusk. I have been trying to vary my times getting out to familiar subjects to see the difference it makes to the image created.

Rankins is a news agency located in the centre of the Queens Street Mall. At dusk all manner of folk are wandering home or hanging out to meet up with friends. I like the variety of movement captured across the frame. This was taken hand held using a sign as an impromptu tripod.

If you are wondering about the square crop (no, I haven't a hassy) it is because this is the last frame of the most recent roll shot and only half the frame exposed correctly. This is a feature (?) of hand rolling where you are never certain of getting complete frames. (om2n, zuiko 35mm f2.8, hp5 @ 400)

Riverside path

2009-08-12T20:39:00.004+10:00

I have been a little busy so have fallen behind with my "one roll per week" ambition, although this was shot last week I have only just managed to develop and scan the results ...

I admit that I am enjoying again getting into the habit of carrying my camera to work every day. It seems to encourage me to take different paths between the train station and my building, even if I do not have the camera out intending to take a shot. I also find that I am constantly looking for different opportunities to create images and appreciating the different light etc each day.

This image was taken at the end of the riverside walkway near the Botanical Gardens. There are many yachts moored on this reach of the river and the boaties tend to leave bicycles chained to the railings as convenient land transport.

I have also been again experimenting with development methods. This roll going through a ID11 soup diluted 1+1 with water. This has given good tonal range for me with medium format film in the past, but I was wondering if it would give too much grain for my liking in 35mm format ... as it happens I am very happy with the result and might continue along this path for a while. (om2n, zuiko 35mm f2.8, hp5+ @ 400)

Drop In

2009-08-02T20:09:00.003+10:00

I worked a little later than I intended on Friday night and thought that I would wander past the Treasury Casino to take the last few frames in my film. It was quite dark by the time I got there and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, so I wasn't sure if there would be enough interest to have a postable shot.

My attempts turned out better than I expected, given that I didn't look directly through the viewfinder and was using my fingers as a makeshift tripod ... actually, I had the camera resting on the top of a police sign, which was too tall for me to line up, but I could still see a bit of the image in the glass of the viewfinder and guessed the rest.

The shots from this angled were far more successful than the shots I took from the bridge ... I soon found out that the vibrations caused by the traffic do not make for very good images ... (om2n, zuiko 35mm f2.8, hp5+ @ 400)

Market day - Wednesday

2009-07-31T20:48:00.004+10:00

I am trying to get back into the habit of carrying my camera each day and shooting at least one roll per week. This is a shot from my first "new" roll.

Each Wednesday in Reddacliffe Place at Brisbane Square there is a lunchtime (well, all day) market. Sellers gather to offer fresh fruit and veg as well as a large variety of meats and "value added" products. This lady had a beautiful display of items in baskets and took lots of time to explain her produce to anyone who asked.

I do hope that she and the others do well for their efforts ... (om2n, zuiko 35mm f2.8, hp5 @ 400)

Around the lake

2009-05-31T20:30:00.005+10:00

Having spent the morning indoors at work, I looked forward greatly to our Sunday afternoon stroll with the dog around the UQ campus.

The afternoon was quite overcast and windy and not altogether pleasant, but we quickly warmed up as we embarked from the running track.

Inevitably, we passed by the lake near the centre of the campus. The wind had dropped considerably by this time and I noticed a majestic stork of some sort hidden among the paperbark trees at the western end of the lake, but unfortunately it took flight as soon as I took the lens cap off the camera.

This beautiful bird did encourage me to present a brief study of this wonderful oasis close to our city centre. (Canon 450D, efs 55-250mm)

Curlew

2009-04-18T21:23:00.003+10:00

I was forced to park my car in an unfamiliar area of The University of Queensland when we were there a few weeks ago.

This little chap greeted me as I got out of the car. I believe him to be a Bush Stone Curlew - please tell me if I am wrong.

I thought that I would try to capture him in an acceptable image at 1600 iso on the Canon. I am continuing to try to learn different aspects of this new camera and I was wondering about its high iso capabilities. It was a very overcast afternoon, so it was a perfect opportunity to practice shooting in the shadows. (Canon 450D, efs 55-250mm)

Shorn

2009-03-29T21:05:00.003+10:00

Maybe its the use of a digital camera that encourages a bit of whimsy more often than with film, but it must have hit me hard on this occasion ...

Okay, so it is not every day that you see a black-faced sheep grazing in the middle of suburban Brisbane. Taken on another walk around the Oxley Creek Common with my new toy.

I think that I was drawn more by the light than the subject, and I liked the play of the shadows across its freshly shorn wool. (Canon 450d, 55-250mm)

City Reach revisited

2009-03-21T14:58:00.004+10:00

I know that I have posted City Reach previously with an image from almost this same spot, but with a new camera and some time on my hands, what was one to do?

I had some spare time when on my way to collect my daughter from a school outing and was going past the Kangaroo Pt cliffs. This was really an excuse to continue to learn some of the characteristics of how the Canon 450D reacts to some long exposures using the kit 18-55mm lens towards its longer end.

Not much more to say really, so I hope you enjoy.

Oxley Creek Windmill

2009-03-15T21:14:00.006+10:00

Had a chance to use the new 450D for some sport shots (swimming) this weekend and it seems to be quite satisfactory for the task at the Chandler indoor pool.

Bailey's running group was at Oxley Creek Common rather than UQ this week, so I took the camera in the hope to learn more about its performance and see what I could see.

A prominent feature of the area is the Southern Cross windmill. These are a symbol of rural life and are dotted all over the country. I find this one particularly interesting because it is not just decorative and has a working pump attached to draw water for the amenities at the park.

With a stunning blue sky as background and late afternoon sun on its face, I thought that I would try out the shutter priority mode to get the vanes in motion but all else still ... I know that I should carry a tripod for these types of things, but leaning against a pole is almost as effective, if not quite as convenient. (Canon 450D, 18-55mm zoom)

UQ Walk

2009-03-09T21:13:00.005+10:00

These three images complete complete the initial set of shots taken with my new toy.

Whilst my youngest trains for cross country at the UQ track on a Sunday afternoon, we tend to take the dog for a work among the stately buildings and tranquil gardens that make up the campus.

I never tire of the way the light at different times of the year and on different days plays its merry game. It often highlights to me the idea that I am not shooting a subject, but merely capturing the light. (Canon 450D, 18-55mm zoom)

Forgan Reflected

2009-03-08T21:41:00.002+10:00

It has been quite some time since my last post to MB, so I thought that I would break the drought by formally announcing that I have crossed to the dark side. Yes, that is correct, I have bitten the bullet and put some cold, hard credit down on the counter for a Canon 450D Twin lens kit.

Of course, I will not be parting with the older gear in the short term. I think that my daughter will be monopolising the Canon in the name of school work, so in the name of research and to familiarise myself with this new world I took it for a walk around UQ this afternoon.

Not sure if I feel comfortable with it yet, but it is an interesting experience.

Tourists in our own town - Part 2

2008-11-28T23:51:00.003+10:00

When Boyd first mentioned the topic of our group shoot, I thought immediately of the shiny new 'Brisbane Eye'. I took this photo before attending a play at QPAC and decided that a tourist's view would want to encompass the entire wheel. So here it is in all its dizzy glory!

Tourists in our own town - Part 1

2008-11-18T20:04:00.004+10:00

One of the reasons that I have enjoyed posting to Monochrome Brisbane is because it forces me to see things from different perspectives. In setting an assignment to produce an image that a tourist might take away as somehow capturing the city was another way of forcing a different point of view.

My selected shot captures a view of the Story Bridge taken looking west from atop the cliffs near Newfarm. The buildings from the central business district rise in the background and the foreground shows the river that winds its way through the city from east to west.

I admire the majesty of this old steel span bridge and have featured it in a number of other posts. For this assignment I thought that a night shot revealing its twinkling outline with the more modern structures behind and languid river below would tell a tale about Brisbane life that tourists might recognise after only a day or two. (Mamiya 645pro, Sekor 80mm f2.8, f16, HP5 @ 400, scanned from 10X8 wet print)

Mt Cootha Sunset

2008-10-04T23:58:00.004+10:00

Continuing on with a water theme, this sunset was taken from Moreton Bay using a Finepix 5600 at the long end of its telephoto lens. I'm rather amazed that the camera's meter was able to cope and provide quite a reasonable picture.

Apart from cropping and some minor sharpening, the image is an unmanipulated grey scale copy of the colour version. The Mount Cootha television towers are clearly visible on the left.

Forest Lake

2008-09-28T22:01:00.003+10:00

Well, here is the eponymous feature of the suburb that I call home. (Eponymous, I’ve been waiting to use that word in a post...)
I was doing a shoot to capture reflections recently and this one didn’t quite make the cut due to the surface being disturbed by wind and ducks and whatnot.
Can’t really do those big sweeping vista shots. I’m more of a detail photographer. But by abstracting this image into fairly contrasty b&w, maybe it works just as a study in tones and shapes...

Frieze

2008-09-14T20:25:00.006+10:00

Probably few visitors to the Greek Club in Edmondstone Street South Brisbane would fail to notice this wall frieze in the foyer. I took this in May 2008, but unfortunately this image turned into a "sleeper". One of those photographs you think has potential but you are just not sure what to do with it. Initially I thought it looked better in colour but obviously I have since changed my mind - hence its posting on MB. Taken with my Leica and a monopod, with flash I think.

I reckon he's trying to balance the family chequebook under her gentle but insistent guidance.

Natural Hues - Magnificat

2008-09-07T19:01:00.006+10:00

For those who live locally, "Natural Hues" is a photographic exhibition by our very own Nicole. Ten beautifully shot macro images of her favourite subjects, of which "Magnificat" is one. Running 1st -30th September at the Graceville Gallery (10am-5pm Mon to Fri and 10am -4pm Sat and Sun). The gallery is located at 463 Oxley Road Sherwood (Tel: 3379 1288). Image taken with my 5MB Leica using bounced flash.

City Reach

2008-09-07T12:44:00.005+10:00

This is a departure from my ususal postings and is inspired by Martin's 2006 post called Monochrome Brisbane. I had to make a trip across town the other evening and decided to take the opportunity and stop at the top of the Kangaroo Pt cliffs with camera and tripod. The original colour versions of these are posted at another site, but I decided to desaturate them and also post here. I will need to revisit this location with some trusty HP5 loaded to experiment more with exposure and composition. (Mamiya 645pro, sekor 80mm f2.8, f11, Kodak Portra 400vc @ 400)

Brisbane Art Deco Part 6

2008-08-31T20:22:00.008+10:00

The geometric deco design of stylised shape and form replaced the the equally stylised but organically based geometrics of the Art Nouveau period. Initially a luxurious style using expensive materials such as ivory and jade, later artefacts benefited from the the introduction of Bakelite and plastic, which significantly reduced production costs. The style itself was named from the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Art Deco developed rapidly and its influence is readily seen in period fashion, jewellery, sculpture, the graphic arts and of course architecture, (which provide the most enduring and commonly recognisable examples).

The subject of this post is a French Art Deco table lamp (circa 1930), which contains a not atypical contradiction of simplistic and detailed forms, often found in lamps and glassware from the period.

Brisbane Art Deco Part 5

2008-08-24T20:54:00.007+10:00

For my reading of Art Deco I wanted to capture a grittier, more industrial feel for the application of the style. I knew of some buildings in South Brisbane that I thought might make reasonable subjects, and found Substation No.58.

My preferred image of this subject captures some of the iconic shapes, but also shows that not everyone now keeps the Art Deco remnants in pristine condition. I particularly like the textures here, but also that the essence of the style are still recognisable through the grime and the decay.

I have included some shots below of the subject that I thought didn't quite make it, but help to convey that this very plain building had touches that combined different materials, textures and lines. (Mamiya 645pro, sekor 80mm f2.8, HP5 @ 400)

Brisbane Art Deco Part 4

2008-08-21T21:13:00.006+10:00

I am making no apologies for posting something in colour as the mint green interior of the Tattersalls Arcade has to remain intact to show it at its best. And since the overall scheme of this image is still monochromatic, I think my fellow bloggers will humour me!

The Tattersalls is a marvellous blend of Neoclassical and Deco from the early 1920s. The medallions and friezes of the interior are set off by the sweeping curves and colour schemes. They embody a common theme in Art Deco where amidst all the clean lines one might find an isolated spot of ornamentation obviously influenced by Classical or even Rococo styles.

The Queen Street facade of the arcade is more Deco than Neoclassical as evidenced by this window (captured in a return to black and white!)

Brisbane Art Deco Part 3 - Pseudo Deco

2008-08-18T20:26:00.004+10:00

This is one of three photographs I have taken in support of Nicole's interest and probably the most appropriate to post first as it not only compliments the previous image theme wise, but also steers us back to Nicole's art deco focus. No prizes for guessing where this is. I must say I'm a little surprised that this door hasn't been nailed by Boyd in his wanderings. The title refers to the style I think it's trying to portray, although whether that's deliberate would require a query of the designers, whoever they may be.

Knights of the Cross

2008-08-17T14:26:00.006+10:00

I took this image some time ago, in 2007 I think, when I was deliberately wandering the streets of Brisbane looking for subjects of the type taken by my colleagues. If it isn't obvious from the history of my posts, I am not a big fan of architectural photography, it is a highly specialised area which my friends are exceedingly good at but causes me no end of frustration. However with the recent "burst" of door posts, I thought I would submit this image. I quite like the Moorish curves and points over the doors. I could almost imagine a Crusader in battle armour, white tunic with red cross, standing with drawn sword on the steps.

Brisbane Art Deco Part 2

2008-08-13T21:50:00.016+10:00

The Manor Aparments building on Queen Street is likely to be the first that springs to mind at the mention of Art Deco. This extrovert structure bursts with every kind of adornment and one day I hope to find a crane and capture the menagerie of weird and wonderful American style gargoyles. These few detail shots will have to do for the present.

Brisbane Art Deco Part 1

2008-08-09T10:08:00.016+10:00

I am going to beg my fellow bloggers' indulgence on this particular topic. Art Deco is an era that fascinates me. The age of beautiful cars, fountain pens, home furnishings, and of course architecture. The western world was breaking away from the mould of recreating the past and pushing forward to something new. Punctuated by war and just between the flamboyance of Art Noveau and the depression of Utilitarinaism, the Jazz Age stands as a final fling at societal originality that permeated life in its entirety.
My flagship in this exploration is the key example of Deco architecture in Brisbane, the University of Queensland.

308-322 Queen Street

2008-08-09T09:53:00.005+10:00

This is one of the most stunning neoclassical buildings in the CBD and I pass it nearly every day in the rush to work. Boyd has captured gorgeous detail images of the severely styled door so my take on it is to step across the street and catch it in its frame.

Something's Brewing

2008-08-03T18:58:00.004+10:00

To answer the question, 'Does Nicole ever take a "messy" shot?' Here is my reply, 'Once in a blue moon'.
Somewhat in the same style as my laneway shot, here is a fairly busy - but still contained - image from a well known Brisbane landmark...

Post Office Square II

2008-07-22T05:25:00.003+10:00

Time for another square shot. Experimenting with high-key and shadow.

Arrangement in Grey and Black

2008-07-22T05:17:00.005+10:00

(With apologies to Mr Whistler as this looks nothing like his mother! Well, maybe by a raving cubist...)
I've just spent another happy weekend pottering about with Camera 2. Almost walked past this but swung round for a shot before scurrying across at the pedestrian lights. Fellow bloggers, spot the location...

Laneway

2008-07-13T10:07:00.003+10:00

Nearly a month after I got my new baby - Nikon D300 - we finally got to go out for a shoot. Up until now we have been doing mainly tabletop work in preparation for a certain upcoming exhibition.
So, at last, here is the inaugural location shoot with my new camera. This is one of the little laneways off Elizabeth street which makes me wonder how one drives in if somebody else wants to come out...?

Sneak peek

2008-07-08T20:52:00.003+10:00

For some time now the old National Bank building on the corner of Queen and Creek Streets has been undergoing a major renovation, which now looks almost complete. I was walking past as some workers were carting material and tools inside through the main doors that they had left it ajar. I couldn't help but stop and catch this view with a new (to me) 35mm lens that I was giving a bit of a test. Luckily I did take the time, because the next pass through had the door firmly shut, so this is my only frame showing the interior. I think that this shot is far more successful than my earlier post of the same subject (National Bank), but I would love to know what you think ... (OM2, zuiko 35mm f2.8, f8, HP5 @ 400)

Rainy Afternoon

2008-06-05T21:09:00.005+10:00

The rain was wonderful to see this week and I had a couple of frames at the end of a film to wind off. I found myself holding umbrella in one hand, OM2sp in the other and walking through the city with other commuters trying to find my way to the train. Even though the light was relatively low, the combination of HP5 developed in Microphen gives a quite nice tonal range.(OM2sp, zuiko 50mm f1.8, f5.6, HP5 @ 400)

Ramblin' Man

2008-05-24T18:51:00.006+10:00

The title is an obvious reference to the make of car, and a less obvious reference to the Allman Brothers 1973 release of "Ramblin' Man"; the chorus;

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man
Trying to make a living and doing the best I can..

from which started going around and around in my head when I spied this vehicle. It was one of a number of "old" cars in a car-park adjacent to the lake in my suburb, about to whisk a heap of Year 12 students to their formal at the Greek Club. I have no idea as to the pedigree of this motor but the chrome, blue duco and white sidewall tyres which grabbed my attention, I think lend themselves nicely to conversion into this monochrome image.

The owner happy to pose with his pride and joy.

Wynnum Creek

2008-05-20T22:29:00.007+10:00

We visit Wynnum quite frequently these days and I have always been attracted to this creek and its collection of moored boats. Unfortunately, most of them look like they have seen better times and bear the marks of long days sitting in the weather. Some appear to be work boats whilst others are obviously pleasure craft, patiently awaiting the return of their owners and the opportunity to again joyfully ply the Bay.

This image was taken using a Finepix S3 Pro and a Nikon G series 70-300 zoom I bought a year or two ago. I don't really know why I persevere with this lens, although purchased new, I generally find the quality of pictures it takes disappointing. I guess it's a case of "You get what you pay for!"

On the other hand, I am always pleasantly surprised by the images with my 5MB Leica, which I have started to lug around again. I really think it's more about the lens rather than the grunt behind it. Pathetic lens attached to a great body (which the S3 pro is), is always going to produce sub-standard photographs.

Silver Structure

2008-05-08T21:19:00.003+10:00

The structure featured in this shot is the same at that in Abstract Study 6. This, however, was taken closer to the main support and has a distinctly different feel from the earlier study, although the time of day is very similar and the film treatment is the same. I quite like the effect that is achieved on a range of subjects when pushing this film by 2 stops in early evening light. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom and HP5 @ 1600)

Brisbane at Play

2008-04-27T21:44:00.013+10:00

Brisbane at Play was the theme chosen for our latest group assignment. Having re-acquainted myself with the sport of sailing, (well actually since I sail but don't race I guess technically it's a pastime), I thought this topic would enable me to combine the fun of photography with this sport. I do hope my Monochrome Brisbane colleagues will forgive my selfish motivation! The sole proviso was that a person or people connected in some manner with the activity must appear the in the image.

Despite repeated mumblings that they don't shoot people my highly talented friends applied themselves diligently to the task and have provided excellent examples of Brisbanites going about the serious business of enjoying themselves.

Nicole's "Show Pony" is a great shot of an equestrian event at the Kenmore Show. We know little about the entrant herself except that both she and her powerful mount were beautifully captured in motion whilst bathed in morning light.

In contrast, Boyd has chosen to highlight a team sport by shooting the very Australian game of cricket in his "Change of Ends". This image was taken at a locally held match in the Graceville area of Brisbane. It presents the controlled hullabaloo of the batsmen and fielders rearranging themselves at the end of an over.

On any given weekend off the Wynnum-Manly foreshore, it is very hard not see the a sail somewhere out in Moreton Bay, and as I photographed these subjects just outside the Manly boat harbour, (which is within the confines of the Shire of Brisbane), I hope my colleagues will forgive any locational latitude on my part. Whilst St Helena and Green Islands further out are listed in the Brisbane ward of Wynnum, I have no idea what jurisdiction the bay itself falls into!

Crossing Edward

2008-04-22T20:58:00.005+10:00

Same place, different times. I have continued to experiment with different techniques and approaches to my street essay. There is a busy crossing at the bottom of the Mall where Queen and Edward Streets meet. These two shots were taken at this crossing at different times of the day (one morning the other early evening) and with different film and lens combinations: the square one using an OM2sp, Tokina 35-105mm RMC f3.5-4.5 zoom and HP5 @ 400; the other with an OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom and HP5 @ 1600. I like the very different atmosphere that can be generated from essentially the same spot using very similar techniques.

Hotel Carlton

2008-04-20T08:23:00.003+10:00

A more convincing facade in many ways than the old Telegraph building is that of the adjacent Hotel Carlton. In its day this building must have stood magnificently on the main street of Brisbane, with three stories of ironwork and verandas now proudly fronting a shopping centre. The paint is peeling on the walls and the hardwood floorboards do not all look securely placed, but that doesn't really matter any more as no guests will ever again take in the view and their conversation and laughter will never spill into the street. (OM2sp, Tokina 35-105mm RMC f3.5-4.5 zoom, HP5 @ 400)

Telegraph facade

2008-04-14T21:17:00.003+10:00

Along the Queen St Mall, and in other places throughout the City centre, there seems to be a push to develop new buildings but to keep the facade of the previous building. It has always struck me as an odd policy, because there will be a time where there are no genuine examples of architecture in the late 20th or early 21st Centuries. I am sure that future generations will think us mad not to have attempted to either save the original buildings or have our own designs that we think worthy of display. The Myer Centre, which recently celebrated its 20th year, has a number of these old facades hiding a modern multistory shopping plaza. The subject of this shot is one of those facades, that of the building that housed the Telegraph newspaper offices. (OM2sp, Tokina 35-105mm RMC f3.5-4.5 zoom, HP5 @ 400)

GPO Buskers

2008-04-13T12:01:00.003+10:00

For a number of days these two have been busking outside the main Post Office. Their persistence is admirable, because although the jazz that they play is enjoyable, most on commuters pass without tossing any money. This shot was taken as part of some tests that I am doing on gear before going on a short holiday. It confirms that I really should have tried harder to get a 35mm prime, because my Tokina 35-105mm used for this (and some shots to come) has neither the sharpness, contrast, nor the low light ability that I am looking for in a travel lens – a variable f3.5-4.5 as a minimum aperture just doesn't cut it. Luckily, my OM2sp seems to be working fine in all its modes, including Program, so I might take it as a second body. (OM2sp, Tokina 35-105mm RMC f3.5-4.5 zoom, HP5 @ 400)

Steam

2008-04-08T20:59:00.004+10:00

At the George St end of Queen St is the relatively new Brisbane Square and Radacliff Place. In this wonderful space is an installation piece called Steam, by Donna Marcus. This work is made up of a series of randomly dispersed large metal balls of different sizes with replica aluminium steamer baskets as their feature (more info). One cannot help but be drawn to them when entering the space, and many a photographer and tourist can be seen making images of them on any given day. I used one as a subject in my multiple exposure assignment shot in and Martin has included one in Push as part of his photographs of photographers series. I thought that I would attempt another composition here with a section of a ball and the top of the Mall shown in the background. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom, HP5 @ 800)

Crossing George

2008-04-05T19:05:00.003+10:00

I like the collection of people who gather at the various sets of traffic lights waiting to cross. They seem to show a cross-section of society who move through the city at various times of the day. This group was crossing after getting off a bus just outside the casino, and were heading into the Mall. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom, HP5 @ 800)

Facade @ 240

2008-04-02T20:16:00.004+10:00

From under what my family would call a Leopard Tree (Caesalpinea ferrea) I noticed the way the early morning light played on the side of the Commonwealth Bank building, making shadows and highlights that are not normally seen during "regular" hours. I liked the way this angle makes the building look like a charactature of something real, almost like a temporary facade for something more permanent later. As I stood, I though of how Martin's image of this building made it feel so substantial. So, with Martin's work in mind, I juxtaposed the comical effect of light with the leaves of the Leopard hoping that they would appear more permanent than the building. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom, f8, HP5 @ 800)

Abstract Study 7

2008-03-31T20:18:00.004+10:00

At the top (ie George St) end of the Queen St Mall there is an eatery that has some very interesting architectural detail in its fit out and finish. One piece that caught my attention a long time ago is this piece of alloy that has been machined and polished in a way that leaves simple patterns in the metal. This is placed next to some glass to give an even more interesting effect with its reflection. I have been meaning to make an image of this subject for quite some time, and my current project seems to have given me the perfect excuse. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom, f8, HP5 @ 800)

Sitting around

2008-03-29T20:19:00.002+10:00

Many moons ago I attempted to capture the bronze statues outside the Bank of Queensland building on Queen St, resulting in my BOQ Bust post. As part of my latest project I have again been regularly passing these subjects (male and female sitting on the wall) and I have toyed again with a composition involving these striking pieces of public art. This time, however, I was determined to get some people of the city involved, and have chosen this shot, looking back over the adjacent cafe, to capture more of Queen St life. I like the way some patrons almost mimic the posture of the statue, and how these figure tend to blend with the background when the 35–80mm zoom is used at the longer end to foreshorten the perspective. (OM2n, Tamron 35–80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom, f8, HP5 @ 800)

Tank St

2008-03-26T19:16:00.003+10:00

I have found that this new little project has re-invigorated my interest and has forced me to get out and about with my camera, as I hoped it would. I also continue to experiment with genre, which focusing on the one area and looking for opportunities to make images (rather than hoping the images come at random) seems to be doing. This post is different in that it is really a collection of signs. It is what it is, it doesn't try to be funny or thought provoking, just captures another part of Queen St. I like the tones captured in this shot, which is what drew me to take it as I wandered west from Eagle St. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP, f5.6, HP5 @ 800)

Butt Out

2008-03-24T21:47:00.005+10:00

With the introduction of laws that restrict smoking in buildings, many smokers are now forced to engage their habit on the streets. This has created some new and interesting challenges, like providing sufficient facilities to dispose of the butts. Unfortunately, some smokers do not completely extinguish the butt before depositing it in the bin, and often a very smelly fire smoulders. The look on this lady's face should help to convey just how this fire smelt. I tried very hard to capture the smoke rising from the bin, and the look on the lady's face was a bit of a bonus, although she could be sneering at me as I waited amongst the smelly haze for someone to walk past. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 SP zoom, f8, HP5 @ 800)

Loner on Queen

2008-03-23T14:19:00.003+10:00

A couple of days after taking MacArthur Sculpture I was standing directly below the same spot. I noticed this man walking slowly against the flow of other pedestrians, hunched over and carrying a bag. It looked almost as if he was moving against all of society towards some other existence. I would have liked to have asked him his story, but it is probably rather mundane compared with my imagination about how he came to look like the way he did, on Queen St on that particular day. (OM2n, Tamron 35-80mm f2.8-3.2 zoom, f8, HP5 @ 800)

MacArthur Sculpture

2008-03-21T08:21:00.004+10:00

This sculpture is now almost one of Brisbane's hidden treasures. Well, maybe not so hidden, but it is outside the first floor window of MacArthur Chambers on the corner of Queen and Edward Sts. Now this area of the city is dominated by skyscrapers, it is not so easy to view the sculpture from many good vantage points. This building has recently been renovated to include a shopping complex and apartments, but its character facade was largely retained. I like the light in this early morning shot to retain detail in the white figures and a sense of history in the textures and patterns of the building behind. (OM2n, zuiko 135mm f3.5, f8, HP5 @ 800)

Water feature

2008-03-19T21:26:00.004+10:00

My last post got me thinking about same spot, different time and day. I then remembered that I had rejected a shot for our recent Repetition project that was taken of the same part of the Queen St Mall as "Morning Conversation". Although the water feature is now undergoing renovation, on this morning it was filled and operating after a long time being dormant during the drought. I shot this mainly for the repeated pattern in the feature itself, but also for the "mirror" effect between the bins and the men, and the patterns in the chairs. I particularly like the tones that can be obtained when using FP4 for this type of image. (OM2n, zuiko 50mm f3.5 macro, f8, FP4 @ 125)

Morning conversation

2008-03-18T21:02:00.004+10:00

Often at the "top" end of the Queen St Mall (between George and Albert Sts) there is a collection of different people sitting, watching the world going by, smoking, or just trying to get started for the day. I like the way this area seems to attract different types, who often strike up conversations with others they might never normally contact. Maybe it's the trees and relaxed atmosphere that seems to so nicely capture what it is like to live and be in Brisbane. I found these folk exchanging pleasantries early in the morning before they headed off in different directions, presumably to work. I think in my Queen St theme I will have to return to this area to capture different crowds at different times. (OM2n, zuiko 135mm f3.5, f8, HP5 @ 800)

Secure Deposit

2008-03-16T09:33:00.005+10:00

My last post suggested that I was going to start a new "project" of sorts, earlier ones I have started have been "Doors", "Lines" and "Customs House" (the labels are useful to see the threads). I have discovered that these little pursuits need never really end, and I can keep revisiting the themes as I continue to explore photography. The new theme that I am going to use as a focus is "Queen Street". I intend, to create different images from the street, including architecture, street shots, portraits, whatever. My first post combines my earlier study of doors, but this one is from the old Bank of New South Wales on the corner of Queen and George. I have long wanted to take this subject, but something was always wrong. The light was soft on this morning and I had loaded HP5+ and was pushing it to 800 (more film experimentation) with a view to developing it Microphen to show a friend how I do things. I like the old feel of this shot, but also the way that it conveys solidity and security. (OM2n, zuiko 135mm f3.5, f5.6, HP5 @ 800).

Devotees

2008-03-12T21:31:00.003+10:00

Carrying on from my last post, I did take some shots of humans. What I learned was that a 28mm lens is just a touch too wide. To capture an image of these Hare Krishna devotees dancing and chanting with drums and cymbals, I asked permission before moving in close to take the shot. I had to crop the right part of the frame quite considerably to eliminate unwanted clutter and, even then, the subject seems to fall into the distance too quickly and not command the eye. I will have to get that 35mm prime I have been after and give one of them a go. As for other details, it was almost dark and pushing HP5+ to 1600 did cause the grittyness that I was after ... sort of. Maybe development in ID11 didn't quite hold the shadow detail as well as I wanted. This did get me thinking of another mini project to pursue, but more of that next time. (OM2n, Tamron 28mm f2.5, f8, HP5 @ 1600)

Abstract Study 6

2008-03-08T12:32:00.004+10:00

I have been quite unproductive of late and have not had material to post. Decided that it was time to start experimenting with film and processing etc again. Loaded the old OM2n with HP5+ and decided to walk down the Queen Street Mall at dusk. I pushed the film 2 stops (to 1600) and had a Tamron 28mm f2.5 lens in the hope to get some hand-held shots at about f5.6 for a bit of depth of field. I thought that I would look to shooting some humans, but it turns out that my first posting from this roll is of the structure in the centre of the mall. I took this while frustrated at my unsuccessful attempts at the wildlife.

Repetition

2008-03-02T20:25:00.009+10:00

Our latest group assignment was inspired by the current Andy Warhol exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). In keeping with recurrent themes in Warhol's work, we set out in our fair city to capture some of the Pop Art spirit by focusing on creation of an image that presented an aspect of repetition.

Nicole has presented a 2 by 4 array of positive and negative views of the iconic Mr FourEx (spelling is rather varied) from the Milton Brewery. Notice that the original image was taken in harsh light and that the shadows give this the solidarity of a photograph pretending to be a posterised Andyism!

Martin has taken a similar approach by constructing an image that draws on the Warhol themes of repetition and the mundane. His 3 by 3 images of lunch and hands shows his colleagues from a different perspective.

Boyd's image of the side of the GOMA building attempts to capture aspects of repetition within the built environment.

Each image captures in its own way repetition from a Brisbane perspective. If you are wanting to see how Andy did it, then you better hurry because the exhibition is on until 28 March. Visit http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/current/andy_warhol for more information.

Garden Shadows

2008-02-24T18:55:00.004+10:00

These were taken near the Herbarium at the Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens. The shadows are caused by morning light, fairly early as I was waiting for the doors to open.

Brisbane Botanica

2007-12-16T20:32:00.000+10:00

A group assignment to discover botanical subjects that are identifiably Brisbane.

Boyd's image cleverly frames the Story Bridge just within the grasp of a delicately beautiful and leafless jacaranda.

What could be more Brisbane botanical than the city botanic gardens? Martin's shot explodes with plant life.

Bare branches again superimposed against the planetarium dome at Nicole's favourite location, Mount Coot-tha.

Breeze

2007-11-11T21:57:00.001+10:00

Usually my early morning walks are categorised by calm weather. This was not the case the other morning, when the breeze was unusually strong. So, when I wandered past one of my old haunts, I couldn't help but notice that the University of Queensland flag was flying proud. I couldn't not try to get a shot with the sun back lighting the flag nicely. I only wish that there was a large white building across the street to reflect some light onto the facade so that it would be a little easier to expose across the full frame a little easier. (OM4, Tamron 35-80mm SP f2.8-3.8, f8, HP5 @ 400)

Spring Flowers

2007-10-31T20:29:00.001+10:00

This was taken on the same morning as "Fig". My intention was to gain inspiration by detouring via the City Botanical Gardens thinking that it would be full of spring flowers in bloom. Nothing could be further from the truth: Either spring didn't happen in Brisbane City this year, or I simply missed it! There were some low ground covering plants that offered up some blooms and I was determined to capture what I could. Sad to say, this was the best of the bunch (om4, zuiko 50mm f3.5 macro, f5.6, HP5 @ 400).

Fig

2007-10-23T21:28:00.000+10:00

I have been awfully slack in recent weeks and have not shot anything of worth and decided to try and force myself to find a subject that I could get enthusiastic about. Detouring through the City Botanical Gardens early in the morning I found this fig, nicely lit from the side. I like the complex, almost abstract trunk that these trees develop, and the wonderfully textured bark - almost like an elephant's skin. This is not my usual architectural study, but I do like the strength of its form. (OM4, zuiko 50mm f3.5 macro, f8, HP5 @ 400)

Vino's

2007-10-02T21:22:00.000+10:00

This is just another whimsical shot taken down by the river among the restaurants and cafes. I was really trying to highlight the wonderful architectural detail in the awning outside Vino's and thought that it might fit with my lines theme (I decided against categorising that way). I also thought the composition would be a challenge given the early morning light, the white fabric awning and the clear blue sky beyond. I wasn't using any filters on the lens, but I did tweak the scanned image it a little by upping brightness and contrast a touch. (om4, zuiko 50mm f1.8, f11, FP4 @ 125)

Solitude

2007-09-19T20:52:00.000+10:00

There is not much one can say about this shot. I liked the idea of the solitude that this worker seemed to find early in the morning under the lone tree in the vast expanse of concrete on the river side of the Riparian Plaza. (OM4, zuiko 50mm f1.8, f11, FP4 @ 125)

Tender

2007-09-17T20:32:00.000+10:00

This shot represents another whimsical moment in my photographic journey. I often walk to work via the riverside boardwalk, and this time I paused at the end nearest the Botanical Gardens. The dis-used ferry jetty is now the main access to land for the yachties who moor their boats along the City Reach. I particularly like the way all the tenders were together ajumble, a wonderful metaphor for the different styles of yacht to which they belong and, in turn, the owners who call them home. (OM4, zuiko 135mm f3.5, f11, FP4 @ 125)

Bond Store

2007-09-15T09:39:00.000+10:00

This shot is another in my study of Brisbane's Customs House. Under the grand old building was purported to be the original bond store. This window is set into the large stone wall that forms the riverbank. Judging by the inclusions in the wall, the wharf was once directly attached to this rock face and goods would have been loaded and unloaded from ships and held within the customs complex. I have no idea if these rooms are still accessible, but there is a certain romance they now convey. I particularly like the way this early morning light plays across the face of the stone to show the texture in all its glory. (OM4, zuiko 50mm f3.5 macro, f11, FP4 @ 125)

Ode to Vince

2007-08-26T17:12:00.000+10:00

A good mate of mine turned 60 recently and he is obsessed with all things bicycle. Having no clue about what to get him for his birthday, I decided that I would try to do a series of photos for him. I really wanted to explore square format, and went ahead to mount the results of wet printing each in a frame with a 5in X 5in window in the cut board. These are digital interpretations of the finally presented prints, although I think that digitising the negatives has degraded the feel of the images somewhat. I rejected for the final series a print of Brake that I took during this session and posted a little while ago. I find this type of project quite invigorating and that it gives a certain amount of purpose to my hobby. (OM4, zuiko 50mm f3.5 macro with extension tubes, HP5 @ 400)

Multiple Exposure

2007-08-22T22:28:00.000+10:00

Reddacliff Place

I was wanting to use this project to explore the telling of a story in one frame. The recently completed Brisbane Square has quickly become an icon of the city centre with its large and distinctive spherical public artwork and controversial building. However, less well known is the area dedicated to the late Trevor Reddacliff, in recognition of his work on urban renewal and making Brisbane more “liveable”. Hopefully this shot conveys a different view of this easily identifiable location. (OM2n, zuiko 50mm f1.8, f11, HP5 @ 400)

5 Brisbane Minutes

After debating whether to follow a traditional film approach for this exercise, I still ended up with a digital image. This is a an overlaid multiple image taken of City Hall over a five minute period. One wouldn't believe the number of pigeons that wanted to fly into the shot! Thankfully, I was using a remote so I could keep a lookout for erratic flight paths.

Ice

Having previously seen dramatic examples of multiple exposures taken using a motor drive, I thought I would experiment using this technique with Ilford film and my Nikon F80. Nearly all of my attempts involved at least 4 images Unfortunately most of the negatives were quite grainy however in this example I think it helps promote the idea of the rough texture of the ice on which my daughter was skating. A blue tone has been added to the digitally scanned negative to reinforce the feeling of a cold environment.

2007 Ekka - Ferris Wheel

2007-08-21T22:25:00.001+10:00

I have to admit to borrowing my colleague’s tried and true strategy of presenting the ordinary in an extra-ordinary fashion to add some sparkle to subjects that have the potential to be clichés; hence the less typical viewpoint and a diagonal presentation of this image. A digital colour image given a monochrome treatment coupled with a soft blue wash.

Belgians from the Belgian

2007-08-18T08:09:00.000+10:00

It's not often one sees horses trotting through the CBD, but this lovely pair were harnessed to an open carriage at the top of the mall on July 21. I found out the significance when I walked behind the carriage to see a sign from the Belgian Bar inviting people to drop in and celebrate Belgium Day. It would be appropriate that the horses themselves were Belgian Draughts and they certainly looked it. Anyway, I joined the group of camera/phone wavers who were trying to line up a shot and zoomed in at 190mm.

Customs facade 1

2007-08-15T20:08:00.001+10:00

The facade of Customs House is dominated by four ornate columns standing proud about the main entrance. I particularly like the way that the early morning light washes back off surrounding buildings to softly illuminate the intricate detail of this most magnificent building. This shot is intended to convey the quality of the work that is evident throughout the structure. (OM4, zuiko 135mm f3.5, f5.6, FP4 @ 125)

Point on Eagle

2007-08-11T08:30:00.000+10:00

I have been working quite earnestly of late with doors, lines and CH projects. However, there are times when a shot is just begging to be taken, just for the heck of it. This is one of those shots — pure whimsy. Every time I pass this piece of public artwork it puts a smile on my face, and given that 175 Eagle is beside Customs House, I have been passing often. I hope that this captures some of the joy the original gives me. (OM4, zuiko 135mm f3.5, f4, FP4 @ 125)

Customs at dusk

2007-08-07T20:30:00.001+10:00

I tend to be a creature of habit, and I have found that I most often photograph early in the morning on my way to work. Perhaps this is borne out of a general reluctance to photograph when too many people are around, in case one might ask what I am doing. One reason for choosing to embark on my Customs House series was to force me to investigate the effects of the different light and different lives of the subject. This shot was taken late on a Friday afternoon. I wanted the sky to still be bright, but I also knew that the veranda areas would be well lit to give the building a warm glow. Shot hand held and wide open, I would probably want to at least use my monopod and stop the lens down a click to improve the sharpness if I attempt to use this light again. (OM4, zuiko 50mm f1.8, f1.8, HP5 @ 400)

Riverfront Place Streetside

2007-08-05T19:46:00.000+10:00

This shot was taken from the Eagle Street side of the Riverside Centre, sort of like a mirror image of my earlier Seidler Swoosh post taken from the river side of this same complex. In this frame you can see the trademark architectural detail of the flowing lines common to each of Seidler's Brisbane towers. I composed this to capture the interesting line detail that makes up the entrance, and the way that the frame for the extended glass-topped roof is silhouetted in the morning sun and reflected in the glass walls of the lobby. Although the main doors to the complex are included, they certainly are not features of the scene. (OM4, Tamron 24mm f2.5, f5.6, HP5 @ 400)

Lamp on Queen

2007-07-29T20:31:00.001+10:00

Customs House in Brisbane, completed in 1889, is an icon in the city and it has a colourful history. In Customs from Queen, posted a little while ago, I mentioned that I was considering embarking on a small project to capture different aspects of this most magnificent of our buildings. Well I am considering no longer, and this post is the first of my series to present one subject in many different lights (so to speak). This shot is taken from the other side of the road, where I noticed that the decorative street lamp had a top that echoed the dome atop the main subject. I could not resist using this as my first post because it is the dome that most immediately identify with the structure, and I have tried to capture the essence of its shape but use a shallow depth of field so not to reveal all of the detail in one frame. However, I think that this still gives a hint of the building's decorative style and presence. (OM4, Zuiko 135mm f3.5, f5.6, HP5 @ 400)

River walk

2007-07-27T21:49:00.000+10:00

It was a beautiful morning in Brisbane, and I missed a great opportunity for a photo when taking the middle born to school at sunrise and wasn't carrying a camera. Not to be deterred, I loaded a camera and decided to start working on a couple of new projects on my way to my office job. I wandered down by the river, and from a high vantage point noticed the interesting shadows forming on the river walkway. When I am taking shots like this I often wonder what the "regular" morning commuters see when they travel through the same space. (OM4, Zuiko 135mm f3.5, f11, HP5 @ 400)

National Bank

2007-07-22T09:31:00.001+10:00

When you put your money in a bank you want some confidence that it is going to be secure. The old National Bank building on the corner of Queen and Creek Streets definitely gives this impression through its very presence, including its impressive old set of doors facing Queen St. Although the doors are no longer in use, and unfortunately often the target of graffiti vandals, the brass name plates proudly hark back to a bygone era. (OM2n, Vivitar 55mm f2.8, f4, HP5 @ 400)

Union Jack's

2007-07-17T22:00:00.000+10:00

Door shots wouldn't be door shots if I didn't have one or two very close ups to complement the set. This one was taken of the main doors to Union Jack's Ale House on Charlotte Street. When I walk past on my way to work early in the morning the doors are always securely shut, and the ornate but rather rustic handles complement the varnished timber and iron straps perfectly. I have always thought that this establishment is a bit of an oddity in the centre of sunny Brisbane, but I suppose any marketing tool, including a fully set of armour in a perspex case, can help a business survive. (OM2n, Vivitar 55mm f2.8 macro, f2.8, HP5 @ 400)

Brake

2007-07-15T21:46:00.000+10:00

For a bit of fun today I set myself a task of taking some bicycle component shots (thanks Lydia for providing the model). I thought that cogs and chain, alloy and carbon fibre could make for some interesting compositions with a square crop in mind. I couldn't quite envisage what to do with a brake lever, but I thought that I would persist to try and get something worth posting in relation to my series on lines. So, although not my regular architectural piece, I like the way the the machined alloy catches the light to take on a fluid appearance—almost abstract but still identifiably a brake lever. (OM4Ti, Tamron 90mm f2.5 with 21mm Extension tube, f8, HP5 @ 400)

Customs from Queen

2007-07-15T14:09:00.001+10:00

Another example from my exploration of wide angle studies of Brisbane doors. I am unsure of this shot because I have not attempted to correct the perspective, so the verticals are converging quite dramatically. Strangely, however, I don't seem to mind the convergence in this case too much because it seems to give a sense of presence to this wonderfully grand building on Queen Street. Most people who pass the building tend to remember the structure for its dominant domed roof, but I think that its columns and entrance are equally impressive. A photo study of Customs House might be another challenging project for me to explore in the coming weeks and months. (OM2n, Tamron 28mm f2.5, f8, HP5 @400)

Girls' School

2007-07-13T20:28:00.000+10:00

The St Stephen's Girls School is a building facing Charlotte Street within the Cathedral of St Stephen's precinct that is quite obviously now no longer used as a school. I know nothing of its history, but it has a wonderfully ornate pair of iron gates chained shut and an impressively imposing door. I can but imagine a nun taking a daughter from her parents at the gate, shutting it firmly behind them before leading the girl onto her education within the church. I used my 28mm prime to get very close to the gate in order to have the ornate iron cross out of focus and the door framed by the foreground detail. (OM2n, Tamron 28mm f2.5, f4, HP5 @ 400)

Condemned 2

2007-07-12T20:59:00.000+10:00

I found that in my pursuit of both my current themes—doors and lines—I have been shooting predominantly with either a standard lens or a medium telephoto (usually 135mm). Carrying my camera to work I tend to minimise the kit that I use, and seem to have fallen into a bit of a trap of taking these same lenses each day and not necessarily thinking about other alternatives. Yesterday I deliberately took a 28mm prime and 35-80mm zoom to see how this change of kit also changed the way I treated locations. This post is a follow-up to my original post of these doors in "Condemned". Rather than taking them front on, I have attempted to use the additional width that I had available to capture more of the dilapidated building that is still barely standing around the doors. (OM2n, Tamron 28mm f2.5, f8, HP5 @ 400)

Closed

2007-07-10T20:32:00.000+10:00

St Andrew's Uniting Church on the corner of Ann and Creek Streets has fascinated me since the my work moved to the building across the street in the late-1990s. For a while my desk was in a place that allowed me to look out over the bell tower and admire the building's strikingly simple form. One thing that I have never been able to quite work out with this, and many other churches, is the statement made by the door. Ones like this seem to me to be so intimidating that they either do not encourage me to come in and seek sanctuary or threaten that once I enter I cannot leave. (OM2sp, Zuiko 50mm f1.8, f2.8, FP4 @ 200)

Abstract Study 5

2007-07-07T20:11:00.000+10:00

This shot was taken looking from the Brisbane River boardwalk to Riparian Plaza early in the morning, specifically capturing the levels containing the car parking services. This section of the building is a stone-like grey, with lightly coloured projections and ventilation slots. When the early morning light hits the projecting fins they are rendered a brilliant white, but the remaining areas are in various depths of shadow with the grey of the building tying the composition together. (OM2n, Vivitar 35–105 f3.5–4.5, f8, FP4 @ 200)

Seidler Swoosh

2007-07-05T20:43:00.000+10:00

Just around the corner from the Riparian Plaza (shown in my previous post) is another of Harry Seidler's towers, the Riverside Centre. The building was completed in the mid-1980s and has become somewhat of an icon, not because of its quite wonderful architecture, but because it has been the site of a regular Sunday market almost since it opened. This post intends to show the part of the structure that forms a focal point for the building's Brisbane River-side entrance. In the early morning light I thought that the rendered white curve (a strong theme in this complex) could provide a strong line to draw the eye through the scene. (OM4, Tokina 35-105mm f3.5-4.5, f16, FP4 @ 200)

Riparian Entry

2007-07-04T19:12:00.000+10:00

Located at 71 Eagle St, Riparian Plaza is the second tallest building in the CBD and mixes commercial and residential spaces. Designed by architect Harry Seidler, it has trademark architectural features of dominant curves and a cladding that in places looks almost like reptilian scales. I can't really decide if this shot fits better with my door theme or with "lines", although I definitely shot it with lines in mind. (OM2n, Tamron 135mm f2.8, f5.6, HP5 @ 400)

Abstract Study 4

2007-07-03T22:18:00.000+10:00

Early morning light and glass towers on Eagle Street combine to create some very interesting reflections. These relatively recently planted palms are located next to a wall that is textured with long vertical lines. I wanted to play with the effects of the long, bright reflections playing on the tall, straight trunks of the palms with the dark texture behind. Possible it doesn't translate as well as I hoped. (OM2n, Tamron 135mm f2.8, 5.6, HP5 @ 400)

Abstract Study 3

2007-07-02T20:54:00.000+10:00

I have given the doors a bit of a rest to go back to my line studies for this post. This shot involves a rather familiar theme involving the lines of one building reflected in another of the modern glass towers in Eagle Street. I like the way that the reflected lines match the patterns in the building to make the panes appear strangely concave. I rotated the original image 90 degrees to the right to add a little interest. (OM2n, Tamron 135mm f2.8, f5.6, HP5 @ 400)

Casino Back Door

2007-06-29T22:02:00.001+10:00

Brisbane's Treasury Casino is located in the former Treasury Building. One entrance, off Elizabeth Street, used to be the access to the Registrar General's office. It now has some modern glass architectural features, similar to those that can be seen at 95 William St. I particularly like this shot because the early morning light seems to highlight the elegant features of the old, and places the casino entry into a shadowy part of the composition. (OM4, Tamron 135 f2.8, f2.8, FP4 @ 200)

Cathedral

2007-06-28T21:12:00.000+10:00

The Cathedral of St Stephen is a favourite subject of mine, although it rarely features in my posts. It astounds me that this particular door on the west wall always seems to be open, no matter the time of day or night I find myself wandering past. This characteristic combined with somewhat over-engineered doors and solid sandstone walls seems to say to me that the cathedral is a tremendously safe place, but one that is always welcoming. (OM2n, Tamron 135mm f2.8, f4, HP5 @ 400)

The Club

2007-06-26T20:59:00.001+10:00

The Queensland Club was another subject that my friend, John, suggested that I investigate as it has a rather grand main door. The Club, located on the corner of Alice and George Streets diagonally opposite Parliament House, is a three storey rendered brick building incorporating Italianate elements. Its main door is atop the stairs off Alice St, although the members seem to regularly use the alternative entrance off George St. (OM2n, Tamron 135mm f2.8, f8, HP5 @ 400)