Post Office Square II

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

Arrangement in Grey and Black

(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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)