Author Archives: Des
That Wanaka Willow
Commonly known as thatWanakaTree, the Wanaka Willow is a tree that grows out in the waters of New Zealand's Lake Wanaka. Supposedly the most photographed tree in the world, the Wanaka Willow attracts dozens of photographers each sunrise and sunset to capture imagery of this rather unique vista. As with all of our experiences on…
Wakatipu Reflections
A trio of images from the Queenstown area of New Zealand, featuring the stunning mountain ranges as a backdrop to the magic foreground of Lake Wakatipu. The scenery around Queenstown is simply breathtaking and would keep any landscape photographer happy for years. Wakatipu Reflections Magnificent reflections on Lake Wakatipu. Driving back from Glenorchy to Queenstown…
A New Zealand Adventure Begins
Queenstown, a city on New Zealand's South Island, is sometimes referred to as the 'adventure capital of the world', a title it has earned through the variety of outdoor and adventure activities that can be pursued in and around this alpine city. Even the flight into Queenstown is regarded as the world's most scenic approach,…
Diving PNG
I was surprised today to see blog post from DeeperBlue on Diving Papua New Guinea, featuring one of my images from a trip my wife and I made there in 2006. We love PNG, and have dived at Kavieng, Kimbe Bay (Walindi), Milne Bay (Tawali) and Tufi. These are all amazing diving locations, and I…
Passage to the Castle
Castel Sant'Angelo must be one of the most photographed sites in Rome. Given that Rome is one of the world's most photographed cites, that is really saying something. Having captured several of the classic vistas of Castel Sant'Angelo, I set about finding different angles. This street leading up to the bridge across to the castle…
Colourful Clarke Quay
Singapore is a colourful city. I didn't tropical business-hub to be so vibrant and vivid, so as a photographer I was delighted to experience not just the modern architecture mixed with Asian heritage, but also the colourful expression of city's colonial past. We explored the city mostly by foot, but a boat tour from Marina…
Pre-setting your camera for likely images
My photographic origins in the underwater world have taught me the importance of thinking through the photographic objectives for a shoot (dive), and pre-setting your camera. In underwater photography one key mantra is to get close – minimising the amount of water between subject and your camera1. For this reason, and the fact that lenses…
Marina Bay Sands
I love spending time around the Downtown Core area of Singapore whenever I visit the exotic Asian city. The island nation has developed a unique combination of the old and the new, of Asian and western and of formal and casual. Photographically, the Downtown Core is a dream. There are many buildings, bridges, and other…
My Mirrorless Experience
I made the switch from DSLR cameras to the Micro Four Thirds (m43) based interchangeable lens system in about 2014. My last dSLR was a Nikon D200, and I switched to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 that I am still using.1 The switch to m43 has been awesome. My personal photography revolves around underwater, seascapes, landscapes…
Wangi Falls
Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park is a spectacular place to visit for great photography opportunities. During the Top End's dry season it is also a great place to swim and enjoy cool, clear water.1 Waterfalls provide an interesting range of shooting opportunities, with my preference being for silky smooth water as seen in this…
Crowds and Clouds
Late Autumn is a great time to visit Rome as the crowds are much smaller than they would be during the Summer months. This image was created from the Spanish Steps, with a perspective down Via dei Condotti, an upmarket shopping street in city's centre. The presence of the crowds gives some indication of what…
The Temple of Castor and Pollux
The Temple of Castor and Pollux is one of the ancient ruined buildings in the Roman Forum. Today the temple consists of three marble pillars, some foundational structure and little more. It can be seen from a variety of vantage points from around the Forum. I composed this image to get maximal sky between the…