Pentax Branch Office

Twig Or Treat

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes, just sometimes, a photographer has to put his cameras down. On Monday I had the privilege of being taken on a hike into Kluane National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our guide for the day was Brent Liddle of Kluane Ecotours and I reckon that I lagged behind the group for most of the day, simply because I kept stopping to take photographs every few seconds.

This shot was taken on a rocky outcrop just before we turned back and let me tell you, the views were simply stunning. As we sat there, eating our lunch in the silence of the mountainous region, we were truly blessed with our surroundings.

Behind us we had a rocky peak with fresh early-autumn snow. To our left we had a mountain range shielding Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan, from view. In front of us, we had the shimmering expanse of Lake Kathleen.

While the rest of the group sat there, getting their breath back, I simply had to keep shooting because the view were simply priceless. Regretfully, I had to eat too, and the thought of the salmon and cream cheese bagel could not be ignored for much longer.

It was one of those rare moments on this six-day trip organised by Yukon Tourism when I actually had to put both my cameras down. But where's a bloke to put his cameras when you're in the wilderness?

On the wet grass? Naaaah. On the shale? Nope. On the rocks? Never. (My love affair with photography will never be on the rocks!)

That's when I spotted this dead tree trunk on the slope beside me. My Pentax K100D with the 18-125mm lens was soon nestled into the dry bark, suported by a gnarly branch. And the Pentax K200D with my 70-300mm lens soon found an equally inventive place, suspended by its strap from the fork in a strong branch.

But I simply couldn't resist the impulse that soon overtook me. I temporarily (only temporarily, mind you) deserted the delicious bagel and picked up my K100D. I simply had to shoot the other camera, secure in its inventive spot.

I took about a dozen shots, all up. The first one (above) was taken while standing over and slightly to the left of the fallen branch, to make full use of the splashes of autumn foliage. And the shot below was taken from a different angle to make best use of the snowy peak in the background.

The Yukon's like that. You don't have to go searching for a great angle. The real problem is choosing which of the stunning sights you're going to capture.

Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.

Splashing Colour Across The Sky

If Only I Could Paint Like This

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I've always thought photographers and painters are richly blessed in this country, where vibrant hues are so often taken for granted. This sunset, with its flaming skyshow, was photographed about a month ago. I was standing on top of a hill in Narre Warren, in Melbourne's southeast, near the bike track of the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

I shot about two dozen frames very quickly, using different focal lengths and several variations of compositions to try and capture the colours as they spread and morphed across a wide expanse of sky. Looking at these shots, you wouldn't think I had power lines right across the scene in front of me. Sometimes the lines themselves can add to the perspective, but only half the shots I took that day have the power lines across them.

I was using a 300mm Sigma lens on my Pentax K100D - and it's always interesting to see the incredible amount of detail and clarity that the lens picks up. I was concentrating totally on the colours and the framing of each shot, but when I got home and looked at the images on my computer, I was intrigued to see what looks like a tiny purple ship on the right-hand side of the horizon.

If you look carefully, you can even see it on these low-res versions of the original shots. Could it perhaps be a 21st century version of the famous ghost ship, the Mary Celeste? Naaaaah, I don't think so.

In actual fact, I think the "ship" is really the office buildings of Melbourne's central business district - but I need to return to this hill and take some more shots to check this out.

I've shot sunsets from this point before, because it gives me wonderful access across a gentle but dramatic valley - and I ain't never noticed the tall buildings of the city from this vantage point. At this stage I should point out that the city is at least 35 kilometres away from Narre Warren, as the crow flies. No, I’m not kidding. It’s 35 kilometres – or almost 22 miles. Amazing, isn’t it?

So stand by and we'll solve this mystery together. Soon.

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch Friday.

Green Vote

An Avenue Awaits Every Photographer

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

A lot of bloggers have asked me for advice on buying the right camera. I really enjoy questions like this. Which camera is right for you? Well, there is only one way to find out. My advice is always the same - it's a bit like buying a car. First of all you have to decide what category you're looking for, otherwise the choice is simply overwhelming.

Allow me to repeat what I've privately told several bloggers. Which camera are you going to use the most? Macro? Digital point-and-click with multi functions? Digital SLR? Film-based SLR? Digital SLR with multi-function lens? Or a camera with several lenses?

The next part of my answer also addresses a specific question from a blogger who asked why I chose the Pentax K100D, which is a digital SLR (or single-lens reflex). I liked the feel of it, enjoyed the functionality, got a kick out of handling it, and so it became an extension of my soul. I have a single multi-function lens, a Sigma 18-125mm lens, which allows me a wide range of options.

If you want a camera that fits into a handbag or can slip into your pocket, you need a slimline digital and there is a stunning range of these available. If you want more control over what you do with a camera, then I guess you're looking at an SLR.

When it comes to buying a camera, you'll probably have more than a couple of options, even after you've decided what sort of camera you want. So why not rock up at your local camera store and ask if you can test three or four cameras in the store before you make your final choice.

Bear in mind that prices have dropped sharply in the past couple of years and you can get a bells-and-whistles camera for a lot less than you would have paid even eighteen months ago. And when it comes to memory cards - the lifeblood of a digital camera - their prices have fallen through the floor as well. Two years ago I was paying $200 for a one-gigabyte memory card, whereas a two-gigabyte card (depending on the brand) can now be found for $50.

I always have my Pentax slung over my shoulder - which probably enables me to get a couple of great shots every week that I would otherwise have missed. The shot at the top of this post was taken about three weeks ago. I was walking across the street to photograph a rooftop sign, when I had to negotiate this side street in Caulfield South. I looked right to check for traffic - and was gobsmacked by the beauty of the avenue.

I grew up on an avenue, with trees on either side that formed a welcoming archway. That is exactly what I saw in this street as well. The branches looked like a salute from a timber guard of honour, while the green canopy just swept upwards in endless profusion. I included the parked cars in the frame, as well as the grey surface of the street not just for points of reference, but also for contrast.

Shy Scraper

Literally Looking Down On Melbourne

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Ever since I got this Pentax K100D, my first digital SLR, I made a conscious decision to have the camera with me whenever possible. That was a good call, because I've been able to take scores of shots that I would otherwise have rued. When a Black Hawk helicopter flew across the city skyline, I heard the rotors even before I saw the chopper - and I was able to get two or three quick frames of a very rare sight. When smog obscured an entire skyscraper, I was able to shoot a sequence of shots over a spell of five minutes, capturing the unusual vista.

And even for comparatively mundane scenes like this, where cloud and early morning sun endow the central business district with strong light, I am able to swing the camera up to my eye and shoot immediately. This is a fairly unusual angle to present Flinders Street Station and part of Melbourne's skyline, because I was on the eleventh floor of a city building.

For this shot, which was one of three, I used a shutter speed of 1/125 of a second, F 6.7 and an ISO speed of 200. In case you're wondering, no, the image has not been enhanced at all. And I should tell you that I had the flash off - because it was taken through a window!

Camera Conscious

Let's Focus On The Task Ahead

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

On Tuesday I got an interesting question from Merisi, who is based in Vienna, Austria and whose site is updated regularly with some eye-catching photo essays and short, snappy text.

``I see that you are a professional photographer,'' said Merisi, ``do you have a site with more of your photos? I am only snapshooting with a little Sony Cybershot, which unfortunately gives me once again spots on images taken with zoom. I am thinking about upgrading a notch or two, wide angle, more zoom, without losing the Sony's capability of taking low-light shots without flash. May I ask you if you have any suggestions?''

First up, Merisi, I am very flattered that you think I'm a professional photographer. Do allow me to qualify that. I'm a professional journalist who just happens to love photography. However, when I have this second novel out of the way, I'll be doing a bit more serious photography for a while, before going on to my next novel.

I've had a good look at the nature of your photography and I think I might be able to answer your question, while addressing the issue that you also enjoy close-up shots as much as I do. There are a couple of camera-specific posts on my blog at Giving Cameras The Right Exposure and Putting Cameras in the Picture and I guess those will help others with similar queries to yours.

I reckon what you really need is a versatile camera with a decent (but not overpowering) zoom, a great mid range and terrific macro. Like you, I also take a lot of low-light shots. I use a Pentax K100D with a Sigma 18-125mm lens that does all of the above, but I recently had the pleasure of testing a Pentax K10D - which has a brilliant macro. To see one particular result, go to Mug Shot and you'll see what I mean.

Scout around and you'll find several cameras that have the 50 per cent extra length on their focal plane. Confused? Naaaah, this just means you have a focal length equivalent to a 150mm lens while shooting with a 100mm lens. I would also advice you to go to a camera dealer and spend some time testing the gear that matches your requirements and your budget. It's unlikely they will let you test each camera for an hour or so outdoors, so just shoot various objects in the store and compare results before making your final choice.

I wouldn't buy a car without test-driving it. Similarly, I'd recommend that anyone keen on buying a new camera actually tests a few different models and makes before making up your mind. Good luck and let me know how you go.

Click here: Pentax K100D. Shutter 1/60, F 5.6. ISO speed 800. Flash disabled.

Someone's Stringing Us Along

Arty Approach Is Really Crafty

Photograph copyright: MELANIE McMAHON

As you can see, I'm not the only one in the family who enjoys using a camera. My Pentax K100D has been known to disappear in the hands of certain other members of the clan as well. I like this shot because of the rich colours, the variety of shapes and the fact that there are so many points of reference on which the eye can alight. These pink plastic containers with their many compartments are part of a bracelet-making set that was sitting on a table in our family room. In all honesty, I don't think I could have composed this frame any better.

Mug Shot

Has Someone Been Using Ceiling Wax?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Here's a couple of shots I took with a Pentax K10D, an updated version of the K100D that I own. I was sitting at my desk at work and took this shot, focusing on the rim of my dark blue coffee mug. Then I reversed the focus, trying to get a clear shot of the surface of the water in the mug. I was pretty impressed by how clearly I could see the reflection of the ceiling panels and the fluourescent lighting above me.

These are just low-resolution versions of the two shots, but the high-res images are pretty impressive. Interesting experiment all round - but I realised later that the reflection would not have been so clear if there had been tea or coffee in the mug. And as regular readers know so well, I do not digitally enhance my shots in any way. What you see here is exactly what I shoot. Nor have the images been sharpened with the aid of a computer programme.

Scull And Crossbones

Don’t Pull Out The Hot Cross Bung

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Want to see Olympic medallists in training? Then your best chance is to rise before dawn and stand in the cold and the dark beside the Yarra, the river on which Melbourne was founded. Among the school and university-level crews that scythe silently through the inky water are also the elite sportsmen and women who bring back medals of every colour from international sports meets. This shot was taken just before dawn, using the 18-125 lens on my Pentax K100D, because this quad sculls crew was across the river, near the north bank. It was taken without a tripod, as the crew sped past. I must have done something right, because the frame stands up well, even at A4 size.

Tickled Pink

Can Someone Please Identify This Shrub?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes there is a great picture in the most mundane sight. I shot this about 24 hours ago, when this low shrub caught my attention. I composed the frame really carefully, ignoring the foreground and keeping the mid-section in sharp focus. As you can see, the Pentax K100D does that very well. It was about midday and the light was very patchy because of the cloud conditions, so I took one shot with the flash. Didn't like the results, so I turned it to ``flash-off'' mode and, hey presto, the patchy light actually worked to my advantage.
Can anyone identify the shrub for me? I've got no idea what it is. It's fairly common ground cover here in Melbourne gardens. It grows to slightly less than a metre and in strong light, the leaves actually look more red than they do in this shot. Any green-thumb gardeners out there? If so, please leave a comment if you can tell me the name.