Monthly Archives: October 2011

Good Cause, Good Event

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Over the weekend I had a great time shooting an event in a great spot, Jervis Bay, run by great people, Max Adventure for a great cause, The Starlight Foundation.  The event was the Great Adventure Challenge (GAC Facebook Page) which is in its fourth year of raising money for this worthy cause.  This year alone, the GAC raised it’s largest amount of $260,000 bring the four year total to $670,000 which will go towards making sick children feel better while they stay in hospital.

GAC 2011 - Competitors

GAC 2011 - Competitors

As for the event, a great multi sport barrage of activities from trail running, snorkeling, kayaking, MTB riding, rogaining were tackled by teams of 8 people.  Between leg changovers, the teams had to complete challenges of skill testing smarts and creativity.  As for the location, Huskisson in Jervis Bay put on perfect weather with sunny skies and high 20′s.

GAC 2011 - Competitors

GAC 2011 - Competitors

As for shooting, it was hard work just keeping up with the competitors as they raced one another over the 50+ Km course.  Not only that but to reach some of the locations required driving on unknown and unmarked roads.  All woth it though as everyone was having a great time and full of smiles and enthusiasm.

GAC 2011 - Competitors

GAC 2011 - Competitors

My gear consisted of my regular Nikon camera bodies and lens choices from 24mm – 200mm.  Every lens was needed as long beach shots, shots while standing/running in water and tight fire-road shots were called for.  Fill flash light from speedlights helped balanced out the harsh sunlight.  The sand was a challenge to keep out of the bag but thankfully it wasn’t windy.  :)

To all the competitors and the organisers thanks for a great day, your hard work paid off with a very successful event.  See you next year.

Gilbert.


Black and Whites

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Swirling Tide

Up until now, I have predominently been a colour photographer taking photos of what I see with my eyes.  I have tried some quick black and white conversions of my colour images using software that left me thinking I had best stay with colour.  Photoshop, then Lightroom which was an improvement with more control but still nothing that made me sit up and take notice.  Until now that is.  I have recently tried out new software from Nik Software called Silver Efex Pro.

Now maybe I have improved my images over the years or my colour management system has removed the terrible colour issues plaqued by most digital workflows but I am finding that the images I have been choosing to convert to black and white have alot more pop to them then before.  There is alot more depth and structure to these images where before they were flat and were missing a good tonal range of grays.

Now that I am happy with what I am producing as a black and white image, I have decided to create a B&W Gallery of my favourite images and images that just never achieved, in colour, what I had envisioned the image to be.  I would love to hear anyones comments or critiques of the work.

cheers.

Gilbert.