Photography – Page 8 – Nicci Carrera

November 14, 2013March 20, 2014 Nicci Australia, Travel

Great Barrier Reef

You have to get up early to get to the reef from Townsville.

It’s a long boat ride, but it’s worth it! The dark patches are the reef.

The environment is very peaceful. I saw 3 big, kind of flat (vertical) fish hanging motionless in the water near the reef. They were so still! And there’s not much sound, just your own breath. Gazing down at the life below from the surface was really peering into another world.

The captain suggested I shoot some pictures through his polarized sun glasses. They allow you to see more deeply into the water.

November 12, 2013October 26, 2013 Nicci Australia, Travel

The beauty of dead trees, Magnetic Island, Australia series, 5

November 11, 2013November 11, 2013 Nicci Australia, Travel

Lighthouses of Victoria, Australia, 1, Split Point

Leanne (of Leanne Cole Photography fame) took us to this fabulous spot. I must admit that at the time I was dizzy from travel and not really able to absorb everything. I mean Melbourne and The Great Ocean Road are somewhat overwhelming. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much mental alertness to point a camera and click. Now I can go back and enjoy some of the nuances of the experiences.

Looking at these photos reminds me of the feeling I had at this light house. The feeling was cozy. Some lighthouses feel lonely to me.

I wonder if you will get that feeling from the photos.

November 9, 2013November 2, 2013 Nicci Australia, Travel

The beauty of dead trees, Magnetic Island, Australia series, 4

Those little yellow things are flowers on some of the trees.

November 8, 2013November 2, 2013 Nicci Australia, Travel

The beauty of dead trees, Uluru

November 6, 2013November 6, 2013 Nicci Australia, Travel

Street art of Charters Towers, Australia

Inland from Townsville is the historic gold mining town of Charters Towers. It takes about an hour and a half to drive there from Townsville. I was surprised to see how lush the town was with lots of trees and streets lined with historic buildings. The visitor’s center is open 7 days a week, staffed by volunteers.

November 3, 2013November 2, 2013 Nicci Australia, Travel

Port Lonsdale pier, Victoria, Australia

Leanne broke me through! I now love working with my DSLR. My battery died, so I didn’t work with it a lot on that day, but I’m no longer reluctant to use it after seeing her use hers with as much ease as I use my compact. I just soaked up her photography habits like a sponge. At first I was intimidated and afraid to take pictures because I was with a “real” photographer. But we talked nonstop and almost immediately on the first stop, Port Lonsdale, I felt I was with an old friend and I just started taking all the weird little photos that caught my eye after getting the big obvious ones out of the way! Leanne understands.

Leanne told me about RAW format. I decided to use it with PhotoShop Elements, a light-weight version of Photoshop that came with my Wacom Bamboo. I just started experimenting with it. The first is the original and the second I increased the black. I am missing some features and it was hard to figure out how I saved this, but I’ve seen enough to know I want the software and I want RAW files. And I love my DSLR. I just keep it on auto. One step at a time. At least now I’m pulling out the big guy and not being intimidated by it.