Alpha Photography Blog

Coming from Queensland in Australia, and having travelled a bit, I’ve seen some beautiful beaches.  Norfolk Island didn’t really compare from a swimming beach perspective, but the coastline and water colour was stunning.

Because everyday was bright and sunny, my polarising filter became my best friend.  I call this my camera’s sunglasses.  It works particularly well when photographing water.  Here is Anson Bay, which was perhaps the most visually stunning:

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Happy New Year!  Well, it’s been a nice break.  Now, it’s back into the next year, in full swing!

Over my break between Christmas and New Year I went to Norfolk Island, which is a 2 hour flight south-east of Brisbane, where I live.  I had never been there before, and though it’s considered part of Australia in many ways, it is a unique place with it’s own Administration.

It’s a small island, and the only way around is by car.  That said, there are no traffic lights, and only 1 roundabout, which has become a sort of ’signpost’ to direct the tourists by.

I was there for just over a week and it was fantastic.  It is such a relaxing place and you really feel like you’ve had a proper break after being there.  If you’re interested in underwater photography, or landscape photography, this is a great place.  Plus, there is a lot of history to capture.

Over the next few weeks I’ll break down my stay there, in photos.

Here is the first real image I have - the view from my apartment.  I’ll let the photographs speak for themselves.  Here is looking left:

It was a bright sunny day, so needless to say I was using my new Hoya HD Circular Polarising filter!  Now, let’s look right:

Just spectacular, sitting out on the balcony looking at this view.  That’s just the start of my travel and photographic adventures.  Stay tuned! 

Happy New Year!  Enjoy a fun, and safe New Year’s Eve.

Speaking of celebrating - what better way than to enjoy a fine meal at a restaurant with a 5 star view!  This is RPRs - the rooftop restaurant at Royal Pines Resort at the Gold Coast.

It is a rare find to get a restaurant like this these days.  It is extremely popular and books out weeks in advance.  It’s also a favourite location for anniversaries, as I discovered.  The day I photographed the restaurant, they were expecting a 50th anniversary couple - you’ll see the table arrangements the restaurant organised soon.

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Christmas is a time of family, friends, eating, celebration, eating, relaxation, eating, Christmas lights, eating, Christmas Carols, and in some circles… golf.  This time of year is well renowned for upping the ‘kitsch’ factor, and apparently golf courses are not immune.

Recently visiting the Royal Pines Golf Resort at the Gold Coast, I caught site of something that you just don’t see everyday - a tinsel adored golf buggy.

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OK, I’m a ‘little’ excited.  I just got the Canon 5D, and I LOVE IT!

I picked up my new toy over the weekend and set about photographing a weekend down the beautiful Gold Coast.  I stayed at the Royal Pines Resort and it was wonderful.  I experimented with the settings see how they worked and every time the camera made my photos look better!  Here is the hotel room:

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Christmas is a fun time of year.  Lots of decorations, parties, presents and Christmas Carols.  I was recently in Sydney’s Rocks area and they were decorating with a difference - using recycled soft drink bottles…

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Panning can be a challenge at the best of times, but trying to follow a miniature car zipping around a mini racetrack with a camera lens was a new experience for me.

I’d never been to a model car race track until recently and I was amazed at what a big enterprise it is!  This is an activity that attracts young and not-so-young, men, women, kids, teenagers, you name it!

Here are my attempts to capture some of the smaller speed demons on the track…

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Move over Willy Wonka!  For true lovers of chocolate you’ll understand the obsession.  There is a family owned chocolate company in Australia called Haigh’s, based in Adelaide.  Visiting family down in Adelaide recently I went on a tour of their factory and was in chocolate heaven!

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This is how Queensland Tourism describes Queensland.  This is especially true in Northern Queensland - up near the Whitsunday Islands.

Recently, a friend got married and “unfortunately” she held her wedding up in Mackay at a place called Dolphin Heads Resort.

Coming from a busy daily grind, I instantly felt more relaxed as soon as I got off the plane and felt the cool, yet balmy tropical breeze.  The resort is right on the ocean, and here are some of the views…

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Seeing the world from above is a fun experience.  Taking photos of it is another matter.  I’ve taken photos mainly from commercial get airplanes, and also from a little Cessna.  You can definitely get more land detail from a light aircraft, but to see coastline, definitely the jet.   The quality can be a bit hit and miss though, as Mother Nature is difficult to control.

Here are a few aerial photos from Hawaii:

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