Photography Tips and Tricks

grey were the favoured colours. But here Bede has realised that the warm tone is so evocative that no fiddling should be done. d. Framing. This picture looks down on the Pinnacles - in an area that doesn’t have tall structures. So I’m calling either a drone shot, a long ladder, or Bede is taller than most of us. Massive respect for this decision to use the drone - it is the ideal decision for the shot and a safe place to fly it. e. Position. Shooting into the sun behind cloud with both the vehicle and the sun at the optimum 1/3 position has worked perfectly. If this image can be cropped to a portrait mode, it would make a great magazine cover. Too many times we’ve seen the Pinnacles shots taken to make them look massive - enormous structures looming up like a Mad Max movie set. That’s artistic, but not accurate. Also clichéd. I think Bede has done a far better job of accurate representation, and the thoughtful photography is still spectacular. Great Western Australian scenery just needs to be seen for itself - so get out there and look.

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PHOTOGRAPHY Tips & Tricks

Tripods Are Old School

So are 4WD vehicles, friend, and old schools of thought and action sometimes produce the best results. If you are travelling thousands of kilometres to take spectacular pictures, wouldn’t it be great if you could ensure that the results were sharp? Not just sortof in focus, but tack-sharp? Think old, three-legged school. Optical studies have been done by pros shooting their best cameras and lenses at their best hand-held speeds and even if they are helped by modern circuitry and shooter’s hands, they still never equal the results achieved on a tripod. Of course the tripod itself has to be set firmly on a steady surface, so no good trying on the deck of a ship or soft sands. You are trying to connect to bedrock somehow with a small platform that doesn’t move. Pick a metal tripod - as large as you can conveniently carry. Remember that you may have to hike with it - not just transport it in your vehicle. Pick one with a good locking head. Keep it free of sand and corrosion. WD40 is a good tip, done in moderation. If you are forced to use beach space for your setup throw down three pieces of cardboard or a carpet square as a landing field for the tripod legs. If you have the luxury of turf and steel spikes, use them. Lock that baby down. Finally - shield the tripod setup from strong winds - they can erase the sharpness advantage if the exposure is long.