Re-runs (from 2012)
Since there are a few new followers to my PhotoBlog, I thought you might like to see some old Black & White shots (converted from colour images) from 2012. Seems there are many lovers of Black & White photography like myself. Most of these images are already on my blog in the archives, but still remain some of my favourite images I’ve shot in the past. The conversion to Black & White came about purely as they all had good contrast and light.
It’s refreshingly cool this morning, hopefully signalling the arrival of Autumn and time to get back to Melbourne Zoo for some animal photos. 3-4 hours spent at the Zoo is one of my favourite photography excursions, but it’s been a while since I have taken any really good photos there. I think my best zoo photos were taken late 2011 & early 2012. I suspect my vision was getting a bit stale by the end of 2012 and I needed a break from Zoo subjects for a while.
……..and finally……probably the only image I have of one of the homeless people living on Melbourne’s Streets. Many of these homeless don’t like their photo being taken at all. Strange in some ways as I usually drop some money for a meal in their hats or boxes (put out in front of them for donations). Maybe they think I am a professional photographer with a nice looking camera in my hand and want to ‘make money’ out of their image.
Love the Lizard!!! It’s like 3-D!
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Thanks Steve – that was a really good contrast shot for converting into B & W. That Iguana is apparently always a good reptile for shooting B & W due to the scales on his skin.
You are brilliant at capturing moments!
Thanks for the lovely comment Julie – it’s probably just as much a case of being in the right place at the right time with some of these street shots. In this age of digital photography and the computer, one can afford to take dozens & dozens of photos in order to get a good one. V x
I love the compostion in your photos, very engaging, and I am a huge fan of the use of black and white which you really do well. Thank you,
Thankyou for the lovely comment, Charlie – good to hear you’re a fan of Black & White too.
Nice set, especially shots 3 & 5.
Thanks Mark – they are both my favourites too. I had just got off the tram in the city and was about to cross the road when I saw the scene of no. 3. Luckily, I still had suitable camera settings from an afternoon at the zoo, turned the DSLR on, raised the camera & shot (all in a matter of a few seconds). No 3 was definitely right place at the right time, and correct exposure settings for the light on the male & female pedestrians in that moment.
Well they are both great captures!! In a previous post you mentioned using an 18-200mm lens. Is that the Canon EF-S? If so just wanted to know what you thought of it?
Yes Mark – it’s the Canon EF – S 3.5-5.6 IS.
I think it’s brilliant, especially for me with my limited eyesight. I can shoot fairly well using ‘distance’ spectacles. I can only shoot with the lens on AF though. My eyesight is too poor to use MF. Having said that, I have taken both macro shots of dragonflies & small flowers, as well as distant bird shots with the 18-200mm lens and as long as I can hold the camera steady enough, can usually get pretty good results with the telephoto lens. Most of the photos on my blog are taken with the 18-200mm since I bought the DSLR Dec 2010 (unless I say I’ve used the 50mm or 100mm Macro lens in the actual post).
It’s the best all round lens I could possibly imagine for both bird, animal, city & flower photography. I’ve even taken a couple of very good portraits with it at friends birthday parties at night. I would recommend it to anyone – beginner, advanced amateur or professional photographer (on a budget). I thought it was a bit heavy the first day or so, but am well and truly used to it now, in fact the weight is an advantage in trying to hold the camera steady to shoot through cage wires at the zoo. I have chronic daily pain & had spinal surgery in 2008, so the weight of the lens is important for me.
If you’ve got good eyesight & a steady hand, I think you could shoot anything hand-held with this lens. To be honest, I think my hand-held shots are nearly as good as my (rare) tripod shots.
I read dozens of reviews before I bought it and I’m so glad I did. My 50mm prime lens gives sharper focus, but I get tired walking around with the 50mm trying to get close to the subject. I like to be able to zoom in & out no matter where I am with the telephoto lens.
Thanks Vic, that’s a very useful review. I’m thinking of getting one for my wife, because she won’t be bothered to change lenses and so needs something with a good zoom range. Also the weight issue is important for her too. She’ll also like the fact that its pretty good at close-up, because she loves taking shots of flowers etc.
You’re welcome Mark.
I think your wife would love it (and probably would never need to get any other lens). I have the EOS 500D body. It was the lightest DSLR body on the market back in Dec 2010 and just fits my female sized hand perfectly. I have long fingers. I walk around the Botanic Gardens for 3-4 hours holding the DSLR with telephoto lens in my hand with a wrist strap. The neck strap which came with the body hurts my neck & shoulders too much. The 500D fits the size of my budget too. A good ‘entry level’ DSLR if you’re thinking of buying your wife a camera too (or does she already have a Canon DSLR?).
Yes she’s got the 550d (it used to be mine before I moved to the 7d). But she only has the 18-55mm kit lens, and she needs something a little better, with a little more reach.
They are very good, Victoria!
Thankyou Bente.
I have seen some of these photos before, but they are still great images. You have really captured some excellent pictures last year. My favourite is probably the guy walking under an umbrella.
Thanks Otto. I thought since I’ve got some new followers interested in B & W, they might like to see some of my previous images (hence the re-run).
I think I took better ‘colour’ photos last year too. The heatwave in 2013 hasn’t been conducive to go outdoors walking taking photos and I think my images this year have suffered under my lethargy & fatigue. I don’t think the focus is as sharp in some photos, so maybe I need to go back to some tripod shots (instead of hand-held).
But overall, I think I’ve photographed just about everything within public transport distance many times over now. I really need a new location or somewhere completely different to put a bit of life back into my photography.
I’ve lived in this area most of the last 35 years since coming back from London and walked around the Botanic Gardens thousands & thousands of times (as I worked next to the Gardens for 17 years as well as living here) – dare I suggest I’m……almost…….getting…….bored (with the Royal Botanic Gardens). And while I have done some street photography for a change of pace, going to the city is really tiring.
And your street photography is really interesting. I wouldn’t be bothered with a tripod. Just get the action and the moment, that is more important than perfect sharpness.
I remember most of these from your previous postings. They are great! The lizard shot is just amazing!
thanks Fergiemoto.