2012 AIPP Epson Victorian Photographer of the Year Awards.

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Darren

I am pleased to announce that I have been awarded Runner-up ‘Landscape Photographer of the Year’ in the 2012 AIPP Epson Victorian Photographer of the Year Awards, collecting 10 awards for 12 images submitted. A great result for my second year of entries. Congratulations to all Photographers who submitted images into the Awards, amazing images from all involved.

The judging for the awards had taken place on 16th and 17th April, with the Awards night following on the 18th. The AIPP is Australia’s Leading Professional Photography Institute.

During the past few weeks I have been totally absorbed in the preparation of my images for the awards, post production, editing, printing and finally mounting. Painstakingly sifting through image after image over and over again, trying to decide which images will make the cut.

When looking through my photos so often, my mind becomes a little bamboozled with the editing process. To help clear the cobwebs from my thinking, I seek advice from family, friends and fellow photographers. This approach tends to make the editing process even more confusing, because everyone who offers their opinion have their own personal likes and dislikes, which throws my head into more of a spin. Therefore, I head back into the darkroom in my mind and start the whole editing process over again (on my own) and after what seems like an eternity, 12 images have been selected.

This year I entered 3 categories, 4 images in Portrait, 4 Landscape and 4 Illustrative, picking up 8 Silver Awards and 2 Silver Distinction Awards.

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Moonlight Head ‘Wreck Beach’

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Darren

Just made my way back from Moonlight Head, which is located just off the Great Ocean Road. This being my second visit to this particular area, Wreck Beach has always been on my list of places to get back to. It’s a little off the beaten track, which means you won’t be running into too many tourists along the way.

My first visit to Wreck Beach was about 5 years ago; not too familiar with the area, I began my walk to Wreck Beach from The Gables car-park, which takes over 2 hours return. 2.6 km and including 366 steps along the way, add in 20 kgs of camera gear, trudging through heavy sand, you can see why I decided not to get back there in a hurry.

Unbeknown to me was that had I driven to the Wreck Beach car-park, I would have saved myself a 2-hour walk and several litres of body fluid. From the Wreck Beach car-park the walk is only 700-odd metres, including 366 steps, which seems like a walk in the park compared to the other route.

Now that I am all the wiser, I aim to visit Wreck Beach more often. Wreck Beach is famous for the remnants that lie in ruins from the Marie Gabrielle, which was shipwrecked in 1869, and the Irish Barque (Fiji) shipwrecked in 1891. Anchors from both ships and also part of the capstan are embedded in rock along the ocean floor.

At low tide they are fully visible and make interesting subject matter. Being there at low tide, I opted not to photograph the anchors. I will visit again when the tide is a little higher and there is water movement around the anchors, giving me more to work with.

I’m hoping to photograph the anchors with lots of water movement and a moody sky, so I scoured around Wreck Beach and stumbled across another area to photograph until I visit next time.

Darren J.

the ocean whisperer, moonlight head, great ocean rd, victoria, australia

The Ocean Whisperer : Prints Available

Moonlight Head, Great Ocean rd, Victoria, Australia. 

dancing with waves, moonlight head, great ocean rd, victoria, australia

Dancing With Waves : Prints Available

Moonlight Head,  Great Ocean rd, Victoria, Australia.

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Crumpler Camera Bag

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Darren

Hi all,

I’m selling a Crumpler Camera Bag, model is Karachi Outpost (M) a go anywhere camera bag with 15inch laptop carrier.

The camera bag is Brand new, never been used, with tags. I won the bag in a photo comp, l already have a camera bag so hence the sale.
The camera bag retails for $295.00, l’m selling it for $200.00.
A bargain.
http://www.crumpler.com/AU/Camera-Bags/Camera-Laptop-Bags/Karachi-Outpost-M.html?LanguageCode=EN&SKU=KOT001-X00150

Contact me for more info.

Darren J.

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Seascapes are my Dreamscapes

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Darren

Recently caught up with my good friend and fellow photographer Rob Featonby. We spent the weekend camping and photographing over at Red Johanna, along the Great Ocean Road.

These days things have gotten very busy at Red Johanna, lots of campers and families enjoying the great outdoors. Lots of fishing, surfing and just kicking back.

Rob Featonby and l have spent the last couple of years catching up for photography sessions on a regular basis. Last year we spent two weeks cruising around Tasmania in his F250, camping and photographing most of the iconic locations Tassie has to offer. Although the weather conditions were not on our side, the journey was awesome.

Rob would have to be one of the most tireless photographers I have met. His passion is shooting night skies and star trails. There have been many occasions when we have been out shooting and I called it a night around midnight, then woke up bright and early for sunrise, only to find Rob still out shooting star trails on the beach! Without sleep, he continues shooting throughout the night and the morning, no matter what the weather conditions; a most dedicated and professional-minded photog.

Rob is pictured here, knee-deep in seawater and loving every moment.

So without fail, I always know I’m in for serious stuff when Rob’s around, lots of energy and motivation. This weekend was no exception, Sunday morning produced a ripping sky and scene. Both Rob and I were ecstatic, due to the fact that the previous morning and evening had been a whitewash due to unfavourable shooting conditions.


For some unknown reason Red Johanna always finds a way to turn it on; very rarely have I not had a good shoot there. My only grudge is that l wish there was more subject matter to work with, but you can’t have it all.

Being able to camp at the doorstep of where you’re shooting is also a big plus: a hop, skip and jump, throw my waders on and I’m ready for shooting. Waders come in very handy whilst shooting seascapes, even Rob has invested in a pair.

I’m heading back out to Great Ocean Road in a couple of days – high tide rolling in at sunset, just the way I like it.

You can check out Rob’s amazing images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_featonby/

Darren J.

the sea within, great ocean rd, apollo bay, victoria, australia

The Sea Within : Prints Available

Seascape along the great ocean rd, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia 

ocean deep, great ocean rd, johanna beach, victoria, australia

Ocean Deep : Prints Available

 Johanna Beach, Victoria, Australia.

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Portrait of Allan

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Darren

This portrait of Allan was captured around two years ago, the image had been archived until recently. The image always had potential to be a ‘great portrait’.

Now with the appropriate post-processing work done I feel that the image has just about reached the the final stage. If any of you have any suggestions that may add to the final look of this image, I would love to hear you opinion.

Darren J.

allan, portrait, country victoria, australia

Allan, Portrait 2 : Prints Available

Portrait of Allan. Country Victoria, Australia 

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Intro Course-Lesson 1

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Darren

The first session of the ‘Introduction to Photography’ course started last night (Tuesday 7th) at the Melbourne Camera Club. The course was sold out with over 40 students attending and the evening was a great success.

I would like to thank Robert Groom for his contribution on the night, giving a wonderful presentation in a series of lectures that covered everything from ‘camera controls and functions’ to ‘understanding techniques for improving your photographs’.

Thanks also to the members of the Melbourne Camera Club who turned up on the evening to lend a hand, signing in students and helping out wherever possible.

This Sunday (12 Feb) will be our first workshop, which is a practical session commencing at 9.30am, beginning with a review of ‘fundamental concepts’ and building on techniques that were presented in Lesson 1.

With 40 students on the day, members of the Club are encouraged to attend and help out where possible.

Darren J.

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Dramatic Clouds.

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Darren

These two images were captured a couple of months ago. Storm clouds started rolling through from early morning at Port Campbell and kept me busy photographing throughout the whole morning and into much of the afternoon. It was a landscape photographer’s delight.

Impressive cloud formations were building up in all directions. I’m a big fan of clouds – they add drama and contrast, and play a huge part in how the light plays out in the landscape. Very rarely do I photograph a cloudless scene.

Having photographed the iconic 12 Apostles on more than one occasion over the years and having so many images from there, in order not to keep repeating the ‘same old same old’, my temptation to photograph this area is driven by predictions of ‘unstable weather’ such as storms, thunder and lightning, which all adds up to wild weather.

Also trying to come up with a slightly different view, a view that might be a little more off-kilter than the norm and in doing so, keeping in mind not to destroy any flora or fauna along the way.

Darren J.

a view for two, stormy skies, gibsons beach, port campbell national park, victoria, australia

A view for two : Prints Available

Stormy skies over Gibsons Beach, Port Campbell National Park, Victoria, Australia 

give me my wings and l will fly to you, stormy skies, port campbell, great ocean rd, victoria, australia

Give me my wings and l will fly to you : Prints Available

Stormy skies over Port Campbell, Great Ocean Rd victoria, Australia. 

Posted in Australian Seascapes, Great Ocean Rd, Port Campbell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Stormy Season

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Darren

I have to say that I love the stormy season, and recently the Great Ocean Road has been providing some amazing scenes.

Whenever there is a slight chance of thunder and lightning being forecast I drop whatever I am doing at the time and head out towards the coast. Due to my emotionally charged state of mind, a moody sky pulls me in all the time; add to that some stormy seas and you will see me doing cartwheels on the sand.

Waist-deep in water, feeling every moment of energy as I reel off frame after frame. Not stopping for air, I make my images in a mad frenzy like a nutty professor who has just stumbled upon an amazing scientific breakthrough.

Onlookers watch in bewilderment as I’m just about knocked over by incoming waves, relentlessly one after the other. I stand my ground firmly against each onslaught, rather than retreating and possibly slipping or stepping into a rock pool due to the fact that I’m unable to see the bottom.

My first reaction if the water level may be too high is to raise my camera and tripod above me; otherwise I grasp onto the tripod firmly to keep its place secure. If you’re looking to do seascape photography, you can stand out in the car-park and set up from there, or alternatively be prepared to get wet.

It’s so important to know your tide times and photograph as the tide is receding, but always trust your instincts and never turn your back on the sea (unless you have eyes in the back of your head) :) .

Darren J.

while l slowly slip away, red johanna beach, great ocean rd, victoria, australia

While l slowly slip away : Prints Available

Johanna Beach, Great Ocean Rd, Victoria, Australia 

no way forward, apollo bay region, great ocean rd, victoria, australia

No way forward : Prints Available

Apollo Bay Region, Great Ocean Rd, Victoria, Australia 

Posted in Australian Seascapes, Great Ocean Rd, Red Johanna Beach | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Photographer of The Year 2011″

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Darren

For the second year running I have been awarded the title of “Photographer of the Year” at the Melbourne Camera Club; once again I am honoured to receive this award.

Other awards for the year include…..

* The Len Mullumby Trophy for A Grade Aggregate Prints 2011
* Set Subject Aggregate Prints Trophy 2011

Best Nature Print for ‘Peek a Boo’

peek-a-boo, boorte, country, victoria, australia.

Peek-A-Boo. : Prints Available

Boorte, Country Victoria, Australia.

Best Colour Print for ‘The way we were’

the way we were, portrait, old town, xing ping, guilin, china

The way we were : Prints Available

 Portrait in Old Xing Ping Town, Guilin, China.

Best Landscape Print for ‘Burning Embers’

burning embers, bright, country victoria, australia.

Burning Embers. : Prints Available

Bright, Country Victoria, Australia.

Posted in Melbourne Camera Club | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Intro Course Coordinator

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Darren

I have recently been appointed Coordinator of the Highly Successful Introduction to Photography Course at the Melbourne Camera Club. The club runs 2 courses per year, providing a series of lectures and practical workshops over a six week period.

The first course commences 7th February 2012 and followed by the 2nd course which commences in August. Our February course sold out within the first week of going online and we already have a waiting list for our August session. The course consists of 6 lessons (tuesday evenings) and 3 workshops (sunday mornings). The course is conducted at the Melbourne Camera Club. http://www.melbournephoto.org.au/

The Intro Course has been running for over 20 years and continues to be a huge success.

I am looking forward to this new role, we have a great team of presenters that include Australian Landscape/travel photographer Peter Walton, who has been in the photographic business for over 40 years and has a wealth of experience. Robert Groom, who has been running the Intro Course for the last 15 years, is a well accomplished freelance photographer/educator and has been instrumental in getting the course to where it is today. Peter Chapple has been photographing fashion for over 20 years, his work speaks for itself and a host of other assistants.

You can check out their websites here……

http://www.peterwalton.com/cms/

http://robertgroom.com.au/

http://www.redbubble.com/people/photoboy

Should be a great year ahead and keep in mind that l will be running land/seascape workshops throughout the year. Drop me a line with your interest.

Darren J.

Posted in Melbourne Camera Club | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments