Thoughts…

The purpose of this post is to share my thoughts on my film photography. It’s been a little over a year since I took my old cameras and some rolls of film out of the cupboard and started re-using them.

My first thought is how much my photography has been rejuvenated. Now, I’m not getting into the argument of film photography is better than digital or vice versa. Both have their place. I will still be using my digital camera, particularly for bird photography.

A baby Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus) captured by a digital camera.

Think more; shoot less is a sage piece of advice. Thinking more about the shot I am about to take is paramount to my film photography. Unlike digital photography, where I can take multiple shots of my subject, film is too expensive to do that.

Lake Colac, Victoria, Australia

The above photograph was taken using a Kodak Retinette Rangefinder camera loaded with Kodacolor film. This roll of film was probably the first roll to be used in this camera for close on forty years.

Yarraville, Victoria, Australia

This photograph was taken using my Nikon EM SLR, also loaded with Kodacolor film. Both these rolls of Kodacolor film were bought in 2005 and were well past their expiry date. They had been stored in a cool dark place and showed no ill effects. I exposed them at box speed (ISO 200).

The Old Farm Shed, Irrewarra, Victoria, Australia

The Old Farm Shed was taken using a Nikon EM SLR loaded with Kodak Tri-X 400 Black and White film.

Finally, the anticipation of seeing the results once the exposed film has been developed, printed and scanned is so different from what I get from seeing instantly my digital shots.

Please Note:
Fred O’Donnell Photography is the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. These images are protected by copyright laws and all rights are reserved. To purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

2016 -Coming to an End

2016 is fast coming to an end. I thought it might be interesting to share with you some photographs I snapped over the course of the year.

There is no rhyme or reason to these images, they are more a pictorial diary of my year.

No1 – The city skyline of Melbourne.

During the school holidays I was called upon to look after two of my grandchildren. I snapped this shot from the waterfront at Williamstown, looking across Hobson”s Bay, while we were talking an evening walk.

No2 – Barongarook Creek Bridge.

I had seen a 19th century postcard taken from almost the same spot I stood to take this photograph. It was my intention to attempt emulating his work.

The postcard photographer would have been standing in the middle of what is now the Princes Highway. There were two reasons I chose to stand on the footpath to take my shot. The first is the busyness of the highway (the main carriageway in and out of Colac) and the tree to the left of the bridge would have blocked out the old Post Office and the old Shire Hall.

No3 – Lake Bullen Merri.

This lake is near Camperdown, a small town near where I live. Though reasonably close to my home, I had not visited the area for sometime.

No4 – Memorial Square.

This Memorial is situated on the main street of Colac, near where I live.

No5 – Otway Ranges

The seaside town of Apollo Bay sits at the foot of the range of mountains simply known as the Otways. Here the houses seemed to be dwarfed by the mountains behind them.

No6,7,8,9 – Lake Colac.

By the autumn of 2016 the lake had almost dried up. No decent rain had fallen for a couple of years and it seemed that Lake Colac would dry up completely for only the second or third time since European occupation.

No10 – Lake Colac.

However winter and spring gave us some of our wettest months for a long time. And, though far from being full, it, at least, looks like a lake again.

No11 – The old Prince of Wales Inn.

The bridge in the foreground of this photograph was washed away by rushing water after a deluge that lasted all one night and most of the next day.

No12 – Storm Front.

I took this photograph from my front verandah. Just minutes after I clicked the shutter, the heavens opened up and I watched nature at her most fierce. I spent the next few hours in darkness as the electricity failed.

Please Note: All photographs appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

 

 

Morning

The images below were made earlier this year but were left unprocessed on the hard drive of my computer. I had a very early start at the nearby coastal town of Lorne, which is on the Great Ocean Road.

The New Pier at Lorne

Ocean View, Lorne on the Great Ocean Road

The New Pier, Lorne

In 2007 the new pier at Lorne was opened, and I have heard it is a big hit with fishermen who gather at the end of it with their rods. The end has been designed with platforms where fisherman can dangle their lines and are clear of the pedestrians and sightseers. It is built of concrete and steel, and, in my opinion lacks soul.

The old one, which was over a hundred years old, was built from large timber poles and planks. It had character; like a wizened weather beaten old man with a face full of creases who keeps you enthralled with stories from times past. As I walked over the large planks with cracks that allowed me to see through to the waves below, I could feel the history this ancient structure exuded.

The New Pier at Lorne

Early Morning

This morning was an early start. I headed off to Lorne situated on the Great Ocean Road on the south west coast of Victoria in Australia. After a quick breakfast (black coffee and an egg and bacon roll) at the local bakery it was down to business setting up the tripod and camera.

The images below are the best from my first shots. There are others that I am in the process of developing to follow in future posts.

Jetty at Lorne – First light

The jetty at Lorne #2

Photos of the Month

At the start of the year I decided that I was going to highlight on my blog the most popular image for the month. I turned around and suddenly it was March – the first day of an Australian autumn. Here are the most viewed images for January and February. I would also like to thank all my followers for taking the time to click like and comment. I appreciate your support.

Lake Colac – the most viewed for January

River Reflection – the most viewed image for February

Fading Light

It is rare that I do two posts on the same day. However the year is about to end and I wanted to share these images with you. These images were taken some weeks ago, and I was going to make them the subject of a post earlier, but somehow they stayed hidden in my library. I’ve been reviewing my images for the year and came upon them.

I remember arriving at the lake as the sun was about to disappear below the horizon. The light was fading fast as I started pressing the shutter button.

To all who have visited my blog, to all my followers, thank you for your support and may you all have a Happy and Prosperous 2013.

Fading Light at Lake Colac

Fading Light at Lake Colac #2

Fading Light at Lake Colac #3

The New Jetty, Lorne

These images are from a couple of years ago. This is the new jetty at Lorne on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia.

It replaces an old timber jetty that was over a hundred years old: And, of course, does not have the same character!

The old jetty was constructed of logs and sawn timber, but the years had taken its toll on the rotting wood. But, the fact that the timber has been replaced with concrete, does not seem to deter the fishermen who sit their with their lines cast every weekend.

Jetty, at Lorne on the Great Ocean Road – taken at a disappointing sunrise

Jetty on the Great Ocean Road – taken a few hours later, when the light was a bit better

Jetties, Lake Colac

I often visit the lake for inspiration and I have photographed these jetties many times. This time I used a medium zoom lens to give the images a different perspective.

Currently the Yacht Club Jetty is not being used. After a sustained period of drought the lake dried up. It is now slowly filling, however the water is still not deep enough to sail the yachts.

Jetty at Lake Colac, Victoria, Australia

Jetty at Lake Colac #2

Jetty, Yacht Club, Lake Colac

Jetty at the Yacht Club, Lake Colac #2

Jetty at Lake Colac

Lake Colac in Victoria, Australia, is a place I visit whenever I need inspiration. I have shot this jetty on many occasions and most of these images remain on the computer hard drive. This photograph was taken earlier this year, and after processing it recently, I thought it deserved to be published.

Jetty, Lake Colac