A Day With The Tim's

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of spending the day with Tim Pascoe and Tim Williams talking, learning, living photography.

Shooting, editing, work flow, tips, tricks, lessons learned. It was a hugely fruitful day learning and listening. Meeting new friends. Feeding my already growing passion.

Light. The story. Creating drama. Clean lines. Finding and creating clean backgrounds. Using the hand-light-finder. Shadows and highlights.

Not to mention the wonderful models we had to shoot at the beautiful location, McCarrs Creek. I can't believe the wonderful captures I was able to create it bright bright sunlight and also under the shade of the beautiful Mortan Bay Figs.

I learnt so much!

Thanks Tims!

The Details:

Tim Pascoe ~ Photographer

http://www.timpascoeweddings.com/workshops/

Workshop, May 2014

Location: Warriewood, NSW Australia

"After 14 years of shooting professionally I have realised that not only do I love to be the one taking the photos, but I love seeing people passionate about photography and grow as a photographer. Over the years I have seen the industry change dramatically and have had to adapt as it changes. It's my desire to see people who are passionate about photography in it for the long haul and able to stay relevant, but true to yourself. 

If you are wanting to make a career of photography or are already a professional photographer and wanting to equip yourself for the journey ahead, then I hope we will see you at the next workshop."

Time on the Farm

At the end of March, we travelled down to the Southern Highlands for a long weekend of family time. We stayed just outside of Robertson on a farm called, Brenchley Farm. A 4 bedroom house with all the necessities - bunk beds, a sandpit, a huge undercover circular verandah (perfect for scooters) and a football field for the children and a large modern kitchen, BBQ, large lounge area and a central log fire for the adults. My parents and my sister and her boyfriend came along and we took turns cooking meals, providing a weekend of culinary delights and quality family time.

But better than the food or the house, was nature. Two gorgeous horses, some cows, wide open spaces, an apple orchard, citrus and fig trees, sunrises and sunsets. And time. Time to make wishes on dandelions. Time to feed horses. Time to stand and watch for the fairies in the sunbeams through the forest canopy at the nearby Carrington Falls. Time to sit by the fire. Time to smell flowers and find toadstools and early easter eggs.

Here is my photo essay.

Details:

Brenchley Farm

A Modern Farm House in Robertson, NSW

Brenchley Farm is perfect for families, friends or couples looking for a special getaway. 
It's your country retreat in the heart of the Southern Highlands offering peace and tranquility, comfort and convenience. 

4 Bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Prices range from $310-$650 per night.

For more details see: http://www.stayz.com.au/accommodation/nsw/southern-highlands/bowral/94471?gclid=CJq8wraQ0L0CFYHhpAodn0MAxw

Octonaut's to the HQ! A Photo Essay

Noah Turns 5!

Way back in February, just a couple of weeks into the school term, Noah announced he was having an Octonauts birthday party this year, and that he had already invited his entire class. His Birthday is in December!

Well, over the course of the year, and a fair bit of too-ing-and-fro-ing on Noah's part, we managed to whittle him down to inviting only his cousins and 5 of his "crew" from school for his Octonaut's party. We spent countless hours making a Giant Kelp Forest, Giant Jelly Fish, Baby Octopus', Sea Anemones, and Paper Plate Fish for decorations - the best part of the decorations was that they used up all the leftover decorations from previous parties, whether that be paper lanterns from the Baptism, Hungry Caterpillar Party and the Mexican Fiesta, or paper plates and cupcake holders from the same.

We set about creating Octonaut Invitations and making paper Octonaut hats for all the guests. For the food we made blue bowls of jelly with fish swimming in them, marshmallow pops and chocolate dipped Oreo cookies with the Octoalert symbol on them. 

My amazing Sister-in-law offered to help with decorations and did she deliver?! 3 foot Octonaut figures complete with all the details and nuances that make the characters come to life! My boys were blown away. So we used these as a backdrop for an Octonaut photo booth.

We booked a reptile show, Walkabout Reptiles, which was a huge success and all the kids were so brave holding lizards and snakes and even a salt water crocodile! We played a "Peso's Rescue Mission" game where all the kids were given "creature cards" and had to rescue their animal from a huge fishing net, and we had a treasure hunt for Calico Jack's hidden treasure.

Here is my photo essay of how the day went.

Anybody need any Octonaut Decorations?

A Month of Photo A Day Challenge

In October, my husband and I decided to do the Fat Mum Slim Photo A Day Challenge. I have done the challenge before and blogged my photos each day. This month I decided I would wait to do a round up of the shots at the end of the month on here, but I posted everyday on Instagram and Facebook.

The daily prompts for the month were:

And here is my month worth of photos!

I was very honoured to have my photo on October 16 chosen in the Facebook FMS Photo A Day Fab Four for the prompt Leafy. Many of the photos submitted each day are amazing and I do not envy the admin's who choose 4 each day to feature in the Fab Four.  Just look at the amazing photos featured alongside mine in the grid below.

I missed a couple of days but we had a lot of fun finding something to fit the prompt each day and it gave us something else to do other than watch tv...

Not sure I will be able to keep up with the November challenge, but I may do a photo here or there. What a fun community Fat Mum Slim has created!

Have you participated in a fun photo challenge on instagram or facebook?

International Fleet Review at Dawn

A Photo Essay

Early on Friday morning, 5.30am actually, we bundled the sleepy-eyed children into their dressing gowns and ugg boots and set off for Dobroyd Head. Why this insanity? The International Fleet Review is taking place in Sydney this weekend. Navy ships from all over the world are coming into our beautiful Harbour. The first 3 boats entered at 6am. There were more entering at 8am and 10am, but we wanted to be there early, see the dawn and have Dad with us before work. 

Boys love boats! Especially big navy boats. It was worth braving the cold and the dawn. We saw ships from China, Malaysia and Singapore enter through The Heads into Sydney Harbour. Spectacular.

Then on Sunday afternoon we headed out to Garden Island to board some of the International Navy Vessels that have come into Sydney Harbour for the Fleet Review. The weather was a sweltering 31 degrees (Celsius) and it was HOT! Once again we had tired kids, but they really managed so well in the heat and the crowds.

There were hundreds, if not thousands, of people on the wharf to board the ships, but in true navy form, everything was under control and well organized. We did have to queue to board the ships and with tired kids we only managed 2 ships - the Japanese and Thai. But it was still worth the whopping $3 entry fee!.

There were boats from New Zealand, Australia (HMAS Darwin and HMAS Sydney), India, Japan and Thailand. The highlights for the boys - rocket launchers, 79mm gun barrels, and getting taken through a "secret" hatch because Noah was overheating on deck. The highlights for Kyah - her first taste of banana and being allowed to drink water from the boys water bottle (you don't take much away from such an event at only 6 months of age).

It was a lot of fun being part of this International Fleet Review. Boys love boats. Esepcially gigantic navy boats. Boys love helicopters and fighter planes. The Harbour was a-buzz with helicopters and fighter jets. Boys love buses and trains. We got to ride on 2 buses and saw lots of trains. Boys love going over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and seeing the Opera House. We went over the bridge twice and saw the Opera House. It was all win-win. We even saw giant snails!

What have you braved the cold and the early morning dawn for? Did you see any of the ships entering Sydney Harbour this morning?

What have you braved crowds and sweltering heat for? Did you make it on board any of the Navy ships in town this weekend?

Behind the Scenes of a Red Nose Kids Cuts Photo Shoot

My cousins are opening a children's hair salon here on Sydney's Northern Beaches. And they asked us if our children would be on their advertising materials (given how cute and adorable they are).

So a few weeks ago we set about taking some photos of the kids after Kelly had done their hair. Now what's that saying...never work with children or animals? It should definitely say never work with multiple children at the one time - especially when they are your own!

There was the poking of the baby by the 2 year old (and general slumping of the 4 year old)...

Then there was more poking of the baby by the 2 year old...

Then there was that dreaded moment when I heard myself say, "Now just smile".... (I think Kyah looks as appalled as I was when I said that)

Never tell children to smile!

So we decided to divide and conquer...yeah right.

We started with the 4 year old, thinking he would be a good role model for the younger two, but he was a reluctant participant...

At one stage he even fiend sleep...

Then there was the 2 year old. He pretended he had no bones in his body and couldn't sit up...

Then he sat up and gave us his best "smile"...

...and his best booger...

...and his best "I am so shy" face.

Even the baby, who really was the star, was more fascinated with her hands than with the camera most of the time...

But in the end we did get some cute photos! And now Red Nose KIDS CUTS is opening on October 14th! And they have some super cute advertising materials too!!

PLUS! They are offering free hair cuts until October 31st! So ring Kelly and book your child in for their free cut! There are novelty chairs, iPads to play and a coffee shop right in Fitness First for Mum, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa to grab a coffee whilst you wait!

And to make the deal even better, Red Nose KIDS CUTS have partnered with SIDS and Kids, helping to save babies lives!