New Zealand Photo Adventure Sold Out!

Thanks again for all the interest in the New Zealand Photo Adventure! We will have more events in different parts of the world. If I spent 100% of the year teaching, then I’m sure that I could satisfy more people… so, my apologies. As it is, I spend about 10% of the year doing either in-person stuff or online teaching… but, anyway, I’m very excited for this event.

Daily Photo – The Walking Path in Glenorchy

This is a new walking path that has just been built through the woods and wetlands of Glonorchy. As far as I know, it is pretty rare to have wetlands so close to towering mountains, isn’t it? I suppose I always think of the wetlands in flat areas, like Louisiana and places like this.

There are a few different routes to take. Some take just an hour, and others take a few. I want to go back to this area with some more time!

Filed under the categories: Glenorchy, New Zealand, Sony NEX-7, Travel

New Category Today – Arrowtown

Every so often I add a new category to the LONG LIST of locations on the right. That long list is starting to feel a little silly! I wonder if there is a better way to do it… I’m open to ideas!

Daily Photo – Lake Hayes and Arrowtown

I’m still getting to know my new area here in New Zealand, but I feel like I’m ignoring this side! Looking the other way (away from Queenstown) is nearby Arrowtown and Lake Hayes. If you plan on coming down to Queenstown, don’t forget to set aside a day to explore this area as well.

I’ve marked this place in Stuck On Earth if you want to go see exactly where to go to see this view.

Filed under the categories: Arrowtown, New Zealand, Queenstown, Sony NEX-7, Travel

The Car Trip

A few days ago, I posted a grouping of three photos from the car trip, so here are three more for you! Also, maybe you saw some of these in the new video that launched yesterday… so here they are a bit bigger and whatnot!

On the drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound, you cross a perfect little stream called Monkey Creek. This spot is worth at least a few hours of exploration!

I woke up early in the morning to visit the sound to see what was happening. Everything seemed in slow motion while the fog slowly wafted across the water…

Daily Photo – Sailing on Lake Wakatipu

The car trip started here in Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu. It was a perfect spring day, and there was a lone sailboat down on the lake. Everything is on such a big scale here, maybe you can get a sense of the overall size of the lake from the tiny sailboat on there… it looks like a toy!

Filed under the categories: Milford Sound, New Zealand, Queenstown, Sony NEX-7, Te Anau, Travel

Why Did I Move to New Zealand?

There’s a long story to it all… but I think you can see a lot of the reasons in the video below.

By the way, if you are looking to buy a house here and need a recommendation, contact me via support@stuckincustoms.com and the team will get you to me. I can make an excellent recommendation for you!

This video was made with Animoto!

I used a cool online thing called Animoto to make this video. I also wrote up a full Animoto Review here on the site.

You can also use the Animoto Coupon Code of “STUCKINCUSTOMS” to get 2 months free with a pro account… thanks for the team there for providing that for us!

New Video – Turning to Peace in New Zealand

It’s a hi-rez video… I recommend listening with earphones or good speakers too – enjoy

Filed under the categories: Akaroa, Auckland, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Glenorchy, Matamata, Milford Sound, Moeraki, Nelson, New Zealand, Nikon D3X, Nikon D800, Queenstown, Rotorua, Sony NEX-7, Te Anau, Travel, Wanaka

Pinteresting!

A few days ago I went to Pinterest to give a talk about The Future of Photography (and various other things), and I hung around after the event to snap a few photos. You can see me there (Trey Ratcliff on Pinterest). I had a great time getting to know people around there. I took a ton of photos and I only put a few below. To see all of them, see my Pinterest Board on Pinterest.

Why Photographers Should Stop Complaining and Embrace…

If you missed the article I wrote a few months ago about Pinterest and Copyright and Photographers, click that link and hold on!

Photos of Pinterest

Here are just a few of the photos. You can see all of them on my Pinterest Board on Pinterest.

Filed under the categories: California, Nikon D800, San Francisco, Sony NEX-7, Travel

Big News Coming Soon!

We have a secret new announcement coming to the blog about a big event within the week. So, get ready for something that is both undefined and unknowable.

Which is your dominant eye?

I ran a poll over on Google+ about which eye is your dominant one — interesting results! Go over and vote. Gooooooo left eye!

Daily Photo – The Lupines at Sunset

So here is a cool thing about this photo that one might not guess. This was taken with a Sony NEX-7 and the kit lens! Yes, the kit lens.

This was shot on Baker Beach in San Francisco one evening when I was exploring…. I was double-fisting it with two cameras… and I saw this quick scene so I went for this experimental shot.

Filed under the categories: California, San Francisco, Sony NEX-7, Travel

Toad Hall – Virgin Gorda

A few days ago, I posted a video that I did while at Toad Hall. I received a few questions in email, and wanted to remind you there is a detail page for Toad Hall with a bunch of photos there so you can see what it’s like. I wanted to post this photo below of what it was like in the nearby Baths, which is just a short walk from this house.

Daily Photo – Kids in the Baths

This is my oldest son, Ethan, holding my youngest daughter, Scarlett.

I took the NEX-7 (see my ever-updating Sony NEX-7 Review) into the amazing waters of The Baths in Virgin Gorda. I feel more comfy taking my NEX-7 into “risky” situations because it is so small and light. It’s still fairly expensive, so that is a worry (!!), but I do find myself getting “more” shots with this camera in certain situations like this.

Filed under the categories: Caribbean, Sony NEX-7, Travel, Virgin Gorda

Available Now – Photo Voyages of Trey Ratcliff

Grab it in the iTunes store or for Android now!

If you’re going for the iOS version, you’ll notice it is universal for iPhone and iPad. We’re going to convert it for use on the Apple TV as soon as it accepts apps, so it will be nice to get it full-screen up on your wall as well. That will be a free upgrade when it comes around.

The app is a great collection of my photos, the stories, and more. You even have the option to saving the photos as backgrounds / wallpapers for your devices. And yes, it’s all super-HD, retina, etc. etc.

Daily Photo – Isabella on a Miniature Pony

A few evenings ago, we went to go visit The Brackstones, family friends that live nearby in Gibbston. Kerry Brackstone has taken to raising miniature ponies, so this sounded like something my two girls should not miss! We went over there for and the girls had an absolute ball on the ride. After that, we sat down for a fabulous dinner. And no, we did not eat the miniature ponies.

Filed under the categories: New Zealand, Queenstown, Sony NEX-7, Travel

Live Show Tonight – Bag Tours!

Join me live tonight for Trey’s Variety Hour where we’ll have on several guests that will give tours of their bags. I’ll be available for Q&A, so if you have questions, please write them below and I’m happy to answer!

Time: 7 PM CST (Your World Time)
Location: My Google+ Stream or my YouTube Live page (go there and click on “Live”)

What’s in my bag?

Here’s the new video! I’ll give it a permanent home on the “What’s in Trey’s Bag” page here on the site. I reference several links in the video: Stuff You Need, Camera Reviews, Nikon D800 Review, Sony NEX-7 Review and Trey’s Favorite Things.

Filed under the categories: Nikon D800, Photography Tips, Sony NEX-7, Travel

Updated Sony NEX-7 Review

Since I took this photo with this camera, I have added it and others to the Sony NEX-7 Review. I still highly recommend this camera!

Daily Photo – Tim Lincecum

I was down on the field with the SF Giants before a recent game. I got down there because Tom Anderson sent out a tweet, and the marketing manager for the SF Giants responded and got us in! So, we were able to go anywhere and do anything before and during the game. It was great! I made full use of it.

I had my giant D800 Camera out there (see the Nikon D800 Review for more baseball photos from that evening), but I also had my Sony NEX-7. Tim came running by me at one point, so I quickly got in position and snapped away to grab this.

Daily Photo Bonus! …and the SF Giants!

And then after I left the field, I went to the very very very top part of the nosebleeds to take this shot…

Filed under the categories: California, Nikon D800, San Francisco, Sony NEX-7, Travel

Live Show Tonight – all about the Sony NEX-7 Camera

Miss the live show? Be sure to subscribe to the video Podcast to get it!

Tonight’s show is all about the Sony NEX-7 Camera. Watch live at 7 PM PT on Live.TWIT.tv – see you soon!

The Sony NEX-7 Review

The new review is up! See the Sony NEX-7 Review.

I bought one a few weeks ago and have been using it quite a bit. I really like the camera! Below is a scene from the Indiana Jones Show at Disneyworld. I was sitting back in the audience, and I used the kit lens to zoom all the way in as close as I could. I could crop and still get an image that was 5200 pixels across!

Since I was able to take so many photos so quickly, I was able to pluck out the frame that had the most interesting action — when the big German guy flipped up Indy into the air…

Filed under the categories: Disney World, Florida, Orlando, Sony NEX-7, Travel