This is a very hard thing for me, actually! I’m often so busy talking or explaining or whatever, that it’s quite difficult for me to concentrate on a good shot. Also, the other strange thing is that I can only shoot forward. If I ever see something behind me, man, forget it. There are a lot of people standing in the way, and it seems so rude to tell them to move! So, I just skip it and try to find something inside the forward bit of my viewcone! 🙂
Daily Photo – Sydney Glows at Sunset
During the Sydney photowalk, we ended up with some nice skies! I always love a bit of drama in the skies… makes everything a bit more exciting and epic I think. And just after the sun set, there were a few interesting splashes of color in the sky to break it up.
The State Theater below is apparently where they also have some of the major movie premieres in Sydney. This is not news to all the good Aussies out there, but it’s cool to think about all the big movies that have first shown here. I used to go to movie premieres all the time, but now that I am in a smaller town, it’s not so much of a big deal any more… but I do miss it! 🙂
Daily Photo – On stage at the State Theater in Sydney
What an amazing place! I don’t think it is that secret, but I had no idea that such a grand place existed, hidden away! Well, it’s not exactly hidden, but I don’t think anyone walking by on the street past the humble entrance would know what awaits inside.
This is next-door to the QT Sydney (link to previous blog entry about that hotel), where I stayed while I was there. I toured around inside here with Alexia Sinclair, and she’s always been keen to shoot it too in one of her more dramatic pieces. Maybe we’ll see one of these in the future! 🙂
I’m always trying out new prints for the home, and I just got a few slick ones from iAcrylic. I’m really impressed with the quality and look of the prints. Because of the reflections around the edge from the acrylic, there is a very interesting border-effect. It’s hard to explain, but I really dig it. One thing I have noticed is they look best if you hang them in a well-lit area.
Which photos did I get from iAcrylic? These two recent ones below which I quite like! 🙂
Daily Photo – The QT Sydney
This was my room at the QT Sydney from a few weeks ago… you can see my bags and stuff… probably should have moved them for the picture. Anyway, one of the Coolest things about this hotel is the elevators! They scan to see how many people are inside. If there is just one, then it plays lonely music, like Elvis singing, “Are you lonely tonight?” And then when there are two people, like, embarassingly when I was in there with Tom, it started playing, “Just the two of us.” And when there are like five or more people in there, it starts playing party music like Lady Gaga… anyway, it’s a trip!
Many people have been asking for an update in the Sydney Morning Herald situation. There has since been an article on another Australian media outlet by Nic Christensen where he got in contact with the editor of the SMH. Below is a quote from the article in response that they have made an apology to me.
“Perhaps they have placed a handwritten apology in the pouch of a kangaroo and it jumped in the wrong direction, for I have yet to receive it (or any digital facsimile thereof),” said Ratcliff.
Otherwise, I’ve handed everything over to the legal team. This is the same team that dealt with the Time issue and countless others. I’ll give another update later, assuming I’m allowed t
Daily Photo – Sydney Harbour Under Mountains of Clouds
This might have been the last shot I took with my Nikon D800 before the wind blew it over to destroy it. It turned out that I could not repair it, so I had to buy another D800. Sad Trey. I hope the shot was worth it… many Bothans died to bring you this photo… 🙂
Errr… Anyone heard of Creative Commons Noncommercial? Maybe someone involved with copyright there at the Sydney Morning Herald perhaps? I like how they say, “a selection of our readers’ photographs” — very sly. This both indicates that they have legions of readers and that all the photographs are from these adoring legions. I just checked my doorstep here in Queenstown, New Zealand. Nope, I don’t see the Sydney Morning Herald there.
My license, which is quite generous and clear on the site says noncommercial. Now, I know newspapers are commercial, even though they are hemorrhaging money as people flock online to get more timely news and better photos (which, apparently, they are doing too for content-mining). So, the commercial use is definitely a no-no.
But in worse form, I think it’s a bit rude not to give credit down there towards the bottom of the photo. Instead, they used that valuable space to indicate that “oh we’re just one big community with ‘our readers’ who take these pics for fun.” Oh no, I didn’t pay thousands of dollars to fly to your country and stay in a hotel and buy camera equipment so I could take photos of your duck to adorn your newspaper. /said in the voice of Tim from The Holy Grail when he said “I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you *knew*, didn’t you? Oh, it’s just a harmless little *bunny*, isn’t it?”
I saw a comment on Google+ from CNET reporter Lexy Savvides
Hilariously timed +Trey Ratcliff given that the SMH [Sydney Morning Herald] last week recently posted pieces on photographers having content stolen. See this article?
Looks like it was used online too, littered with revenue-generating ads…
Good person “Dawnstar Australis” sent me this tweet that it is also being used online (image):
Harlan Ellison says it better than I could (and funnier!)
This is the famous Harlan Ellison, who I first came to know through his work on Babylon 5, but he’s also won the Hugo Award over nine times! It’s great to see him go off… I’m sure many photographers will really enjoy hearing him get angry! 🙂
Thank you to good man Matt Fangman who left this video link below.
I think it is a wonderful surreal work of art! Then again, I’m a huge fan of David Lynch and Twin Peaks. Anything surreal in my parallel universe gets a big thumbs up…
We had a fun show recently with all FlatBooks authors! We decided to make a special bundle at 50% off all their books! You can get the whole Author Bundle at https://stuckincustoms.com/AuthorBundle
Here are the people that joined me (and a the books included in the bundle!) in the video below.
The Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney, and it’s down by the harbour. I have to make sure I get the “u” in there to appease local sensitivities. Anyway, it’s a cool area full of a lot of old-world charm. Now there are a lot of restaurants, bars, and little hotels that are sprinkled around the area.
I took this one from the top of a 3-story salsa bar. I didn’t even really go into the bar, except for the way to find the top of it! I looked quite strange walking around the salsa dancefloor to get to the other side, dancing with my tripod!
Maybe we can even do a Google+ PhotoWalk somewhere, if you wanna! I’ll be coming there in about a week with +Tom Anderson. We land in Sydney, but then were going to rent a car and drive either towards Melbourne or Brisbane, stopping to take photos all along the way. I’ve never been to either place… and I know there are many Very Active Aussie photographers on here, so we value your advice!
Below is a photo that I took while in Sydney last time… I’m really looking forward to coming back – it’s just a 3 hour flight from here! 🙂
Daily Photo – Opera House and the Docks
I took this bright and early one morning when I forced myself to get outta bed and go for a walk. I was feeling particularly lazy that morning and was oh-so-comfy in bed. I was sharing a room with a friend, and I didn’t want to wake him up. It’s very difficult to wake up, get dressed, and get all your photo equipment together while staying quiet! The only thing I was missing was a cheery assistant there with a cup of coffee. Maybe I should recruit some Starbucks barista to be my assistant – they are always hauntingly cheery and near-coffee.
Where should I go? There are many options… I’ll return many times especially because it is such a short flight… but I just can’t pick where to go next!
Daily Photo – Shopping in the Queen Victoria Building
Whenever anyone (non-photographers) sees me with my tripod in a shopping mall, they assume I must be on some kind of a commercial assignment! I guess there is still a general association of big equipment to commercial photography by those outside of our sport.
See that castle in the middle? Every so often, there is a little automated puppet show that delights the crowd. Everyone crowds around the rails to watch the event.
I don’t really mean for this to be a photo mystery… but it kind of is, because I forgot the name of the place! I know there are lots of heavy-drinkin’ Aussies that visit the site here, so I figure one of you will and can comment in a passing moment of sobriety.
Daily Photo – The Old Pub in The Rocks, Sydney
What a cool place! I was in Sydney on a secret mission with a friend (to be revealed later), and it was important that we visit as many pubs as possible in the oldest part of Sydney. I think this was one of our favorites.
Inside, there was a warm, old feeling that only comes from old buildings. This feeling is always missing from new buildings that are made to look old. Maybe it’s just in my head, or maybe something else is going on beyond my ken.
There is a Paris PhotoWalk coming soon – everyone is invited! As usual, all of my photowalks are free, and everyone is welcome to attend – this will be a fun one! 🙂
New Event Added to the Paris Workshop!
For the upcoming Paris Workshop, we added a bonus event. You can join me at this spot below — the remarkable Jules Vernesque Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle! It’s really so amazing inside if you’ve never been. These are very challenging shooting conditions, and we can try a few fun things together!
Daily Photo – Deep inside the Queen Victoria Building
This is an amazing place to explore in Sydney! There are great photo-ops around every corner. The Romanesque architecture is whimsical and full of color. And even better, no one bothered me about my tripod!
Here’s a cool little factoid about this place. Inside, there is a secret letter from Queen Elizabeth II that is to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in 2085. I have just checked my schedule, and currently that is the only thing I have planned for 2085.
