Here's an overview of all the photos that I blogged during 2008.
Click the thumbnail to go directly to the corresponding blog post.

During a visit to Serpentine Falls last year with my kids, we saw this white-faced heron fishing in a small waterfall just below the main falls.
The heron was keeping a close eye on the water flowing past, and managed to catch a couple of small fish while we watched.

White-faced Heron fishing in the waterfall

Serpentine, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 70-200mm f/4L @168mm, 1/500 sec, f/4, ISO100

For a wider-angle view of the area where the heron was fishing, have a look at this photo, which shows the small waterfall (just below the main falls), and the heron.

As the end of 2008 is getting closer, I've been looking back at my blog. It was started in early 2008, and the first post was published on the 3rd of February.
At the time, my intention was to share some of my photos, as well as posting articles, reviews and tutorials on various photography-related topics.



I'm intending to continue in a similar direction, with photos, articles, reviews and tutorials. In 2008, I've also enjoyed a number of photoshoots with friends and colleagues, and hope to do the same in 2009, with our first shoot already planned for early January.

Feel free to leave comments if there's any particular topics you would like me to write about in the future, and I'll see what I can do.



Using wordle.net, I generated the word cloud below, using the text of all blog posts this year.
The size of each word is proportional to the number of times that word appeared in the text of the blog posts.




Below a summary of the 15 most popular posts during 2008 (based on the number of page views between 1 January 2008 and 28 December 2008, as reported by Google Analytics):

1. Tutorial: Faking Tilt-Shift - a Tutorial for Realistic Miniaturised Photos (posted 2008-03-21)
   This tutorial provides a detailed description on how to create realistic looking miniaturised photos in Photoshop. Most tilt-shift tutorials rely on a blur applied to a simple gradient, but this tutorial takes it to the next level, showing how to create complex gradients to provide a much more realistic result.
   
   
2. Review: Canvas Print from RedBubble.com (posted 2008-07-16)
   Ever wondered exactly what a RedBubble.com canvas print looks like? This post provides a review of a large canvas print purchased from RedBubble.com, along with plenty of photos of the canvas print.
   
   
3. Rant: Health Issues with Compact Fluoros (posted 2008-04-08)
   With Australians being forced to switch from incandescent globes to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), this post takes a closer look at the issues relating to the mercury content of CFLs.
   
   
4. Photos: Young Gouldian Finches (posted 2008-02-24)
   Some photos of our first batch of baby Gouldian finches, after they ventured out of the next for the very first time.
   
   
5. Tutorial: Making Bookmarks With Your Photos (posted 2008-04-27)
   Producing bookmarks with your photos provides another mechanism for you to share your photos, and can also provide a way to publicise your website. Bookmarks can also make attractive gifts, and can easily be slipped inside an envelope along with a card. This tutorial describes how you can easily make bookmarks with your own photos.
   
   
6. Review: Canon 50D - First Impressions (posted 2008-10-06)
   Initial thoughts and comments on the Canon EOS 50D, after having owned it for a week. Having upgraded from a Canon 350D to the 50D, I also describe the key differences between the 350D and 50D.
   
   
7. Info: New Toy - Cokin Z-Pro ND Grad Filter Kit (posted 2008-07-29)
   A quick look at the Cokin Z-Pro ND Grad Filter Kit that I purchased.
   
   
8. Photo: Port Arthur Penitentiary (posted 2008-06-12)
   One of the many photos taken during our Tasmanian holiday, this shows an unusual view of the Penitentiary at Port Arthur, underneath a rainbow.
   
   
9. Photo: Photographer Silhouette (posted 2008-04-02)
   Taken during a photoshoot in South Perth, this is a silhouette of one of the other photographers, showing him composing a shot near the river edge.
   
   
10. Info: Street Photography and People's Privacy (posted 2008-07-24)
    A discussion about photographers rights, after I received an email requesting that I remove a photo from my online gallery.
    
    
11. Photos: Spider Macros (posted 2008-04-06)
    A collection of four photos of an Australian Garden Orb Weaver spider, taken with one of my favourite lenses, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. This was the first time I've tried macro photos of a spider, and I was quite happy with the results.
    
    
12. Info: Getting Your Kids Started in Photography (posted 2008-12-08)
    I introduced my children to photography at a fairly young age, and in this post, I share some ideas and suggestions for getting your children into photography.
    
    
13. Info: Selling Photos For Publication - How Much Should You Charge? (posted 2008-11-18)
    If someone wants to buy one of your photos for use in a publication, how do you decide how much you should charge for the use of your photo?
    
    
14. Photo: Narrows Bridge into South Perth (tilt-shifted) (posted 2008-02-26)
    A tilt-shift photo of the Narrows Bridge and South Perth, taken from Kings Park, and digitally tilt-shifted.
    
    
15. Info: Canon 50D Firmware 1.0.3 Available (posted 2008-10-28)
    Canon released updated firmware for the Canon 50D, with the intention of resolving an issue some people were having with the 50D throwing "Err 99" errors.

Here are a couple of photos from the back yard last month, taken with one of my favourite lenses, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Rough Woodlouse

(Porcellio scaber)

back yard at home, Western Australia
Canon EOS 50D, 100mm f/2.8 macro @100mm, 1/125 sec, f/13, ISO250

Rough Woodlouse

(Porcellio scaber)

back yard at home, Western Australia
Canon EOS 50D, 100mm f/2.8 macro @100mm, 1/125 sec, f/13, ISO250

This little creature is officially known as a "woodlouse", and the plural term is "woodlice". In Australia, these creatures are commonly referred to as "slaters", and elsewhere, they are known as "pill bug", "roly-poly", or by various other names.

Woodlice are actually crustaceans, breathing through gills, and have fourteen jointed limbs, with many different species existing around the world.

The scientific name of the one shown below is actually "Porcellio scaber", but it is more commonly known as the "common rough woodlouse" or simply the "rough woodlouse".

Someone emailed this to me, and I thought it was quite appropriate, given the big focus on Santa and gift-giving at this time of the year, with many people forgetting the true meaning of Christmas.

I believe this poem was originally penned by Rev James Spellman of Ohio (ref).

There are two schools of thought on having a UV filter on the front of your lens. Some people saying it's definitely worthwhile, as it'll protect the lens, while other people claim it's a waste of time, that the UV filter just serves to provide a false sense of security, and will degrade the quality of your images.

I have always had a UV filter on each of my lenses, to provide some protection to the front lens element from scratches, fingerprints, and other damage.

58mm Hoya UV filter on Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens

Earlier this week, the camera bag containing my Canon 350D and 17-85mm IS lens was dropped. I didn't think much of it at the time, and it was only later that I noticed the damage. The UV filter on the front of the lens had completely shattered.

However, after carefully unscrewing the broken UV filter, and using a blower to remove the tiny shards of glass on the front of the lens, an inspection of the lens' front element indicated no damage to the glass element, or to the filter thread on the front of the lens.

The UV filter had protected the lens from any damage. In addition to protecting the glass front element of the lens, the filter also provided protection of the filter thread on the front of the lens. If the glass element had been scratched, it would result in artifacts in any photos taken with that lens, and if the lens' filter thread had been damaged, I wouldn't be able to mount any filters to the front of the lens (ie, circular polarising filter, Cokin Z-Pro ND Grads, etc).

It's much cheaper to replace a UV filter, than it is to replace the front element on a lens! I certainly intend to keep a UV filter on the front of each of my lenses after this incident.

After seeing this great idea Rich Legg's blog a few months ago, I recently headed down to my local pet shop, and had a pet tag engraved with my contact details, for my camera.
It has my website address on one side, and my name and mobile phone number on the other side.

The photo below shows the tag on the strap of my Canon 50D. It's securely attached, and is located so that it won't get in the way.

add a name tag to your camera

This is the smallest tag that they had available (22mm diameter), and coloured tags are also an option, as well as various assorted shapes. The coloured tags appear to be annodised aluminium, and the engraving would be a little more readable on the coloured tags, as it would expose the bright aluminium underneath the colour.

The tags are computer-engraved, and you can choose the font, as well as select a clip-art if desired. The cost was just AUD$11.95, and it took only a few minutes to enter my details into the computer and get it engraved.

Tagging your camera in this way ensures your contact details are permanently attached to the camera, and I hope anyone who ever finds my camera, if it goes missing, is honest enough to contact me ;-)

One of my colleagues will be spending her last day in our office tomorrow, as she's off to our Adelaide office for six months or more. She'll be missed, and our corner of the office will definitely be a quieter place without her ;-)
Here's a shot of her, taken at a local Japanese restaurant earlier this week.

hiding behind a soup bowl

Sushi Station Fuji, Victoria Park, Western Australia
Canon EOS 50D, 24-70mm f/2.8L @28mm, 1/50 sec, f/2.8, ISO640

Sunset is always a wonderful time for photos, due to the colours, lighting and shadows. Here's a photo taken at Bathers Beach in Fremantle, where I managed to capture a seagull silhouette against the sunset sky.

lone seagull in front of the sunset sky

Bathers Beach, Fremantle, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 10-22mm @22mm, 1/400 sec, f/10, ISO200

Having recently written about getting your kids started in photography, I decided to sit down with my 10 year old son Ashley, and my 8 year old daughter Michelle, and get some feedback from them about their thoughts on photography.
Here are the results.


Q. How long have you been taking photos?

10yo: Err...I don't know...from when I was about six or seven.

8yo: About two and a half years or something, when I was about six.


Q. How did you learn how to take photos?

10yo: My dad told me how to, and I just tried.

8yo: Dad taught me. He taught me how to hold the camera still, how to focus, and how to press the button.


Q. How complex was the first camera that you used?

10yo: I just needed to get used to it, and then it was pretty easy. Then other similar cameras are pretty easy to use.

8yo: It was pretty simple.

With technology continually advancing, digital cameras are becoming cheaper, with manufacturers packing more powerful electronics into smaller and cheaper cameras. I think it's fair to say that most households in western society would own one or more digital cameras.

Digital photography is great for children, because the ongoing costs are very low, compared to the costs of buying and processing film. When using a digital camera, children also get instant feedback, as they're able to see the photo they've just take on the LCD screen on the back of the camera.

Point Peron, Rockingham, Western Australia

I introduced my children to photography at a fairly young age, and in this post, I want to share some ideas and suggestions for getting your children into photography.

A woman selling vegetables on the street side waits for customers.

selling vegetables on the roadside

Bangkok, Thailand
Canon EOS 350D, 17-85mm IS @30mm, 1/25 sec, f/4.5, ISO200

This was taken through the window of a moving car during a brief stay in Bangkok in April, while in transit travelling from Phuket back to Perth.

Earlier this week, on Monday night (1st December), the planets Venus and Jupiter aligned with a crescent moon, to form a celestial smiley face for viewers in Australia (in Europe and the Americas, these three celestial bodies formed a frowning face).

In the photo below, the planets Venus (top left) and Jupiter (right) form the eyes, and the Moon forms the mouth of a smiley face.

the Moon, Venus and Jupiter

back yard, Western Australia
Canon EOS 50D, 70-200mm f/4L @200mm, 1/15 sec, f/5.6, ISO320

Apparently the next time these planets and the moon will be so close in the sky is in November 2052, although Venus and the crescent moon will be close together again on New Years Eve.

To provide some scale, the distances from the earth to these two planets and the Moon were as follows on Monday night:

body	AU	km	miles
Moon	0.0027AU	0.40 million km	0.25 million miles
Venus	1.005AU	151 million km	93 million miles
Jupiter	5.807AU	870 million km	540 million miles

1AU is a unit of measure called an astronomical unit, and it's equal to the distance from the Earth to the Sun, with an approximate value of 150 million km (93 million miles).

These distances were calculated using the distance information from Stellarium, free open-source planetarium software for your computer, using the planet locations at approximately 9pm on Monday night.
If you're interested in stargazing and astronomy, I can highly recommend Stellarium.

This is another photo tilt-shifted using the technique described in Faking Tilt-Shift - a Tutorial for Realistic Miniaturised Photos.

This is the famous Busselton jetty, which is the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, and is apparently one of the most photographed man-made structures in Western Australia.

This photo was taken from the top of the Jetty Point Lighthouse, and the tilt-shift focus point was set as being the blue buildings that make up the Interpretive Centre.

Busselton Jetty tilt-shifted

Busselton, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 17-85mm IS @33mm, 1/200 sec, f/9, ISO100

Taken somewhere near Brunswick Junction while driving down to Busselton last December, this is a typical view out in the country near the beginning of summer.

hay bales

Brunswick Junction, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 17-85mm IS @38mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5, ISO200