Mackenzie textures

By David Barnes-Mackenzie.
In September 2015, I travelled to New Zealand to photograph the Mackenzie Country, Central Otago, in the South Island, with my father.

The trip was inspired by the beautiful paintings of Dad’s friend since childhood, Graham Tait. I wanted to see (and hopefully capture) the extraordinary, clear blue skies and warm brown tussock landscapes of Central Otago. Somewhat unexpectedly though, the landscape turned out to also be a wonderful canvas of texture and light, and this B&W conversion is one of my favourites from the trip.

Blossoming

By Anders Wotzke.
Each year in Japan between late March and early April, there’s a small window where the sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom. During a day trip to Kyoto, it was forecast to rain heavily not long after the first of the blossoms began to flower, and unfortunately, a modest rain is enough to strip these delicate trees of their blossoms. With this looming threat, many locals hoping have a glamourous engagement and wedding portrait in front of the blossoms rushed to the surrounding temples on the weekend before the storm. As a result, there were beautifully dressed locals at all the traditionally ‘touristy’ locations — it was quite the sight!
This photo proved to be my favourite shot from that day, and in fact my whole Japan trip. I find a calming beauty in this exposure beyond the pastel palette, which I think is due to my fondness for shots that depict serenity in isolation, instead of seclusion.

The swim ahead

By Chad Clark.
I was experimenting with a new filter at the Merewether baths in Newcastle. This was after the recent storms with a few big waves around but I like this shot because of its simplicity and how I wish the swim was as smooth as this looks.

Mermaid full of grace

By Chad Clark.
This is my niece Tessa at her sister’s mermaid themed birthday party. She was very happy to put on the costume but didn’t want to put down the corn. As we were not at the beach the beach was setup up as a backdrop for a few photos but I thought the fence made a nice frame for the photo. Despite the corn, sunglasses and gum boots shattering the mermaid illusion, this is what I like about the photo.

Dark and stormy

By Howard Ferrier.
Having lived for many years in Caloundra (Qld), the wreck of the SS Dickey is naturally a popular photographic location. The wreck is often photographed fronting a brilliant sunrise but on this occasion I thought I would try and capture it in one of its more sombre surroundings. This image was already almost completely monochromatic so it was no stretch to effect the B&W conversion. The image was also declarified to soften the sea and sky. Sadly this local icon is due for removal in the near future.

Trainride

By John Porter.
I hopped on this model train carriage behind my two grandkids hoping I might get a shot in. When I saw the cutting coming up and a bend in the line, I took a few images to try to capture their excitement on their first model train ride and, of course, the movement of the train through the cutting.

Braving the break

By Anders Wotzke. O’Sullivan Beach, South Australia.
Living in Adelaide, one of the few things we have over the east coasters are the beautiful beach sunsets! For this photo, taken on a particularly brisk July evening, I found my subject in a solitary fisherman casting off from the rocky breakwater at O’Sullivan Beach, hoping to snag one final catch in the dying light and encroaching surf. After taking almost a hundred exposures, I felt this particular shot – oversaturated and silhouetted in post – captured this small showdown between man and nature at its most dramatic.