They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.
Lest We Forget – ANZAC Day 2018
Tag: Australia
There’s No Business Like Snow Business!
This post was inspired by a friend’s recent ‘Snow-misadventure…’
Back in the 1980’s, I was part of a 18-35years Church Social Group and one of adventures was to the Snowy Mountains in southern NSW, Australia. It was one of those hurried 3 day weekend trips that saw me (briefly) on Ski’s but mostly on a Toboggan, which (for me) at the time was a lot more fun, that is until a had a slight ‘run-in’ with a creek. That was my first time in the Snow. I was satisfied with that. Visit to the Snow ticked off the list.
The very next year (1984) I was invited back to the Snowy Mountains by a small group of school friends who were planning to go for a whole week. Sounded fun so I agreed.
We stayed at Jindabyne and travelled to the ski fields from there. Jindabyne is basically the closest town to the ski fields but is not actually in them.
The previous year I had an hour ski lesson but I thought it was prudent to have another, and so I did, only this time it was snowing fairly heavily and to this day I wonder if I perhaps missed some ‘key technical points’ that would have helped immensely later on?
Most of my friends had Skied before and one friend in particular, David was a bit more experienced but he decided to hang back with me whilst I was endeavouring to ‘glide’ down the run called the ‘Pretty Valley Triple’ at Perisher Valley.
Needless to say that after a short time, I thanked David for staying with me but said that he would probably have more fun if he went on and left me to my own devices as I didn’t want him to get bored…
Off he glided down the hill…
Thinking back to the Ski lesson, I remember the lessons on how to ’Snowplough’ (or stop) & they taught us about weight control/which way to lean if we wanted change direction. It seemed fairly easy where we did the lesson. It was relatively flat ground.
Thinking back, I would have weighed about 55Kg and was 185cm tall so I didn’t have a lot of weight to throw around.
When you fall skiing it’s not as soft a landing as would think and in my first journey down the Pretty Valley Triple run I fell seventeen times. What would you do?
I went back up to try again. This time I only fell seven times, an obvious improvement, though the 24 clashes with Mother Earth had left me bruised and battered. Somehow though, I had managed to miss every tree.
My mistake that day wasn’t that I had fallen 24 times attempting to ski, it was the fact that I made the decision to return my gear to the ski hire place and go to the local bar for three beers (muscle relaxant). I haven’t skied since….
On pondering why I stopped, I remembered I hated the icy weather, the ski boots – I found them painful to wear around the ankle section of the leg, much of me was sore & I was skiing on my own. Given that and the ‘person I was as a 21 year old’ I can see why I gave in.
It is easy to look back and say ‘I would have done it differently’ but I can honestly say that if I was the person I am now, I would have gone back up and maybe only fell 3 times and so on… That’s not to say that I would be down the Snowy Mountains skiing every year, but it would be fun to have the option…
My wife, Susan has mentioned ‘going to the Snow’ a few times over the years as he has skied before. At 53, I wonder if the time for skiing has passed?
I would still like to go back to the Snow but this time it probably would be a photographic expedition, but you know what they say…’never say never….’
Written by David Johnson
23 July 2016
Profiling Photographers – Kenneth Hall – Gwondana Photography Pty Ltd
Welcome to the second instalment of ‘Profiling Photographers.’ I have known Kenneth Hall for many years via a few different projects/associations. Kenneth, through his background and interests, has a unique view of Australia which he imparts to those who view his photography and of course, his customers in his growing ‘Australian Photography Tours’ business. Thank you to Kenneth for agreeing to be part of this series.
Gear: Primary Canon 5D plus range of L series lenses
1. Why did you choose Photography as your medium of communication?
I have spent all my life outdoors starting as a child on the Yorkshire Moors with my father followed by many years travelling the world as a professional soldier and finally immigration to Australia.
I was also a dedicated solo bushwalker later developing and operating bushwalking clubs as well as being a member of six additional clubs.
I love nature so it was a natural step to take for me into photography.
Australia is a good place to be as a photographer and living in Macarthur gives me access to many areas of NSW.
The colours of Australia are superb, particularly dawn, sunrise and sunset. Much of my photography is undertaken at these times.
What better way to communicate with people than using colour?
Most people are visual and to use that old saying “a picture says a thousand words.”
2. Which Photographers have been the greatest influences on you & why?
Ansel Adams, his landscapes are superb and created with the minimum of equipment.
Several from National Geographic – they are engaged in many projects around the world. One example is Paul Nicklen. They have the reputation, money and backing of an internationally known organisation. I associate their photographers with high-quality photographs with very daring and difficult to obtain compositions
Alfred Stieglitz – for his contribution to photography. It is wonderful to be known for what one did and remembered with affection.
“Adams credits three people for driving his interest in photography, Wesson and Strand and Stieglitz but it is Stieglitz that he regarded as the most important. He also regarded that first solo show in New York as the most important of his career.”
Steve McCurry – in particular for his “Afghan Girl”. Pay him a visit, his gallery says it all “http://stevemccurry.com/galleries”
3. What inspires you to create the type of images that you do?
Australia and NSW. I never become bored with nature, it is a passion.
Photography, when used in tours leads onto other things. My clients have many questions about Australia, its people, nature and our First People.
I have led a great life, none so good as my now nearing 40 years in Australia.
At one time whilst working on a four-year project on Longwall mining I was privileged to spend one day every week with a tribal elder. It was the most incredible education.
This led onto research as far back as Gondwana and the super-continent Pangea.
Our business reflects this in the choice of Gwondana, the birth of Australia as it broke away from Pangea.
I am a very proud Australian by choice.
Besides being heavily involved in landscape photography and in my book that covers everything but weddings, portraits and modelling I still do commercial photography for my clients.
This came about because of the high prices charged by professional photographers when I was optimising clients websites.
4. What do you think makes your style unique?
I don’t know that I have a unique style. If I have then I hope it is for a celebration of Australia.
5. Do you have any advice for an aspiring photographer?
Get out of bed early.
Seek advice, find a mentor, learn patience and practice.
Photography is all about people, not equipment.
6. What is the next big adventure for you, photographically?
I have already started on a heritage buildings project.
In 2016, I will be visiting the UK, Canada and Alaska.
We have now taken on board the NSW Central West in the Goldfields and hooked up with Viator and a large Australia wide real estate organisation.
More of Kenneth Hall’s images can be viewed at:
Australian Photography Tours – Gwondana Photography Pty Ltd
http://www.australian-photography-tours.com
http://www.australian-sightseeing-tours.com.au
https://plus.google.com/+Australianphotographytours698/posts
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Photography-Tours/319705881489289
https://www.facebook.com/naroomaphotographytours
http://34-kenneth-hall.artistwebsites.com/
Communicating Creatively 