Things That Attract My Eye – Part 21

This posts images come from a variety of places:

  • Local walks
  • A Car Wash
  • An Urban Sketcher’s Wollongong Sketch-meet at Port Kembla
  • My backyard
  • Sydney CBD

Some of the subjects I photograph may end being reference photos for sketches, watercolour, line and wash or oil paintings.

Even though I don’t photograph a lot with DSLR camera’s these days, I like to ‘keep my eye in’ with my phone camera. At some point, I will purchase a mid to high range compact camera that can fit in a suit pocket that I can carry anywhere.

Till next time!

Written & photographed by David Johnson

22 February 2025

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 20

This article’s images come from a number of different outings:

  • Local walks
  • A trip into the City to see Penn & Teller at the Sydney Opera House
  • Our garden

Hope you enjoy them. Some are natural, a few are man-made. Beauty is all around us. If only we would take some time to practice awareness. This exercise can bring a bit of peace to your day. 🙂

Till next time!

Written & Photographed by

David Johnson

28 January 2025

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 18

It has been a hectic period recently. This is true both on a business and personal level as we head towards Christmas.

It has been nearly two months since I posted in the Photography section. Here are a selection of subjects. Some are taken on local walks. Others were taken on a recent trip to the City (Sydney).

Till next time!

Written & Photographed by David Johnson.

15 December 2024

A Great Combination!

Recently, I posted a Watercolour I painted using Baohong – The Master’s Choice Rough, Block Watercolour Paper. This time however, I decided to paint with Daniel Smith and Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint.

The materials used are as follows:

  • Baohong The Master’s Choice Artist Rough texture, Block Watercolour Paper
  • Daniel Smith, and Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint
  • Neef brushes
  • Size: 15 x 23cm (5.9 x 9 inches)
“Thinking Time”

In the above image, the colours used were:

  • Sky: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue
  • Ocean: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue, Burnt Sienna
  • Boulders/rocks: Sumikondo Blue-Black
  • Sand: Daniel Smith: Yellow Ochre, Titanium White
“Rocky Beach”

In the above image, the colours used were:

  • Sky: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue and Ultramarine Blue
  • Ocean: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue, Burnt Sienna
  • Boulders/rocks: Sumikondo Blue-Black, Purple-Black
  • Sand: Daniel Smith: Yellow Ochre, Titanium White

The paints are such a great combination. Using them on the Baohong – The Master’s Choice Rough Block Watercolour paper is a real treat!

Till next time!

Written and painted by David Johnson

10 November 2024

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 17

Yesterday, I arrived in Camden, NSW about 20 minutes earlier than planned. I decided to go for a short walk.

I had been to this area many times, yet, that is sometimes what makes discoveries all the more satisfying. When ‘the light’ is different, as it is each time, you can discover new things.

Shadows, lines, patterns, textures and form are quite attractive to me. Here are some examples of what I found. 🙂

Till next time!

Written & photographed by David Johnson

27 October 2024

Calming The Mind

The Stories These Trees Could Tell…

One of my favourite subjects to photograph is Tree Bark. Early morning and late afternoon are my favourite times to do this. It is at those times when the beauty, texture and colour really comes to life.

I hope you enjoy these images.

Till next time! 🙂

Written by David Johnson

29 October 2023

Rock Study – 1st Attempt

For my Watercolour Sketch a Day tonight (today is 4 years, 211 days straight), after watching a tutorial on YouTube, ‘Painting Rocks’ by Ken Hobson, I decided to do exactly that.

I’m happy with resulting first attempt. I did attempt the water splatter on the rocks however, I think I overdid it and had to perform ‘a rescue’ of the image.

On the weekend, I think I will attempt an A4 of the same subject. I sure had a lot of fun doing tonight’s one!

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

25 August 2023

Artistic Journey

I Love Shooting Up!

There is a lot to look at in this world of ours.

Way back in 1982, when I first started getting serious about photography, I noticed how I instantly developed a greater curiosity about our world. I started to explore detail in subjects that I had not even noticed prior to becoming interested in communicating via this medium.

Detail is one thing however, we also need to look up (I would say more than) occasionally as how much do we miss in our daily travels as we get busy with life? This brings me to the subject of this short article.

I love shooting up!

The next time you are out and about, take a minute away from your busy schedule and look up. There is a whole new world just waiting for you feast your eyes upon it.

Happy travels!

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

4 March 2023