Wednesday, January 14, 2009

I made it to Buenos Aires

It was a very long journey through what seemed endless airports, but I am finally in Buenos Aires.  It's 5am so I haven't quite adjusted to local time yet, but I'm sure that won't take too long!

I was able to stop in Sydney for a few hours to catch up with my friend, Luke from One Fine Day Photography, and we had a glorious morning.  We walked around Circular Quay and to the opera house, had some breakfast, people watched and just generally enjoyed chatting in the sunshine.  I was pretty tired already so only took my little point & shoot camera with me while we were there.  One day I must get back as it is a beautiful area.
A random building above the cafe where we breakfasted

Sydney Harbour



Even the view from the airport cafe was pretty nice


I had good flights on all legs so far of this adventure and am looking forward to exploring new sites for the rest of the week. I am off to Iguazu Falls later today and can't wait! I'll be back in Buenos Aires late Thursday night so hopefully will be able to post my first South America shots once we are back at the hotel.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Travel has begun!

Yesterday I started the epic journey that will take me from Exmouth, Western Australia, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and beyond! Right now I am in Sydney hanging out with my fantastic photographer buddy, Luke of One Fine Day Photography. We're going to do some shopping, have some lunch and generally wander around before I have to jump on my flight to San Francisco later this afternoon.

I'll be posting updates and photos as I can so stay tuned!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Sneak peek - Jade & Aaron's wedding album

Jade & Aaron's wedding last month was so beautiful it was hard to create an album that wasn't 100 pages! Here's a quick peek at some of the pages I've created for them

A beautiful bride

Getting into her gorgeous gown at the Novotel Ningaloo

Kisses at Turquoise Bay

Posing along an isolated red dirt road


There's nothing more romantic that your groom down on one knee, professing his love!

I thought walking down an outback road was the perfect way to close their album.

Friday, January 9, 2009

A christening

Remember Steve & Louise who had such a great maternity session at their house that we booked another one on the beach the following week? Well, they are just about the happiest parents I've ever seen and they had a christening for their new baby boy, Trent James, a while back in a low key church service.

Trent looked a little unsure when they arrived, but he was super cool in his Quicksilver hat

Mom takes a quiet moment with bub before the service begins

Steve is head-over-heels in love with his wife and child


Trent took most of the service in stride

But wasn't overly impressed with the anointing part, so Dad had to help a little

Steve & Louise had a special garment that was Steve's and now passed on to Trent

Trent watched his Auntie with rapt attention during the candle ceremony

...well, for a brief time anyway!

Family and friends looked on as Trent received a blessing and was welcomed into their church.

I look forward to a family session with these three when I get back from my big adventure!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Add a disk of images

Nikki & Michael received their gorgeous wedding album just before the New Year and said "It is perfect."  I thought it was, too, and am looking forward to finishing Jade & Aaron's in the next few days.

Nikki couldn't decide on which images to print so she also got the disk of high resolution images so she could print whenever and whatever took her fancy.


A disk of high resolution images is available as an add-on to all of my wedding packages and is included in the new Wedding Package 3 for 2009. This disk gives you the license to print as many prints for yourself as you like, in whatever size you like, whenever you like. Of course, you can still order anything you need through me, including: canvas, enormous prints, metallic prints, specialty items and images that you'd like special treatments for.

You also get a set of the images on the same disk already re-sized for sharing on the web via Facebook or other photo sharing site, on your blog or personal web page and via email. A disk of images is also available for portrait packages.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Dora & MatildaLily romp

My two Rhodesian Ridgebacks provide endless hours of entertainment!  Last night they were rough-housing in the living room and I couldn't resist the photo opportunities...they are such characters

My beautiful older girl, Dora

My goofy little girl, MatildaLily, having a breather

Dora making sure I'm watching

MatildaLily going in for the kill

Dora hamming it up. I thought it was almost Oscar worthy!

Getting fierce

Letting MatildaLily get some fierce on

Dora patiently letting Til play some more

Nom nom nom...yummy ear! Big sisters are so gentle




Sunday, January 4, 2009

Fun dives to start the year

The New Year has started with two days of excellent diving for me. The temperatures have been over 40C for the past few days and the best place to be when its like that is under the sea.

Some of my favourite underwater creatures are the tiniest. Nudibranchs come in all shapes and sizes and I just can't stop taking photos of them. Most of these guys are from 1/2 cm to 4cms long!
01 - Flabellina exoptata
Flabellina exoptata

02 - Noumea varians
IMG_7822

03 - Chromodoris fidelis
IMG_7948

04 - Janulos sp
IMG_7944

05 - Tambja morosa creeping under some hydroids
IMG_7943

06 - Risbecia tryoni with his mantle flipped up
IMG_7901

07 - juvenile Hexabranchus sanguineus
IMG_7894

08 - juvenile Halgerda tessellata
IMG_7858

09 - Gymnodoris rubropapulosa
Gymnodoris rubrupapulosa

10 - Hypselodoris bullockii
Hypselodoris bullockii

11 - Moridilla brockii having a snack
IMG_7535

Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a fabulous festive season and that 2009 has started joyously! I had a very busy December and need to find some time to post some more images before I head off on my big adventure in 10 days!

My friend and Cruise Agent Supremo, Amber,  has arranged a group on an excellent cruise to Antarctica with a couple of days on either side to get a little taster of a bit of South America.  I am going as "our super-duper photographic instructor extraordinaire, expert in all things photography for the group", according to Amber, and I can't wait!

I am heading off on the Star Princess for a 16 night cruise starting in Buenos Aires and ending in Valparaiso then flying back to the US from Santiago.  Here's our schedule:
11-13 January: I fly from Exmouth, Western Australia to Buenos Aires via Sydney, San Francisco and Miami (super fun!)
13 January: spend the day looking around Buenos Aires and maybe catching some sleep!
14 January: fly to Igazu Falls in the morning
15 January: explore more of the Falls area and fly back to Buenos Aires in the evening
16 January: explore Buenos Aires
17 January: get on the Star Princess for my first ever cruise!
18 January: Montevideo, Uruguay
19 - 20 January: at sea
21 January: Falkland Islands
22 January: at sea
23 - 26 January: Antarctic Peninsula
27 January: Cape Horn, Chile
28 January: Ushuaia, Argentina
29 January: Punta Arenas, Chile
30 January - 01 February: at sea
02 February: Valparaiso to disembark then enjoy a tour of the area on the way to our hotel in Vina del Mar
03 February: tour to and around Santiago before flying back San Francisco
04 - 06 February: San Francisco with my Mom
07 - 14 February: Iowa with my Dad and other family
15 February: get on yet another plane and head back to Exmouth via Sioux Falls, Chicago, Tokyo and Perth!


Amber has all of our tours arranged for our ports of call and I'll add more information on my travels when I can. I may not be able to blog very much while I'm on the cruise because of the ship's slow connection, but I will be trying to post a photo or two with at least a short note now and then!

I will be checking emails every day, so please don't wait to contact me about your upcoming photography needs! My first available date after my return is 19 February, 2009.

Again, Happiest New Year's wishes to you all!