March 27, 2020

Nathan White

Photography

Photography Channels to Follow on YouTube

March 27, 2020

Nathan White

Photography

The internet is a gold mine for photography related information as we all know. But the one place that I look to more than any other for photography related inspiration, motivation and information is YouTube. For those of you that may not be aware, YouTube is the second largest search engine on the internet behind Google, processing more than 3 billion searches a month.

Approximately 100 hours of video are uploaded to the platform every minute, and while that provides us with a variety of options when it comes to finding content, it also means that there can be a lot of noise to wade through to find what you are looking for.

To save time for those of you that are only new to photography, I thought I would put together a top 5 list of my favourite YouTube channels to follow.

Thomas Heaton

Thomas is a landscape photographer from the UK that posts a weekly video blog (VLOG) of his photography adventures. His videos are very informative and entertaining, covering a variety of topics and landscape related situations. I came across his channel about 18 months ago and it is by far my favourite on YouTube.

Fototripper - Gavin Hardcastle

If you like a bit of comedy with your landscape photography vlogs, then look no further than Gavin Hardcastle’s channel - Fototripper! I have only recently started following his channel and it is quickly becoming one of my all-time favourites. Gavin is not only a great teacher, but he injects comedy into everything that he does which make for some hilarious episodes that will keep you in stitches. Definitely worth your time!

Michael Shainblum

If you are looking for inspiration, you can't go past Michael's 4K time-lapse and aerial films. The imagery and details that he captures are mind-blowing and they are always combined with an awesome audio track. His films are very immersive and it is easy to become completely oblivious to the outside world while watching them. His channel also has some great VLOGS and tutorials on Photoshop and Astrophotography.

Ben Horne

Ben is a large format wilderness photographer that predominantly shoots all of his images on 8x10 film. His images are simply stunning and after you watch some of his VLOGs and see the process involved in capturing his images, you will come away with a true appreciation for the quality of his work. On his website Ben mentions that he absolutely loves working with large format film because of the inherent limitation, and the strong sense of discipline that is required.

Fstoppers

Fstoppers is a community of photographers, videographers, and other creative professionals focused on sharing reviews, photo tricks and tips, tutorials, and news. If there is a topic that they haven't covered on their channel, then it probably isn't worth knowing about. I started watching their videos right back when I first got into photography and they consistently produce really informative content, albeit sometimes with hilarious results. By far my favourite series they have posted is the 'Photographing the World' behind the scenes episodes with Elia Locardi. Check it out below.

March 16, 2020

Nathan White

Travel

Need a Little Social Distancing....I know just the place

March 16, 2020

Nathan White

Travel

With all the talk about self-isolation and social distancing, I thought I might put together a few creative options for Central QLD locals that we can all keep in mind for when this drama is over.

Carnarvon Gorge

The closest petrol station is over an hour away and mobile coverage is pretty much non-existent. For some, it may as well be the end of the earth. Fortunately, that is the whole idea. If you’re feeling energetic, you have over 27 kilometres of graded tracks and side gorges to explore. If you like to relax, you can sit back in the shade of your camp to admire the view and observe an abundant variety of wildlife such as possums, platypus, kangaroos, echidnas & over 173 species of birds as they go about their everyday business.

The tranquil oasis that is Ward’s Canyon

Pumpkin Island

If an oasis in the outback is not your kind of isolation, why not try a small tropical island that you can have all to yourself? Pumpkin Island, located approximately 14kms off the Capricorn Coast is one such place. You can book out the entire island, choose one of their 5 beautiful cabins or perhaps a secluded beach bungalow is more your style. Either way, on Pumpkin Island it is extremely easy to keep to yourself for a truly private and relaxing getaway on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

I think I could handle being this isolated :)

Blackdown Tableland National Park

A massive sandstone plateau that rises abruptly out of the flat plains surrounding it….sounds like the ideal location to setup a fortress of solitude! Blackdown Tableland boasts rugged cliffs, deep gorges and plunging waterfalls complete with pristine swimming holes at the base of the falls. The National Park has a multitude of hiking trails and 4WD tracks to keep you busy and a central campground to head back to at the end of an adventure filled day. Camping fees apply so be sure to book your site with Queensland Parks and Wildlife before heading out there.

Lara Wetlands

Lara Wetlands is 28kms south of Barcaldine just off the Landsborough Highway. It is a fantastic location to relax where you can fill up your days with kayaking, bird watching, long naps and taking a dip in the thermal controlled artesian mineral hot pool. The wetlands are home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife, so a long lens for photography is a must. There are camping sites for rigs of all sizes with toilets and hot showers available. There is also access to drinkable artesian water, however the camp sites do not have power. Bring your caravan/camper/motorhome with a good book and I guarantee the outside world will become a distant memory.

Plenty of sites around the lagoon to choose from

Don’t forget your binoculars or a long camera lens

January 22, 2020

Nathan White

Travel, Photography

Jaw Dropping Locations in New Zealand

January 22, 2020

Nathan White

Travel, Photography

New Zealand is one of those places where there are so many amazing locations to see, that it can be a nightmare trying to fit it all into one holiday. I’ve just come back from a 3 week stay on the north and south islands of NZ and all I can say is WOW!

So much beauty and so little time.…

Below I have included some shots from the most jaw dropping locations that I visited.

Lake Pukaki

In bright sunlight, the colour of this lake is a very unique shade of blue which is caused by finely ground rock particles washed down from the glaciers. Lake Pukaki is one of three lakes in the area that are running in a north/south direction. The other two are Lake Tekapo and Lake Ohau. At the northern end of the lake is the iconic Mount Cook.

Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand (3,724m) and it's rugged slopes helped Sir Edmund Hillary to develop his climbing skills in preparation for the conquest of Everest. The mountain is known as Ao-raki to the Maori, which means 'cloud piercer.

Sony A7rII + Sony 100-400mm G Master lens

Nugget Point

An iconic location for photographers… and its not hard to see why. This panoramic vista is located on the lower east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The lighthouse at the end of the point is one of the country’s oldest and just below it you will find a colony of fur seals! Sunrise is the perfect time to photograph this dramatic location, so be sure to book an overnighter in Kaka Point as it is the closest town in the area (about 15 min drive).

Castle Hill

The sunrise I shot at Castle Hill was brief, but intense!

Castle Hill is located just off the main highway running through Arthur’s Pass on New Zealand’s South Island, approximately 100kms from Christchurch.

Castle Hill is aptly named for its magnificent limestone boulders scattered throughout the area which are reminiscent of an old, run-down stone castle.

Cave Stream Scenic Reserve

This place is named for its 594m long underground cave system. Unfortunately I lacked the proper footwear and lighting to traverse the cave safely so I had to be content photographing the non-subterranean landscape outside. Fortunately the outside was pretty dramatic as well ;)

Redwood Forest, Rotorua

This 6ha Californian Redwood forest is located in Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island. The spectacular trees here are approximately 118 years old and attract more than 600,000 visitors per year.

My time here was spent slowly walking through the trees, soaking in the atmosphere and looking for little pockets of light streaming through the canopy. Whilst it can be quite dark in amongst these massive sentinels, its these small lit up areas that can really add some dramatic colour and contrast to your images.

Tongariro National Park

Tawhai Falls (pictured below) is located in the UNESCO Dual World Heritage Tongariro National Park and is also a filming location from Lord of the Rings. Fans of the trilogy will know this place as 'Gollum's Pool'. The water here is so clean and clear. Tongariro was established in 1887 and was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world.

The third image here was captured at the entrance to the Whakapapa Nature Walk in the national park.

Lake Tekapo

Home of the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd with the snow capped Southern Alps as the backdrop. Lake Tekapo is located approximately 3 hours south-west of Christchurch and is part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve. In short, it’s a pretty darn good spot for astrophotography….that is, when it’s not raining. I had only scheduled one night in Tekapo and it rained the whole time :(

The only reprieve was on the morning that I was to leave. Despite all that, the lake is beautiful no matter what the weather brings and I managed to grab this quick shot on the way out of town. Tekapo has this cool footbridge that takes you from the town centre across to the Church of the Good Shepherd. In this case, I thought the compression effect of capturing tourists on the bridge with my 400mm lens against the mountain backdrop would make for a cool image.

Waikato River, Taupo

I didn’t really do any shooting while in Taupo as I was there for Christmas, but I did capture this one image while out on a drive. The natural colour of the Waikato River is stunning to begin with, but then add in the reflections from this old tree and you’ve got a beautiful, intimate scene that I just had to capture!

Devil’s Punchbowl Falls, Arthur’s Pass

There is truly something special about photographing waterfalls. One of my favourite parts is the anticipation that builds during the hike. Especially when it’s a location that you haven’t shot before, it’s recently rained, everything smells fresh and all the trees are glistening. Then in the distance you hear the roar of the water that gets louder with every step.

Devil’s Punchbowl Falls was that place for me in New Zealand.

The falls can be found at the end of a 2km return hike, situated in Arthur's Pass Village. The walk through the lush beech forest is enchanting and the falls themselves are approximately 130 metres high. I experienced some rain and strong blow back from the falls while shooting here but the view is definitely worth it.

March 14, 2019

Nathan White

Photography, Commercial

Projects Retrospective - The Last 6 Months

March 14, 2019

Nathan White

Photography, Commercial

Recently my work has been extremely varied and while I’ve read a lot about how photographers really need to specialise in a particular style if they are going to make it as a business, I personally like the challenge and creativity that comes with trying a little bit of everything :)

My first love in photography will always be nature and landscapes as you have no doubt guessed from the posts on my social media feeds, however as a business I try to cater to a number of different styles to suit the needs of my clients.

The images below are a selection from my favourite projects that took place over the last 6 months.

Yeppoon Lagoon

This new waterpark has become the Number 1 destination for families on the Capricorn Coast this Summer. Due to the number of stakeholders involved in completing this project, I have had numerous requests for images of this location ranging from aerial, landscape and fixture details. It’s always a good day when you get to spend it photographing for clients down at the coast.

Capricorn Food and Wine Festival

Last year’s Capricorn Food and Wine Festival was the best I’ve seen and the new location on Rockhampton’s upgraded riverbank precinct was the perfect place to host our premiere foodie event. This was my first time photographing it and while I’m not normally the first to put my hand up to shoot an event, this was definitely a great experience. It was also a big help that we actually had dedicated models to follow around so we weren’t distracting anyone from their glasses of merlot :)

Blackwater Mine Sites

Having never been on a mine site before, the two seperate visits I’ve had to the Blackwater and Jellinbah coal mines were quite an eye opening experience. The size of the equipment there is mind blowing. Especially when you’re standing beside a rig where just the tyre is twice your height! I really enjoyed my time on both sites shooting for Central Highlands Development Corporation and Hitachi.

Blackdown Tableland National Park

I always love shooting in National Parks and Blackdown Tableland is no exception. This project was commissioned by the Central Highlands Development Corporation for their new tourism brochure and marketing materials. The entire project encompassed a number of areas in the Central Highlands but the Blackdown part of the shoot was one of my favourites. We had a beautiful young family as our models for the day and despite some recent fire damage and overcast weather, we managed to come away with some great images.

Portraits

I really appreciate great portrait images. While in the past I have shot the occasional formal or studio portrait, I am looking to do a lot more in this space over the next 12 months to develop my skills and take on more shoots. I even recently shot a wedding (something I swore I would never do), and I have another booked for September! My portrait work in recent weeks has been with some of the lovely models from local modelling agency, Elite Avenue.

Rockhampton Riverbank

Last but not least on my favourites list from the last 6 months is the Rockhampton Riverside Precinct. I have shot there a number of times recently, both personally and professionally. The last commissioned shots were for Woollam Constructions who were looking to capture their completed work on the redevelopment. As you saw earlier with the images from the Capricorn Food and Wine Festival, it is the perfect location to hold events, spend time with family or grab a bite to eat.

August 27, 2018

Nathan White

Travel

Photographs Waiting to be Discovered…in Capricorn

August 27, 2018

Nathan White

Travel

When people think of Queensland, there are some common images that will automatically spring to mind. Most will think of the long stretches of sandy beach lining Surfers Paradise, the crystal clear water and white sand of Whitehaven Beach, Heart Reef in the Whitsundays or the towering skyline of Brisbane. If you are a keen photographer, you might also throw in Lady Elliot Island, Lamington National Park and Palm Cove in Cairns.

Each one of these places has a certain magic to them…. and for good reason, however there is definitely more to the Sunshine State just waiting to be discovered and uploaded to your Instagram account!

So where are these places that are guaranteed to make my friends envious you say? All right here in Queensland’s Capricorn Region, part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Now I’m a person that likes to share, and it just doesn’t seem right to keep all of these stunning locations to myself, so read on to find out my top 5 spots that are sure to generate some #FOMO in your social channels!

Great Keppel Island

Great Keppel Island is only a stone’s throw from the mainland and township of Yeppoon. It has arguably some of the best beaches on the Southern Great Barrier Reef and the ‘Great’ part is, there are 17 of them so chances are you can have one all to yourself. If you can’t find a postcard worthy photo between the turquoise water, white sandy beaches and the abundant marine life then you might as well sell your camera ;)

If you fancy some underwater scenery, then Monkey Beach is the place to be….or if sea creature selfies are your thing, then I would recommend snorkelling around the old observatory. There are a variety of fish there that are always keen to photobomb your shots. For some spectacular views, you’ll want to try the walk to the top of Mount Wyndham.

Emu Park

There are a number of great beach locations for taking sunrise photos along the Capricorn Coast, but my ‘go to’ location would have to be Emu Park. Emu Park is a sleepy little coastal village approximately 20kms from Yeppoon. There is a rocky beach down near the boat ramp and because of the changing tide, you will always find new compositions to capture. A short walk from the car park and you will find the famous ‘Singing Ship’. The monument is dedicated to the commemoration of Captain James Cook’s explorations in the area but it also serves as a great focal point for photos.

Murray Lagoon

If I had to pick one place in Rockhampton for sunset then this would probably be it. Murray Lagoon is part of Rockhampton’s heritage listed Botanic Gardens, regarded as one of the best in regional Australia. Not only do you get to enjoy great water views, but there is also plenty of birdlife.

The reflections on the lagoon during sunset are stunning and there are numerous places along the banks to frame up the perfect shot. Just watch out for the geese…they can sometimes be a little cranky!

Blackdown Tableland

Blackdown Tableland is a massive sandstone plateau that rises abruptly out of the flat plains surrounding it. In amongst it’s rugged cliffs you will find deep gorges and plunging waterfalls with pristine swimming holes to cool off in after a moderate hike. My ‘must see’ suggestions here would be Rainbow Falls (Gudda Gummoo walk 2km) and the large, unusual pools at the start of the Mook Mook walk. To capture some jaw-dropping views, the best spots are Two Mile Falls (Goodela walk 1.8km) and the main lookout (Yaddamen Dhina) which is right beside the road on your way in to the National Park.

Carnarvon Gorge

If your friends are hard to impress and you want to really bring the WOW factor then you can’t go past Carnarvon Gorge! This is a location that should be on every landscape photographer’s bucket list. It is a place that I personally, keep coming back to year after year because I just can’t get enough of it.

There are over 27 kilometres of graded tracks surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs. Around every corner you are confronted with views that are worthy of the hashtag #epic and while exploring, it is easy to forget about the outside world. The gorge is also a great place to see a variety of wildlife, with over 173 bird species inhabiting the area and other native animals such as platypus, kangaroos and king parrots.

Now that I have spilled the beans on some of Queensland’s best kept secrets, the only question left is “Why aren’t you here yet?”

P.S. When you do get here, don’t keep all your amazing photos to yourself. Make sure you share them with us and the rest of Australia using #VisitCapricorn #ThisIsQueensland and #SouthernGreatBarrierReef.