blame_the_monkey's photostream Pro User

Sydney will always have a special meaning to me as it’s the first place my wife and I visited after becoming Location Independent. Now, just shy of one year later, it’s interesting to think back and reflect on just how many things have changed since then and how this new lifestyle has taught me so much about the world. It’s also nice to know that even after traveling to dozens of international cities, Sydney still tops my list of favorite world destinations.

On this trip—having come from a few weeks off in New Zealand—I was swamped with work but I didn’t let it stop me from enjoying a few shooting sessions, and this vantage point near Luna Park has always been one of my favorite views. This time I also had a D800 to play with.

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I’ve always been fascinated by locations that so many people walk by every day without a second glance. Locations that I think scream with color, shape, and texture, just waiting to be appreciated and admired. As a photographer, I'm always challenging myself to see the world differently in order to recognize the true potential of a scene, and not miss out on these little subtleties that can often pass us by.

So while I was on the South Island of New Zealand, standing near the broken pier on St Clair Beach, I couldn't help but admire the multitude of colors and shapes blending beautifully with the soft sunrise. While some people may simply see old broken posts, a photographer sees countless compositions and the possibility to capture something beautiful.

And yes, that island is actually positioned near the center of the posts. :)

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William Shakespeare once said that The Earth has music for those who listen. For me these elegant words perfectly embody the feeling I experienced while witnessing the Aurora Borealis. That night in Iceland, my heart sang along with the rhythm of motion, as I watched the curtains of light dance in the sky above. And as The Northern Lights sang their beautiful song, I could hear them with my ears, see them with my eyes, and feel them with my heart and soul.

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In Siem Reap, Cambodia there is nothing more famous or iconic than the ancient Temple compound of Angkor Wat. True to it’s reputation, it’s become the most popular sunrise spots in all of Cambodia. With the main entrance facing the west, sunrises have the potential to produce vivid and beautiful light directly behind the temple spires. So on one early morning, I marked my spot at the waters edge and watched as the purple light danced above, brilliantly illuminating the sky as well as the blooming water lilies on the pond below.

Now, while I could talk this moment up some more and make it sound totally romantic, let’s get real instead. :D

The truth is that this place is slammed with people in the morning—to a ridiculous degree. There are literally hundreds of people trying to push and cram into the lineup to get the shot using, iPhones, Androids, iPads - whatever they have with them. Those of us on the frontline arrived at least 1.5 hours early to secure the spot. And for every one of us up front, there are a dozens of people behind, trying to push through anyway they can. As a photographer, you have to draw the line in the sand and protect the valuable real estate, while trying to manage random arms and hands pushing through every possible hole in your defenses. People’s cameras over your shoulder, by your face, around the side, underneath, and everywhere else they can go... Getting felt up by cameras? Now how’s that for romantic? ;p

It’s important to point out that this is pretty common with famous locations and as photographers, it’s also a great example of why we get up so early in the morning. If the shot is important to you, then do whatever it takes to get it, even if it means a 4am wake up call. Personally, I’d rather be the guy up front than the one stuck in the back of the crowd, especially with a such a beautiful sunrise.

You really gotta hand it to Singapore as they’re quickly developing a world reputation for unique and extravagant architecture. The Supertree Grove is the latest addition and all along The Gardens By The Bay, there are 18 of these supertrees, ranging from 25 to 50 meters tall. During the day they provide a nice shady canopy to sit under and at night, they come alive with a display of light and sound.

Saying that, I’d also like to add that these things are ridiculously strange to see in person. The first time I walked through here in October with my good friends from The Landscape Hunters, I had a hard time keeping the WTF look off my face. I mean look at them, they’re giant metal trees! Really?!

They are also very fun to photograph and if you're in town for a few days make sure to check out the MBS Laser Show as well. :)

Technical Mumbo Jumbo

Camera: Nikon D800
Lens: 14-24 f/2.8 (Shot at 14 mm)
Tripod: RRS TVC-33 / BH-55 Ballhead / RRS L-Plate
ISO: 100 at f/8
5 Exposure Brackets (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2)

Location: Shot in Singapore - November 2012, and post-processed in Siem Reap, Cambodia - December 2012.

Hardware: 15” 2011 Macbook Pro, Wacom Intuos5 Small Tablet

Software: Lightroom, Photoshop, NIK HDR Efex Pro 2, NIK Color Efex Pro 4

Technique and Details: HDR Processing & Dynamic Blending

First, using NIK HDR Efex Pro, I blending all 5 exposure brackets together and brought the result into Photoshop. From there, I also blended in portions of a few different exposures with the HDR result to give it a more natural feel. Since there were many people in the scene, I spent a good amount of time painting them out by hand. It's during those times when I'm extra happy to own a Wacom Tablet.

Espresso: Lavazza Rossa (I’m almost out of coffee... Scary thought)