For Sean, the boss who warned me never to come back with just one...

I take a lot of pictures.
I'm not talking Jo McNally a lot of pictures, or Chase Jarvis, but I do probably reel through about 300 or so each day and maybe 50 or so most weekends off. Way more on holidays.
A lot just sit around on hard drives and memory cards. I'm not good at throwing things out. Trouble is, I just like the whole click thing too much.
It's fun, sure, but, for me, it's practice. My first editor Sean said you can't take a good picture if your don't bang the shutter, and the more you squeeze it the better your chances are.
He was right. And always will be.
But what to do with them?
Only so many make the paper. And only so many of them are the ones I'd like to see there.
I can't print them out and hang them because we rent our place and every extra hook in the wall is another nail in the coffin as far as our bond goes.
The best thing about getting published is that people comment on your pictures.
"That one's cool."
"That one sucks."
"Dude, that one's blurry."
All feedback good.
So, I'm going to try and throw one up here at Benography every day (or so) and, hopefully, some will give cause for you to react to them. Even if you just like them in facebook, or send a smiley face. And if you don't like it, please say so too.

Thankyou, and Happy New Year.

-- Ben

ABOUT THE SHOT: (Aperture priority, ISO 80, 1/250, f2.8 @ 60mm.)
Taken on my Panasonic Lx-3, in Oliver's bakery in Ulverstone, Tasmania. They do awesome mini sausage rolls there, and I've noticed this smartly-dressed gentleman in there a few times. I'd lined him up for a quick snap when this young person popped into frame as my finger went down.
Instantly, I liked the whole picture a whole lot more.
Do you?
What would have made it better?

Wellsy gets the gong!

Check it out!! The power of the internet. I start a blog a week ago, a bloke on facebook reads it, then nails the first shout out I put on it. STOKED!!

We posted this picture a few days ago and asked if anyone knew where Laura and I took it.

Turns out Grant did –- Table Cape, near Wynyard. Please extend the man all your kudos, awe, reverence and lustful glances in the ``comments'' below.

Specifically, it's a photo of Aquila Barn, the most awesome bed and breakfast We've ever seen or stayed at. Laura and I spent the first three nights of our honeymoon there, and soaked in the spectacular scenery, great weather (by Tasmanian standards) and, it goes without saying, delightful company.

It's been handcrafted inside what was originally a barn by owners Kay and Brian, who, believe it or not, came from Nelligen, near Batemans Bay, NSW ... small world, huh?

They are two amazing people who are well worth a chat when you stay there. They truly spoiled us on our stay and gave ``the rest of our lives'' a well-proper, luxurious kick off!

Here's a few pictures of ours we fired off on our Panasonic LX3, but their website, www.cloud9destinations.com.au, really does the place justice.

Oh, and here's an article written by some dude at The Advocate: http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/from-dairy-farm-barn-to-quaint-bed-and-breakfast/1436547.aspx

.

Is this cool ... or crud?

I don't usually understand the rhythm of `arty shots'. (In fact, I'm certain I rarely do.)

Flowers and a bowl? Chair in the forest? What? C'mon, lets see a person - is how my brain is wired. It's a bit like landscape photography in the sense that I'm not very comfortable doing it, and I'd rather shoot something with a heart beat (or a motor), nearly every time I'm with camera.

You see them on websites and think ``yeah, that rocks'', or, more often and not in my case, ``nup, that doesn't''. So I steer clear and never bother with them.

But just because it's hard doesn't mean I should have a crack, so I'm putting up this offering for your ruthless appraisal. Don't just give me a stroke ... I'd be really stoked if you'd leave a thought or two that might slowly make me better at this sort of stuff.

I was stuck waiting for a while at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery one night to take a few socials at an opera night and this caught my eye. Regardless of your thoughts, Greg, the gallery manager, Is an absolute gem of a bloke, and if he's reading, thankyou again for the snacks and sandwiches. (And flexibility - I was more than 40 minutes late to this job thanks to some prior ego I had to photograph and he reorganised his night to make sure I had some pics to front my boss with.

Nice guy. You should buy a painting off him!

GEAR: Canon 40D, 17-35 f2.8 wide open, about 15th of a sec if memory serves.

(BTW -- Still waiting to hear from someone with regards to the mystery shot in my last post. C'mon guys -- North-West Tasmania ... how hard can it be? If you're thinking about 20 minutes west of Burnie and near some flowers you are in the right ballpark.)

We made it...

More on this later, but the seagull won...

... Yes! Nice! The Advocate ran with our beloved seagull shot. SWEET! Even cooler was that it was taken on a dinky point-and-shoot... albeit a kick-ass Panasonic LX3.
It was taken in Ulverstone in Tasmania, Australia, about 25 minutes east of where Laura and I live at Burnie.
Thanks again for the sweet comments too! I know this is a new blog, and I'm learning, but I'll keep at it and hopefully you guys will too.
Cheers,
Ben