October Holiday in Central Otago

I CAN HAZ DIZCOVERD NEW SPECEES?

I bring to you the Reindeer Cormorant:

Along with underwater ducks and other delights from our recent trip to Clyde and Queenstown in the South Island. Take a look if you wish:  http://www.julianbutler.com/

-j

Canon Photo5 Competition

UPDATE:

I didn't make the finalists round. How sad. Waaah. Oh well life goes on... and I had a lot of fun making the shots I made... I'll have to look for another photo competition now... they really motivate me to try different stuff!


origninal post:

So a little while ago I entered the Canon Photo5 competition. The entry period for the 2009 contestants has just closed and now I can show you my entries. Here's the site itself if you want more detail about what you gotta do etc...  Canon Photo5

There are 5 categories/briefs that can be entered into, presuming that you registered in time to recieve their secret folding box full of props: Bokeh, Portrait, Close Up, Splat and Low Light - Practically Black [open brief].

My Bokeh entry:

My Portrait entry:

My Low Light entry:

I only entered 3 of the 5 briefs. I neglected to attempt the Splat, and tried something for Close Up but it didn't really work out. Incidentally, my Bokeh entry is the photo that I built this rig to shoot...  Fibre Optic Rig

Now it's up to the judges to shortlist their favourite 10 entries in each brief for the public to vote on. They'll do this by November 9th. Then it's up to the public to pick their favourites and vote for the winners by November 22nd. The winners each recieve a Canon 5DMKII and lens kit and a 3-day photo safari trip with Australian photographer Chris Bray!

Wish me luck! And vote! I'll post details on how to do that, closer to the time.
 

Thistle Hall Gallery Exhibition

It's on! Thistle Hall Gallery in Cuba St, Wellington have confirmed my exhibition spot for April 26th to May 2nd 2010. I'll be exhibiting my collection of infrared photography of Wellington, Fiji and other locations!

I've got a lot of stuff to plan now... the opening, framing and organising the prints, promotions on the radio and the web, flyers to go round town, and then also staffing the gallery for the week of the show... These are very exciting times we live in!

Thistle Hall Gallery Website

My infrared gallery

-j

Projector on the cheap

I'm trying to project an image on-site without any power. I need to throw a really wide image too... something commonly out of the hands of your run-of-the-mill slide or digital projector. Someone said 'Why not make one out of your lens?'... so last night I gave it a go and what do you know? A little lego, a slide, my 430EX speedlight some patience and ... well.. it works!

I'll post the result when my experiment succeeds...  for now it's under wraps.

Projector:

Projection:

Original image that the slide was made from:

200mm f/1.8

So my friend Matt has allowed me to baby-sit his 200mm f/1.8 Canon L lens for a little bit. The thing is a monster and quite heavy. I'm only mostly re-assured that the neck strap attaches to the LENS not my CAMERA. But seriously, Canon doesn't make this lens anymore and I'd hate to have to replace it.

'Dad, your new lens is broken, I can't see anything...'

'Yes, Son.'

Infrared book

After doing so many infrared photos I've decided to make a book for myself using one of the many online book-making services. I chose mycanvas.com because it partners with smumug directly and allows me to use my images without making me re-upload everything. Here's a look at the cover... I've only got one or two more pages to go and then it's time to order... It's called 'See Here - Infrared Photography by Julian Butler'.

If you'd like to take a look at the gallery of images that's going into the book, click here :  Infrared Gallery

Joey L

www.joeyl.com 

Ok, looking at Mr Joey L's work is like having my eyes pulled out, scrubbed with steel wool and then put back in. For me it's a visceral and scintillating experience...He's 19 apparently, shooting with a Canon 1Ds MKIII, and a collection of prime lenses preferred over zooms... He does all his own processing and post production and never took any special training or courses. I particularly like his Street Portraits, and Holy Men galleries...

oh, and he makes tutorial DVD's with tips and tricks... impressive. What the heck was I doing at 19? Hmmm....