I think next year I am going to work on a photographic Portfolio which will only be available to view from my website. I would also like to do a photographic essay, again only viewable from my website. I believe taking photographs for social media diminishes a thoughtful approach as well as having no real control of the quality of your images (compression) and the way they are displayed. Finally I want to be consistent with producing a photographic newsletter. I guess these are some really early new years resolutions but I want to regain my focus, no pun intended. Not rushing to take photos to be rushed onto social media but to have a more reflective and thoughtful approach and to slow down the entire process. Finally why have a website if you are only going to put everything on social media? it is really cannibalising your creativity.

The second production of the 2025 MMuDS years was The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. I was not involved in an onstage role but I got to take photographs for “Front of House” and during a Tech / Dress Rehearsal. Taking photos during a show can be difficult because of quick changes in lighting and the movement of the cast. I am learning a lot taking these types of images. I don’t always get focus and exposure correct but I feel even those images can still give a feel for what was happening on stage. I also used for the first time my new Canon 24 to 70mm F2.9mm L series Lens. I still have much more to learn about using this lens and taking show images but I was happy with these. Some of my Images were used in a publicity review article in The Mansfield Courier.

Today, the date of this post, my new Canon lens arrived. For those of you into photography it is the Canon 24-70mm F2.8 MkII L Series. In Canon circles this is often called one of the Holy Trinity of lenses

Sitting in the Botanic Park catching the late afternoon sunshine.you would think I was chilling listening to the various calls of the wild or bird song but all I could here were the exasperated and increasing loud calls of the dog owners as they yell and swore and yelled again while their dogs, tongues hanging out the corners of their mouths eyes rolling totally ignored them. It reminded me of Henry Lawson’s timeless short story “The Loaded Dod”

Finally got the connection plate so I can attach my 600mm lens to my tripod. I use a harness when walking so I needed the plate so I was not having to constantly unscrew things when mounting to my tripod. The harness is made by Cotton Carrier so I also need the plate to come from them. I have used the harness for about two years now and I really like it. Sadly it is not cheap but you want something you can trust when its holding your camera gear. I’m not getting any sponsorship or freebies to promote Cotton Carrier. There are other good harnesses around and if you have a large lens I would certainly recommend getting one. If you need any further information drop me a comment below. I have added some images to show you what I have been writing about.