Have you ever been on a trip and wished you could take a photo or video of both yourself and the scenery? Of course it’s possible with a tripod or handy object like a tree stump. This does involve some mucking around testing where to stand or getting a photo of your back as you run back to position as the camera timer goes off.

This is where the StickPic comes in handy. A while ago we contacted one of the inventors, Rod, and squeezed a free sample out of him.  It sat around for a while and we finally took it on our last trip to Tasmania.

Rather than explaining it all here, we produced another of our rough and ready videos to describe what it is and how it works.

StickPic’s Australian distributor is Jeff over at AMTC Gear. We tried to nab a discount for Our Hiking Blog readers but Jeff tells me the margins are pretty lean so no go. The sales page is here  if you are interested in nabbing one, they are $A16. Sorry, I got the cost wrong in the video….

Have you ever used a StickPic?

What do you prefer, pictures with people in them or just scenery?

Any other ideas to include yourself in a picture when you are hiking?

Wow.

One word describes the new offering from Digital Photography School, their fourth eBook  designed to teach you how to use your digital camera.  This one,  Photo Nuts and Shots: Tools and Techniques for Creative Photography, has been released today.

Is a massive (100+ pages) and incredibly good photography teaching resource.

Why are we encouraging you to check it out ?

Because we all want to learn to be a better photographer……

Photo Nuts and Shots: Tools and Techniques for Creative Photography is a terrific new resource because:

• it is written in a way that even I can understand
• the tips are simple, easy to follow and practical
• the advice will work for most digital cameras, not just the fancy SLR ones.
• it is packed full of beautiful images that highlight and teach you what to look for when taking a shot
• it is a really encouraging book that suggests a lot of different techniques that are simple and produce great results
• The author, Neil Creek (an Aussie), has managed to make the instructions simple and easy to understand. He writes really well.

In addition, to celebrate the launch of Photo Nuts and Shots they are giving one buyer a brand new Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 megapixel DSLR complete with an 18-55mm lens. This bundle is worth over $800!

To be in the running to win this best selling camera simply purchase your copy of Photo Nuts and Shots before midnight (Eastern US time) on Wednesday 2nd February and you’ll automatically be entered into the draw to win.

When?

There is a small window of opportunity to nab 25% off the  normal price of  $19.97 until the 10th February - that makes it  $14.97.

To read more about the book click here, there are more great images, a list of topics  and download information. Remember, Photo Nuts and Shots: Tools and Techniques for Creative Photography has a 60 day money back guarantee on the book if you are not completely satisfied.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Frank received a free review copy of this book and may receive affiliate payments for any sale via Our Hiking Blog. That being said, he often gets approached to market products but only promotes products that are top quality and he would probably buy himself.

The previous article with 9 tips to avoid a snake bite while hiking drew a couple of interesting responses and images from our readers about their encounters with Tiger Snakes.

The first comes via Adam Holbrook a Tasmanian Wilderness Photographer.

Adam recalls the day:

Have seen plenty of Tiger snakes here in Tassie, none bigger than this one…

This photo was taken after I had backed away a number of paces, it totally spun me out, I wasn’t watching the track in front of me.

The next one is from Steve in Queensland.  It teaches us a lesson that snakes are not always on the ground…..

Several weeks ago our group did a good walk up in Lamington NP to a place called Ratatat on the Queensland / N.S.W. border . At a lookout called Echo Point there is a great viewing point to Mt Warning and the N.S.W. North Coast from approx 1000m.

The lookout is on a cliff edge where you have to push out through the banksia bushes and other low lying brush . Usually the snakes take advantage of the sunny spots and we are all looking at the sunny spots on the ground for the red belly blacks and Tigers but as we pushed through the underbrush we nearly did not spot this Tiger in the tree .

Lucky as it was waiting for birds at our shoulder heights . The mind boggles if we had not seen it

Those of you with a good eye for detail will notice the different colour and markings of these Tiger snakes.

The Tasmanian ones are generally very dark (we think to increase absorption of sunlight in the colder weather) The Queensland one is more the “classic” tiger look with distinct stripes, possible to blend into it’s environment.

Many thank to Adam and Steve for sharing these great pics!

Have you got any snake pictures you would like to share?
Leave a comment below and we will load them up!

We were reading the “Green Guide” in the Age newspaper and came across a great article reviewing a couple of different inexpensive options to protect your SLR and standard digital camera in wet weather, snow or sandy conditions.

Our camera usually stays packed away in a dry sac bag if we are hiking in the rain but after reading the article by Terry Lane, these two options look interesting.

In this article we share some edited information about the features of each cover taken from the suppliers websites. We have not used either of these covers but will be looking closely at them before our next trip, especially if the forecast is for wet weather!

Op/Tech 18″ SLR Rainsleeve
The Rainsleeve from  OP/TECH USA is the must-have accessory for avid outdoor photographers, offering a shield from the elements (from rain, sand and snow) that fits easily in the pocket or camera bag.

It features a unique eyepiece opening that adapts to most camera viewfinders, allowing composition of shots through the camera’s lens, not through the plastic. All camera and lens controls are easily seen and operated through the RAINSLEEVE™.

It can be used either hand-held or on a tripod. If shooting with a long lens, the tripod mount can be attached directly through the pliable plastic.

The drawstring enclosure will fit any lens up to seven inches (17.8 cm) in diameter and up to 18 inches (45.7 cm) long.

Dry Foto Waterproof Underwater Digital Camera Case

The wonder cover that converts even the simplest camera into a waterproof camera for use underwater, in the pool, at sea or in wet weather.

Place your camera inside the cover, fold the top edge and close with the DryFoto clasp and then.. Snap away!!

DryFoto lets you capture those mystical water worlds forever or to simply capture treasured moments in the pool or at sea.

Sorry about using  the “sales pitch” for this article but they do give a reasonable overview of each system.

What do you do with your camera in wet weather?

Have you ever used either of these devices?

We would love to hear your tips and tricks, please leave us a reply below!

Just letting you know, the above links are “Affiliate Links”. That means if you buy either item we receive a small commission OR alternatively, just head off to the company website or your local photographic store!

If you’ve ever wondered why your pictures never look quite as good as those lavishly spread across the pages of a magazine, part of the answer may lay in the post-processing: photos are very rarely shown straight out of the camera.

Instead, they often go through photo-editing software, which may be thought of as a powerful digital darkroom.

Although Photoshop is the most well-known software, it is also very expensive. This is where Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/) comes in: a free, open-source alternative for your photographic needs. Best of all, you don’t have to be a computer wizard to begin using it – just download , install and run Gimp, open up the picture of your choice and follow these three simple steps:

Add some contrast

What is contrast? Contrast is simply about a difference of tones within the picture. A high contrast will make your darks darker, and your lights lighter – the stronger difference between those extremes, or contrast, will result in a picture that jumps up from the page. But be careful – the higher the contrast, the more fine details you might lose. As in all things, it is a question of balance.

To add some contrast to your picture, simply go to Colors > Brightness-Contrast and move the Contrast slider to the right. Moving the slider will also show you a live preview of the result, so feel free to play around until you like what you see, then click OK!

Warm it up

Every color in the world, and thus in your pictures, is a subtle mix of primary colors: red, green, blue and yellow. Adjusting the level of each of these primaries will change the overall tone of the picture.

First, go to Colors > Color Balance. The window that pops up will offer you a choice of 3 sliders, each playing 2 primary colors against each other: Cyan Vs Red, Magenta Vs Green, Yellow Vs Blue. Moving the sliders will allow you to favor one of these hues over the one opposing it, thus tipping the color balance. Because human beings tend to like warm colors, it is generally a good idea to tip the balance in favor of yellow, and to a lesser extent red. Once again, you will be shown a live preview as you move the sliders, so by all means feel free to experiment – colder or wilder choices may work for some images!

Sharpen

Sharpening, as its name suggests, will make your pictures look crisper – well-defined edges that will make the focus look tack sharp instead of soft or slightly blurred. Although this trick won’t save a bad blurry picture, it will definitely help. And if your picture was sharp to begin with – even better. Sharpening will add a layer of polish that will make the picture look finer and extremely well detailed.

Ready for to work the magic? Simply go to Filters > Enhance > Sharpen. Once again, you will be given a slider to adjust, and a small window containing a 100% live preview. Because sharpening will also aggravate noise and imperfections in an image, do be gentle with it. An amount between 20 and 50 will probably work best – once again, don’t be afraid to experiment!

That’s it – with higher contrast, warmer colors and a pin sharp polish, your picture will now pack a serious punch, achieved in a matter of minutes and a few simple clicks.

Click image to expand it and see the difference!

Many thanks to Stef who volunteered to write this very informative and useful piece for Our Hiking Blog. We love the simple instructions and images that show how small changes can really improve an image.

Have you every used Gimp?

Do you post process your images?

What other post processing software do you use, if any?

About Stef
I’m a freelance travel writer and photographer and do the bulk of my work in Australia and New Zealand.

My main interests are natural landscapes and wildlife encounters, but I’ve been known to shoot the occasional wedding and portraits. You can check out my online portfolio at http://portfolio.toothbrushnomads.com/ or contact me on toothbrushnomads@gmail.com

Adam Holbrook is a terrific supporter of Our Hiking Blog , a good bloke (Frank met him face to face recently after a three year “internet relationship”) and a terrific wilderness photographer.

Adam (tasadam to some) just shot us an email announcing not one, but TWO calenders for 2011.

This year, instead of “just” classic Tasmanian Wilderness scenes he has also added an “abstract” version for those looking for something, say, abstract…..

Here is a sample of  Tasmanian Abstract Wilderness

For more information about the Tasmanian Wilderness Abstract 2011 calender click here to check out more images and purchase details.

The following is a sample of his 2011 Tasmanian Wilderness Calender.

You can find out more information and check out each month in more detail by clicking here to head over to Adam’s site.

Adam also builds custom Tasmanian timber picture frames to compliment his photography. If you are interested in adding some amazing timber to any of his images, you can view a sample here.

Well done to Adam, we really love these images and hope you have enjoyed the sneak peek!

Koji has kindly agreed to share some photographs of a platypus he caught in the wild in Tasmania last week. Platypus sightings are quite rare and we have never seen one in this busy day tripper area.

Over to Koji:
My wife, her uncle and I went to Cradle on Friday for bushwalking and stayed at the  Scout Hut near Crater Lake. On the way back to Ronny Creek carpark on Saturday, about noon, we walked past other hikers and they said to us they saw a platypus in a little creek along the boardwalk so we kept en eye out for that.

As we approached the place we saw the platypus swimming along a creek.

I couldn’t believe that! So I quickly took out my camera (Nikon D40 with an average lens) and tried to shoot him but my lens wasn’t good enough so I went closer to him and got some shots.

Who is Koji?: As for me I am a full blooded Japanese, just moved to Tasmania with my wife in April from Tokyo.

We currently live in a suburb called North Down, near Devonport (my wife is from this area). I used to be a business consultant in Tokyo but ditched it and decided to explore better possibilities in Tassie, rather than sitting on a computer all day. Outdoor stuff is one of the possibilities for me!

Many thanks to Koji for sharing these great images and we both really hope he can “live the dream” here in Oz and enjoy the beautiful Tasmanian environment.

Have your come across a platypus in the wild? We would love to hear your story.

We were lucky enough to see one at Lake Elizabeth in the Otway National Park in Victoria  a few years ago.

Cain also shared a ripper photograph of one up on the Cradle Plateau (covered in ice) - It’s well worth a look

We came across his video on the Overland Track in Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park recently and thought it well worth sharing.

As we all know Frank is a pretty ordinary cinematographer but others have more refined skills that combine a great eye and terrific editing.

Let’s introduce Jeff Jennings from  Bridport in Tasmania. He has a terrific selection of videos over at YouTube and maintains a site for his passion,  Sea Kayaking in Tasmania (that stuff looks really scary)

Jeff has combined two different trips , one in Winter and the other Autumn. The contrast is quite spectacular.

Just a note, this is a high definition video and goes for 9 minutes, it will chew up your bandwidth a bit.

Have you come across any video’s you think worth sharing with our readers?
Have you got any masterpieces of your own you would like us to publicise?

Drop us a reply below and we will share them.

Ok, so hiking, bushwalking or tramping is a form of travel. No question.

When we travel (usually by foot) we love to capture beautiful images of what we’ve seen or who we have met. It is a given.

Bringing home fantastic photos of mountains, scenery, sunrises, sunsets or the people we meet are treasures.

A pleasure to be enjoyed for years to come as we reflect on a great trip or spectacular vista we were fortunate enough to capture as a photograph.

We were lucky enough to be sent a sample copy of a new eBook called
Transcending Travel – A guide to captivating travel photography

This is the latest in a series of high quality “how to’s” produced by Darren Rowse at Digital Photography School.

We don’t want to waste your time raving about it here when you can click here to view more details It is worth a minute of your time just to check out the terrific sample pages and mind blowing images. Enjoy!

We met Dennis at Kitchen Hut, near Cradle Mountain in Tasmania a few weeks ago and following a quick exchange of contact information caught up by email and arranged this interview.

Dennis is the author of eight Tasmanian books and each year releases two calendars – “Spectacular Tasmania” and “Classic Images”. Of course there is also a DVD (which looks pretty cool) so you could say Dennis is a professional photographer who is lucky enough to wander around in some of the best scenery in Australia taking pictures.
You can check out all this at his site: Dennis Harding Photography

We hope you enjoy this insight into Dennis and the fantastic wilderness images from Tasmania he has generously shared.

Mt Wellington - Tasmania

How about a bit of background on yourself. Live where? Work where?
I was born in Launceston,Tasmania and worked in two retail type jobs for 14 years. I managed a one hour photo processing lab for a year before working for a local newspaper as a commercial product photographer. I have lived all of my 54 years in Tasmania.

How did you first get into bushwalking / backpacking? Any particular mentor or group?
I joined the Deloraine Bushwalking club in my late teens and I was greatly influenced by both the late and great Tasmanian wilderness photographers, Olagus Truchanus and Peter Dombroskis.

Hartz Peak - Tasmania

You are a full time wilderness photographer. How did it all start? What was the transition like from amateur to professional?
While I was working full time I walked and photographed in my spare time before opening my own Photographic Studio. I worked for over ten years as an all rounder, weddings, portraits, commercial, you name it I have photographed it. Twelve years ago I decided to change direction dedicating all of my time to photographing and publishing Tasmanian books, calendars etc.

Western Arthur Range at sunset - Tasmania

When we met you at Kitchen Hut you had a significant back pack that seemed to be jammed full with your photographic gear. What is your standard kit if you are heading out to “work”?
A Canon 5d mark11 full frame camera with lenses 17-40 mm, 24 mm Shift Tilt, 28-75 mm, a light carbon fibre tripod and a range of neutral grey graduated filters.

How much manipulation / editing do you generally do with your images before they are released for sale or included in a book?
Very little, I strive to get it right in camera while shooting and when I convert my images using Adobe camera raw I try to achieve as pleasing reproduction as I can, never overdone.
All master photographers know that photography is not about realism but about personal interpretation.

Mt Olympus from Lake Oenone -Tasmania

Solo or with someone? When you are “working” are you usually alone, setting shots up yourself or do you take along a “helper” on occasion?
Over the past 30 years I have photographed 99% of the time alone. I find that I am easily distracted when someone else is around and it helps me feel much closer to my subject.

When we are hiking the vistas are often fantastic. Have you got 3 tips for us amateurs on how to get a great “landscape” shot?

• Look for a good foreground and then try to match it up with an interesting background or vice versa. Then combine them both together within the same composition.
• On fine days start looking for photographs in early morning or late afternoon light when colours are warmer and the shadows are longer. On cloudy and wet days head for the forests.
• Always carry a tripod, it frees you up from the camera and guarantees better sharpness and greater depth of focus.
  .

Highland stream - Tasmania

Do you ever get out into the bush just for the fun of it or do you always have a camera at the ready hoping for the perfect shot?
I always carry a camera into the bush but I have been on many a trip just because I love being in the outdoors.

Are there three places in Australia you would love to photograph? (or just hike and check out)

• Karijini Gorge.
• Carnarvon Gorge and
• Lord Howe Island.

A very hard question because I have a long list.

Pandani ( Richea pandanifolia ) - Tasmania

How about internationally, what are the three places you would love to capture for work or fun?
Yosemite Valley, California. Canyonland, Utah and Fitzroy Range, Patagonia.

My three favourite bits of bushwalking gear are? Why?

• My 25 year old Trangia fuel stove, it’s ever reliable and works well even in low temperatures.
• My full length gortex jacket , it’s light, folds up well and keeps me reasonable dry most of the time.
• I always carry a good polar fleece jacket because I do feel the cold.

I really hate it when I am bushwalking / backpacking/ photographing and …..

it gets very windy! Only the rocks stay still and it’s difficult to photograph in the Mountains.

Mt Geryon from Lake Elisia, The Labyrinth

I knew we were in trouble on that trip when …….
my companion dislocated his knee on Mount Elisa in Southwest Tasmania. It was very cold at the time and after several attempts to put his knee back in I decided that it was best to splint his leg and use my tripod and a tree limb for crutches.

It took me over 4 hours of sliding and falling backwards before getting him to the safety of a small hut. I set out for help in the near darkness and because the weather was so bad it wasn’t till the the next afternoon before my friend was airlifted to Hobart

What trips have you planned in the next 12 months?
Cooloola Walk, a 5 day 100 kilometre walk in Queensland,  and a series of shorter walks around Central Australia.

What is your favourite outdoor website?
None – correction, yours now that I have found it. (ed, boy that will get you a spot here anytime!)

Your favourite photography site?
Muench Photography Inc

Reynolds Falls - Tasmania

Many thanks to Dennis for taking the time to answer all our questions and share some of his wonderful work.

If you would like to see more, there is a whole Fagus (deciduous beech) series here: Fantastic fagus Foto’s from a fabulous photographer and don’t forget to visit his site: Dennis Harding Photography

Over to you dear readers:

What camera gear do you take when you are hiking or bushwalking?

Are you a point and shoot or a bit more serious about it?

Do you carry a tripod? What type? (we are in the market)

In our family we own at least six LED headlights.

They are a terrific invention, lightweight, kind on batteries and relatively inexpensive. All in all, winners and a huge improvement on a hand held torch for bushwalking. Many of you will have one for hiking or around camp at night.

Via our internet travels we  discovered what seems to be the next generation of LED (or is it the lens?) technology and wanted to share some of the images taken using one of this companies LED torches as the “lighting” for an outdoor photography shoot. Very impressive.

From the LED LENSER website:

The new generation of lamps that we have developed will revolutionise night photography. Our new lamps, particularly the X21, allow you to take photographs outdoors that up to now were scarcely possible, even with generators and heavy HDI lamps.

The lamps are handy, lightweight and were barely noticeable in our backpacks as we undertook breathtaking climbing tours in Zion National Park (Utah), in Death Valley, California, or in the Yangchun Yuxi Three Caves cave system.

All of the photographs in this website are original photos, taken in those hours in which the night expands its stillness and the stars are the most beautiful.

Special thanks go to the photographer Annabelle Schleder. With her Canon and Nikon cameras, she was able to capture views on film – sometimes from dizzying heights – that may well have never been seen before.

Photos: Annabelle Schleder http://www.studio310.de

NB: These pics are screen shots, the best way to view them is at the LED LENSER website

The company also has a pretty handy range of headlights. The features they offer seem to far exceed our own,  very simple units.  The H7 is at the upper end of their range, some specifications from the website:

• approximately 140 lumens
• brighter than three conventional electric torches
• change from long-distance light to circular low beam
• circular potentiometer allows for smooth dimming
• the lamp head can be swivelled within an angle of 90 degrees.

There is an Australian distributor, Zen Imports,  but it is not clear  which outlets / stores stock this brand.  We will chase them up and let you know.

As for the prices, we have no idea but will try and track them down too.  Have a feeling this German Technology might be a bit on the BMW side, rather than a Holden or Ford.

Have you come across this brand of LED headlight? What are they like? Any good?