Earthairfire Photography

Leather Craftsmen Albums

2011-06-13T18:16:00.002+10:00

So many photographs these days end up spending their days relegated to Facebook albums and archived hard disks, never getting the chance to show themselves off in their full glory.

With printed photos typically reserved for special occasions, it's only right that they should be reproduced in high quality, bound in an album that will last a lifetime.

Clients often ask about photo albums. They can vary so widely in cost and quality, so I wanted to take the time to show you what we produce, and what to expect if you're considering an album from us.

Our albums are produced by Leather Craftsmen, who have been producing high quality albums for nearly 70 years. Hand crafted, these weighty albums exude quality and craftsmanship.

As you would expect from a handmade product, a myriad of options exist for everything from cover treatments to hinge types. The images show a 3500 series lay-flat album finished in silver pebble metallic fabric.

Album layouts are custom designed to tell your own story and allow for multiple images on each page, stretching up to double side spreads for the most precious shots.

Album pricing depends on the number of pages required and the size of the album, starting at $600 for a 10"x10" Leather Album with 20 sides.

Vietnam Trip

2011-06-05T22:57:00.001+10:00

Keryn and I have recently returned from the most amazing trip to Vietnam.

It wasn't a photography trip, but a holiday.

Our plan was to head from North to South calling in at Hanoi, Ha Long, Hoi An, Da Lat and Saigon along with a handful of other towns en route. We (and by we, I mean Keryn) had mapped out a range of transport options from sleeper trains to planes and kayaks, from motorbikes to boats and cars - by the end of the trip we'd taken each option and more!

I promised myself that I'd only take the bare minimum of photography gear, so equipped with my trusty Canon 5D MkII, 3 lenses (well, I needed a wide angle and could hardly leave the 50 or 85mm primes at home) and a bag full of clothes, we headed to Melbourne Airport.

First stop in Vietnam was Ha Noi.

The second we stepped out of the taxi it was clear that Asian traffic had arrived. In abundance!

Crossing the Road - Vietnamese Style

We quickly learned that crossing the road requires a different technique than in Australia, Europe or the US. For any soon-to-be first time travellers to Vietnam here's a tip: Walk slowly, confidently and predictably and just walk into the melee. Don't stop, speed up, slow down or even THINK about turning back. Somehow this technique works even in the situation above where you can't even see the road!

We had planned to meet with friends who were also travelling a similar route, and Ha Noi was the first time our group was all in one place. Shortly after checked in to our hotel, we met up and headed out for our first chance to explore the city.

Ha Noi was a city filled with treasures. From $0.25 glasses of the local "bia hoi" to the exhibition of Imperial Treasures at the National Museum of Vietnamese History

Trash and Treasure in Ha Noi

From Ha Noi we took an overnight excursion to Ha Long Bay (literally: Descending Dragon Bay. A UNESCO world heritage site, Ha Long Bay is home to hundreds of Limestone islands, jutting out of the water, creating a picture perfect backdrop for locals and tourists alike.

Ha Long Bay

Our vessel for the journey was a luxuriously finished 52 cabin Vietnamese Junk that spent 2 days sailing around the bay, stopping at floating villages and caves for those who wanted a side of adventure with their decadent main course.

David and Goliath

Mobile Souvenir Store

After two days of lapping up the amazing scenery, food and service aboard our junk, it was time to head back to the mainland for a dose of mainland Vietnam. Next stop Hoi An.

Home to 120,000 inhabitants, Hoi An is a coastal city, and was an important trading center during the 16th and 17th Centuries. Nowadays, Hoi An is another Vietnamese addition to the world heritage listing, and is a beautiful patchwork of laneways and market stalls.

Hoi An by Night

I could have happily spent weeks wandering the back-streets of Hoi An. The locals so friendly, so welcoming. The pace of life so relaxed and easy going. Hoi An has a slightly mystical old-world feel to it. Even their local delicacy Cao Lau is steeped in history, with it's unique taste rumoured to originate from a secret water source in the city, preventing restaurants outside the area from re-creating it.

Work, Rest and Play in Hoi An

One Hoi An experience that cannot be passed up on is the amazing Red Bridge Cooking School. Having researched cooking schools in Vietnam, Red Bridge is consistently rated as number 1 across the board. Having embarked upon their Deluxe Tour, I can now see why.

The day starts with a trip to an organic farm and markets to explore the local produce and collect supplies for the day. Vietnamese market's are such an amazing experience. Such an assault on the senses, with amazing produce willing you to touch, smell and taste at every turn.

Local Farmer and Market Stall

The markets in Vietnam really are something to behold. The hustle and bustle, mixed with unfamiliar scents, sounds and the sheer abundance of fresh produce is astounding. I would have loved to have spent days doing nothing but walking through the many markets in Vietnam, chatting to stallholders and sampling their produce. On this day, however, we were on a mission. A culinary mission.

A short minivan ride took us and our produce back to Red Bridge Cooking School. Let the preparation commence! The menu for the day included Pho Bo - the iconic Vietnamese beef noodle soup, Lemongrass Shrimp in Banana Leaves, Claypot Fish with Dill and a Grilled Chicken with Bananaflower Salad. Yum!

Accompaniments for Beef Pho

We chopped, stirred, seasoned and tasted our way through a couple of hours sharing anecdotes, stories and of course Vietnamese beer, our tastebuds tingling and bellies rumbling for the feast at the end.

Having never made noodles before, I found it fascinating to discover that it's rather like making pancakes - you learn something new every day!

Another fascinating tip we learned was how to deal with "chilli in eye syndrome". This unscheduled tip was gratefully received by Keryn, who had been given the task of finely dicing birds eye chillies for the Pho Bo. Somehow, she got chilli in her eye and in a snap one of the staff was there, thrusting her ponytail into Keryn's eyeball. Within seconds, all the heat had disappeared. I kid you not. The oil in hair breaks down the chilli. You heard it here first!

Preparing Lemongrass Shrimp in Banana Leaf

The day ended with the delightful task of feasting on the banquet we had prepared, before sailing down the river at dusk, back to the centre of Hoi An.

After a couple of days exploring more of Hoi An and enjoying the company of our friends it was time for us all to temporarily part ways. Keryn and I headed to the city of Da Lat - a mountain retreat affectionately known as "Petit Paris" thanks to it's abundance of European architecture. It even has a scaled down Eiffel Tower at it's centre!

Our home for the next days was a room in a converted French colonial villa at the Anamandara Resort. When we arrived, I was full of mixed emotions. Da Lat is a stunning town, but tucked away in a luxury French villa felt odd. It was beautiful, but for me it wasn't Vietnam. If I wanted to go to France, I'd have gone to France. The resort was clearly set up for western travellers who want to feel in a safe 'cocoon' in Vietnam. Staff seemed confused that we wanted to make our own plans without their concierge service being involved. I guess they're not used to independent travellers showing up on their shores.

Once I discovered how comfortable the bed was, I quickly got over the shell shock and we started to plan things to outside the resort, safe it the knowledge that a comfy retreat with a log fire lay waiting for us on our return.

The Anamandara Resort, Da Lat

The highlight of the trip in Da Lat was a day trip with the famed Easy Riders. In 1992 when Vietnam first opened it's doors to tourists, a group of 15 riders realised that locals who knew the area and could speak English & French could help visitors explore all that there was to offer. Easy Riders was born. 19 years later, there are now around 90 riders, who can be found hanging out at the Peace Cafe.

I'd heard great things about the Easy Riders, but really had to experience a day with them to appreciate why they are so highly regarded.

Our guides for the day were Hiep and Lam.

Easy Rider Adventure, Da Lat

Hiep was one of the original Easy Riders. Formerly a psychology teacher, his knowledge and enthusiasm were second to none. Lam joined the group a number of years ago and never looked back.
They were both amazing hosts for the day. We agreed on our itinerary, jumped on the back of the bikes and we were off.

We never felt unsafe for one moment, despite being on the back of a complete stranger's motorbike in what felt like the middle of nowhere. Along the way, Hiep and Lam recounted their memories of the "American War" as it's known in Vietnam. Truly touching stories about their families and the hardship they faced. Hiep told us that they were the lucky ones - Da Lat was one of the few cities that was not heavily affected by the war

We spent the day weaving through country roads, stopping at a number of statues and temples. My favourite had to be Happy Buddha. An imposing 10m tall statue with a huge smile, and even bigger belly!

Happy Buddha

After leaving Happy Buddha, we stopped at a majestical site called Elephant Falls. From above the view is impressive, but Lam offered to lead us down the slippery path to the base of the falls to get a real sense of the power behind this natural wonder. Here is a photo from half way down. You'll have to excuse the lack of photos from the base - standing underneath a waterfall is pretty much like standing next to a wet dog - you're going to get soaked whether you like it or not!

Keryn & I at Elephant Falls

Both Keryn & I are shamelessly addicted to coffee, but it was a huge surprise to me to find out that Vietnam is the second largest coffee producer in the world, behind Brazil. Armed with this knowledge, the next stop was an obvious addition to the tour - time to visit a coffee plantation.

Fresh Coffee Beans Ready to be Shelled, Dried and Roasted

From coffee to silk, our next way point was equally fascinating. We visited a series of venues mapping out the process and people behind the production of silk. Starting in the home of a local bamboo weaver, we see the frames used to house baby silk worms. From here we move on to the factory that takes each cocoon and pulls away the tiny filaments of silk.

Silkworm Larvae

It's utterly staggering the sheer number of silk worms required to make the smallest length of thread. After what seems like an endless number of people, machines and processes comes a single reel of silk.

Silk Production

We leave the silk factory astonished by the manpower required to make a single thread of silk. After a long day of riding, learning and feeling incredibly humbled by the people that make Vietnam all that it is, it was time for us to head back to Da Lat for the night.

Keryn and Hiep Riding Back to Da Lat

For our final day in Da Lat, we booked a white water rafting tour.

The day started well - a 1 hour hike cross country to the river. Here we collected the boats and set off. We were due to ride 10 rapids and cover around 7km by river before a 2 hour hike up a mountain back to the road to get collected.

All was going well until the first rapid, I watch Keryn and her guide in the raft ahead glide gracefully through the white water. My guide and I follow, but things don't quite go to plan...

We manage to head down the rapid sideways (not a wise idea) and get the raft jammed on a rock. I am being pummelled by a torrent of river water into my side, unable to move. A few seconds pass and suddenly I'm underwater. It's a bit of a blur, but I swim out to the side of the river to discover whilst nobody got hurt, I've smashed a crown. Not awesome!

The rest of the trip is beautiful, exhilarating, and generally good fun, but the $3000 dental bill waiting at home was bearing on my mind - needless to say, that slightly took the shine off the day for me.

Da Lat Street Food

The final stop on our Vietnamese tour was Saigon, where we were to spend two days before heading home to Melbourne.

We had planned to spend these days seeing the sights, but after some hasty research, I uncovered an amazing dental clinic with a spare slot. I wasn't really relishing the thought of a massive dental bill on the way home, so decided to sacrifice the last day of holiday sitting in the dentists chair at Westcoast Dental under the watchful eye of Dr Diem, whom I cannot recommend highly enough. Not exactly the ideal end to a holiday, but at least I came out with a smile!

Would I go back again? In a heartbeat.

T

Vietnam Trip Preview

2011-04-03T19:09:00.000+10:00

I've just returned from two weeks spent travelling from North to South Vietnam. WOW - what an amazing country.

From the bustling city of Hanoi, through the adorable old town of Hoi An, exploring the backstreets and laneways, I was instantly hooked on the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of this country.


The backstreets and laneways of Vietnam

Vietnam is a country of so many contrasts - Ha Long bay being one of the most beautiful:

The aquamarine glow of Ha Long Bay

From Ha Long bay, we headed south my plane, train, motorbike and kayak calling in to visit Da Lat, Da Nang and Saigon before jumping back to Australia via Kuala Lumpur.

I'm currently still unpacking, so you'll have to forgive the short preview - check back later in the week for the full story :)

Tim

How to Increase your Flash Sync Speed for Free

2011-02-27T12:47:00.006+11:00

It's a common problem: You're shooting an outdoor portrait and want to darken the sky / background to add drama to the shot. Something like this:

I normally start without flash, and get my exposure to a point where I'm happy with the background / ambient lighting. In the shot below, I have adjusted my exposure to give me a blue sky, despite shooting into direct sunlight. Obviously, my subjects are hiding in the form of a silhouette at this point.

Settings for this shot are ISO100, f3.2 @ 1/400s.

Now I want to add flash to the shot in order to expose the models correctly. How hard can it be, right?

Here comes the dilemma. At 1/400s, if I use off camera flash, I'll get a the camera's 'rear curtain' blocking the flash at the bottom edge of my frame, like in the image below:

There are a few ways to work around this:

1) Keep the same ambient exposure by using a smaller aperture and a slower shutter speed (below the maximum sync speed of your camera, which in my case is 1/200s. This gives the side effect of increasing your depth of field - something I didn't want to do.

2) If your kit supports high speed sync, turn this on. The downside being that HSS mode reduces the power output of your flash. If you're trying to overpower the sun, this is working against you.

3) Buy a camera with a higher sync speed (such as the Canon 1Ds III). This is expensive. Not my preferred option.

4) Turn your camera upside down.

Yes. I'm serious.

I realise this sounds ridiculous, but bear with me.

In the image above, the top of the frame is sky and clouds only. They are not lit by flash. If I block the flash with my rear curtain in the top of my frame, this will have no effect on the clouds. Providing the rear curtain doesn't obscure the model's faces, this technique can but you a stop of two extra shutter speed for free.

By turning your camera upside down, you can shoot daylight flash portraits at a speed higher than the max sync speed of your camera. For free.

Go try it and let me know how you get on.

- Tim

Cadillac Sunset

2011-02-07T14:09:00.000+11:00

Shoots at sunset are always fun. Add to that some great models and a CBD rooftop and I start to get excited. Drop in a custom 1957 Cadillac Coup DeVille, and I'm positively chomping at the bit!

Oh. I forgot to mention, this Cadillac is SLAMMED down to the floor. Look it it - crazy!

The last few weeks have seen some crazy and frightening weather across Australia, from floods to fires and cyclones to heat waves. Starting off with a wet, grey morning in Melbourne things thankfully fined up in time for the shoot.

The location for this shoot was the 19th floor of a CBD carpark in Melbourne. This made for a great panoramic view across the city, but also gave us the challenge of some pretty high winds. Large lighting modifiers don't like high winds. Word.

With a number of people hanging onto the lights, the sun began to drop in the sky.

Cue Paul:

And Lauren:

Ending up with my personal favourite from the shoot:

Many thanks to Paul Vanzella for the use of his beautiful car, to Ben Ryan for organising, Porcelain Cupcake for the awesome makeup and to Mr Juice for the kites. I mean lights.

Model Slideshow

2011-01-31T08:54:00.010+11:00

What better way to wrap up my series of "Eucalypse" model shoot blog posts than with a slideshow of my favourite images?

Click play below & enjoy the show!

(Click on the full screen & HD icons for the best quality)

Model Mayhem

2011-01-26T11:13:00.000+11:00

It's the start of a new year. What better way to pull together some of my previously unseen shots from the Eucalypse photoshoot to get the ball rolling. If you've never heard of Eucalypse before, check out my previous blog posts for more info and other images from this amazing 4 day photo marathon.

First up is Alain, rocking out the cool, calm and collected look at St Michael's Church in Melbourne:

Staying in the Church, we have Peter and Tanina, sharing a secret. I won't tell if you don't...

Hot on their heels, we have Axle, dressed in the most amazing, iridescent blue velvet suit in the courtyard at Mission to Seafarers:

Moving quickly on, we headed to Campari house for a change of scenery and theme. This time, the adorable Dani takes centre stage, showing off her impressive ink:

Last up for today we have the ridiculously fun packed Diana and Paul, enjoying their stay in the honeymoon suite at the Rendezvous Hotel in Melbourne. I'll let the images tell the rest of the story...

Until the next time...

Tim

The internet has landed!

2011-01-26T10:19:00.000+11:00

After a long and painful period of moving house and waiting for my internet to be reconnected, I'm glad to report that all is back on line in the world of Earthairfire Photography.

Now... time to put up some long overdue blog posts!!

Tim

Models, Models, Models

2010-11-30T21:14:00.000+11:00

Yesterday was day four of the Eucalypse 2010 photo marathon. Check out my earlier blog posts if you want to know what happened on day's 1-3.

The main venue for the day was the Rendezvous Hotel in Melbourne - an amazing historic property in the heart of Melbourne, nestled opposite Flinders Street Station. Built in 1913 with amazing city and river views, this was sure to be a killer location to shoot.

There were so many amazing areas to shoot, and so many talented models to work with - I'll be posting more as soon as I get the chance.

After a day's shooting at the hotel, I took a walk out into the city with the infectiously energetic Paul & Diana. Shooting with these guys was so much fun. Check it out:

That's all I have time for tonight, but I'm SO excited to find some time to work through the four days images in detail. So many great models, locations and memories. To all the models, MUAs and organisers who made this event possible, THANK YOU.

Eucalypse Day 3

2010-11-28T20:23:00.000+11:00

Today was day three of the four day shooting fest otherwise known as Eucalypse.

Our home for the day was Mission to Seafarers, behind Melbourne Exhibition centre. An unassuming building form the outside, the building is a treasure trove of character - a fitting home for a worthy cause.

As per days one and two, here's a little peek into what the day had in store. Much more to follow - so many images and so little time!

First to the stage is Axle in his killer blue suit:

Next up, Jessica:

Plenty more where these came from but I gotta go eat and sleep - one more day of shooting tomorrow - roll on day four!

The Owl & The Pussycat

2010-11-27T22:43:00.001+11:00

Today was day 2 of the 2010 Melbourne Eucalypse.

Starting to feel the burn of lugging gear around for 12 hours, 2 days running with no real time to stop and breathe, but it's been a stellar day chocked full of amazing models, wardrobe and locations. Today's venues included MOO bar and Campari House.

Melbourne's weather tried it's best to dampen our spirits with a thorough soaking (note to self - don't leave camera bag unzipped in the rain...) and the electrical gremlins decided to release the magic smoke from two strobes, but we still had a blast.

I'll be uploading a comprehensive set of images when I get the time, but in order to whet your taste bud, here's a little morsel, featuring the wonderful Liv & Peter. You guys rocked it out - so much fun!

Day 3 tomorrow - really excited!

Bridal Shoot - Jessica

2010-11-27T00:11:00.000+11:00

Today I took part in day one of the four day photo shoot otherwise known as Eucalypse. The shoot involves 30+ models, 21 photographers and 7 spectacular locations. Day one centred around St Michael's church in the heart of Melbourne.

Jessica was one of the amazing models for the day - here's a sneak peek of her in a stunning wedding gown and iridescent green veil provided by the amazingly talented Lisa Defazio.

I'll be regularly updating the blog over the next few days with images from the weekend with themes ranging from Mad Hatter to Spring Carnival, so watch this space!

Margie & Hayden

2010-11-07T19:35:00.007+11:00

With it’s majestical skyline and deep natural harbour, Hong Kong is a stunning location for a romantic getaway. For Margie and Hayden, Hong Kong was a place that transformed their lives forever.

Champagne in hand, Hayden dropped to one knee. Seconds felt like hours. Margie said yes. YES!

A couple of years later, Margie and Hayden stood in the Royal Botanical Gardens, surrounded by family, friends, sunshine and love.

Margie and Hayden… I’ve been excitedly waiting for your wedding day, and it truly surpassed my every hope and expectation. From the perfect weather, to your wonderful and welcoming families, it was so special and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share in your beautiful day. Enjoy every last minute of Mexico.

To your beautiful daughter, Misha – you rocked out the role of adorable flower girl. Enjoy your hard earned holiday in QLD!

Sweet treats to keep the girls going...
Many thanks to the wonderful staff at Napoleon Perdis in the Como Centre for making Margie and her girls look fabulous...

The dresses waited patiently for their formal unveiling
Meanwhile, stunning vintage style roses arrived courtesy of Style by Nature
Margie's dress was a work of art. Great efforts from Kara and Kim - nobody ever claimed that wedding dresses were easy to put on!

Like a fairytale princess, Misha got to join in the ball with her very own gown

Melbourne put on a fine show with a beautiful sunny day waiting for Margie as she joined Hayden and their guests at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Proud father of the bride, Michel...

Following the ceremony and family formals, the bridal party took a walk through the gardens before making a quick dash for some photos in the city
Margie and Hayden look AMAZING, don't you think?
Onto two of my favourite images from the day...

A few congratulatory car horns, sirens and tram bells later, we find ourselves on Princes Bridge - a Melbourne icon and a fitting end to the walk in the city.

Onto the reception at Red Scooter. A huge thanks to Erin and Eamon for their stellar work organising the reception and ensuring everything went so smoothly.

Music for the evening was provided by the highly talented Baker Boys.

Speeches were honest, heartfelt, funny and real...

Anyone for mud cake with layers of vanilla bean and chocolate orange? Yummy!!
Thanks to Oakleigh Quality Cakes!

This post ends with an image of the Polaroid guestbook. Throughout the evening, guests filled it with love, best wishes and congratulations for Mr & Mrs Lawrence. Here's to the next chapter of their lives together...

European Adventure - part 2

2010-10-17T18:45:00.002+11:00

For part one of the adventure, click here.

Following Joanne & Phil's wedding, we packed up our bags again and headed to Italy.

Before we left oz, Keryn & I did an 8 week Italian for travellers language course. We barely scraped the surface but were armed with enough Italian to be dangerous, so off we flew with our bags packed, amped to explore the country whilst most likely thoroughly humiliating ourselves in broken Italian!

We flew into Pisa for a one night stay before heading to Tuscany. We asked around for recommendations for a place to eat and got directed towards Il Colonnino Enoteca. I was instantly transported to my idea of heaven. A beautiful rustic, welcoming restaurant full to the brim of great wine, cheese and meats. 10/10 for Pisa! If you find yourself in Pisa at some point, I can heartily recommend this gem of an eatery.

Il Colonnino

The next morning we collected our hire car and started on our journey to Tuscany. We had a large farmhouse booked and were meeting a host of European friends there for a week of wine, sunshine and long overdue catch-ups.

Let me start out by saying WOW - Italian driving is a whole new experience. I like to think myself pretty travel savvy and having driven around in LA and San Fransisco, I figured that most other cities would be a breeze. How wrong I was! It seems that in Italy, the key to driving success is to ignore oncoming traffic and just pull out. After a while it became quite liberating! When in Rome, I say...

Tuscan Farm House

For the next week, we spent our time divided between relaxing by the pool at the house and taking day trips out to other towns and regions in the area. Our day trips included some time in Sienna, Florence, Chianti and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Cinque-Terre.

Rural Italian Charm

Cinque Terre

Life in the Fast Lane

After an amazing week tasting the delights of Tuscany, it was time to move on to the next chapter of the journey. Next stop Venice.

Venice was truly one of the most awe inspiring, romantic and idyllic places I've ever had the privilege of visiting. I'd heard horror stories of Venice being an overcrowded tourist trap, full of overpriced poor quality restaurants and tacky shops. We stayed outside of the main tourist area in the old city at the wonderful B&B Sandra. I cannot express how genuinely welcome our host, Sandra made us feel. She welcomed us into her gorgeous home, gave us wonderful recommendations of places to eat, places to see and made the most amazing breakfasts. Sandra - I need your recipe book! Our stay really would not have been the same had we stayed elsewhere.

Venice Grand Canal

We HAD to do the Gondola thing.

2 nights in Venice really weren't enough, but none the less, we packed up our bags one more time and jumped on the train to Rome. Last stop before heading home.

The River Tiber - Rome

St Peter's Basilica

Trevi Fountain

Coming from the breezy city of Venice, Rome was a real hot box. The stone buildings all around seem to give off heat like a pizza oven. Having spent the previous 4 months in Melbourne's winter, Rome's summer was a big shock to the system.

You can't fail to be impressed by Rome's architecture, but the height of summer really isn't the best time to go exploring - it was just to hot to appreciate it fully in 2 days.

Before we knew it, time had slipped us by and we were back on a plane, heading home. Holiday's are never long enough, are they?

Flickr Photowalk - Melbourne

2010-10-10T23:31:00.001+11:00

Today I ventured out with some folks from the Flickr Melbourne Group for a ramble around Melbourne CBD with cameras. The sun was shining and Melbourne really put on a show.

Stills & video tour of the day:

The full story:

We met up at Melbourne Central and proceeded to venture into the back streets. As always, Melbourne alleyways didn't fail to disappoint. We even stumbled across 2 unusual city gardens. One made from tin cans taped to a drain pipe, to another constructed from a 1980's boom box.

As we meandered through the city's alleyways, we popped out onto Swanston Street to the sound of Melbourne Music's closing party.

This looped us around nicely in the correct direction for the next destination... the pub. All this walking was thirsty work. On the way, I found some generous folks giving out FREE HUGS:

Ps - I've not forgotten about part 2 of the European adventure. Watch this space :)

Tim

European Adventure - part 1

2010-10-06T21:17:00.002+11:00

I can't believe it's October already.

I recently returned from a trip across to the UK with my partner Keryn for my brother's wedding. We used the trip as a great excuse to spend some time soaking up the European summer in Italy.

Our first stop was Dubai. We had a 3 day stopover en route to the UK - we figured it would be just enough time to get a taste of Dubai and to get some heat into our bones following the long Melbourne winter before jetting off to the wedding. We quickly discovered that 3 days in Dubai was about 2 days too long!


The rather obscene Burj Al Arab

Keryn & I at the top

Don't get me wrong - we had a fun time, but there is only so much time I can spend looking at the worlds biggest, well, everything, or shopping at overpriced malls. One thing I can wholeheartedly recommend doing if you do visit is dune bashing. I expected to be totally under-whelmed by a casual drive in the desert but I was happily proven wrong. Dune bashing panned out to be an exhilarating race over the dunes by a paid psychopath on a mission to roll the vehicle. Sooooo much fun!


Dune Bashing

Following Dubai, we headed to the UK for the wedding. My brother Philip and his now wife Joanna married at a beautiful stately home in northern England. England put on a fine display of summer weather with just a little sprinkling of rain for luck.

Given that I attend many more weddings as a photographer rather than a guest alone, it was lovely to spend the day enjoying the wedding from a different perspective. Typically I don't photograph friend's and family's weddings as I want to dedicate 100% of my time to being a guest, but it goes without saying that I had to take a handful of pictures!!

My Brother, Philip

My Sister-in law, Joanna

Philip & Joanna


Gotta love Joanna's cheeky smile!

It was great to meet so many people who are important in Jo & Phil's life. Living at the other side of the world does have it's disadvantages when it comes to keeping abreast of what's happening with those you love. Alongside meeting new faces, it was such a beautiful opportunity to gather all the extended family together in one spot. That's something that doesn't happen nearly enough.

Following the ceremony, the guests all headed off for a disco-nap - some time to relax before the evening reception. The reception was a black tie cocktail party complete with casino and jazz band. The grandeur of the stately home effortlessly carrying the theme into the early hours.

With guests starting to disperse, Keryn & I headed to our room for a well earned sleep and the beginning of the next chapter of our trip.

Continued in part 2 coming soon!

Melbourne Model Ball 2010

2010-06-16T11:18:00.007+10:00

I thought this may interest some of you. From modelball.com.au:

Imagine a Melbourne red carpet event where YOU are the VIP.

Imagine photographers on the red carpet, a glass of sparkling in your hand, a string quartet and a room full of the most talented fashion models and fashion industry representatives in Melbourne.

More details after the jump

You will be treated to amazing canapés, drinks and entertainment whilst socialising with those in your industry who make the decisions. You will meet like-minded people in an environment sculpted to allow effortless networking. Professional photographers will roam the floor, taking high-class event photographs of yourself and your friends looking your best in haute couture evening wear.

After the event your photographs will be available for download (complimentary, of course) and may be used in portfolios, on social networks and any other way you see fit.
This is a high-class, high-fashion event specifically formulated to gain you contacts and exposure before, during and long after the event.

Find out more here: modelball.com.au

Note: Earthairfire Photography is in no way affiliated with this event - I'm posting this for info only in case it is of interest.

Shoot: Jessica

2010-06-15T22:20:00.004+10:00

Recently, I met up with Jessica for a shoot. She's fairly new to modelling but was a real pleasure to work with.

We started out near Batesford, Vic - a little country town to the west of Melbourne. Driving around, we came across a bridge, under which was a beautiful stream, covered in an amazing verdant green algae bloom.

We stopped here for an hour or so, toying about with the concept of a girl with her camera meandering through an enchanting forest. Here are a couple of samples from the day:

We were keen to execute a number of looks and concepts, so we jumped back in the car and drove further into the wilderness, hunting for inspiration.

We stumbled upon an abandoned shack, just outside of Batesford. Anyone who knows me, or who has followed my work will know that I'm a huge fan of crumbling old buildings and the depth of character they can offer. I wasn't about to pass up on this opportunity, so we parked up and went exploring.

The shack had clearly fallen into disrepair a long way back - most of the floorboards were missing and vandals had clearly left their mark, turning the insides over and leaving graffiti on the walls. Following their departure, the local farm animals seem to have quite taken to the place!

At the back of the building there was an abundance of flaking paint and crumbling wood. As the sun started to fall, it gave a perfect opportunity to shoot into the light, creating the ethereal and flare filled images that you see below:

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Earthairfire Lands at Twitter Airport

2010-06-15T22:10:00.005+10:00

I know - It's about time. We've eventually made it into the 21st century!

Come and follow our adventures at http://twitter.com/earthairfire

Fashion Photography by Earthairfire

2009-12-03T19:58:00.002+11:00

I've been getting a lot more heavily involved in fashion photography recently, and it's something that you can expect to see a lot more of from me, over the next little while. To get the ball rolling, here's a few samples from my portraits album:

Where did all the gigs go?

2009-12-03T19:51:00.003+11:00

Regular readers of my blog may notice there's been a sudden plummet in the number of gig photos I'm publishing...

I've decided to stop shooting gigs, in order to concentrate more heavily on fashion & wedding photography. I'm at a point where I want to pile more creativity into my photography, and gig's just aren't the place to be doing it.

What it does mean, however is that you can expect my blog now on to be filled with a mixture of weird and wonderful fashion photos, and a smattering of weddings as the summer rolls on in. On that note, I'm going to head straight into my next blog post with a little taster of the fashion work I've been putting together recently...

Thanks for dropping by!

Tim

The White Lies @ Hifi, Melbourne

2009-08-01T20:15:00.002+10:00

The White Lies, supported by Yves Klein Blue, rocked out to a sold-out crowd at Hifi Bar, Melbourne. Click on any of the photos below to jump through to the gallery, jam-packed full of extra-large photos for your enjoyment:

The Herd @ The Prince of Wales Bandroom

2009-07-26T23:04:00.001+10:00

The Herd, supported by Koolism lifted the roof of a jam-packed Prince of Wales Bandroom, leaving the pulsating crowd shouting and screaming for more. Click below to head through to the full gallery, with BIG pictures :)

Lily Allen @ The Forum, Melbourne

2009-06-13T02:49:00.003+10:00

Lily Allen took to the stage at the Forum theatre, Melbourne and charmed the crowd with her adorable English lilt, and her unrelenting honesty. She's back in 2010, so clear your diaries for a second helping! Click below to head through to the full gallery, with BIG pictures :)

Kate Miller-Heidke Photo Gallery

2009-05-03T17:16:00.002+10:00

Following an AMAZING performance at HiFi bar, Melbourne, I'm delighted to bring you a gallery of Kate Miller-Heidke in action. I love her album, but the live show blew me away - what a talent! Click below to head through to the full gallery, with BIG pictures :)

New Wedding Photograph Gallery

2009-04-28T22:58:00.003+10:00

I thought it was about time that I put some public Wedding photographs on my site, rather than keeping them all tucked away in private galleries. I've added a new photo gallery called Weddings, which has a selection of Wedding Photographs from previous events. I'll be adding to it over time, but scoot across and take a look, and let me know what you think. Here's a little peek...

Coldplay Viva la Vida Tour Photos

2009-03-04T00:38:00.004+11:00

Coldplay performed tonight at Rod Laver Arena in front of a packed crowd on their opening night in Melbourne, as part of their Viva la Vida Tour. Supporting acts included Perth's Decoder Ring, and Mercury Rev all the way from the USA. Photos are in the Coldplay Album, and there are a few teasers below to whet your appetite!

Coldplay Concert tonight ( 3rd March 2009 ) at Rod Laver Arena

2009-03-03T09:44:00.001+11:00

Coldplay have landed in Australia, as part of their Viva La Vida tour. The boys have worked their magic in Perth and today it’s Melbourne’s turn. Coldplay are performing at Rod Laver Arena tonight, tomorrow and Thursday (3^rd, 4^th, 5^th March) and we’ll be there to capture all the action. Watch this space for all the pictures of the big event.

Resin Dogs @ Melbourne Zoo

2009-02-28T00:02:00.004+11:00

Check out the photos from the Resin Dogs at Melbourne Zoo. Yes. I said Melbourne Zoo!! The Dogs were accompanied by N'fa, Phrase and Alexx the Kid, all performing to an intimate crowd in amongst the animals. Click here to access the gallery for this gig.

A few of my personal favourites are shown below:

Primal Scream in Concert

2009-02-09T23:51:00.001+11:00

Photos from Primal Scream’s Concert on 9th February 2009 @ Billboard the Venue, Melbourne have now been uploaded. Click here to access the gallery for this gig.

A couple of personal favourites are shown below:

Pyramid Rock Festival 2008 / 2009

2009-01-02T14:48:00.001+11:00

14500 people descended on Pyramid Rock, VIC this year to celebrate New Year in style with over 50 bands playing on 2 stages, spread over 3 days. I joined them, shooting on behalf of FasterLouder. I’ve uploaded some of my favourite shots into the Pyramid Rock Festival Gallery and included a few below as a little teaser....

Happy 2009!!

Tim

Katie Noonan Concert

2008-12-13T00:39:00.003+11:00

Images from Katie Noonan’s Concert on 11th December 2008 @ The Prince of Wales, Melbourne have been added to the Katie Noonan Gallery.

Some personal favourites are shown below: