PANNING FOR FUN

So, I’m finally sitting down to go through the millions of photographs I took while in Cairns recently.  It’s a great way to feel homesick for a place that I’ve never even called home.  I just love it up there, and am already looking forward to our next visit. Though who knows when that will be (sooner rather than later, I hope).  Maybe I need to find some gorgeous couples that want to fly me up there to photograph their weddings.  Now that would be perfect.

One of my favourite moments while on holiday was getting up at an insanely early hour to watch (or rather photograph) the sun rise.  I still can’t believe I got out of bed at 5:30am by choice. On holiday and all. And I also still can’t believe how many other people were already on the beach. Jogging. At 5:30am. By choice. Who does that?

I spent about 40 minutes capturing every degree of the sun’s slow climb, from every angle.  And I confess at the end of it I was a little bored.  But I had an 4GB card memory card full of pretty orange orbs to show for it.  🙂  I wasn’t quite ready to go back to the apartment though, how often do I get this much peace and quiet to myself. So I experimented a little.
I’ve mentioned her before on this blog, and I’ll mention Jackie again.  I’ve always loved her artistic creativeness when it comes to photography – in particular her panning work. Though I was never sure that’s what she was actually doing to achieve her wonderful captures.  So when I caught up with her in Sydney earlier in the year I hinted that I was curious about her method, and she openly shared how she did what she did, without me even having to beg.  I would have paid for her secrets if she’d thought to hold out on me.
So, having bored too quickly of just another sunrise but in a much lovelier location than I was used to, I turned my attention to the sand, and the ocean, and to those crazy folk choosing to jog rather than take life in at a leisurely pace.  And I deliberately moved my camera as I hit the shutter button. Up, down, side to side – I tried a bit of everything, just for fun.  And the results are some of my favourite shots from the whole 1081 taken that week.  Not because they’re the prettiest, or the best, but because I look at them and am reminded of Cairns. Of sleeping in (or not), of ice-creams, and sand between our toes. Of twice-daily dips in the resort pool, swimming between the flags, and barbecue Samboy chips. Of sticky heat, cold showers, and Midori and pineapple juice for dessert. And they remind me of how rewarding it is to try something new.  To take something that’s second nature and shake it up a bit.  Of course that can be applied to so many aspects of my life, which is why I love looking at these. They remind me to not get stuck in a rut, but to get out there and shake it. Move it from side to side. To do things differently from time to time.  Sometimes I may just be pleasantly suprised how it turns out.

Here’s just a few for now.

Narrelle  x

{ Melbourne Photographer }