A question for BEN

[dullbird]

Ben do you ever go out, in your fender Just to go to nice spots to take pics?? (national parks etc)

just would like to tag along if you ever do!! if that was cool with you

sometimes i think it would just be nice to go out and not have to think about the driving and just go experiment with my camera:)

[Ben]

I do, though more to visit places than specifically to take pics. I just take my camera cause there's always plenty of cools things to see.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/455.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/365547406/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/456.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/852696838/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/457.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/852696934/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/458.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/2243665393/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/459.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/2151009843/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/460.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/2228706156/)

Check out my form!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/461.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/)

I want to visit Oxley Wild Rivers National Park (450kms north of Sydney, up near Armidale). There's plenty to photograph up there.

Or were you thinking something more local?

[Xavie]

Those pics are magic Ben!

If you feel like tagging with someone up to Oxley I'm on for that one!

Xav

[dullbird]

not able to go on a long haul at the moment i just figured that on ocassions might be nice to meet up to go visit the more scenic routes, to get to some places to take some cool stuff.......i would be up for oxley for sure you thinking a camp over night sort of thing?

going away in 3 weeks so if you haven't been by the time i return i would love to come if it falls on my days off


reason i asked you is because i think your pics are fabulous, and that i cuold probably learn alot from someone like you:)

[DirtyDawg]

Your gifted Ben..you take pics of things I'd just walk past...but no room for a camera in my hands , fishing rod and a beer use em all up...beaut photos' though.;)

[ciapek]

Superb photographs Ben....:cool:

[Ben]

Aw shucks everyone :D


i would be up for oxley for sure you thinking a camp over night sort of thing?

Yeah, overnighting makes it much easier to shoot dusk and dawn.


probably learn alot from someone like you:)

I doubt you'd learn anything from me :eek: I think it's like most things in life - to get better at something, you need to spend time and effort doing it. It's finding the time that's the hard bit!

[isuzurover]

Great Photos Ben!!!

Great Name too !!! ;)

Cheers,

Ben.

[Ben]

The only credit I can really claim is being in the right place at the right time... and taking a camera along.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/420.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/570219287/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/421.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/744458463/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/422.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/215190147/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/423.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/2365863240/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/424.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/275306419/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/425.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/458588090/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/426.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/579991235/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/427.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/65842983/sizes/o/)

A series of happy accidents, really.

[B92 8NW]

Hey Ben,
Which earth station is it that you have photographed in the first lot of photos?

Do you have any advice photographing fixtures like that?

I reckon earth stations, dams, wind turbines etc make great subjects. They complement the natural landscape so well!

[Ben]

It's White Cliffs Solar Power Station (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=white+cliffs,+nsw&ie=UTF8&ll=-30.855858,143.089709&spn=0.003233,0.006974&t=h&z=18) - 255 km northeast of Broken Hill, 93 km north of Wilcannia.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/384.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/leorex/2162627742/sizes/o/)

Advice? Hmm... work out what you want from the shot, don't rush it, and don't sweat it (best part about not being a pro is not having to nail the shot) :) You see a lot of people pull the camera out, snap a quick shot from eye-level then disappear - without considering different angles or elevations.

It doesn't hurt to wait a few minutes, or a few hours, for the light to position itself where you want, or clouds/obstructions to clear. Sometimes you just get lucky.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/385.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/2533819444/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/386.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/2449606104/sizes/o/) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/387.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leorex/220948866/sizes/o/)

For the Solar Power Station, I skipped the end of Christmas dinner and ran a kilometre down the hill to catch the sun disappearing over the horizon. Then was a quick scout around the area to find a good angle and a series of photos as the light changed. Waited half an hour or so, then got lucky with the shot. After walking back up the hill, I found they'd even saved me some desert!

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Cliffs_Solar_Power_Station,_New_South_Wales) (which has links to more information):

White Cliffs Solar Power Station is Australia's first solar power station. It is located at White Cliffs, New South Wales, which was chosen as it has the highest insolation in New South Wales, and in 1981 when the station was constructed had no grid connection.

Constructed by a team from Australian National University, the station consisted of fourteen three-metre parabolic dishes, each covered by more than 2000 mirrors and mounted on a heliostatic mounting. The dishes each focussed the sun's rays on a collector, where water was boiled. The resulting steam drove a three cylinder Uniflow steam engine, made by modifying a Lister diesel engine, delivering up to 25kWe. Batteries were used to provide 24 hour power to selected buildings in the township, and an existing diesel generator retained to provide battery charging when either low insolation or strong winds prevented use of the solar station for extended periods.

In 1996, following grid connection of the township, the station was converted to photovoltaic. The dishes were resurfaced, and the original collectors each replaced by a cluster of 16 water-cooled photovoltaic cells. In its new form, the station delivers up to 45kWe. The steam engine, batteries, and diesel generator were removed, and the output fed into the grid.

The grid connected power station ran for around 6 years, generating valuable data on the long-term performance and efficiency of the modules. The power station ceased operation in December 2004 and has been resumed by the owner of the site.