Mesmerising Melbourne

St Kilda

Melbourne is a city I would love to live in. If it wasn't for such volatile weather, it would be a no brainer, but unfortunately, I prefer the all round warmer climate of Sydney. Otherwise, Melbourne really has it all, amazing views, good vibes, (no lockout laws), amazing art/culture and a strong music scene. 

Despite visiting Melbourne countless times and taking hundreds upon hundreds of photos, this spontaneous snap outside Luna Park whilst walking to the St Kilda beach has to be one my favourite photos. The gradient of blues from top to bottom, the mix of silhouetted trees to the actual brown and greens contrast really well with each other. To top it all off, the poking out of the Great Scenic Railway roller coaster gives the photo well rounded variety. 

To find out more about this amazing city, visit http://www.visitmelbourne.com/

Fabulous Fiji

Fijian Paradise

The group of 12 boarded the plane ridiculously early in rainy Sydney eagerly awaiting our paradisiacal getaway. A few hours later when we landed, it thunderstorming and morale was low, all we wanted was sunshine, cocktails and relaxing days by the beach/pool. Luckily for us, it was a passing tropical storm, and by the time we got to our hotel, the sun was shining, cocktails were being poured and we chose our spot by the pool.

Fiji is truly a tropical paradise, with countless islands with amazing beaches, the friendliest people ever and all round good vibes, one would never want to leave. I captured the above photo on a day trip to a tiny island which only took 10 minutes to walk around. I purposely tilted the photo slightly and actively tried to contrast the greens, blues and yellows most effectively with the framing of all the different elements. This shot was more about composition rather than technical specifics on the camera.

There are countless activities for one to be a part of in Fiji, with spectacular boat cruises, inflatable water parks and just the general endless fun one can get up to on a beach, Fiji really has it all. To find out more, check out http://www.fiji.travel/

The Royal Views Of Queenstown

Full Rainbow over Lake Wakatipu

I was lucky enough to go on a 2000km+ road trip around the south island of New Zealand recently. Among abundant breathtaking natural sights and scenes, Queenstown stood out for the all round highlight of the trip. With a perfect mix of stunning views, convenient access to some of the best snowfields in the southern hemisphere and a great party vibe, Queenstown is definitely one of my favourite places I've ever visited. 

This photo was taken on the balcony of our sharehouse the moment I arrived. Without having much time to play around with manual settings, I just shot and hoped that the previous settings were applicable to the scene, and although not the perfect photograph, I am definitely happy with the way it turned out. A rare sight, a full rainbow, over the picturesque Lake Wakatipu with snow capped mountains just in sight and a beautiful winter's day was the best moment of magic I captured during my 3 week trip. 

Queenstown, and New Zealand in general, is an amazing place to visit and travel and one of the most beautiful places in the world. To find out more visit https://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/

Leaving my heart in Japan

Traffic in Shinjuku

Visiting Japan twice in the space of one year was a magical experience that I will never forget. From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with the country, the culture and most of all, the people. Such a genuinely nice population with every single person willing to try and help even if they didn't speak a word of English. 

The above photo is one of my all time favourite photos I've ever taken, and it was just on a whim while crossing a pedestrian bridge over the busy night traffic of Shinjuku. Using the manual setting of my DSLR to manipulate a long exposure shot with the right brightness was one of my early self introductions to manual photography. The whole country is so photogenic and I was lucky enough to be there during the cherry blossom season. 

 The nightlife of Japan was spectacular; all the bright lights, cheap alcohol, quaint little bars and some truly pumping clubs. Japan, Tokyo in particular, is definitely a place I would like to live in at some point in my life. As a self confessed nerd, being in world's capital of technology was just a constant wonder. Being surrounded by retro gaming, next gen gaming, and at the forefront of technical innovation just feels oh so right to me. Other highlights of Japan was walking the streets of Harajuku, experiencing the culture at some shrines and temples and losing myself in Akihabara. 

I highly recommend Japan to anyone and everyone! Tourism site of Japan: http://us.jnto.go.jp/

Finding Gold on the Gold Coast

It is hard not to feel like you have struck gold when returning home after a visit from the Gold Coast. I spent just 4 action packed days there and have so many great memories. From the minute I landed at the airport, the fun began. From beaches, to bars and bistros, the night life is buzzing along the esplanade of Surfers Paradise of the Gold Coast. The fun does not end there either. 

Visiting the theme parks was next on the list, and for a measly $79AUS I had access to Sea World, Movie World and Wet'n'Wild. Which of course each brought back golden memories of visiting the Gold Coast as a child. Another at the top of the list was seeing the V8 Super Cars and hiring an electric scooter out to take a trip around the track after the race. To finish it off I went to Tepanyaki at the Marriot Hotel in Surfers which was great quality entertainment and food. 

Of course there is so much more to do there, from helicopters and jetski rides to whale watching and day spas, whatever you do on holidays, the Gold Coast has it on offer. Everything is easily accessed by car, bus, taxi or walking.

Taking photographs on the Gold Coast is easy even for the biggest novice. There are so many good opportunities for the perfect snap it is hard not to capture a tonne of great photos. The best places for a great snap are the beaches and the city. They each capture the lifestyle of the area. Taking photos there taught me alot about light exposure and landscape 

shots.

If you want to know more about the Gold Coast, visit http://www.visitgoldcoast.com