My Nikon Life Article

I was invited by Nikon Australia to write an article for their online website. Have a look at this article I wrote for them. Hope this gives you all a better understanding on my photography.. Enjoy.

Link
http://mynikonlife.com.au/articles/my-world-in-photography-legally-blind-photographer-andrew-follows

Yellow Orchid

My Orchids are in flower now which has a wonderful Yellow look.
Must say that it's not easy using my Nikon Macro but the more I use it, I'm hoping to improve.

Yarra Glen Sunset

A Day in the City

Dawn of Enlightenment...

A new morning is here and the sun is rising fast..:)

The Coal Face Documentary

The Coal Face Documentary will be launch on June 24th.

This documentary follows the four season life after the bushfires here in Victoria in Feb 09.
In August 09, I staged a photographic exhibition at the Black Spur Inn in Narbethong Victoria. This was a 3 day exhibition where it brought the community together to share stories and enjoy "Journey of Changes", a photographic exhibition with photos taken before and after the fires, taken by myself with the help of friends.

Regional Arts Victoria helped me with this exhibition and as a result, Regional Arts Victoria Filmed the opening of the exhibition with an interview for the documentary.

I am very proud to be a part of this project.

Cameras for the blind

Come-on Nikon..

Photography You Can't See - Samsung Touch Sight
18 November 2008

If Samsung offered us a digital camera for the blind, you must excuse us for wondering if they were being serious. But that is exactly what they have done. Winning the Gold Award in the 2008 International Design Excellence (IDEA) competition, under the Communications Tools Concept category, Samsung offers us an innovative digital camera designed for the visually impaired.

Named 'Touch Sight', the camera is designed to help visually impaired to 'feel' images. There's no Live view or 3 inch LCD, instead it comes with 'a lightweight, flexible Braille display sheet which displays a 3D image by embossing the surface, allowing the user to touch their photos', says Chueh Lee from Samsung China. The camera also automatically records 3 seconds of sound right after the shutter release button is clicked, allowing the photographer to replay the sound while replaying the image on the Braille sheet.

This may first appear to be a ridicules idea, but the designers have done enough researches to believe that it is not. Visually impaired people develop heightened senses of touch, heat, and sound. By placing the camera on the person's forehead, it not only allows the photographer to feel the live image using their skin but also allows the camera to be stabilised. Visually impaired people have no problem sensing distance or estimating light sources by sound and heat. Aided by the Braille screen, they should be able to have a pretty good idea of the composition and lights. The three seconds recording of ambient sound help them identify where the picture was taken when playing back.

While the 'Touch Sight' is still more of a concept than a mass-produced camera, it is nevertheless the first and a very promising step towards making cameras for the blind. Fingers crossed that we'll see these products appearing on our site in a few years time. We may as well see photo exhibitions by the visually impaired in the future. After all, extraordinary eyesight does not change the word but rather imagination that does.

Link to Article
http://www.digitalrev.com/en/photography-you-can---t-see---samsung-touch-sight-3789-article.html

New photogallery

Blinkie Night Workshop in Melbourne

Saturday night 22nd May 2010, I got together 5 photographers to do a night workshop of Melbourne sky line. At 5pm we met up and spoke about what we were going to be shooting.

But you say, why is this so special as anyone can do this.

Yes anyone can take night photos but can you take photos through the eyes of a blind photographer?. I gave each photographer a pair of glasses. These glasses simulate my vision as I see it. What a challenge this was set for the photographers as they had to ware the glasses to take there photographs.

The outcome was sensational as all the photographers got right into the exersies with great spirit.

All the photographers had a better understanding on how I see my world.
Well done to all who came along to have some fun but also have an education on the vision impaired photographer.

Winner for Youth group Photographic Comp

Congratulation Stephanie, for winning the Youth Group Photographic Comp. Your photo was selected as the winning entry. Well done Stephanie. Keep smapping away as you never know what your next wonderful image will be...

New Photographic Exhibition

i received conformation today for my new Photographic Exhibition.

Mark your Diarys

November 1st to 6th 2010
Fortyfive Downstairs Gallery
45 Flinders Lane Melbourne

Opening Night will be on Wednesday 3rd November.
Hope you can visit the exhibition and I will keep you posted for more details as it comes to hand.

Photography and Blindness. A talk to a youth group.

This week I was invited to talk to a youth group here in melbourne about my photography, my blindness and haveing Eamon my guide dog.

After a slow start the evening was a total success, with activities for the kids to do. After speaking about my photography and showing them my works, the kids got there digital cameras and were asked to take photos of each other and then a flower, while wareing special glasses that simulate my vision. I was amazed on how they all under took the workshop with care and thought. At the end of the excersise, the kids had a greater understanding of my vision and the beauty of my photography.

This was filmed for my documentary which could be used as a tool in the future. After reflecting on the evening, it has given me an idea to develop a program to go into schools to do this workshop activitie.. This would give the young people a fresh look on photography and the arts if they wish to do this with there studies.

I am very proud to share my passion in photography and in a sence, I am paying it forward to those who care and enjoy the world of photography, through a prospective of a vision impaired photographer.

Shades of Nature

A photograph I took 3 weeks after the bush fires in country Victoria, in a town called Flowerdale, where the fires went through. A little stream caught my eye and this photo was the result. Reflection of shapes and colours."Shades of Nature".

Nikon D90 Video - Macro

This is awesome. When I get my Macro lens, I am going to see if I can capture something as wonderful as this :)

Chase Jarvis RAW: Advanced Testing The Nikon D90

My Nikon Life Article.

I was invited by Nikon My Life to write an article for there web site last week. here is the end result for you all to read.. :)
Very proud..
Peace.
Link
http://mynikonlife.com.au/articles/my-world-in-photography-legally-blind-photographer-andrew-follows

Weekend at Philip Island.

Had a magic weekend at philip Island. Got some lovely images of the coast line a the Nobbies. Totally amazed on my 70x300 lens.

Lite Horse...

Remember those before us..

Volunteer Admin Assistant in the Arts Wanted

I am looking for a volunteer Admin Assistant in the field of the Arts/Photography to help with 2 major projects I am currently working on.

1. Photography Workshops for the blind. (Melbourne).
2. International Photographic Exhibition for 2012. (London).

These projects are very exciting and very much worth while being apart of. This could also be a great learning experiance for you. If you are a student, creditation is available for your course of study as well.

If you are interested in one or both projects and you wish to knowm more about these projects you are very welcome to contact me.
Thank you. :)

Photo Shoot for an Author..

what a day I had..

I did a 2 hour photo shoot for an author for his new book today. Over 200 photos were taken and yet only 6 or so will be use for his new book. very honoured that he chose me to do the work for him..

Lets see what he will end up using. :)

Blinkie Staying

Thank you all for your wonderful feed back about the renaming of Blinkie Photography. As a result, I am please to announce that Blinkie Photography is now here to stay..

Thank you all for your great support.

Best
Andrew.

Re Branding Blinkie Photography.

I am going through some changes at the moment. With a new Web Site due to be open shortly, the Blinkie Photography name will be changing from a Tongue and chick name to a more up market name.

Will keep you posted on any new developments as they come in.

Nikon Australia.

bAd news but good news..
I received an email today from Nikon Australia regarding my request for sponsorship. Saddly this has been knocked back but as Nikon Australia has a great interest in my work they are keen to help me promote my next exhibition and may look into future projects which are coming up.

So a negative has been turned into a positive. Still waiting from Nikon regarding a Talks program for the Nikon Digital Camera. Lets hope there I.T people can come up with a simple but friendly program. Sure would love the help so I can get the full functions out of the camera so I can really make a mark on the Photography world. very hard to use the D90 when your sight is crap. My aim is to get the D90 of Auto.. Slowly slowly as they say:)

Photography Partnership.

What a day.
I had a meeting today with Vision Australia and they like the idea of the photography courses for people with low vision.
Vision Australia and Blinkie Photography are in partnership to develop this program which will start in April 2011. This will be a 2 to 3 year pilot program with the hope to go National.. Fantastic news for all.

Melbourne Waking up

What a morning.
I got up at 4am and caught the frist train into the city.
With Eamon my guide dog the journey was a lot easy then I expected.
Spending a few hours in the city capturing the city waking up with all it's beauty splender.
Was very happy with the results and can't wait to do it again soon. Was the frist time I used my new D90 for night work and was very happy.

Would like to share some of my night photos that I have taken. I love night photography as it allows me to see all the colours of city lights where my eyes can not see. Most people see these lights but do they really take in what they are viewing with there own eyes.?

Photograph Auction.

A few weeks ago I donated a framed photograph "Melbourne Mist", from my very frist exhibition back in 2008 to the Lions club and was part of an Auction last weekend for Canteen (Kids with Cancer). It was auction of for $210.00, 60 thousand was raised at the Auction for the kids... Magic stuff. ;)

Nkion D90

I love my new Nikon.
With the 18x55 and VR 70x300 I am taking some awesome photos. Magic :)

Exhibition for London or New York.

Had some magic news this week.
I rang Australian Council of the Arts and they are going to look into supporting me for an International Exhibition for 2012.

The idea is to either go to London or New York for a one of Exhibition. My heart is saying go to London but New York is where the money is. At this point I would dearly love to go to London. It would be a once in a life time experiance for me.

The other good thing about going over seas is that I can take my Guide Dog Eamon with me which would be sensational.

I am putting together a sponsorship kit to help me put funds together for this exhibition. So if anyone has any great ideas to share with me I would love to hear them. :)

Will keep you posted on how this project develops.

Must say, when I have a project, goals and dreams, it keeps me going and at the same time think of more great ways to share my Photography.

Old Exhibition

Well I had some awesome news this week.

I took a trip up to Narbethong and Marysville to catch up on some friends.
Last year I had an exhibition in Narbethong at the Black Spur Inn. Through a contact in Marysville, I am sending up some of my Narbethong works to the Bendigo Bank in Marysville,where they will be on display and for sale. Deeply honored to beable to have this done and very proud as well.

Melbourne City Photo shoot.

Had a great day photographing around the city and gardens today... Hope you enjoy the viewing..

Planet Earth Planet Art Now on Sale.

Well it's the 1st of March and the Planet Earth Planet Art book is now out and is open for you to buy on line. Press release for the book project is now ready to view at the below link as well..

Hope you enjoy the book and may is sit proudly in your book case..

Andrew ;)


To buy the book Link.
http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/1182600

Press Release Link.
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1182600

Filming and Founding

This week was sensational as I had a fantastic meeting regarding my funding for my next exhibition. Have found an organisation who will look after my funding as it comes in which will be a load of my mind.

We filmed the meeting as part of the documentary as this will show the behind the sceans in putting an exhibition together.

Everyone was very happy with the outcomes from the meeting which was a total relief for me.
Christine is working her magic for me to ensure all is right with this huge submission for Vic Arts which is due tomorrow. (Monday)

Next week we are filming Eamon (My Guide Dog), having a bath and a trip to the vets for his 12 monthly check up and shots.

Should be a good and much cooler week ahead..

Marysville

Bit slack this week in updating.. So here goes..

Last Sunday a friend took me up to Marysville for a photos shoot and to catch up with friends. Got some wonderful regrowth shots which I'll sho you. We went up to Stevensons Falls. Road was closed from the fires one year later so we went up Old Yellow Dogs Road. Was amazing to see so much regrowth now against the blackened trees.

Caught up with 2 good friends who now have there new home after loosing it in the fires. Chris's Ashes has been found with a new tree planted. Had some lunch at the new centre in Marysville and caught up with anothere friend who is working in the centre.

I was introduced to the Bendigo Bank Manager who is going to look into having some of my works hanging inside the bank. Fingers crossed on that one.

On the way home we called into the Black Spur Inn and caught up with the owners of the Pub. We still talk about that great exhibition I held there back in August of last year. They have agreed to have an interview for my documentary, which for me is a great honor.

Near home we stoped at Kangaroo Ground where the old Fire tower is located and got some amazing sunset photos which are now going to be in my next exhibition later in the year...

Marysville to Rye

I have donated this photo from my Narbethong Exhibition to the Anglican Church in Rye. This photo pictures the burnt down Anglican Church in Marysville. This photo was taken in April witch is our Autum here in Melbourne 2 months after the Black Saturday Bushfires. Very proud to have donated this photo as it has a very special meaning for those in Rye..

Seeking Sponsorship

Dear Friends of the world...

I am seeking help to put on a majour Photographic exhibition here in Melbourne where Iive.

I am on a blind pension and funds are very limited for me. I have been looking at getting grants so I can hold a photographic exhibition. As I stand alone funding is not the best for me as I do not belong to any organisation, therefore gaining funds is very hard.

I thought long and hard over this, when a friend said to give it a try on my blog.

If you have been folowing my progress through my web gallery ( www.webgallery.com.au/afollows ) you will see that I have come along way in my photography. My exhibitions have been very successful and I have been very proud to show my work to the community and to the art world.

With the help of Eamon my guide dog I am working on a new exhibiton for later on this year. I am looking at 2 options for this. Bridges of Melbourne. Photographs of popular bridges around Melbourne where people know them but don't taken any notice of it's beauty. This will also form a 2011 calandar as well.

My second option is Clouds. This is one where i am very strongly for. It is amazing what you see in the sky, at dawn, dusk, storms and even the tones of a blue sky. These imagies will be on Large canvas as well as paper


One of my other dreams I have is to share my Art internationally. To have an exhibition in London or New York would realy challange the visual arts. This would be a majour project but I am sure with the right timing, there would be someone out there to see this dream come true.

But one step at a time for now.

I am looking at holding this exhibition in November this year in a major Gallery in the Inner City of Melbourne.

As you know through past blos entries I am being filmed for a documentary about myself and my art and being a blind man in todays world. This will be sold Nationally and Internationally.

I am learning so much as I know grants are hard to get but I also know sponsorships is even harder...

If you would like more information on myself and my projects please email me and I will give as much information and answer all your questions.

Any sponsorships will be acknowleged in all media releases regarding my exhibitions.


I do know that this is a big ask so I hope there is an organisation, corprate or an indervidual that would like to help...

My email is
Blinkiephotography@iprimus.com.au

Thank you to you all for taking the time to read this request for help and it's all good if nothing happens... I will keep you all posted on all outcomes.
Warmest ..Andrew.

Looking Up

Book Update

I folks... Just got word that there was an error with the book. Error has been fixed up and we now have a new link for the Press release.

New Link Below.

Press Release : http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/1182600

To buy the book ; http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/709931/4693da96e14b1ffd00c61fe068f0b4ea

Many thanks for your support.
A.

Planet Earth Planet Art.

Very excited today as I got word from the UK that the book where I submitted a photograph for this senseational international art book.

Link for Press Release below.
http://www.biroz.net/pebook/

Will have my copy hopefuly in a week or so.

For a blind photographer I am very honoured to be apart of this great international Book. The world is truly getting smaller ;)

Footscray looking back to the city

What a week...

What a week it has been..
Started last monday working on my new exhibition taking photos of bridges around Melbourne.

Went to East Keilor where I took some wonderful photos of the Melbourne, Sydney Frieght line bridge where it sits next to the Western Ring Road. Very old and very grand.

Next stop was Footscray where there is a freight line that runs under the city of Footscray. The bridge is amazing as you can see Melbourne City sky line in the background.

We filmed the days events which should come up well....

My film lady found a wonderful flower which was in beded in a prickley pear bush. The flower was a bright yellow and caught a bee right in the middle of the flower... Trust me when I say this, that I will never trust camera people again... In taking the photo, I was covered in very fine prickles from the bush.. Things you do for your art. At least Eamon had the sense to stay away from the bush ...

Have found a wonderful company where they are going to do a new web site for me . We have our first meeting next week to talk about the project.

Spent the last few days also looking for a new venue in the city for my new photographic exhibition. Have 3 options open for me, so will have to go through them very carefuly..

And one more for the week was a friend of mine came over and started teaching me on how to use Photoshop. I was amazed on how good it is and in doing the basics. The program is really good and will be doing more follow ups.

Thanks to Grant, Christine, Atlanti and Philip for your great support this week...

Planet Earth Book

Got an email today from London, confirming that the Planet Earth Book is due out next month.

I submited a photo for the book along with 95 other artist from around the world. Very honored to be a part of this great project.

Media release on the book will be posted shortly.

2011 Calander

Started shooting on a Calandar for 2011.

Melbourne Bridges is the theme of this calandar.

D90 lesson and Filming.

Had a sensational day in the city today.
Thank you to Martin Bonnici from Photography Made Easy for showing me more about my D90. It was truly magic to me.

I learnt so much more about my D90 today. From how to hold the D90, shutter speeds and lots more great information. Yesterday (Thursday) I spent the day in town taking lots of photos of Trams in the city to see how the D90 worked on moving objects. It came out trumps.

I also did some more filming today with Martin which will look and sound great for the documentary. Lots more filming to come.

One of the things we identified with today is that I need some sort of signal for the D90 Battary. This is so it can let me know when it is going flat on me, so I can do a change over with out stressing.

R.M.I.T sent me an email this week to let me know hat they have passed on my request to one of the PHD students, to see what can be done for an Autio system for my D90. So between PHD and Nikon Japan, it will be interesting to see who will come back with some sort of a result for me..

Also today I had some magic news. I was approved funding for my new iMac which is awesome. Can't wait to move from my MPB to the iMac. soon..

Apex Victoria News.

Seems I can't stop people writing about me.
This is in the Apex Victoria News, due out this month.

WHO IS ANDREW FOLLOWS

Andrew is a very interesting follow to get to know, and in Apex land, I believe he is the guy that most clubs would like to have as a member.
If is was possible to put Andrew through a duplicating machine, and produce a number of Andrews the Association would be a much better profiled and have greater activities in community service.
That is a very bold statement to make and how do I back this up, well let me try to explain.
I first met Andrew in early 2000, and based on first impressions, I didn’t think much of him.
If you spoke to him, he never looked at you, as he walked around the room, he kept bumping into things, and knocking things over, this guy is his own demolition crew.
Later at that first meeting I found out that Andrew has Retinitis Pigmentosa. A degenerative ocular disease that renders him legally blind, Andrew has had this from an early age and in fact for three years of his primary school education he was educated at the Blind School in Burwood, before being integrated back into main stream schooling.
Having now known Andrew for almost 9 years, let me tell you, being legally blind does not affect Andrew, and he is a very effective member of our community.
Andrew joined the Apex Club of Coburg 1997, Andrew and Nicole Smith, and later transferred to the Apex Club of Diamond Creek when the Apex Club of Coburg closed.

Andrew doesn’t talk a lot about himself, or what he has done, so let me fill you in a little about him.

In his 10 years in Apex, Andrew has been:
• Club President on 3 occasions,
• Treasurer
• Dinner Notice Editor for 4 years
• District Governor
• Guide Dogs Victoria Open Day Coordinator for 5 years
• Apex MRAA Toy Run Coordinator for 4years
• Co-ordinator for clothing Appeal for Sri Lanka Tsunami in 2005
• Apex Victoria State Apexian of the year 2004 - 2005
• National Youth Officer 2003 – 2005
• Assisted with the reformation of the Whittlesea Apex Club
• Development of local community projects such as Eltham Children’s Playground

In addition to these activities Andrew was also involved with:
• Berry Street Foster Care – providing foster care to at risk teenagers
• Anglicare Northern – providing foster care to at risk teenagers and training potential carers
• Respite Care Interchange - Host / Big Brother / Support Worker and member Board of Management of Interchange at a local and State level, and Carer for a child with a disability over an 8 year period

Since leaving Apex in 2007, Andrew hasn’t sat back; he now has his guide dog Eamon to assist him,
He has been a member of the Choir of Hard Knocks, and it’s Steering Committee, and has now taken up photography and has had a number of exhibitions of his works, and is currently negotiating with Victoria University to run photography classes to other blind people.
He recently won the Anglicare Victoria Chairman’s Award for his efforts with the “Black Saturday Fires: and co-ordinated the Apex Santa Tours to Whittlesea and Dederang, on behalf of Apex Victoria and Apex Berowra Club of NSW.
Don’t say it can’t be done, because here is a guy that will prove you wrong.

Phil Keily Apex Victoria State Servis.

Nikon Audio.

Been a few weeks now since I got my new camera..
I am doing well with the D90 and the photos are coming up so well that I am very surprised and happy.

I contacted Nikon this week to see if they could develop a Audio program for the camera.. Being short sighted, The menu is hard to see if not at all. They liked the idea and thought it was possible and will get back to me in a couple of months.

More and more blind and vision impaired people are useing digital cameras so they can see there world. With todays Digital Tecknolegie being so good, they can develop things to help those who really enjoy photography. it should not be to difficult for Nikon to write and upgrade there program for those to use there gear. Lets see what they come back with :)

Best news for this week.
I have been invited to go to Cains in May to do a photo shoot for my next exhibition. I am really happy that the Park in Cains has asked me and to come back to hold an exhibition later in the year. Tops.

Also going to another blind photographers exhibition next week. Will be interesting to see what sort of work he does..

Thats it for now. Love to hear your comments..

Peace.

Well here we go.

Day 3 of my filming today.
As State co-ordinator for the Apex Santa tour to the bush fire affected children and families we all went to Whittlesea Show grounds to have a look at the venue..
It's magic and all set for tomoorews big event.
The filming today had interviews and of coulrse me and Eamon doing what he does best. ;)

Started to use my D90 today. Very nervous of it but will get the hang of it soon enough..

Well.. What a magic day I had today.
I got my new Camera. Nikon D90 with a 70+300 Lenss.
And filming started on my documentary on my work and how I do my photography. Have a few months of filming ahead whichis going to be an eye opener to you all when it's finished and on show.

The D90 is going to be hard work for me but I like a challenge. The camera is going to make my photographs look fantastic, while lifting my photography to another higher level which I am so excited about.

Words of sight

Hey all... Welcome to my new blog.

I will keep you all up to date on what I am up to in my world of Photography.

I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to your comments.