Blinkie Photography has moved.

It's here, brand new website for Blinkie Photography. We are now located at
http://blinkiephotography.com.au

You will be able to follow blinkie and all his new projects and news.
So come visit the new website and enjoy the new look.

Thank you all so much for supporting Blinkie Photography.

Soft Light

Useing my Nikon D90 with my 70x300 lens, on a night shoot a few weeks ago, these 2 photographs were taken on the steps of Parliment House in Melbourne on a very cold winters night.
The softness of the 2 photographs is suttle as it has a depth of warmness. The framing is not to bad as I really couldn't see the shot to well, as it is a bit of a guessing game for me at times. I love these 2 photos a lot.

Rainbow lorikeet

I caught this wonderful bird in my back yard last year. This was the first time I could see his wonderful colours and I was amazed on what I saw. Magic.

Macro Photography

Starting to get a little better at Macro Photography, (I think).
Red Orchid bud.
Nikon D90 x Nikon 85 Macro.

Sky in Colour

I took these shots tonight as the sun was setting. Using my D90, 70x300 Lenns the images looks amazing. The colours was in one tiny spot in the sun setting in the night sky.

Changing Colours

I took this photo today in my backyard. Another yet again shot of my red Orchid. I started playing with the image in NX2 and got some interesting effects with colours. Was very hard to watch and see what I was doing with it but had a lot of fun trying.

The end result is not the best but with more practise, I should be able to nail it. It's not the end result that is important to me, it is my terpertation on what I see wih my eyes and not yours.
Makes it even more challenging to the viewer.
Don't you think?

Tunnel Vision.

The Big Culvert / Tunnel Vision.. What a differance this makes in Black & White. The detail is awesome. The arigional image was in colour for an exhibition I did last year.
Couple of friends suggested to try it in black and white. I must say I love this much better. Using Capture NX2, the process was easy to undertake and the effect is magic.

Playing in Black & White

This was one of my winter shots of the city. The day was cold and foggy.
Using Capture NX2, I was playing with some of the functions today and I ended up with this out come. Very much suits in Black & White.

Red & Yellow Orchids.

I have 2 magic Orchids. One yellow and one red orchid. I am so excited watching them grow as their buds change colours and bloom. Very magical to watch them develop with such great colours and smell.

Hanging Jeans.

This photograph was part of my very first exhibition in December 2008.
The exhibition was "My Eye My Melbourne", 15 photographs on what I see around Melbourne. With the help of Photography Made Easy, this journey in my photography wouldn't have been possible.

Day Trip to Warrnambool Victoria

What a magic trip I had last Monday July 5th to Warrnambool.
After catching a train at 6am to catch the West Coaster at 7.50am I arrived in Warrnambook just after 11am. What a huge journey. Once their I met up with a good friend and we set out driving around Warrnambook and then down to Port Fairy.

The day was over cast but not cold. It wasn't the ideal day for photographing but manage to get some good imagies.

After a great day of exploring the areas, I was on the 5pm train back home arriving at my front door at 9pm.

I am looking at doing another trip down to Point Campbell in Spring time to capture some of the wonders of the sand stone clifts of the coastline..

New photo of Eamon and myself

The above photo was taken today at Nikon School by one of the Nikon staff. Showing me by having the settings on manual you can get much better photo effects. Now all I got to do is remember the settings and go for it.

The fustrating thing is that I love my photography so much but not being able to see well to read my settings and menus makes the job just a little bit harder.

As most of you know me, I like a challange and I'm going to push on until I win and make my D90 work for me, not me working for my D90. :)

Nikon School..

had a sensational day at Nikon School in the city.. Lets see what I can come up with, useing my manual settings and not on Auto. Was the first course I have ever done where they really looked after me... Well done to the staff at Nikon... ;)

Arts Victoria Funding

This was hard work.
I got word today that my application for this funding round was knocked back as they received
over 200 applications.

Bit disappointed as it's now not looking to good for my new exhibition for later on in the year. Seems that Arts Victoria has a great formula for applying but their seems to be not enough money to go around in the fielf of the Arts.

Fingers crossed to see if I can come up with the funds as my new works is really good..

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..