Sunday morning at a Trash and Treasure market is not a place you will normally find me.

I’m usually practicing my ‘contemplation meditation’ (sleeping).

But last Sunday I decided to go to the Trash and Treasure market and take some photos.

After several tours of the car park I eventually found a spot under a tree, near a fence. I was one of the lucky ones. There were other poor souls in perpetual drive mode desperately seeking probably the only real treasure at the market – a parking spot.

I systematically walked up and down each aisle, cluttered with cars, sellers, and narrowly dodging kids, adults -  all looking  for a bargain that would justify a trip to this open aired display of trash and treasure.

I took photos of some of the sellers who looked like they wanted to be somewhere else.

But the fellow in this photo was different.

He was laughing and his friendly banter ‘one dollar, one dollar, jut for you’ attracted people towards his goods which were displayed on a blanket on the ground in front of his van.

I raised my camera and he spotted me and yelled, ‘yes, take my picture, take my picture’.

I quickly took his picture and waved in acknowledgement.

He grinned and waved back.

For me that interaction was the real treasure at the Trash and Treasure market.

Well, I’ve finally taken off the training wheels and created my first solo flash presentation.

Sue helped me with Night On The Town and The Bridge but this is my own baby.

The 2010 National Junior Classic was played in June and it’s the first  tournament I have attended since I stopped coaching junior basketball over 20 years ago.

I went along to  test my SLR 50D Canon, without a flash,  using only the manual control and for the opportunity to take basketball photos .

As I stepped into the stadium for the first game I felt like I was transported back in time to my coaching days and went into a coaching mindset. That lasted only a few seconds. It’s much easier being a grandstand coach these days.

I hope you enjoy this 3 minute flash presentation – 2010 National Junior Classic.

Here are two of my photos that won commendations in our photography club novice EDI competitions.

‘Village Woman’ was commended in the set subject which was on the theme of ‘photo journalism’ and Yum Yum was commended in the open subject competition.

We had a guest judge who was an experienced photo journalist and his positive comments and recommendations were very helpful duirng the night.

I enjoy the competition nights which are held every second week of the month. The various experienced judges certainly know their photography and I’m always learning from their comments about members entries.

Village Woman

Village Woman photo was taken last November in the Chitwan province, Nepal during the World Appreciative Inquiry conference.

Yum Yum

Yum Yum photo was taken this year when we were in town for a comedy festival. It was in China Town and this window display grabbed my attention.

Get Out Of My Way!

This is one of many photos I took at the 2010 McDonald’s National Junior Classic tournament here in Melbourne, Australia.

The u/16 and U/18 boys’ and girls’ teams played at Dandenong stadium and the U/12 and U/14 boys’ and girls’ teams played at Albert Park stadium.

This photo features players from the U/18 teams, Eastern Mavericks and Northern Suburbs.

It’s been many years since I have attended a junior basketball tournament.

The reason why I attended was to test my camera out.

And also for research on my screenplay which deals with male relationships with a basketball backdrop.

For those into the techie stuff I used my Canon 50D camera with a 24-105mm zoom lens. I used manual (my first time) with 1/500 sec, 3200 ISO. The lighting in the stadium was average and I wish I had a flash which I will buy once I can afford it. Photography is not cheap once you get into it.

I’m sorting through all my photos and intend to create a 3 minute flash presentation with a soundtrack.

Golden Rotunda

I was in the Cheltenham area around 5.00pm and took a shot of this rotunda in the Karkarook Park, a wetland and recreational area.

What I like about this photo is the way the light created a golden effect on the rotunda.

It was one of my last shots as I started to leave.

I had taken a number of shots beforehand of the lake and birds, experimenting with the shutter speed but after awhile I became bored.

It’s interesting how sometimes you go with a plan to take photos and then a ‘happy accident’ occurs.

I decided to give my Canon 50D camera a workout and took these photos near where I live.

As a beginner photographer I have weaned myself off using the basic controls and the automatic programming control by focusing on the Av control. As I learn more I’ll work with Tv and manual controls

These photos are my first attempts at working in black and white using a digital camera.

I haven’t cropped or ‘fixed’ these photos. I wanted to crop while using the camera and focus on the controls that I’m aware of now.

Nuts

Farm Tool

Season

Raw Power

Boy Oh Boy

Tin Bull

Workers smoko (break) at Wollongong beach, Australia

I couldn’t resist this shot. It happened on the first day I was in Wollongong to help present an Appreciative Inquiry summit with Sue James, Neil Samuels and Donna McGeorge.

I decide to go for a walk before the summit was due to start later in the morning. I walked along a road beside the beach looking for opportunities to take some photos.

And this opportunity was too good to pass up. It screamed at me ‘take the photo’ and I did!

Recently we visited Mt Donna Buang, about 80 km east of Melbourne, Australia and I took these  photos of  the stair case observation tower.

The first two photos are of the tower itself and the third photo was taken from the top of the tower.

When I reviewed these photos on my computer, the theme that immediately jumped out was the way we perceive life -  either as a series of problems or challenges.

I supposed if you are problem focused then the first two photos can represent an overpowering and cluttered view that can stop you from reaching your objective and enjoying the vista.

Whereas a challenge focused view would give you a complete overview and a detailed look that may help you take the first steps to reach the top of the tower.

And when you get there I am sure you will enjoy the view as much as I did.