Vanessa Pike-Russell - Documentary Food Photographer of the Illawarra
I've just had an epiphany. Looking back over my food blog and my Local Food Heroes project. I'm a 'Documentary food photographer'
I was viewing the website of documentary food photographer Jackie Alpers (http://www.jackiealpers.com) and (http://www.news.jackiealpers.com/) and Vanessa Garrison (http://www.vanessagarrisonphotography.com/pages/foodinfo.html) when I realised I'd found my callling.
Inspired by the Julie / Julia movie I've decided to write more about myself and the journey that I've taken which has brought me to this point. Firstly, I love taking photos of food. I also love taking photos of the people behind the food. My thoughts of returning to University of Wollongong to study journalism ( especially photojournalism) has been niggling away in the back of my consciousness and three little words has put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
I've always been a writer.
The hardest part of writing a food blog is... the writing. Taking a photo of delicious food is easy but writing something in depth about each Local Food Hero or Restaurant Review is something that takes a bit longer but puts the image into context. Interviewing someone and writing about it, accompaning it with photos and links for further information is what I am currently working on. I have always loved writing and wanted to pursue a career in journalism after the HSC but was advised against it. 'You're too soft hearted to be a journalist. They'd chew you up and spit you out'. Sadly I listened to bad advice and ever since have found a way to continue to write.
The Acousticatz
Design of a website for a local illawarra band, The Acousticatz.
Initial design brief iincluded:
- logo
- background made from photos of band instruments
- sound sample to play on page load
- information about band members
- upcoming gigs
- photo galleries
- contact page
- song list
- photosession at Mount Kembla Hotel
- MorfeoShow
- Odeo mp3 player
- RSGallery2
Description: A three times Musicoz finalist, graduate of the acclaimed Australian College of Country Music & 2006 Toyota Starmaker GRAND-finalist (Top 10), Belinda is a singer/songwriter who is fast making her mark on the Australian music industry. Her brand new album ‘GYPSY GIRL’ produced by Roger Corbett compiles twelve brand new original songs & is already receiving fantastic reviews. This exciting new talent however has certainly not been an overnight success. Belinda has been singing and playing guitar since she was nine years old and performing in bands since she was eighteen. Attendance at the acclaimed CCMA College of country music in Tamworth 2004 has allowed to her hone her skills with the likes of Beccy Cole, Adam Brand & Sara Storer. With a unique voice and natural talent for songwriting she is certainly a name to keep your eye on in the future.
Site features:
- Event List for Gigs
- RS Gallery
- Customized template
- Do you own a Digital Camera but not sure how to use it?
- Are you interested in getting the most out of your camera?
- Not sure how to take photos of small and close up objects such as flowers, insects, jewellery and other objects which require macro mode?
- Do you want to receive one-on-one help in navigating the many functions and menus on your camera?
Then why not join me on a digital camera workshop?
About the Digital Camera workshop:
Workshops will generally run from morning till dusk on a weekend or public holiday however weekdays can be booked if required
Itinerary:
- Meet and greet, discuss the background of the group and what they wish to achieve in this workshop
- Share what type of camera each has
- discuss the important of setting the camera to the highest resolution file size possible
- explore whether the camera is capable of RAW files
- Discuss how a digital camera is different to a film camera (SLR camera with lens off, handout showing sensor size and resolution of digital vs film
Tutorial handouts covering
- Exposure
- Aperture
- Shutter speed
- ISO
- noise
- exposure variance
- Seeing the picture
- Rule of thirds
- Perspective
- Lines and patterns
- Art photography examples
Camera modes:
- P - Programmed Auto
- A - Aperture Priority
- S - Shutter Priority
- M - Manual
- Portrait
- Macro
- Landscape
- Sport
- Other modes, specific to camera model
Common mistakes:
- leaving the camera on custom setting
- leaving the custom white balance on
- over exposing the sky
- standing in the wrong position with regard to light
- more common mistakes
Composition:
Examples of photography from students and suggested crops or adjustments to make a good photo brilliant and suggestions on how to avoid problems such as colour temperature, incorrect ISO setting, finding the light and composition
Practice:
- Taking photos in low light and how to adjust the aperture, noise and ISO to get the best results
- Taking photos in full sun and how to reduce glare and burned out highlights
- Diffusion of light and flash
- Using the Macro setting on your camera or learning how far away from an object your lens can get to focus on an image
- Manual focus - why use it and experience taking photos of a moving object
- Manual mode - what it is and how to get started
- Aperture priority - why it is popular with professionals and amateurs alike
- Fill flash on portraits in sunlight
- When not to use flash
- Taking photos at night or in dark environments
About me:
- I am passionate about photography and find taking photos and editing them to match the image in my minds eye one of the most creative, fulfilling things in life
- I have a Bachelor of Education with a specialisation in Information Technology for Education.
- I enjoy teaching and would love to do it full time. Unfortunately I have several disabilities which inhibit me from teaching full time in a classroom
- I love sharing my love of photography and technology and I am truly interested in helping you to learn how to use your camera and develop a portfolio of images that you can be proud of
- I have a knack with technology and understand that there are many people who do not and need a guiding hand in learning how to adjust the settings on their camera, how to hold it properly for stability and provide feedback
- I have been using Adobe Photoshop for over fifteen years
- I like to set myself challenges and take part in group competitions and challenges which helps improve my photography and creativity
- I have been creating websites since the early 90s and would love to travel the world taking photos and doing photography, image manipulation and web design workshop to pay my way
PHOTOSESSION
You can choose to buy photos from a recent photosession in several ways
- on DVD - Your images on DVD with or without watermark
- by email (upon payment)
- complimentary prints with photosession fee
- display via a webgallery with download links so that you and your family can download at your leisure
- printed media (cards, prints, canvas prints, mounted prints,t-shirts etc) via Redbubble
You can choose to buy photos from a recent photosession in several ways
- printed media (cards, prints, canvas prints, mounted prints,t-shirts etc) via Redbubble
- on DVD - Your images on DVD with or without watermark
- by email (upon payment)
- display via a webgallery with download links so that you and your family can download or print at your leisure
- photo album from Queensbury Wedding Albums
- digital download from Buy A Photo at $10 per image
Digital Media
Stock photography - Oz Stock Images
Event Photos
Buy A Photo is the service which I use for Event photography.
Calendars
Greeting Cards
Mugs
Not sure what to buy for your family or friends? Why not buy a gift voucher for Vanessa Pike-Russell Photography and Design.
Gift vouchers from Vanessa Pike-Russell Photography are a great gift for birthdays, special events or Christmas presents
Family portraits of three families photographed on Windang beach in the Illawarra, NSW Australia
Family portraits taken on Boonerah Point Jetty with views of Lake Illawarra
Thursday June 4th, 2009: Photosession with Belinda Harkness and her trio, Miltonbel Road
Vanessa Pike-Russell Photography ABN 13 429 487 247
Photographer and Web Designer located in Lake Illawarra, NSW Australia