New Canon 5Ds at the Townsville Show

I took possession last week of the new Canon 5Ds from my wonderful local suppliers Garricks Camera House at the Domain in Townsville. This "Nifty Fifty" is one hell of a camera with a new 50 Meg sensor under the hood plus some sweet additional features. I wouldn't normally plan to use it in a low light situation but it did amazingly well in the twilight conditions at the show.

I plan to use this camera for my architecture and commercial work to enable me to deliver the best possible files generated from a DSLR with an eye to fine detail and big enlargements. For some time I've been looking at moving into medium format but as DSLR's continue to forge ahead that day seems to be getting further away. To be honest my style of shooting sits well with the flexibility of shooting with a smaller camera and thankfully Canon's tilt shift lenses are freaking amazing.

Recent Architecture Images

Just testing out some processing, lenses and random stuff around town. Truth is I'm avoiding going outside to mow the lawns on this relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Being listening to the 2014 APPA judging in Sydney while playing with these images. So many inspiring photographers now working in Australia - I scored a couple silvers in the documentary section - woohoo :-)

Architecture Quicky

Some architecture "quickies" done while waiting for a portrait client. This is the Mater Hospital in Townsville plus a new building under construction at Margaret Mary's. All done with favourite 24mm tilt shift lens and processed with customised VSCO Ektar.

James Cook University Architecture

I've had plenty of time recently to kill between shoots out at James Cook University in Townsville. What better way to spend the time than trying to come to terms with the architecture of many of the original buildings out there. We are all familiar with the term "Sandstone Universities" - well for my money the original JCU must be described as a "Concrete University" or "Besser Block University". Of course things architecture wise have changed considerably in recent years with a new crop of buildings - SoCA, ATSIP, Education Central and the Clinical Practice Building. The Cairns campus has also received an architectural makeover with the recently finished and extraordinary Cairns Institute.Back to the original JCU buildings which seem totally out of place in the tropical environment. These days it's all about sustainability, sympathy to the environment and the intended use of the facility. These buildings which at first I thought were terribly ugly and presented a very cold, austere and institutional look I have recently become quite fond of. I enjoy the fact that they would seem to be prime examples of "Brutalist Architecture" with a nod towards the work of Le Corbusier. No need to travel overseas to view some iconic architectural styles - its all right here in sunny Nth Queensland.