Walk

Forced myself to get out of the house today and walked from Richmond to Kew Gardens, and also a bit around Richmond as well. It was actually a really nice day, although it rained overnight it didn’t rain on me and was quite mild.  Felt a lot better having got out and about, so I will need to make sure I keep that up. I have set myself a task to edit one photo per day, so it means that I will do bits but not go over the top with the laptop usage hopefully.  Also going to try the health kick again for the next month…starting on monday and probably similar to what I did before but not lose the alcohol this time around.

Still feeling sad about not still being in iceland.  Its the definite downside of doing such excellent trips, which are short and intense…they have to be over at some point. Trying to recharge and still have 4 weeks to enjoy before the reality check sets back in again…need to make sure I do it.  One day at a time. Today was a good one…relaxed but a bit of energy. Lets keep that going.

Last month

Nearly into November and today is officially my 4 weeks till hometime mark. Back from Iceland last night after a nice relaxing morning.  Spent a bit of time with JC giving a critique on my photos for the trip which he did with everyone…gave up his whole morning to do so..such a work ethic! Was really good to see which ones he picked out as keepers and which ones will be worth editing. So I have one more plan/idea for completing my 12 month photography journey.  Stay tuned on that one.  I also started working on a bit of a list of what I want to do/achieve next year with it.

Didn’t do too much today – went to the local park for a coffee and started working on my list.  Was quite nice until the dog walkers arrived with about 10 dogs that they were in the process of walking – bit too many at once, together with the kids. Did some grocery shopping on the way back and then a bit of TV and some computer time.

Currently watching a cat go a bit psycho and watching some episodes of Brother’s and Sisters after soup and brownies and icecream.  I wish I was back in Iceland..

Final day in iceland

Officially the final day of the trip today, with tomorrow being a short morning only and then back to the airport for the trip home to London. We were totally blown out of the water with the weather unfortunately, and the black beaches that were our goal we couldn’t do as they were predicting winds of up to 130km per hour along the coast and it just wasn’t worth the risk.  Instead we took a drive along the peninsular on the way back to Reykjavik for various landscape shots including another great waterfall, church and some general landscape.  It was still quite cold and windy, but at least the rain did hold off for the majority of the day. Not really an ideal shooting day, but you do what you can..can’t control the weather as we all know.

Did try a small piece of shark meat for lunch..ooh my god, gross.  had about 2 chews and had to spit it out, it was horrid. Luckily the sandwiches and coffee were much better.  Can’t believe its the last trip, dinner with the group tonight and this time tomorrow I will nearly be back in London again. It had to happen though and what a great trip.  I can’t rave enough really…

Well off to get change for the last supper and download my photos for the day ready to be sorted over the weekend. Bye for now.

Iceland..another update

Well, today has to go down as one of the coldest days I have experienced taking photos.  We headed out in the morning with the intention of Vik, which is supposed be a great rock/beach shoot, but as we got closer the weather just got worse, so we decided to turn around and try some other things. We went and shot a plane which was in them middle of the larva fields, an amazing waterfall and also some rocks on the beach and some amazing waves on another beach, but it was sooo windy that it was a challenge to keep everything upright, not lose hat and also get some shots.  On the beach shoot, the wind was whipping up the black sand and biting at my ankles and I managed to lose my second lense cap, so I have none now…but it was cool, just me against the elements fighting for a winning shot.  Loved it.

Also love the fact that we decided to head back to the hotel around 3:30 and now have a bit of free time to warm up and upload and also hopefully get some of my images critiqued this afternoon.  I haven’t really taken advantage of this in the past on the group trips, but I have an expert so I really should use him for exactly that – expert advice. Currently contemplating hot shower or attempt at shooting down at the lake which I can see from my window – will download today’s shots and then decide.  I am really really not looking forward to the end of this trip…love it.

Update – 23:10 – after a few hours rest we had a bit of a look at JC’s photos for this trip and a few more hints and tips on photoshop techniques.  We then had a great meal and a glass of wine and finished the night with a few of us having a hot-tub…in the icy Iceland night, out looking up at the star…well I saw one!  Last day of shooting tomorrow. Weather is looking pretty crap actually, but we will no doubt find a new challenge anyway.  Stay tuned.

Iceland update

Iceland shoot - Oct 2009

It’s getting a bit late and I need to get some sleep soon for the early start tomorrow and cause I didn’t get a huge amount last night.  Iceland is just amazing.  We have spent the last few days mainly shooting in the snow, so frozen lakes, snow capped mountains, waterfalls and then a bit of more volcanic type scenery today.  We are basically covered the south east sort of region, so not covering vast distances, but the route we took yesterday was basically on an ‘impassable’ road, through the mountains.  Our overnight spot was this fabulous little cabin, which was only just accessible and has now closed for the season. It was massive, big rooms for sleeping, kitchen so we could self contain/cook our meal and have a few glasses of wine (this was the reason for the lack of sleep I think as it was actually quite warm and comfortable.

We set off after it had become light on a very bumpy path through the snow, but just amazing. I definitely have a snow thing, absolutely love it and we even had a very light snowfall at one of the stops…still able to take photos though.

Tonight we are at a nice 4 star hotel again, just had our meal and they also showed us around a couple of specially decorate suites in the hotel, one of which was an ‘Australian style’, so had to give my opinion.  They were both absolutely gorgeous and the hotel in general is very nice.

Anyway, you don’t really want to hear about the hotel. Trip.  Good group of people, mixed, english, american, another aussie and our icelandic guide/driver.  With the amount of time we have spent in the vehicle in the last few days and the cosy camping last night, good job we all seem to get on well. I can’t believe I am halfway through the trip already.  I am so not going to want to leave this one. Anyway, tomorrow is coastal shooting -fingers crossed for good weather, been pretty good the last few days, with some amazing light at late afternoons and great sunset tonight.  Northern lights not looking likely unfortunately, maybe in a couple of years time I will have to come back again.

Reykjavik

Just arrived in Reykjavik, and Hotel Borg which is really really nice…massive room, bed and all the mod cons…Most of the day spent travelling today as expected.  Headed off just after 8:30 and made it to Heathrow with plenty of time.  Flight was great, we were even 30 mins early arriving..unheard of!!  The only downer, is that I was reading my Iceland guidebook which I specifically bought to learn about the places we are visiting (and it had a great map) on the plane and I bloody well left it on the flippin plane didn’t I. Crap!  I might try lost and found when I head back through the airport but I think not.  Oh, well, it is replaceable and I am sure that I will be learning about the country as our driver on the trip (who is supporting the photographer) has lived and worked in iceland for over 20 years.  He transferred a few of us from the group to the hotel and so I have met him.  He is also a photographer, so it could be interesting with 2 of them.

We have a large group of 10 for this trip and a massive vehicle.  Met a couple from the trip on the transfer, and our intro meeting and dinner is in about an hour when I will catch-up with someone from the pyrenees trip last year and meet the rest of the group as well.  Very excited. The scenery on the half hour trip from the airport was already pretty cool.  Some snow tipped mountains and the fringe of some of the other great scenery. It could have just been the late afternoon light, but the place had this really magical glow about it and so I am already pumped to get out the camera.  All in good time my friends, all in good time.  Massive day 1 tomorrow no doubt, so I best get prepared for dinner and have a bit of a rest.  Stay tuned for more!

Next adventure

The next adventure, Iceland starts tomorrow, with an exciting trip to Heathrow followed by a few hours flight to get there.  Always get stressed the night before I travel anywhere and today is no exception, but I am really excited.

Today was a pretty quite one, did some packing this morning and watched a bit of TV and picked up a few groceries.  Caught up with a friend and had a coffee down by the water (Little Venice) and a chat and now chilling at home..again.  My goodness, my brain feels like it is about to explode with all the changes in tasks and locations, but it is very exciting.

Pretty much guarantee limited internet over the next week, so might check in quickly but most likely I will be talking to you again in a week :0)

Mayfair darlings

Just back from lunching at The Washington Mayfair darlings.

No, I haven’t met a rich benefactor, but I have discovered the 3 courses for a tenner on lastminute.com.  One of my ex housemates from Acton Katie, who is also travelling and not working at the moment and I went and indulged in a very nice 3 course meal and a glass of wine and also a coffee for me, and all for under £20 which I think is pretty reasonable. Now I am really full. 

Was a good catch-up, lots of travel and photography chat.  Katie is heading off to Egypt and Jordan tomorrow…me to Iceland on Saturday. Did I mention I was going to Iceland?  Only 1 more day…two more sleeps now.

Nothing to see here

Not much to report today. Travelled back from Crowthorne in the morning. Train, train, tube, tube, with a starbucks stop and a stop to take out some cash and have a look at my incredible shrinking fast bank balance!!  The friend I was supposed to catch-up with bailed on me, so spent the day/night in Brixton. Just been watching 2 police vans searching a car and a couple of youths outside the window…but not much else.

Friends watching soccer on tv so I did a bit of reading and now thinking about calling it a  night.  Bit boring tonight sorry..

Sent my resume in for a couple of jobs..will have to start thinking about some serious job hunting soon…did a few more Greece photos for the website and watched a bit of TV…Nothing much else to report.

 2 more days till Iceland…

Wisley park

Why am I getting winter in October?  I specifically organised my return to Oz to avoid winter and it is coming early just to catch me out.  Actually, to be fair, it was probably more of an autumn day at Wisley park.  Visited this morning with Jeannette and Nick, and it was very pretty with the autumn colours.  Drive through to Godalming was also very nice.  After walking around for a couple of hours we tried a pub on the way home, but it was packed.   Everyone getting inside by the open fire no doubt,so we got some soup, bread and cheese from Tescos and headed back to Nick’s place instead.  This and a great coffee and some chocolate as well and I am stuffed.

Back in Crowthorne now and time to chill out and watch the rain begin to come through.  Heading back to London tomorrow and taking my winter woolies back with me! 3 days till iceland..