It’s been a tough time for us. Since Andrew arrived back in Melbourne after 20 years away, he had a good six months to get reacquainted with Melbourne before the lockdowns began. We’re now in a rebuilding phase, and that means we now need to network and re-establish a team of people we trust and are happy to work with. We expect to get commercial jobs helping Melbourne and Victorian companies with their commercial product and branding photography. Many of these companies have international ambitions, so we are looking to work with enthusiastic and talented people. We are looking for a range of different people to work with, including:
Models (male and female)
Makeup artists
Shoot location assistants
Second-photographers
Hair stylists
Wardrobe
etc
Please add your details to our database here and we will get back to you when a suitable job comes up.
In the “Tell us about you” section, include info like what type of style you specialise in, what types of jobs are of most interest to you. We would rather work with people who are in their comfort or interest zone.
A makeup artist preparing a model for a shoot in Yokohama Japan
We won’t be employing people, but contracting them on a per-job basis. We believe in equity, diversity, respect, dignity, and workplace safety.
I want to explain why there’s been a sudden shocking explosion of coronavirus cases in a country that once held the line so well. Also, I’ve got to explain how I plan to survive this.
The federal government as abdicated much of its responsibilities of the 1908 Public Health Act. Filling the void each of the states have implemented their own leadership. As much as state resources allowed, they were quite successful. There were tough periods, but the state leadership did the best they could. The sudden explosion of covid cases could be explained by this perfect storm:
Federal government failing to get the long-promised Rapid Antigen Test kits (the states are now purchasing their own)
Lockdown fatigue (due to inadequate federal level measures), leading to a need to open up
Christmas and New Year holidays, when people began mixing and travelling. This was fine, considering the transmissibility of the Delta and other older variants.
The high transmissibility of the new omicron variant
A conflict between the states requirement to isolate until a negative test result is returned, but a federal policy of opening up. A federal government still failing to meets its obligations under the Public Health Act 1908 and Human Services (Medicare) 1973.
Sunrise over Albert Park and Melbourne CBD
How bad is it? By 2nd Jan 2022, Melbourne had more cases of coronavirus than it did in all of 2020. Today, at time of writing, we had over 17,000 new confirmed infections in the last 24 hours alone. 30% of all test results are positive. The testing centres being so overwhelmed simply closed. For three days this week I tried fourteen times to get tested, and was turned away each time.
It is now simply impossible to get tested, so what can we do? If you have symptoms, it’s more likely to be covid than anything else. Though, I suspect my symptoms are just hayfever. I’m still playing it safe.
Stay home in isolation
Use painkillers like panadol
Stay hydrated
Monitor your blood oxygen levels if you have that feature on a smart watch or have a pulse oximeter
Monitor your body temperature
Wait until PCR testing centres reopen, or check with your local pharmacy to see if you can be put on a list of people to possibly receive a Rapid Test. At time of writing, the Victorian government has not announced how they plan to distribute their RAT kits, but announced they will be free
Let a friend or family member know that you’re isolating and have symptoms
If you’re vaccinated, like me, you probably will only suffer from just a cough
Take all the vitamins you have (especially vitamins B, C, and D). B because coronavirus mainly attacks the nervous system, but we feel it as a respiratory disease. C as it probably does help the body fight the coronavirus like it does a common cold. D because you’re not going outside, so your body is unable to use sunlight to make vitamin D
Order groceries online with like Coles home delivery
Best of luck. Follow us on the socials and let us know how you’re travelling through this new stage of the pandemic.
Lockdowns are over and many industries need to reinvigorate and recreate or create new connections. We are wanting to work with makeup artists, models, and costume designers to make a project go forward that can be used for our own self-promotion efforts. The long term plan is to get financial support for this project, and for it to be profitable for all involved (participants and financial supporters).
Theme: Women outdoors, in nature, in the sun, doing adventurous activities. More specific details will be given to serious potential collaborators and funding supporters.
Aim: To be at least shortlisted in any state or national art, photography, or other awards and competitions.
Opportunities for sponsors: Exposure with product placement and multiple @ mentions in social media, and on-going placement in social media posts, videos, and in professional creatives’ portfolios.
Early autumn portrait photos with a Melbourne model
Photo shoot with Wendy Lu at Old Treasury Building in Melbourne CBD
Photo shoot with Wendy Lu at Old Treasury Building in Melbourne CBD
Flying with the Gliding Federation of Australia and the Melbourne Gliding Club
The climate has changed, and is changing worse. This century we’ve had severe droughts, severe drying and bushfires, loss of ocean fish resulting in increased dependency on bushmeat and new diseases entering the human population (think Ebola and COVID-19; 2), and more. Life can get worse and horrifying, if we don’t act now.
Since the 1960’s ecologists have recognised that human induced environmental changes have serious impacts on nature. Rachel Carson’s landmark book called Silent Spring was the first serious publication on this. It has been known since 1824 by Joseph Fourier that carbon dioxide holds heat especially from the suns rays (5). It was Svante Arrhenius in 1896 who surmised that if CO2 levels rose in the atmosphere by double, it would have a serious effect on climate temperatures (5).
We know today that most of the CO2 that is put into the atmosphere is as a result of human activity. Over 51% of emissions come from animal based agriculture (1). This is many times more than the petroleum industry. It’s many times more than switching from plastic to paper straws.
If we are to seriously aim for net zero emissions by the agreed target of 2030, and even achieve sequestration (carbon capture and store), there are some easy big impact things we can do:
Quickly reduce our animal product consumption (direct reduction on deforestation and emissions)
Support farmers by having a mainly grain, vegetable, and fruit diet
Replant large swathes of farmland to natural vegetation (carbon sink)
Reduce reliance on fossil fuels (including plastics, petroleum, and energy production emissions)
Why “reduce animal agriculture”? Simple mathematics. Cows require huge amounts of grain and water to live. The American cattle industry alone consumes 31% of drinkable water. A vegan diet requires 18 times less farm land than an animal based diet (1).
Vegan diets are not bad, but in fact better. Please who changed quickly to a vegan diet noticed it took a couple of weeks for the body to adapt. However, high performance athletes like weightlifters and professional parkour athletes notice a boost in performance (3). They can lift more and perform better. So, where can you get protein from? Protein is in everything we eat anyway(3). Cutting animal based protein will have no bad effects on your body, only good effects. Additionally, changing to a plant based diet solves a different problem, fiber deficiency.
Why are we writing about this? The two-birds logo is representative of our ethos: Dignity, respect, freedom, environment, and travel. We hope the best for all humanity by protecting the environment, with positive knock-on effects for humanity.
Want to fact check us? Please do. Some suggested references include:
If you are vegan, or have recently switched to a mostly or exclusively vegan diet, tell us how you went below? Leave your comments and favourite new recipes below.
This year we’re really excited to announce we’ve expanded our range of our calendars. Previously our main series was “Inside Japan”. For 2022 we’ll have Inside Japan, Inside Aviation, Inside Travel, and a new project theme “Edge of Day”.
Calendars are printed, prepared, and and shipped from the United States, and distributed world wide. Allow 5 to 21 days for delivery, depending on your location.
As an experiment I wanted to see how a photo would look on the streets of Elsternwick Melbourne. I chose a photo from a photo shoot I did with a great local model Wendy earlier this year. Mocked up a poster. Got some photos of my neighbourhood, and photoshopped in the mock poster. Here are the results. Can you imagine a local small businesses using promoting their own wares too? We’re eager to work with local hairdressers, makeup artists, real estate agencies, you name it.
You may have noticed on the socials that we’ve been experimenting with a new angle – from up high. This gives us literally – a new dimension – to our offerings. We can get a camera to hard to get places to do more and new work. We can do things like asset inspection, real estate, remote photography, and more.
A drone used by Travel Photos Pty Ltd
As you can guess, in the coming months we will be learning more and experimenting more with aerial photography. Our knowledge and skills in photography will be transferred across, and upskilling in quad-copter flying.
Are there laws and restrictions on flying drones? Absolutely. We’re getting out Remote Pilot’s Licence, Aviation Radio Operator’s Certificate, Cert III Aviation, and Remote Operator’s Certificate. All required for commercial operations under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s rules in Australia.
The airshow was hosted by the Temora Aviation Museum on the weekend of the 6th and 7th March 2021. As it so happens, on the 21st of March is the Royal Australian Air Forces’ (RAAF) 100th anniversary. It was preceded by the Australian Air Corps of the Australian Army from 1912 to 1920, making it the second oldest air force in the world.
The RAAF’s new Pilatus PC21 on display at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Aircraft at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Aircraft at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Temora is a small little rural country town in the literal middle of nowhere in rural country Australia – in the middle of the rural country area. There’s nothing much around Temora, but canola fields, some sheep, maybe some random cattle. I don’t think even the kangaroos bother being in the middle of rural country nowhere. The airshow still attracted 3000 visitors, which is not a fair measure. It was covid restricted to 3000, so it would normally receive more people.
Originally intended as a fighter in WWI, the De Haviland Tigermoth became an important trainer and civilian workhorse at the Temora Airshow. No photoshopping required. The Tigermoth really did pass by the moon before it set later in the day.
Temora, though, has aviation history. During World War One (1914 to 1918) it was the site of the Empire Training Scheme, where the British Commonwealth pilots were trained. It was also a major training site during World War Two. During the postwar period to the late 1990’s the Temora “airport” was a forgotten place in aviation history. However, interest in Temora as a site for vintage aircraft airshows rose in the 1990’s, I even helped out at an airshow there then. Then in the early 2000’s a businessman with an interest in Australian aviation military history started the Temora Aviation Museum (TAM).
The Battle of Britain hero the Supermarine Spitfire at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
The TAM has slowly collected some iconic aircraft of military aviation history, including from small one to the big ticket items. Though modest, the collection is still enviable. My personal favourites are some of my all-time favourites the English Electric Canberra and the Curtis P40 Kittyhawk.
A Curtis P40 Kittyhawk taxiing before takeoff at the Temora Airshow.
However, in the last year, possibly due to the economic effects of the lockdowns and travel restrictions of the coronavirus period, most of the TAM collection was recently handed over to the RAAF.
The Curtis P40 Kittyhawk taxiing ahead of an air display at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
The EE Canberra had been airworthy, but a rebuild and inspection of the engines were apparently needed. It’s currently not flying, but they did demonstrate the engines warming up early in the day. It is expected to be in the air again later in 2021.
The English Electric Canberra at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
My favourite photos of the airshow, weirdly, were taken at the very start. It was a rescue helicopter that came in before anything started. I was renting the Sigma 150-600mm behemoth lens. I’ve never used a lens like it before. So, I tested it out a bit a couple of days before the airshow. On the day itself, the incoming helicopter was a last test before the “serious shoot”. I was able to check my focusing techniques, shutter speed for the rotors, stabilisation techniques, etc. Unintended, these turned out so great. I think for a few reasons. Firstly, the helicopter appeared much closer than the airshow displays. Second, we can clearly see people. Third, the people were doing things. Fourth, it’s a bright contrasty colourful scene.
Aircraft at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Aircraft at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Aircraft at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
I’m not sure why the rescue helicopter was here. I suspect it’s something to do with civilians doing aerobatics, former military pilots doing aerobatics, in vintage aircraft.
The airshow featured some world “firsts”. Including the first time three Spitfires flew in formation since WWII. The first time two CAC Boomerangs flew in formation with a Lockheed Hudson. And the first time Spitfires flew in formation with the new Lockheed Martin F35 Lighting II. This also marks the first time I’ve seen the F35 in person. It was hard to photograph, as it came at the end of the day, when all the other aircraft flew at propeller-speed slow, then suddenly this fast-moving beast blasted by only a few times, I wasn’t quite ready to deal with the speed.
The new RAAF Lockheed Martin F35 Lighting II at the Temora Airshow and 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.
These photos and more will be available for sale on our stock sales site soon at either Alamy or our archive.
As I’ve said, the main lens used is a rented specialty telephoto lens, the Sigma 150-600 lens. It’s a rare lens, due to the telefocal length and the versatility the Zoom range offers. It’s mostly used by bird watchers, wildlife, and sports photographers. It performed well. The focus speed was as expected or better; it didn’t take long to find the target to focus on. Though this wasn’t the sports model, it just did the job well. It suffers a little in vignetting at the 600mm end, even at f9. Also, the lens is surprisingly light considering the glass elements the zoom range needs. Would I buy one?
The Sigma 150-600mm telephoto lens
The Sigma 150-600mm telephoto lens
Is the lens sharp? I think no. It’s good, but not that good. At 290mm. While post processing the images, I thought a lot of the softness was from me not using a fast enough shutter speed for the focal length and distance. However, 290mm at 1/320sec should result in perfectly sharp photos, but I haven’t found a perfectly crisp photo. It seems softness is from chromatic aberration, but without colour. Would I get the Tamron equivalent? Well, that was my preferred choice, so in the end, I don’ think it matters too much which I get… but I’d rather try the Tamron first.
Our ethos is equity, respect, dignity, freedom, and travel. To honour these, we’ll offer 30% off commercial photo shoots for female small business owners. This can be for products, show of experiences and services, professional portraits, whatever.
Terms and conditions: small businesses (less than 10 employees), the company director be female, be situated in Victoria Australia. Certain expenses like travel costs cannot be discounted.
Contact us now. Valid for anytime before Easter 2021
For a limited time, we’ve added new wall art to our store. They all are our favourites. But if we had to choose one… then our favourite is Apostles Beach, Pt Lonsdale Lighthouse, and Maiko in Kyoto.
They are printed on archival-gallery quality acid-free paper with high quality printers and ink. Available as frame or unframed prints, and artist-signed prints available too. Printed in Melbourne for Australian region distribution, and US and EU authorised makers. More details in the product descriptions.
