Photography field trip to Braidwood
I am currently studying a Certificate IV in Photography and Digital Imaging at the Canberra Institute of Technology. This semester, as part of the course we are undertaking field trips around Canberra and in this second trip, we went to Braidwood in NSW. The aim of the trips, which occur roughly every two weeks, are to hypothetically contribute photos to a book promoting the region. We are trying to take interesting photographs that help show the character of the location. We can only submit eight images that must be from at least four of the ten categories that the teacher lists. This is not nature or wildlife photography but it is good practice at reacting to a location and trying to be creative within the bounds of the categories. It is also a challenge to only choose eight photographs to show off the character of a location. I thought that I would blog about the photos here. It helps me to record why I took the photographs and hopefully it will help promote some lovely regional towns. I have swapped around several images because I asked some people for permission to photograph them as part of this course assignment but I didn’t ask if I could put their photos up publicly. Understandably, I don’t want to cause any embarrassment to the wonderful people who very kindly helped me on the day. I hope that you like the photographs below.
Braidwood was founded in the 1830s following settlers who moved into the area in the 1820s. The town had a boom period in the 1850s and 1860s because of gold in the surrounding area but when that ran out it struggled. The reduction of wealth flowing into the town meant that its urban development stagnated after the boom, leaving many wonderful buildings as they were. Those legacy buildings remain alone the main road through town, which is the Kings Highway, the route from Canberra to the coast. Braid wood is just over an hours drive from Canberra and is approximately halfway to the coast in driving time.
I used a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM ‘pancake’ lens on the day. I have a standard zoom, which I also carried with me, but I love the aesthetic of the 50mm, and I also think that the pancake can be less intimidating when photographing people, it looks less intrusive.
Welcome sign at the Braidwood Jockey Club
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 1o0, 50mm, f/4.0 and 1/400])
I admit that I came across this sign at the end of my day in Braidwood but I thought that it made a great way to start this post. These horseshoes were arranged to form the word welcome and were attached to the gate of the Braidwood Jockey Club. I thought about showing more of the background but I do love f/0.4 on a 50mm so I decided to make the sign sharp and leave the background blurred. The background gives a hint of what sort of weather it had been in Braidwood on the day, wet.
Len Mutton & Co shop on the main road going through Braidwood
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 400, 50mm, f/8.0 and 1/100])
Braidwood has many historic original shops that have risen as the town grew. I photographed a number of them but trying to figure out which ones to keep in a collection of only eight photographs was hard. In the end I opted for this shot because I liked the sign that read ‘the cornerstone of quality and service - since 1913’. I think that sign helped give this photograph a story. This wasn’t just a shop, it was an establishment that had been serving the local community for over 100 years.
Braidwood sale yards
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 100, 50mm, f/16 and 1/100])
The Braidwood sale yards help draw the link between the town of Braidwood and the surrounding farms. Braidwood is not just a town it is the urban centre for the region, supporting the surrounding properties. These sale yards on the southwest outskirts of the town demonstrate that connection. There was another lane between the pens on the left of the image that I also photographed but I preferred this photograph because the open gates helped fill the void of the lane. I also made the conscious decision to frame the photograph between the rusted catwalk and the well-weathered fence beam.
Baked goods on sale at Casanova’s
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 400, 50mm, f/5.0 and 1/100])
The staff at Casanova’s were wonderful. I had lunch at this wonderful little venue and while I was enjoying my delicious meal I noticed a staff member behind the baked goods. There was a skylight to the top left, as well as a window, both of which were lighting the cabinet. When I asked for a photograph the staff didn’t hesitate and one of them even happily posed behind the counter for the shot. I feel that the natural lighting made this shot. The wonderful warm light bouncing around on the baked goods was perfect. The crumbs in the top right helping to provide a narrative of customers purchasing the goodies.
Baked goods at The Albion
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 1600, 50mm, f/4.0 and 1/100])
The Albion also had some wonderful staff, especially Sean, who were so helpful on the day. I asked if they minded if I took photographs of the baked goods and they had no problems. There was so much character in this venue that it made a wonderful place for a coffee, especially in the cold, wet morning that greeted us.
Stain-glass window in St Bede’s Church
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 2000, 50mm, f/4.0 and 1/160])
A very nice local gentleman, Jeff, recommended that I have a look inside St Bede’s Church, especially at the stain-glass windows. Later, when he noticed me enter the church he also came in to point out a couple of interesting design details. I was really touched by his warmth in helping a stranger and his pride in his local community. That gesture really helped to make for a wonderful day. I am also glad that he did recommend the church because it was a lovely, calm experience. Photographically, the light through the stain-glass was magical. I was fortunate that a cloud must have passed in front of the sun because it defused the light enough to allow me to take this photograph on a north-facing window, and still get some of the surrounding detail of the wall in. The coloured light spilling onto the surrounds was a lovely aspect to this photograph.
Sign to some local food
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 100, 50mm, f/4.0 and 1/640])
This bright yellow bike advertising real local food did its bit, it attracted my attention. I again chose f/0.4mm to allow me to make the bike crisp, to help emphasise it as the subject of the photograph.
Art work at Mona Farm
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM [ISO 100, 50mm, f/6.3 and 1/640])
Mona Farm, just out east from Braidwood, seemed to be a venue for hire. It had some lovely sections and I could have easily provided eight photographs from this location alone. The grounds were so wonderfully kept and the buildings were also beautifully maintained. I ended up selecting this photograph of one of the art installations because I liked the simplicity of the shot and that it showed the outdoors - as well as how the weather improved in the afternoon. The blurred green in the foreground was a hedge around the carpark that I shot over. The path on the right helps lead up to the statue on the ridge. I would have liked to have lost the powerlines but I think that the power pole may help balance the photograph.
Normally, Braidwood is a town that I pass through on the way to the coast but I was glad that I had a chance to explore the town on that day. It had its own charm through the buildings, and the people were warm and friendly. It was a wonderful day wandering around trying to find photographs that would best represent the town. I would definitely recommend having a walk around Braidwood to get to know it better.
