Useful tools for Photographers on Google+

I've just spent time watching +Colby Brown, +Trey Ratcliff, +Brian Matiash and +Matt Kloskowski give their talk from earlier today at the +Google+ Photographer's Conference and they mentioned one of my plugins that they like to use so I decided to give a little rundown of what others may find useful.

Google+Blog for WordPress A plugin that allows you to automatically import your G+ posts and their comments to Wordpress, allowing you to use G+ as the launchpad for your content. [http://www.minimali.se/google+blog/]

Google+Timing A site to find the best time for you to post on Google+ based on the performance of your historical posts. [http://timing.minimali.se/]

Extended Comments Follow the engagement of your posts across reshares by seeing all comments on a single page. [http://ec.minimali.se/]

Fotostat Currently in testing, this will become a central hub for photographers to manage their presence online as well as track how well their photos are performing across multiple networks. Sign up to be an early tester. [http://www.fotost.at/]

Thanks to +Eustace James for letting me know of the post sharing the talk and to my new friends +Gilmar Smith, +Erika Thornes and +Rod Harlan who also took part in the live hangout.

#gpluspc #blog #wordpress #photography
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Dreamtime

Another composition from Cabarita, though this one was a little dreamier than the one from yesterday. It's amazing to me that long exposures can make a location look so different. It is certainly a look that I love though.

Cabarita, New South Wales, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape #australia #sunset #longexposure #seatuesday  
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Menacing skies

After watching a large storm cell that had formed just off the coast yesterday afternoon (albeit, from afar) I was reminded of a shoot from a few weeks back showing a storm passing in the distance.  I haven't really shot any storms before so am looking forward to seeing what summer has in store for us.

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape #australia #sunrise #seatuesday  
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Good Morning Tower #1

Snapper Rocks/Rainbow Bay is home to the one of the southern-most beaches of Queensland and therefore gets the #1 Lifeguard tower.  It is only one of over 40 towers located around the Gold Coast, home to Australia's largest Lifeguard service.

Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#landscape #australia #sunrise
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Overflow

The swell was quite large the morning of this shot at Currumbin. It was important to time the sets, or at least keep an eye out for the really big ones, the 'destroying your camera' kind of waves. This was one of the sections of rock that was generally untouched by the regular waves coming through, but as you can see, this set was a little larger!

Currumbin, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape #australia #sunrise #longexposure #wideanglewednesday  
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All storms pass

Another angle back toward the city from earlier in the week. I wasn't all that much of a fan of this location until this shoot, I ended up finding quite a few compositions that I normally wouldn't have. I have been shooting much more regularly these past few months and it is in noticing these differences that shows me that I am improving.

Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at] #seascape #australia #sunrise
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Shipwrecked

Dicky beach is the only recreational beach in the world that is named after a shipwreck. The SS Dicky was intentionally run aground to avoid smashing into the surrounding rocks during rough weather and seas. Attempts to refloat the boat failed and so it was destined to spend the rest of its days as a tourist attraction.

Dicky Beach, Sunshine Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#beach #australia #shipwreck #wideanglewednesday
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In the dark

I don't often shoot at night but have been wanting to get out and give it another go lately. This shot was taken looking over a canal at Surfers Paradise. A shot like this looks great in colour but I was really feeling the look of it in black and white.

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#cityscape   #australia   #blackandwhite  
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The Rush

I was very close to getting wet with the sudden influx of waves over these rocks. The formations around the cliffs on the coastline look amazing.

Hopefully we can head back there one day to explore them some more.

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Try it out for free at www.fotost.at]

#bondi2013   #seeaustralia   #fotostat   #thirstythursday   #australia  #sydney
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Splash at dawn

This is my last upload from my most recent shoot at Cabarita.  I took this shortly before deciding to put on my long exposure filter which produced some of my earlier uploads.  It is sometimes hard to decide what kind of shot to take as these are certainly much easier and less time consuming but it really comes down to the look and feel that you are after from each location.

Cabarita, New South Wales, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape #australia #sunrise
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How I Intend to Blog in 2013

I have a confession to make, I have started blogging at least 3 times that I can recall (it is likely more) but have never managed to stick with it.  It's a common story, one that is easily proven by the abundance of first posts followed up with nothing at all on blogs all over the web.  

It's hard to pinpoint the exact cause of my inability to blog for a decent amount of time but is likely a combination of lack of motivation due to other projects taking priority, lack of focus on a topic or subject for the blog and possibly the idea the noone cares what it is I have to say.  Despite having these issues in the past, I feel like this time will be different.  Some problems may still pop up from time to time but the way in which I now blog will hopefully allow me to keep on track.

Over the past year and a half or so I have been the most active I have ever been on a social network.  The release of Google+ gave me all the features I wanted that I felt were missing or not well implemented on other networks.  It also allowed me to start fresh with a new community and has become a place I really love to spend time.  Early on I noticed that several high profile bloggers had been creating long-form posts on the network whilst their blogs began to become a little stale.  It was an interesting turn of events and not really something I feel many expected.  Upon noticing this phenomenon I created a proof of concept which allowed anyone on Google+ to visit my site and have a 'blog' be created based on their posts.  I didn't expect to have many check it out but it really took off which in turn made me spend a bit more time creating more permanent solutions in Plusses, a hosted blog that uses Google+ posts as the content creation platform, and Google+Blog, a plugin that pulls in posts to self-hosted WordPress blogs.  These tools allowed many people to have an active blog without the extra effort of maintaining another presence.

For whatever reason I have no problem creating a long post for a social network, but always found it much more difficult to blog.  With that in mind, and my experience creating the afforementioned cross-posting solutions I will be crafting my posts on Google+ and then automatically replicating them to minimali.se (my blog).  The blog is not really a high value asset to me, but it is a place that can point people in the right direction if they are looking to reach out.  If it helps my writing find those that are in need of it then all the better.

If you have any questions on this type of setup, be sure to let me know.  Good luck to all those that are also looking to write more in 2013.

#minimalise   #blog   #socialmedia  
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Shining Bright

Another from the beautiful rolling hills of Byangum. It's funny, until recently I had no idea that somewhere like this existed so close to the city that I live.

Byangum, New South Wales, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#sunrise #landscape #australia #farm  
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Shining through

Sunset at Byron bay is one of those things everyone should experience once. Being from the Gold Coast it is quite rare for me to be able to see a sunset across the water on the mainland so it was very nice to see here. We actually went back to Byron today but it wasn't the best time to shoot and so didn't come back with anything new.

Wategoes Beach, Byron Bay, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape   #sunset   #longexposure   #australia
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A moment by the water

This shot was taken quite quickly (for a long exposure) on the weekend when I was down at the park with my family and our friends. I had planned to get a shot of the bridge while we were down there and am quite pleased with how this turned out.

In search of better angle I stumbled over the temporary fencing that was there and tried to quickly set up and frame my shot, only to be interrupted by a large security guard that seemed to pop up out of nowhere. He was under the bridge the whole time and had been watching me, I was just too busy focussed on the shot to notice. Photography can be quite a strong distraction at times, but that is one of the best things about it for someone like myself.

#MonochromeMonday
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Tiny Moon

There was a large crescent moon up over the water this morning making me wish I had a better zoom lens that could capture it. I was up early enough to get a glimmer of it in this shot though. I hadn't walked around this part of Hastings Point before as I usually stick to the larger rocks on the headland so it was all a new experience for me.

Hastings Point, New South Wales, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#sunrise #seascape #australia  
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Sunset at the bay

Today we ventured out on our first family trip to Byron bay. We had a great run there with little traffic and an easy drive, which is always a concern when you have young kids on board. As soon as we arrived we were reminded of our holiday to Airlie beach earlier in the year, the stretching coves and what looked to be an infinite pool of water all the way to the horizon.

Unfortunately it is winter here so it was a little too cold to make this a swimming trip, but that allowed me more time behind the camera and I was rewarded at sunset with this beautiful scene. I'm looking forward to making my way there to catch the sunrise very soon.

Wategoes Beach, Byron Bay, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascapes #sunset #australia  
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Morning light

I'm often praying for clouds whenever I head out early in the morning to capture the sunrise, and on this day I certainly got a whole lot more than I expected. A large storm cell was moving north just off the east coast and ended up covering up the entire sunrise. The little light you see here is all that was there to show the sun was actually coming up.

Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape #australia #sunrise #longexposure
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And then there were clouds

Seeing the weather forecasting cloud cover of more than 50% I was pretty excited to head out this morning. I'm really glad I did as I was presented with one of the more interesting sunrises I have witnessed of late. The clouds have actually brought more than a beautiful sunrise too, finally breaking the drought with rain coming in now. We have not gone without rain for this long for over 90 years.

Currumbin, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#sunrise #seascape #australia
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Cascading falls

Another shot of the sunrise at Kingscliff. I'll be heading out for a big day of photography on Monday so I should come back with some shots from a new setting.

Kingscliff, New South Wales, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape #sunrise #australia
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Follow me

One of my earlier shots at sunrise this morning.

Currumbin Alley is a surf break at Currumbin on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. On days when the surf everywhere else is flat or very small, The Alley is often a crowded longboard wave. The Alley is one of the more famous breaks on the Gold Coast along with Superbank and Burleigh Heads among others. Waves wrap around the point and towards the creek. It is exposed to perfect beginners conditions towards the creek and some epic right-handers towards the point. There's also a great wave just across the channel called Lacey's Lane. The Alley marks the mouth of Currumbin Creek.

Currumbin Surf Club, Currumbin, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#sunrise   #australia   #seascape   #longexposure  
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Peace, Tranquility, and a few Moos

This shot from Byangum almost didn't happen as I had packed up for the morning and was on my way home to get ready for work. As I was coming back I drove past these farms and had to try to capture them. I haven't really been exposed to these kinds of areas near home before so am quite pleased to come away with something that looks this way. The little dots showing in the far paddock were actually cows, and they could be heard from quite a distance away!

Byangum, New South Wales, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#sunrise   #landscape   #australia
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The Golden Arches (Not McDonalds!)

There was something about this location that really stood out as I was walking past it. The way the tree was lit up was part of it, but also the colourful lighting of the windows made it impossible to walk by without taking a photo.



I can't remember exactly what this building is, but they had some kind of exhibition inside it.

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Try it out for free at www.fotost.at]

#fotostat   #sydney   #australia   #city   #architecture   #bondi2013  
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I'm addicted

My biggest problem with photography is that I enjoy it too much. It is something that I often wish I had more time to pursue, something that makes me want to travel more to explore places that I think will look great from behind the lens (with the added bonus of it being great without a camera at all). I often wonder if I had more time to spend taking photos if my enjoyment would fade, then I talk to someone like +Colby Brown who has spent a decent portion of this year travelling, doing what he loves and think that photography is one of those things that the passion never fades for.

Currumbin Surf Club, Currumbin, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#seascape #sunrise #longexposure #australia
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The House Across From The Opera

The Sydney Opera house is one of the best known landmarks in Australia and yet on this night the focus shifted toward the other side of the harbour, where an outdoor opera performance was taking place.

I'm not sure if this is the traditional lighting on the sails, but it was cut short due to the start of the show on our side of the water, much to the dismay of +Colby Brown  as he was trying to get his final shots of the opera house sorted (after waiting a good few minutes for the water police to turn off their lights).



This was taken the day before the record breaking photo walk hosted by +Colby Brown and +Michael Sutton. Congratulations on organising a great event - I can't wait for the next one.

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Check it out for free via www.fotost.at]

#bondi2013   #seascape   #sydney  #australia #seeaustralia
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Take A Seat

An afternoon stroll through Sydney led us to this tree. I thought it looked great how it just stretches out over the chair, providing some much needed shade in that area.

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Try it out for free at www.fotost.at]

#fotostat   #bondi2013   #sydney   #australia   #wideanglewednesday   #blackandwhite  
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Standing on the edge

Another capture of the sun as it rises over Currumbin. I have everything packed and ready for another shoot tomorrow morning. Let's hope I am lucky enough to witness a sunrise as good as this one again.

Currumbin, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#sunrise #seascape #australia #wideanglewednesday  
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The Jetty

A different angle (and coloured) shot of the jetty that I posted the other day. This is the sand pumping jetty at the Southport Spit, a favourite platform of many local fisherman. I am not one of them though, with my only experience fishing off of it resulting in not even a single bite! I will stick to photographing it.

Southport Spit, Gold Coast, Australia

[Uploaded via Fotostat - Get earlybird access to the beta via www.fotost.at]

#sunrise   #landscape   #australia   #beach #seascape   #wharfwednesday  
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