Ilya Genkin Travel Photography Blog » Forests, Rainforests and Waterfalls

My Best Photos From 2011

Ilya Genkin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:03:04 +0000

Storm Clearing over Turimetta Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia

I have to thank Jim Goldstein for the idea of sharing a look at my favourite photos from the previous year. Every year, for five years now, Jim invites photographers to participate in his “Best Photos” project.

I’ve picked my Top 8 Favourite Images of 2011. Why eight and not ten? Well… Don’t know really. I’ve got more favourite photos from the last year but some photos haven’t been uploaded to the web yet and I still have to show them in the next couple of months. So please have a look at the small set and I hope you enjoy these photos as well.

PS. If you click on each photo you’ll get to the bigger version.

Waves Crashing at Forresters Beach, Forresters Beach, Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Sunrise at Govett’s Leap Lookout, Blackheath, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia

Early Morning at Narrabeen Tidal Pool, Narrabeen Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Sunset at Norah Head, Central Coast, Soldiers Point, NSW, Australia

Storm Approaching Barrenjoey and Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Palm Beach at Sunrise, Palm Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Upper Somersby Falls, Brisbane Water National Park, Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Lower Somersby Falls, Brisbane Water National Park, Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Ilya Genkin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:20:52 +0000

Lower Somersby Falls, Brisbane Water National Park, Central Coast, NSW, Australia

More images: Somersby waterfalls Stock Images | Forest, Rainforest and Waterfalls Landscape Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography

Upper Somersby Falls, Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Ilya Genkin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:13:40 +0000

Upper Somersby Falls, Brisbane Water National Park, Central Coast, NSW, Australia

More images: Somersby waterfalls Stock Images | Forest, Rainforest and Waterfalls Landscape Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography

Lower McLean Falls, The Catlins, South Island, New Zealand

Ilya Genkin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:29:54 +0000

Picture: Lower McLean Falls, The Catlins, South Island, New Zealand

More images: McLean Falls, Catlins, New Zealand Stock Images | Forest, Rainforest and Waterfalls Landscape Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography

MacKenzie Falls, Grampians National Park, VIC, Australia

Ilya Genkin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:30:54 +0000

Jack Dykinga once said: “You usually don’t get it right the first time, I call it a drive-by shooting. … I can’t think of any time I’ve taken a meaningful photograph the first time…” This is very much true. Especially if I think about MacKenzie Falls in the Grampians National Park in Victoria, Australia. I had to travel to the Grampians three times over a few years before I was able to get a nice shot of the MacKenzie Falls. A landscape photographer definitely should have patience. If it doesn’t work out the first time, there’s always next time.

More images: The MacKenzie Falls, The Grampians National Park Stock Images | Forest, Rainforest and Waterfalls Landscape Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography

Upper McLean Falls, The Catlins, South Island, New Zealand

Ilya Genkin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:02:27 +0000

More images: McLean Falls, Catlins, New Zealand Stock Images | Forest, Rainforest and Waterfalls Landscape Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography

Purakaunui Falls, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand

Ilya Genkin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 07:00:25 +0000

The Purakaunui Falls is a cascading multi-tiered waterfall on the Purakaunui River, located in the Catlins region in Otago in the southern South Island of New Zealand. It is an iconic image for southeastern New Zealand, and were featured on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1976. The Purakaunui Falls is the most photographed falls in New Zealand. This 15m waterfall tumbles in three tiers, giving it a certain grace and character that more than makes up for its lack of height.

More images: Purakaunui Falls Stock Images | Forest, Rainforest and Waterfalls Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography.

Lower McLean Falls, The Catlins, New Zealand

Ilya Genkin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 06:55:22 +0000

More images: Forests, Rainforests and Waterfalls Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography.

The best and useful “Depth of Field” explanation

Ilya Genkin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:54:05 +0000

Picture: Flat Rock Falls, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia

Internet is full of articles explaining Depth of Field theory, Hyperfocal Distance, how to calculate DOF and hyperfocal distance, DOF tables for different lenses and even DOF calculators iPhone. They all are pretty much the same, using the same formulas and the same words. I used to beleive in all that until a while ago I’ve read a great article “Adjusting Depth of Field” by Harold M. Merklinger, an author of “The Ins and Outs of Focus” and “Focusing the View Camera” books. This article tells about three well-known myths like “one-third rule”, focus on hyperfocal distance and DOF tables. He also challenges traditional DOF theory by turning in on its head. No longer is the Circle of Confusion the basis for judging DOF. His indepth analysis of the problem will problably leave you a convert for life.

Be patient and open minded. Most of us find that his ideas sound like they are at odds with what we’ve been taught, but he provides empirical evidence (“photos”) to support his claims. Whether or not you choose to adopt his methods, it’s worth reading and it really works for all cameras, landscape shots and wide angle to short telephoto lenses.

(as published in Shutterbug magazine in Oct. 1991 and May – July 1992)

There is one more web page that compliments this article, it is called “Depth of Field Revisited“, which you probably would want to read as well.

Lodore Falls, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia

Ilya Genkin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 22:23:54 +0000

There was almost perfect wather for shooting waterfalls last Sunday – heavy overcast day, no wind, no fog. So I spent morning in the Valley of the Waters near Wentworth Falls in Blue Mountains National Park. All I could wish was just a little bit more water. But anyway it was really nice morning.

And the afternoon I spent having coffee and chatting with Robert Teague, large format photographer from USA, who is doing his two weeks trip around NSW and Victoria. He is a very nice and friendly guy and meeting with him was the perfect ending of the very nice day.

More images: Forests, Rainforests and Waterfalls Stock Images | Landscape Stock Photography.