Greetings from South Australia

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

Yes, that Australian state with the not-so-creative-name (constantly competiting with Western Australia). I think I tried to post an introduction topic a while back, but I probably forgot to press the button, I cant find it - but if I've already been welcomed I'll be on my happy way.

I'm Alex, from the South Eastern area of South Australia, up in the hills in farming country, about 1-2 hours from the capital city of Adelaide. Very pretty location, cows and horses and then whales and fairy penguins down to the coast.
I finish highschool in a few months, then I'm off to 9 months of TAFE studying Business Management, and then to UniSA for 3-4 years studying photography. This is my current plan to life, so if I end up a car salesman in Mexico City by the time I'm 22 I can look back and wonder exactly where I went wrong (Mexico City's on my to-visit list anyway). But yeah, I've been taking photos since this time last year - I got a C in darkroom photography because I never made it to the darkroom sessions, but I've stubbornly kept at it.
I have a slight background in art, but was told I have no natural talent by my art teacher so sorta let that go as photograhy took over more and more. Apparently I'm strange for not moving into digital by now, but something about not being able to delete a one of a kind peice appeals to me. And old Rangefinder and SLRs are fun to poke around inside of - I'm not allowed to take apart our Digital point and shoot.

So yeah, I'll be sticking around and posting questions as I learn more, and subscribe when I have the money on hand.

 

[thebanana]

Hello Alex, and welcome from the Canadian prairies! I'm sure you will find a ton of useful info on the site. Good Luck with your photography!

 

[johnnywalker]

Hi Alex, and welcome from western Canada. Work hard at the photography, the alternative does not sound promising!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Alex,

What can one say except g'day?

And, of course, as we say in France, "Bonne chance et bonne courage," best translated as "good luck and nil illegitimis carborundum [don't let the bastards grind you down]"

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com -- have you had a look at the Photo School yet?)

 

[Mike Wilde]

Keep at the photography until the wine urge kicks in

As I recall from visiting your neck of the planet, the area is rife with great vineyards, and fantastic cellar door sampling. Keep the photography going , so you can remember the time spent exploring the different varietals virtually at your doorstep.

There is a lot of great stuff to shoot once you have cash to buy an old ute and fill it with petrol to make you more mobile.

The limestone caves inland on the east coast of your state are a facinating places.

Kangaroo Island is a treasure to photograph on, be it the commericial sites (like Pauls Place, with all kinds of feathered creatures close at hand) or the natural beauty of the Remarkable Rocks or Seal Bay. We went in winter when the place was deserted. I was the only one at remarkable rocks and came away with some of my most favourite images ever.

Adelaide also has a whack of great Victorian era buildings that are rather undisturbed from when they were first put up.

Lots of people will travel far to take in what is on your front door. Learn what is there before you take off to sample the world.

 

[PhotoJim]

Leave it to Roger to translate the French into Italian. (We give Roger a hard time, but he really knows his stuff and he seems friendly... )

Welcome, mate! There is always room for one more film shooter here.

I've never been to Oz but I have good friends there and know I'll make it eventually. Australia is a lot like Canada.

You've been greeted now from three of the four western Canadian provinces - where is our token Albertan when we need one?

Jim

 

[Nicole]

Hi Alex
Welcome to APUG. I'm sure you'll learn lots from a helpful and friendly bunch. Nice to see another film believer.
Kind regards
Nicole

 

[Steve Smith]

Leave it to Roger to translate the French into Italian. (We give Roger a hard time, but he really knows his stuff and he seems friendly... )

I think that's Latin, not Italian!


Steve.

 

[roteague]

Hi Alex, glad you decided to introduce yourself. South Australia isn't that bad - I was in Murray Bridge about two years ago, and I'll be in Adelaide next month. So, I know a little of the area. What is the name of the town you live in? I visit the strangest places sometimes.

 

[copake_ham]

Hi Alex,

I've been to S.A. (Adelaide, Barossa Valley and down into southeast part of State before driving into Victoria etc.). S.A. is now high on my places to RE-visit list! Hope one day to get down and do a bicycle tour around Kangaroo Island and then a retun to Barossa Valley (hic!).

Welcome to APUG - you'll find many like-minded folks here, so enjoy.

 

[Dave Miller]

A warm welcome from Middle England Alex.

 

[Magpie]

Hi Alex,

G'day from the foot of the Blue Mountains, you will pick up lots of good info here.

But be warned - it becomes adictive, I have to check in each day even before I have my first cup of coffee!

By the way, go ahead and pull the digi thing apart ....... and leave it that way. Then they will have to use film.

Regards

Brendan

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Welcome from Melbourne, Alex.

 

[Tony Egan]

Alex,
Greetings from Sydney. I agree our past governors showed a great lack of imagination in naming SA, WA, NT and ACT. 4 of the 8 utterly boring and two others named after the Queen! I guess they thought in typical Aussie fashion it would be something we'd get around to doing properly later (much like our consitutional monarchy and flag!!). NSW is not much better. I've had a good look around South Wales. Maybe a few patches of the coastline near Sydney bear a passing resemblance but very little else! I guess New York didn't actually resemble York or Amsterdam for that matter. A bit of nostalgia by the "new" colonists.
Anyway I'm rambling. Good to see some enthusiastic young blood from down under. Welcome. Plenty of creativity and imagination at APUG....

 

[Steve Smith]

Oh yes, Welcome from the Isle of Wight as I forgot to say earlier.


Steve.

 

[OldBikerPete]

Welcome from Melbourne. I've attended a few motorcycle rallies up in them hills - beautiful country. Good luck in your courses, they tend to take on a life of their own once you immerse yourself in them.
As for cameras, there are plenty of excellent film cameras selling for a pittance everywhere you go. Put up a wanted-to-buy notice in your local shop or similar - noting that you are a photography student. You'll find that someone will have an oldie sitting in the cupboard that they'll let you have cheap. Good luck.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

Thanks all for the warm welcomes, It's a nice change to see a herd of Canadians too, somehow everywhere I go it's always English or American (No offence to Australia's big brothers). We've got rather a soft spot for Canada as a nation, I think.
I haven't had much of a chance to get around my local area so I've mostly kept to photographing the nature immediately around me and other small dumb things, but I should have a car next year. I do be fine with a bicycle if it wasnt so hilly - The riders in the Tour Down Under are crazy, I decided that a long time ago.

I actually have checked out the photo school a number of times, but after becoming increasingly jealous of your darkroom, I went off to try and buy a Nova print processor - I'll be sure to give it another look, the information you have up there seems pretty good to me.

Roteague - I live happily betwene Mt. Compass and Victor Harbor, the town that races cows every easter, and the town that has a fairy penguin colony. I take a lot of pride in that. I'm about 15 minutes from each hidden away in the back roads, makes for some fun. Excellent for just wandering around in a random direction in the morning though, highly reccomended.

Yes, The ACT I was always a little dissapointed about really, doesnt really have a powerful ring to it does it? And I refuse to return to Canberra until their roads go in a straight line. It quite honestly made me dizzy.

But yes, thanks to everyone and I'll be sure to stick around.

 

[Markok765]

Welcome! i enjoy talking to you on msn!

 

[roteague]

And I refuse to return to Canberra until their roads go in a straight line. It quite honestly made me dizzy.

But, nothing is as bad as driving through Melbourne - those stupid hook turns!!!

 

[Glenn Mathison]

Another welcome from another Australian.

Enjoy, learn, ask questions, have fun...

Glenn

 

[Carol]

Hello and welcome Alex from a bit further south east in S.A. (Limestone Coast). Good luck with your final few months of High School and future plans.