The relaxed alternate lifestyle makes this magic place a dream for holiday makers & those ready to make a sea change.
White sandy beaches, warm blue water, fresh produce markets, dozens of choices for dining & hanging out on every budget.
The hinterland towns from Bangalow, Federal & Mullumbimby offer their own unique charm & experience & never fail to put a smile on your face.
Driving the long winding roads that are covered with overhanging tropical palms on the way to Minyon or Killon Falls takes your breath away as you roam the Byron Bay hinterland.
Spend the day swimming at South Golden or Torakina Beach in Brunswick heads or hangout at Tallows or Main beach in Byron, then have lunch at Rea’s at Wategos with a glass of rose!
Well... that’s what we do after a day on the beach.
Jane & I are lucky enough to have our own place there & it’s available on Airbnb when we are both in Melbourne working.
Here’s a link to our place in South Golden Beach. It’s a beautiful townhouse 400 metres from the beach.
Everytime I’m in town I shoot a few rolls of film walking the streets of Byron looking for the character’s on the streets the make up this diverse community. But I usually end up the beach early morning & then sunset to truly capture what Byron Bay is all about.
Groups of backpackers & locals on the beach kicking a soccer ball, singing & playing guitar or just hanging out together makes for great photography.
Checkout my Sunset photos #1 & #2
My image called The Pass is where surfers go out between the rocks on the point as the rip takes you out to the take off zone & you can paddle through the waves without a struggle. Just make sure you respect the local surfers out there & don’t drop in or steal their waves.
If you’re looking for a wellness experience, look no further that Gaia Retreat & Spa in Brooklet about 15 minutes up the Hinterland hwy.
They have an incredible Day Spa & Bungalow rooms.
Byron bay is a special place, so get up there while overseas travel might not be an option for a while.
Let’s all enjoy the pristine coastline we are so lucky to have, treat it well, keep it clean, contribute to the local economy & be kind to each other :)
]]>For those interested in what camera’s I use, there’s some tech info:
Early 90’s Canon EOS 5 bodies. In the US these bodies were released as the A2.
These camera's can be found on ebay for about 200 USD dollars.
I use a new Canon fixed 40mm 2.8 pancake lens.
I rarely change focal lengths.
I shoot in AV mode @f8 most of the time. (light permitting)
I rarely use flash in my film work.
I love these camera’s & they never fail.
I buy many of them & sometimes give them away as gifts to other photographers.For years I shot with a Leica M6 manual focus rangefinder camera with a 50mm lens, but I ’m more comfortable & faster with these old Canon’s.
I only use Kodak Portra 400 film stock.
Canon made the beast of a camera the 1V model. Full magnesium body & weather sealed. These still sell for about $800 USD.. I'm getting one for 2021.
All my commercial & studio work is Canon digital.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CANON-EOS-5-QD-A2-35mm-Film-SLR-Body-Only-JAPAN-201056/174481497242?hash=item289fe85c9a:g:hSoAAOSwlx9fiDuz&frcectupt=true
]]>Tasmanian Oak is beautiful, either with a white border or ‘full bleed’.
This means the photograph is slightly larger as it butts right up to the edge of the frame rather than having a white border.
Leaving a border between the artwork & the frame is more traditional & always looks great!
A border between 5-10 cm is great & your framer will give you an idea of what is appropriate when you choose your frame.
There are many examples in my store of each image with multiple framing styles.
Painted white or black frames work really well too. I’ve seen a few people to this & like the results.
*There are examples of frames & different styles in the store images.
Glass: Standard glass your framer will use works well.
If your framed image is near a large window of light source, you could consider polarized glass options. This eliminates glare & fading of the art but is more expensive.
There are a few different types of glass from standard up to Museum glass.
Standard glass is the the norm, however I have used the polarized glass on photographs close to a light source or bright window.
This glass removes reflections & the print wont fade.
Have a look at the link below that explains the 4 different glass options available.
https://www.framesnow.com.au/a-short-guide-to-picture-framing-glass-type/
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We spent some time visiting the local area & I shot a roll of film around the old motel called the Santa Cota. It was built in 1962 and at the time was closed & boarded up.
https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/motor-lodge
From there we drove to Palm Springs to attend a wedding of a friend & stayed at the iconic Ace Hotel. This chain of restored motels scattered all over the world are super hip & keep the integrity of the original architecture intact.
Some of these photographs from Palm Springs are among my most popular.
https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/palm-springs-pool
https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/ace-hotel
At midnight after the wedding we randomly drove past the art Deco building, Canyon.
I was able to get one frame in the dark of night of this fantastic building.
Not easy after a Palm Springs wedding - drinks - dancing - good times.
https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/canyon
From Palm Springs we traveled to Indio & Coachella on our way to the Joshua Tree state park.
There we stayed a night at the Joshua Tree Motel. I always wanted to visit as this is where musician’s Gram Parson & Keith Richards had some of their infamous adventures; sadly this is also where Gram Parson died.
It’s a crazy story & you can read about this adventure here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Gram_Parsons
The Motel has not changed or renovated since 1973!
I shot some images of the front yard & pool area in my series. The Joshua Trees & the untouched look of the place makes you imagine being there almost 50 years ago.
https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/joshua-tree-motel-2
After Joshua Tree we drove back to LA & spent some time in Malibu shooting at the surf break on the point & Venice Beach.
The light in California at that time of year has a beautiful warm golden glow, hoping to get back there one day soon to do it all again.
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