Western Australia -- The Frontier
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- Published on Monday, 20 May 2013 21:40
The spectacular city of Perth. All the way west in Australia and one of the most isolated big cities in the world.
My latest trip to Australia was my 8th visit there. I simply love the country and the people Down Under and could easily live there. So far from home, but so very comfortable.
This last visit was indeed special to me. I usually go all along the fabulous East Coast, from Cairns in the North (with the Great Barrier Reef) all the way down the entire east coast to Brisbane, and Sydney, continuing on to Melbourne and even as far south as Adelaide. I have great friends in all of those places and relish the time I spend there. I usually give a lecture or two and often shoot assignments along the way somewhere.
I have also explored the real Outback in the middle of the country several times in Darwin, Ayer’s Rock, the town called Alice and the other treats in the middle of nowhere. And it really is nowhere!
On this eighth trip, I decided to also go out to the far West, to what I thought was the frontier in the state of Western Australia. I had only spent one day out West once and it was mostly to change planes in Perth so I really did not explore then.
The main city out in the state of Western Australia is Perth. It dominates the culture and city life in all of Western Australia as no other cities of any size are in the entire state or region. It is a really dynamic city, full of art and culture. This surprised me greatly as I envisioned it being a real rough frontier town.
Bell Towers "sail boat" modern building. Mixing the old with the new in Perth -- the famous Miss Maud Swedish Hotel landmark.
The beaches of Western Australia are wonderful and perfect for one of Australia's favorite activities -- surfing.
Instead, it is a city of 1.9 million people, very modern and exciting. The prosperity of Perth carries the entire state as workers fill the hotels every other week and then go off to work a full week in the mining industries. Perth is a major export city in all of Australia – and the Pacific Rim – for gold, iron ore, alumina, diamonds, coal, oil and natural gas. Wages are high indeed as the world desperately needs these resources and pays top dollar for them.
Driving around Western Australia is very similar to the famous Outback -- lonely and deserted.
When driving in the Outback of WA you must be careful of the strange Australian wildlife near the roads!
I explored both North and South of Perth for four days each way. I traveled many rural areas that reminded me so much of the lonely Outback in the middle of this fun country. I visited wineries, famous beaches, storybook small coastal villages, great surfing beaches, and mysterious places.
Australian wines are distributed all over the world. Capel Vale Winery in Bunbury was a wonderful afternoon of relaxation.
The famous rock formations called "The Pinnacles".
One of the more famous mystery places is called The Pinnacles, a remote moon-like rock formation far north of Perth. It looks like the badlands or even more like the moon surface. I was able to drive a four-wheeler around these miles of strange rocks to take photos of the formations. A fun day indeed.
I hope this blog has inspired you to visit the Land Down Under and love it as I do. You will feel totally comfortable with the Aussie way of life – active, sporty, genuine and fun. Make sure you allow some time to travel all the way West in the far away Western Australia country. You will not be sorry.
Are you on the Moon? Or at The Pinnacles?
Fire & Ice Seminar!
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- Published on Wednesday, 03 April 2013 14:42
HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY FROM YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY !!
Link: http://www.billbachmann.com/lecture.html
To register: http://fireandiceseminar.eventbrite.com/
Two Nationally-known photographers all day together for just $99!
If you live anywhere near Orlando -- or want to come here-- there is a fabulous opportunity to learn from two top commercial photographers who have two totally different ways of doing business --- as different as "Fire & Ice"!!
Bill Bachmann and Joe Drivas are both successful photographers who love to teach others. But their business practices and techniques are as different as Night & Day or FIRE & ICE!
Hear how Bill Bachmann, who has produced literally millions of images throughout his career, produces and markets his images. He'll even share his personal workflow! Joe Drivas will show you how to create highly marketable images, without having to break the bank, or travel outside your hometown.
Spend the whole day May 4th in Orlando with two great guys showing you various ways to improve both your photography and your ability to market and publish your images. You can ask any questions, absorb slide presentations, and break down YOUR personal steps and methods to being published for only $99. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see your work published in magazines, websites, TV, brochures, billboards, etc, etc.??? It can happen!
Top shooters Joe Drivas and Bill Bachmann are giving this great bargain 2 for 1 seminar in Orlando and we hope you all will attend. You can't miss with this seminar.
Limited space -- so look at this poster and register from the site at the bottom.
I’m Starting A Brand-New Company
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- Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 20:55
One of the things our new company can do is shoot building and construction projects graphically.
After so many years of being a freelance photographer, traveling the world on my own assignments, I am changing my life pretty dramatically!
Seems like all my adult life I have shot advertising & commercial assignments all over the USA and in almost 180 countries. In so many of those years, I received calls or emails wanting me to do more local Florida work, but I had to turn projects down because I was gone for such long (and seemingly glamorous) assignments. So I somewhat lost a “presence” in the local Florida market.
Also, when I was around in Florida, my rates were often too high for local jobs so I lost assignments for that reason also. Often the perception was that Bill was good, but expensive. That was both a good and bad omen.
I have thought about this a long time, but I have now created a brand-new company called Bachmann & Associates where I have hand-picked really talented photographers and videographers who can do the Florida assignments when I am out of the country -- and also we at B&A can do them for a less expensive fee to meet local client’s budgets.
Air to Air photography is one of our specialties. This beautiful aerial sunset is a perfect example.
We can shoot sporting events -- like Orlando City Soccer -- or do beautiful resorts like this Peabody Hotel ad.
As I said, this has been on my mind for a long time, but the timing never seemed quite right. But I finally met some really talented people who I now feel will uphold the quality I am known for, yet we can complete the projects (with or without me here) to meet our smaller local client’s budgets.
I am thrilled to introduce you to these great, artistic people on our new website. There you will meet my new B&A team; Michele René, Woodruff Laputka, Jeffrey Scott Zipay and Brenda Kapsak. These outstanding and hard-working people will comprise, along with me, our Bachmann & Associates team for any project.
Here is the link. Go to the “About Us” gallery to read about each of their talents:
We can now less expensively meet our clients needs in photography stills, HD videography & television production, and now even 360 degree moving panoramas. We hope to become many of Orlando and Florida client’s FIRST choice in a complete studio package of advertising and promotion capabilities.
We love graphic photo illustration.
Major ads for Learjet and Got Milk?
Take a look at the entire website…. www.bachmann-associates.com - it is totally different from my Bill Bachmann Studios website. There is now even a link on my website to select one of the two companies to see work, either mine or Bachmann & Associates.
By the way, to stop any rumors dead in their tracks --- No, I am not retiring! I am still continuing on with my foreign and travel clients as I wander this planet with a camera and my ever-present smile. I just am excited to have a really talented team -- led by Michele René from the studio – working independently from my studio on projects I can’t do. I feel extremely comfortable with each of these special people doing a job as successfully as I would expect from myself. Each of them brings something different to the “show” and I am thrilled to have this team assembled and ready to work.
I attach on this blog some of the work we all can do in Bachmann & Associates. I would LOVE to have many of you respond and give me input into your thoughts of this new & exciting venture! - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - I hope all of you also see how this “extension” of my business model will help so many Florida clients get the results they need and desire.
Event photography all over Florida.
Let us present your product photography in an unusual way.
La Tour Eiffel
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- Published on Thursday, 21 February 2013 20:06
"City of Lights". On this visit I stood knee deep in a fountain to shoot this unusual angle. Not many people know the bull's head statue even exists.
The famous Eiffel Tower. La Tour Eiffel. The name in French brings the idea of romance and exotic travel to everyone all over our Earth. It still stands as the Symbol of France after almost 125 years and is a joy to experience. Absolutely no one ever goes to Paris and neglects taking a photo of themselves with the famous Tower in the background.
However, the Eiffel Tower did not start as such a beloved symbol. In fact, it was absolutely hated by many of the locals when it was built as the entrance arch for the World’s Fair in 1889. People mocked it then in speeches and local newspapers, and it was supposed to be torn down soon after the Fair. One of the most important writers in Paris ate lunch under the Eiffel each day. When asked why, he simply replied, “It’s the only place in the whole city where I don’t see the damn thing!”
When it was built it was the tallest structure in the world, and remains today the tallest in all of Paris. Created by the famed architect Gustave Eiffel, the steel monument is located in the city center on the Champs de Mars right next to the storied and romantic Seine River. It remains today the most visited paid monument on Earth with 7.1 million people ascending it in 2011. Millions and millions more just stop to admire and photograph it.
Another top-selling unique angle of Eiffel. I laid down in the flower beds to get this image and the sprinklers came on as I shot! I got soaked....
I shot this on another visit for a college European travel book client. Still another angle from below. I like the framing by the tree.
I have traveled to Europe amazingly almost 60 times in my photography career and probably 20 of those visits have included working or playing in Paris, one of my favorite cities on our planet. I have tried to photograph it most of those times in unique ways for commercial purposes, either for stock or assignment. I so enjoy trying to include an unusual view of this masterpiece or create new ideas with tourists around the tower. Most of these have been published worldwide, so I would suggest you also visit Paris and look for new and exciting angles that include the Eiffel Tower.
Playing with romance. The Eiffel Tower makes it Paris. The classic night image-- another top seller.
I'm represented all over Asia. They don't want to see blonde models in THEIR travel books. A giant market for stock photography is retired people traveling the world. Here the joy of an older couple.
The good news for Paris today is that almost all French people now love and encourage La Tour Eiffel as their national symbol. Every single movie or pictorial story involving Paris will somewhere showcase the Eiffel Tower as the view that “makes the city Paris”.
And you don’t even have to eat lunch under it anymore!
A new exhibit at the end of the gardens called "Peace Towers". This shows newer images for stock photography when editors look for something different.
Ahhhhh! The romance of Paris. Sometimes all you need is La Tour Eiffel in the distant background for the romantic scene to say "Paris- The City of Lights".
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Bill Bachmann Studios