You can tell a lot about a person by what car they drive, what clothes they wear and what camera they use...

Have you ever seen a macro photograph? Odds on you have, even if you didn’t realise it at the time...

A common question asked by people purchasing cameras and lenses is ‘How do I take a good shot of my kids?’ Believe it or not, good portrait photography is easy when you know a few basic tricks. You don’t need a fancy studio set up to take natural, fun portrait photographs. 

Jules Tahan photographs Black Caviar and they both live to tell the tale. “A horse is a horse, of course, of course, And no one (is scared of photographing a horse) of course, that is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Black Caviar.” 

The Fuji X100 has arrived and the international media pretend that it isn’t the biggest event of the year. What’s all this fuss about Greece anyway? Haven’t these journalist hacks seen this camera? 

Actually, neither have we – well, almost.  Sightings of the Fuji X100 for a while were pretty rare. It took an earthquake and a tsunami to remind us that there is another country in Asia other than China where they still make things, like the X100, called Japan. The Fuji marketing boys could manufacture the story but the company could barely manufacture the camera.  The was no doubting the hype was genuine. Demand was through the roof but the supply was a trickle.

There are certain things that feel like forever in these times, like waiting for Melbourne public transport, but modern technology is not one of them. It only seems like yesterday that my grandfather, when filming using his video camera – and younger readers I kid you not – was forced to brace it on his shoulder such was its weight. Recording a family function not only took an element of photographic understanding, it took an element of power lifting. He needed a Thighmaster to stay in shape to get it off the ground. A crook back went along with the editing later on.

The modern camera is undergoing a transformation like the fashion lines of the world: retro is in. As one who is usually oblivious to the changing nature of attire (what, men don’t wear hats anymore?) even I can’t help but be impressed. Not only do the cameras look like something Megan Gale would be proud to swing from her shoulder or Paris Hilton strap to her poodle, but some old ideas are resurfacing to give substance to all the style.

I can think of few superior methods to developing skill as a photographer than with the bar bill on expenses, not to mention the lenses, and a beautiful model in the frame. As this approach has yet to be authorised, the least I can do is open the idea out to discussion: hence this blog.

Those of us who like to spend time in bars need to think about our lenses.  If we are honest with ourselves - and over a beer or two, honesty can come fast, just ask Mel Gibson - many of us own one of these: either the Nikon 18-55mm VR or Canon 18-55mm IS.  Some of us with a little more in the budget may have opted for the Nikon 16-85mm VR or 18-105mm or indeed the Canon 17-85mm IS if not the 15-85mm IS.  Two of the hottest sellers are longer again: both the Nikon andCanon versions of the 18-200mm. 

Anyone who has had the dubious pleasure of listening to a Justin Bieber fan trying to articulate the appeal of a star who seemingly can’t even exude testosterone let alone charisma will know photographic terminology can be just as baffling. Often those considering upgrading from a compact camera to a DSLR can’t escape the idea that suddenly the whole thing seems very complicated, just like Justin can’t help running into packs of screaming girls between blow drying his hair. The good news is a DSLR needn’t be complicated unless you want it to be.

When people want to evoke the Grand Prix they talk about the noise.  As one who lives in the premier city of the Australian nanny state - where thugs with knives are unheard of and the impeccable public transport system doesn’t hold even an air of public menace - I can vouch for the racket.  I can also vouch for a pain in the neck carrying my camera bag  around the track, testing out the Nikon 70 - 300mm VR, all day.

In the recent storm about Lara Bingle having her photograph taken in the shower, as opposed to everywhere else with studio lights, one wonders what pictures might have appeared if the camera had not been attached to a mobile phone held in a hand commanded by a brain of questionable capacity but rather had been one of these.

Late last year a forgotten product left for dead in the digital era made a late, sizzling dash as a hot item in the photographic industry even as it died: polaroid instant film.