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Hi there Peter, welcome to...

Issue #1

January 2010

The quarterly newsletter for
Hugh Brown - adventure photographer.

Thank you for subscribing to the first edition of my quarterly newsletter.

It's my hope that this newsletter will become one of the most informative and enjoyable newsletters that you receive. It will feature photographic tips, advice on equipment, a bit of news about some of my recent trips, great deals and giveaways and hints on some of my favourite photo locations.

The newsletter will also include a “print of the month”. This will be the subject of special deals. This month, a free copy of my hardcover Pilbara coffee table will come with every print purchased (value A$79.95).

The last year or so has been busy. As well as an exhibition at the Holmes a Court Gallery in East Perth I've sought to continue my work documenting Western Australia, and Australia more generally, in a period of rapid and momentous change. I'm hoping that one day these photographs of Australia's unique people and landscapes, and of the largest mining boom since the goldrush, will serve as an extensive historical record in the years to come.

In late December I commenced work on a new coffee table book and this will be ready for release late next year.

There has also been a major overhaul of the website and the shopping cart is live for those wishing to do some shopping online. The site contains many of my recent images.

Enjoy my newsletter and I hope that 2010 is a great one for all.

HUGH BROWN

Recent News Photographic Print of the Month Photographic Tips Giveaways and Deals Favourite Photographic Locations Technical Stuff Death Zones, Dust Storms and Scrub Bulls: what it takes to get that Photo!!!

Recent News

In September 2009 I returned to Birdsville and the Channel Country in South Western Queensland to photograph the big dust-storms that can rip through the area at that time of year. They can be spectacular, though this time I was more careful. Last time while shooting one of the few dust-storms I’ve seen, I was hit by lightning and spent A$10K and three months of waiting while my vehicle got fixed.

On this occasion I waited around for six days and got literally one photograph: and that of a wildflower! I had the vehicle fueled up and ready to shoot through to the Gulf of Carpentaria but at the last minute decided to hang back. The next day Birdsville received one of the biggest dust storms in the last 70 years and the photos made nearly every major TV news bulletin down the Eastern Seaboard.

In the midst of the storm I travelled with the Birdsville Police Officer-in-Charge into the heart of the Simpson Desert to effect a major rescue. Visibility for much of the day was restricted to about 200 metres and for a period of about half an hour the two of us became trapped atop a large sandhill trying to locate the blown-over track. The volume of sand ripping off the dune systems was one of the more incredible things I've seen in my travels.

In addition to the October exhibition, excerpts from my diary highlight a fun and rewarding 2009: plenty of interesting trips and, as usual, some fantastic people.

Photographic Print of the Month

This month we are offering a 15% discount on the print titled:

THE GODS MUST BE ANGRY, DUST STORM, NEAR MARBLE BAR, PILBARA, WA, 2005.

This is one of my favourite photographs and was taken in the middle of a massive dust-storm outside Marble Bar. In all my travels throughout northern Australia, this remains the most spectacular dust-storm I have seen. Just mention this newsletter to receive your 10% discount.

Photographic Tips

Karijini is where I really learnt to take a photograph. Up until my first visit I’d taken about 20 rolls of film in my life. Photography had always been of interest to me, but it was much more in the context of a hobby than any serious pursuit toward it becoming my profession.

Giveaways and Deals

We want to build our newsletter subscriber base so that we can turn this into the most informative and interesting newsletter that you’ve ever read.

Favourite Photographic Locations

A couple of questions that I get asked frequently relate to whether I have any favourite photographs and then whether I have any favourite photographic locations.

I tend not to have a favourite photo, though obviously there are some I like more than others. In many ways I like studying other photographers’ work to see how I might do things better. I have multiple favourite locations: not necessarily one standout.

Technical Stuff

Two other questions that I am commonly asked relate to the type(s) of camera(s) that I use and the types of cameras that people should get.

The cameras that I use

The answer to the first is twofold. I have a Linhof Technorama 6x12 film camera. It’s probably my favourite of the three cameras that I own. While it only gives me six shots to the roll, it’s fantastic for doing big enlargements. The prints come up pin-sharp.

Death Zones, Dust Storms and Scrub Bulls: what it takes to get that Photo!!!

Down the Isdell

2009 was also busy for travel again. It kicked off in late December with an 11 day solo walk down one of the Kimberley’s most remote and rugged river systems. I took no food or water and I lived entirely off the land. Some of these river gorges are set in the most rugged terrain on the planet: terraced sandstone, head high spinifex and horrendously dense vine thickets. I spent a great deal time crawling through these patches on hands and knees while dodging scrub bulls and staying away from crocodiles.