Meet your hosts
Richard Higgs Personal photography website: I have always had a keen interest in graphics, videography and photography, being the creative sort. My first real camera was a Yashica TL Electro Rangefinder my father gave me back in 1969 when I was 10. It was not until 1980 that I really furthered my photographic interest, when I bought myself a Nikon EM, and then progressed to a Nikon FM2 a few years later. I set up a darkroom at the back of my garage using black plastic sheeting for the walls (the type you use to put on the garden to stop the weeds coming through LOL) and got heavily involved in the creative side of black and white processing. Today I own about eight digital cameras, but most of my work is now done with a Nikon D300, D200 and a D70s as backup. I really enjoy the creative side of digital photography, and every aspect from going out on a location shoot to processing each digital photo to get the best I can from it. My main photographic interests are landscape, still life and digital art, but I try not to limit myself to these areas and enjoy exploring different avenues and trying different subject matter. For most of my working life I have been involved in the HVAC, software, audiovisual and multimedia industries and currently work full time in sales and marketing. I also wrote a book and marketed it through a website I built about 6 years ago. I have travelled the world and been fortunate to visit many countries and experience the many cultures. I was born in England, lived for many years in Eden and Malta and have been settled in Australia for the last 35 years. I am married and have three children aged 25, 24 and 12. Living in Melbourne, Australia, I am lucky to live right on the doorstep of the Yarra Valley, one of the most scenic parts of Victoria. A rich landscape with mountain ranges to rolling plains, with lakes, streams, and many vineyards, teaming with wildlife and feathered friends. I'll often go out at dawn or the early evening to capture images of beauty of this landscape in the best of God's light. I also enjoy movies, reading, V8 Supercars and spending quality time with my family. |
Robyn Lakeman Personal photography website: I have been interested in photography since the 1960's. My first husband was a professional photographer and most of our friends were photographers who my husband met when he started Photography school. We always had a b&w darkroom at home. I still do but haven't done film processing for about 6 years now. My husband Ken has always had a keen interest in photography too. I had a Nikon in the 60s and since then other various cameras. Today I am mainly using a Canon 400D with four different lenses, I also have a Finepix S9500, Canon IXUS II and still have my Canon film SLR. I am married with a 25 yr old son Luke. I was born in Sydney but have lived in Melbourne since 1985. I am now retired and teach mandala painting once a week. I retired from my business Aqua Unicorn Images 10 years ago where I designed and produced decoupage wrapping paper and cards. After that, not being one to rest on my laurels I ended up running Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt's websites and toured the world with the Fanatics going to Davis Cups and Wimbledon. After being in a worldwideweb tennis world for the last ten years I ventured onto the photographic websites this year and that's where I met Richard and other like minded, wonderful people who had a passion for photography. I live in The Dandenongs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's a beautiful part of the world, a combination of Australian bush, rainforest and English style gardens. Many months of the year we have mist which is beautiful for photographs and it's always pretty lush looking up here except for when firebugs start fires in our bush in summer. Computer and traditional art, drawing, Grand Prix - V8s, Formula 1 and bikes, Indy cars, tennis, footy, photography, entering competitions, Earth Changes, native birds, Native American arts and crafts, the environment, vulcanology, movies, all types of music (my ipod), ancient history, numerology, astrology. |
