Smoko

Smoko, Pyrmont Bay, Australia – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery

Smoko, Pyrmont Bay, Australia – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery

This is an unframed, limited edition collection landscape photography print of only 25 units. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl papers, structured to refract the highest values in colour and detail. It’s high-quality ink absorbing layer enables exceptional image quality with enormously detailed sharpness, and a very broad colour range, providing archival permanency of your artwork for over 100 years.

Canon 5DMk2, 20mm, F8, 1/125th sec, ISO 200, no filter, processed in Lightroom.

I like to watch people in the city and on this day, I ran across two men sitting down to lunch on the wharves near Darling Harbour.  Such an event in Australia is often called “smoko” short for smoke break, usually to go outside for a quick cigarette. What I loved about this scene was the absence of technology or any distractions. Just two people having lunch and a chat in the sun. In a quick walk by I almost forgot that I had even captured the image. I snapped and continued to walk. It wasn’t until I started my editing that I saw the image, and realised what I had captured.

Smoko, Pyrmont Bay, Australia – Steve Rutherford Landscape Photography Art Gallery

Never neglect the opportunity to capture a photograph, just because you are not ready. You can crop or straighten it in post processing later. If you have your camera handy, take the shot. But even if you don’t and you see something wonderful, get it out of your bag, turn it on and take the shot. Don’t be lazy. I’ve seen lots of students on my workshops not take a shot because it was too hard to do so. All they had to do was stop and change some settings, but instead they opt for an excuse like “oh by the time I get my camera out it will be over”. My response is “what if it happens again?”. You always have an opportunity, never close the door on a shot.