To stay relatively consistent with my blog posts, I need to take a camera whenever heading out and about — so with that in mind, I did just that for this evening wander.
I opted to carry the Fuji GFX100s paired with the GF20–35mm F4 R WR.
I’m often in Kirribilli for work, and often treat myself to six calamari rings for dinner. I could have twelve but that would be greedy and not so great for the love handles!
This particular afternoon, I had a few architectural shots to finish nearby, so I took the opportunity. Over the years, I’ve been threatening to take my wife along for my calamari dinner ritual, as I genuinely believe it’s the best calamari I’ve ever had. We ordered twelve this time (naturally), plus a few extra tasty items, and as usual, it didn’t disappoint — nor did the harbour views. Kirribilli Seafoods — sensational as always.
We then wandered — a short loop past Luna Park, through the railway viaducts to Lavender Bay Parklands, and back to Kirribilli for a well-deserved Gelatissimo. Any excuse!
Because I carry a camera — or three — almost every day for work, I often leave them behind on these smaller explorations. Usually, it’s just the iPhone; I can’t be bothered deciding what to bring or what to leave behind.
Before this shift in mindset, I’d pack everything: a full backpack, three cameras, multiple lenses, a tripod… you name it. I was convinced that having every possible angle covered would guarantee the perfect image.
No prizes for guessing how that went — most of the time, the cameras stayed in the bag unless everything was perfect. And let’s be honest — perfect is a very rare thing.
So, I’m changing that mindset. I’m learning to stop worrying about perfect light or feeling like I need a stack of great shots. Instead, I’m just taking a few photos of whatever catches my eye. Whether the end result is one photo, none, or twenty-one, it doesn’t matter. It’s simply about capturing what grabs my attention — using whatever gear I happen to have with me.
To be clear, I’ll still use my phone — I do love the Hipstamatic app — and there will be times when I haul around a heavy backpack, tripod and chase the perfect light. But more often than not, I’m keeping things simple for these little outings and just taking a camera.
Anyway, enough words from me — I hope you enjoy the few pics I captured from this evening wander. I’d really love to hear from you — drop a comment below or ask a question. Who knows, I might even have an answer for you!
Grant Leslie - A photographer, always learning and wanting to share my experiences — capturing moments and finding new compositions along the way. You can see more on my site right here or check me out on Instagram or Facebook.