Home Valley Station
While having intermittent internet service, I decided to share some of the hundreds and hundreds of images I have taken while on a photographic with Nick Rains and Christian Fletcher and a bunch of lovely talented photographers.
Dunsborough Group Outing
Well it’s been a long time since I posted. No excuses, I’ve just been slack.
Recently a group of photographers who met online got together for a weekend of shooting and sharing in Dunsborough, WA. Thanks guys for a great weekend. So I thought I would share some images from our trip.
Karijini Colours
Taken on a recent workshop with Christian Fletcher, Peter Eastway, Tony Hewitt and a whole bunch of talented photographers.
Mothers Day Blues
When people ask how many children I have, I tell them only one. I lie! I have three children, I just don’t have the privilege of two of my daughters. You see, Sarah was stillborn in 1990, and we had Brianna for only 3 blessed hours in 1991 before she left us.
But people never want to hear that, or even know how to deal with what that all entails as a friend. So, many of my friends don’t know about ‘all’ of my girls, and I often grieve in private with my daughter and husband. I remember one “friend” yelling at me when an overwhelming, suffocating moment of grief overtook me at the most inopportune time (as it does). This was 15 years after I lost both of them and she told me I was being stupid, and I just needed to get the hell over it!! Needless to say, she is no longer a friend.
For those of you that have lost children, you know, there is no getting “over” it! There is only getting through it. We learn to cope with the pain and deal with others uncomfortable moments the best way we know how. Often at our own expense. There is no time limit to grief, and no measure on how much love we have for our kids even if we don’t have them any more. And many like me, have a love hate relationship with Mothers Day!
Mothers Day is often the hardest day of the year for me. This day is never a good one in our house. My daughter is amazing and has never tried to make it something that I was not comfortable with. Only last year she told me that it is only one day of the year. That she should cherish me like everyday was Mothers Day and not put so much emphasis on one date on the calender!
Would I change things if I could? in a perfect world, yes I would and I would love to have them back. But the reality is, if I did have them, I wouldn’t have Liana!! I am thankful every day (good and bad parenting days) that I have her.
I believe that everything happens for a reason, good or bad, and it’s how we choose to deal with the good and the bad is the most important thing of all. For those of you that know me personally may not agree, but I try to be positive, kind and loving. I love to laugh and have fun, and I cherish those who are most important to me. After all, life is about living and having fun. And for the most part I succeed. I have a wonderful life, and have amazing friends, new and old, and each one of you has given me something amazing to cherish and learn from. I only hope I give in return.
So, what was the point of this post? Purely selfish!
This is the first Mothers Day of mine, that I am completely alone. Hubby is away working and out of phone contact, and my daughter is on holidays with her partner and I am in a wallowing/grateful frame of mind.
If you have taken the time to read this far, I thank you and I only ask one thing of anyone reading this. Grab your partner, children, friends and loved ones and hug them, tell them you love them. Never let it be left unsaid, because fate can, and often does take that opportunity away from us. After all, who doesn’t love to be hugged?
Electronic hugs are gratefully accepted by email at katrinabartley@bigpond.com or SMS a big hug to 043 9943 066 
Have a great Day tomorrow and to all my friends……I love you 
Greens Pool, Denmark WA
I was excited to attend a workshop with Neal Pritchard at Greens Pool just outside of Denmark. Not so excited about the 4am start though!
The morning was off to a great start and the weather seemed to be playing the game. Unfortunately for Neal, that is where the fun ended when he broke his leg about the same time this shot was taken. I have attempted to edit this shot they way we discussed before the accident, not sure I pulled it off, but I am pretty happy with the result.
I am looking forward to the redoing the workshop when Neal is back on his feet again.
Double Lock
December has been crazy with work and I haven’t been out for weeks with my camera! So this is what you get today! Nothing special, but I just love all the textures so thought I would share.
Also added my new logo, some dude wanted to charge me $1300 to design a logo for me, I politely declined and made one myself. Figured I could put that $1300 I just earned toward a new lens 
I hope you all have a wonderful Xmas and a very safe Happy New Year.
Flower Power
Thought I would share a couple of flower shots. One unknown flower taken at Araluen Botanical Gardens and a hibiscus, peeking through a neighbours fence.
Both were taken on very overcast days with Canon 5DMII and 100mmL Macro.
Albany Port at Sunrise
Insomnia can be such a bitch, but sometimes it has its benefits. Awake since 1.30am, decided to go shooting, but I am too lazy to go too far from home so went to one of my favourite spots in town.
I’m still in love with my Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS II, which I used for the first and last shot, (but still need to build some muscle to hold it). The others are taken with 17-40mm (with a ND8 filter) which hardly ever comes off my camera.
Araluen Rose
On a recent trip to Araluen Botanical Gardens, the roses were in full bloom and I thought I would share one.
Out of Warranty
I drive past this old car everytime I go to Perth and always swear I will stop and get a shot. It never seems to happen! So, my husband was sick of my whinging about it, and stopped and made me take one or ten shots of it. Then he proceeded to stop at all the places I’ve wanted to shoot for ages, turning a 4 hour trip home into a 7 1/2 hour one. Now my computer is drowning in hundreds of images to edit.
Smokey Sunset
My heart goes out to those who have lost everything in the recent bushfires near Prevally and Margaret River regions.
These shots were taken at sunset when smoke from unrelated bushfires burned out of control nearer to my home town of Albany, WA.
Fremantle Lighthouse
After doing a photoshop course with Christian Fletcher, I decided to try to put into practice what he taught us. I was going for the silhouette look with the sun beaming through the glass. Unfortunately, being vertically challenged, I couldn’t quite get it right.
Once again the texture used is from Shadow House Creations.
Arum Lily
Playing with textures from Shadow House Creations. Jerry is an amazing artists and if you get five minutes spare, check his work out. An incredible, generous man.
Canola Colour
This was the first test shot I did with my new Canon 70-200mm, f2.8L IS II lens. Beautifully sharp, fast and seriously heavy for my weakling arms, but I am very, very happy with it and it is fast becoming my favoured lens. Now just need to build some muscle to haul it around.
Shearing Shed
I passed this shed on the way to Dunsborough and had to stop to snap a few shots. The people that owned the property weren’t home, so being the good photographer that I am, I stayed outside the paddock.
I was so tempted to climb the fence, but, I am only 5 foot and couldn’t reach!!!!!
Smokey Road
This is an image that I don’t quite like, but my daughter, who is my biggest critic, loves it. Her opinion has helped me place in many competitions, so I decided to post it for her. Once again, textures from Shadow House Creations.
Off to Bali for three weeks tomorrow, and will catch up on everyone’s blogs when I get back.
It Pays to Have Eyes in the Back of Your Head
These two shots are old ones of mine that I was recently reminded about. I think it was the most spectacular sunset I have ever seen in Albany, and the colours were amazing.
Busy concentrating on getting this first shot correct, I wasn’t paying attention to anything else. But I was getting annoyed at all these cars pulling up creating dust, and people oohing and ahhing behind me, and I turned around and saw this second shot!!
Reminded me what a particular photographer always told me. It pays to have eyes in the back of your head!!
Banksia – ericifolia x spinulosa
Had a lovely afternoon with a friend wandering around the Banksia Farm in Mount Barker, Western Australia. And of course as always, had the camera in hand. If you get the chance, check them out, they boast the Worlds Only Full Collection of all Banksia Species and they are truly spectacular.
Right Place, Right Time!
I have recently been asked to photograph our beautiful town of Albany for a tourism publication. I went to the historical Camp Quaranup to photograph the Cheynes II and was lucky enough to see a pod a dolphins feeding in front of the boat. As Murphy’s Law would have it, I had a borrowed lens on my camera, and was not very familiar with it, and consequently missed some awesome shots. So, this one will just have to suffice!
Point King Lighthouse
Point King Lighthouse, Albany, Western Australia. Built in 1858 and in operations until 1911. It had four caretakers in its commission, with one family having 10 children living in a four room cottage perched on a steep rock face. Unimaginable!
I would like to point out that there has been no colour correction on either shot. The first one is all down to Cokin filters and I think I like the results!
This next shot was taken about 40 minutes before sunrise. Settings, 30sec, f/8, ISO 200 and tried light painting with two very weak torches!
Everything’s Rosey
I wanted to do something a little girly besides sunrise and sunsets, so back to the garden, and what better subject than the ever classic rose?
