Grace is a casual team member of our Inverell store and a full time school student. Grace’s article demonstrates the ease with which a novice photographer can pick up a modern Digital SLR and take great photos. It is easy to forget that we all start somewhere and through this review by Grace you can see her hesitation at first turn into surprise and confidence to get great photos with ease. Happy reading, Warren Wilson – Editor!

I enjoy photography and I was asked if I would write a review for a Digital SLR camera.

To start with I was very nervous as I had never used a camera of this size or with these features before.  My first impressions of a Digital SLR was that they were not very modern and that it would be complicated, But the Olympus E620 I chose was lighter and easier than I had expected.

Macro mode using 14-42mm Lens

Features

I started taking photos on the automatic settings, experimenting with Portrait, Landscape and Macro modes.  I found them quite easy as the camera did everything for me all I had to do was zoom in.

I experimented with the manual settings and even though I did not fully understand what I was doing it was a lot easier than I expected. I could set the aperture ( this allowed me to decide what I wanted in focus and create depth of field ). The camera then set its own shutter speed. This also works the opposite way around if you want to set the shutter speed, for sports action shots0o, it will select the aperture for you. I had a lot of fun experimenting with these settings.

The Olympus 620 has an exciting range of filters for special effects, including pop art, soft focus, light tone, grainy film (my favourite) and pin hole.

Who is it Suitable For?

The Olympus 620 is suitable for anyone that has a keen interest in photography. Whether you would like learn more about photography and take more ‘professional’ photos, or just be more creative with your pictures, this is the camera for you. Because of its light weight, it is ideal for travelers who want to take postcard style photos or giant enlargements with ease.

Art Filter - Grainy Black & White

Conclusion

This camera is very easy to use and learn. Its guide makes it possible for first time users to follow step by step instructions to help you take fantastic photos and develop your skills as a photographer.
The features on this camera really make it possible to vary your own style of photography and creativity in your photos. I loved using this camera in the end and was reluctant to give it back.

Grace is a full time student and  currently completing yr10 at Inverell High School. Grace works Saturday mornings and some school holidays at the Inverell Eastmon Store.

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1. Olympus E-520 Digital SLR Review
2. Olympus Pen EP-1 Pre Release
3. Olympus MJU 9000 Digital Compact Camera Review

Read more about Peter here and on facebook. Peter is a customer of the Eastmon Tamworth store.

After three months in WA, you might think it hard to pinpoint one outstanding day above all else.
It is, but only if you have never been to the Abrolhos Islands..
The Abrolhos are an archipelago of three groups of islands (Easter, Wallabi and Pelsaert) and coral reefs which lie in the Indian Ocean and are home to a rich diversity of wildlife and for a large part of each year, Cray fishermen who work the waters for the lucrative return of Western Rock Lobsters raised in the warm waters of the Leeuwin stream, flowing south from the tropics along the WA coast.
It has also been the scene of many shipwrecks, the most infamous being the Batavia, whose story includes mutiny, acts of both great stupidity and bravery, cannibalism and vicious punishment.
Our day started with a short flight in a small aircraft. Circling the two southern groups, you are immediately astounded by the colours of the reefs and pristine white beaches. The shallow water over the reefs makes for long lines of white breakers and sea creatures swimming in lagoons just right for beginning snorkelers, which we became after our landing on West Wallabi Island.
Our snorkelling episode allowed us to be in community with little fish and brilliantly coloured coral, right there at arm’s length. Afterwards, we dined in our swimmers on the sandy beach as the sun washed winter warmth over us and a slight breeze moved enough of my wife’s hair to ensure a feeling of island escape. Our pilot guide took us on a ramble over the island to witness an Osprey catch fish and then feed her young in a nest which her species have called home for more than seventy years. I noted nineteen species of bird that I could catalogue with my meagre twitching skills.
With sand between our toes and abandonment in our heart, the twenty minute flight back to Geraldton included at least half a dozen sightings of whales.
A day’s escape to Abrolhos isn’t the cheapest way to spend you money but it’s certainly the best value for your tourist dollar, the proof of which are the vivid memories still with us.

One of the larger islands of the Easter Group, this was our first close view of the Abrolhos. Not much more than a reef with some exposed sand before a lagoon on the western side, the lowness of the islands makes it obvious why captains of the 18th century found navigation around them so difficult.

Many of the islands are smaller than this yet still contain shacks which the Cray fishermen work from. There are virtually no permanent tourist facilities anywhere on the Abrolhos.

The small bays offer a safe harbour for those with the time and money to be sailing their way to pleasure. This mooring on West Wallabi Island is popular because it is near the only airstrip in the Abrolhos.

The reefs are staggering in their beauty. Sharks and large sea turtles are often seen in the lagoons.

Lango’s Bio

I’m a writer essentially, who loves to take photos. Poetry is my favourite form of written expression and I see a strong parallel with photography – both are about using economy in expressing a moment.
My wife and I have traveled to most parts of Australia to gather experiences we can’t find at work or the shops or the local pub. In the process we found what we left behind but with different geography as a backdrop.
I’ve been a teacher, a cricketer, a family man and a mate – with many other side tracks along the way – but people remain my fascination.

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