Journal Entries by Australian Travel Photography and Writing

Travel writing advice, tips, and information

2011-01-07T02:38:23Z

Hi folks,

On Tuesday January 11, 2011 from 8pm-9pm I’ll be available in an Australian Travel Photography and Writing group forum for a question and answer session.

The objective is to assist and inspire group members with their travel writing with a view to them becoming published in Discover Australia magazine.

If you’re unsure as to how to go about putting a package together, or have questions regarding whether your travel writing idea is suitable for publication, this will be an ideal opportunity to ask questions in real time and receive answers.

A dedicated topic has been created and will be unlocked at 7-45pm on Tuesday January 11, 2011 to allow for early bargain hunters. :)

See topic here: Advice, tips, and information

See you then.

Cheers,
Darren Stones

Edit – Please Note:
This session has been postponed to a later date. My apology for any inconvenience. You’re welcome to contact me via bubblemail for information. – Darren

Exciting times ahead for the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group

2011-01-01T05:34:25Z

Hi folks,

Happy New Year to you. The Australian Travel Photography and Writing group will be launching brand new competitions soon which promise to reward people like you who have a passion for Australian travel writing and photography.

We’re also spreading our wings wider in 2011 via the Discover Australia magazine website, Facebook and Twitter.

The group has successfully mentored two members with their travel writing and photography in a friendly private group during late 2010 . Malcolm Daughtree and Ross Brighouse have improved the standard of their work and have both been published online in Discover Australia magazine. See link below to Discover Australia.

Folks, the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group continues to provide excellent learning opportunities for its members, and has a solid track record of doing so since launching in December 2008. You simply cannot beat drawing on the experience of professional people who have knowledge and skill, and importantly, a willingness to assist members to improve their skills.

The Australian Travel Photography and Writing group goes beyond just showing works – we promote works, assist our members, and continue to inspire them and reward them.

Become an active member today and you’ll soon discover your standard of work improving.

Sites of interest:

Discover Australia Magazine

Australian Travel Photography and Writing – RedBubble
991 members

Australian Travel Photography and Writing – Facebook
224 fans

Australian Travel Photography and Writing – Twitter
586 followers

Discover Australia Magazine – Facebook
38 fans

Discover Australia Magazine – Twitter
120 followers

Australian Travel Writing and Photography Mentoring

Cheers,
Darren Stones

[Challenge] Australia All Over

2010-10-04T23:19:46Z

Hi folks,

It’s time for an Australian travel writing and photography challenge to stimulate your creativity.

Title of Challenge:
Australia All Over

The Challenge:
Choose 1-2 of your Australian travel photographs and write an accompanying 200-250 word travel article informing of what is available in that region for a tourist to enjoy.

All details and prize information can be found here in the group’s forum topic: Australia All Over

Darren Stones
Group Host
Australian Travel Photography and Writing

Special event: Australians travelling beyond blue

2010-09-29T22:50:33Z

Hi folks,

The Australian Travel Photography and Writing group is conducting a special event throughout October 2010, Australians travelling beyond blue.

See link for details> Special Event: Australians travelling beyond blue

It is a participation event for individuals to take part in an activity to raise awareness of anxiety and depression, and help reduce stigma.

October 2010 is beyondblue’s Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month (ADA)
Now in its fourth year, beyondblue’s Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month has become an important mental health awareness event in Australia’s health calendar. www.beyondblue.org.au

You’re welcome to join us and actively participate.

Darren Stones
blueVoices member
Founder of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group

Express your forthright opinion - join our discussions

2010-08-09T00:02:11Z

Do you know what’s happening at Uluru?
What are your favourite Australian tourist attractions and locations?
Ever been confronted by someone who objected to being photographed?

Come join the discussions in the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group:

What do you think of these survey results?

2010-08-05T09:38:30Z

Recently, on behalf of the hosting team of the group, I conducted a survey seeking your valued feedback about the activities and direction of the group.

Your participation in the survey was to provide valuable information so as to help improve the group and create opportunities for yourself and the group in general.

The survey was completed by 27 respondents and it revealed some interesting thoughts and views.

Let us know your thoughts about the results.

Regards,
Darren Stones

Australian Travel Photography and Writing group survey – July 2010

Question 1. When you joined the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group, what attracted you to do so? This is where you get the chance to tell it like it is.

I’m a member – 92.6% (25 respondents)
I’m not a member – 7.4% (2 respondents)

27 answered question
0 skipped question

Comments from respondents:

1. it’s a logical group to display some of my shots – my answer to the next question is “whenever some particularly interesting shot leads me there – it’s not on a day of the week basis!!!”

2. I joined because I wanted the opportunity to see photographer’s work and writing styles associated with those images.

3. To write a sequence of a trip.

4. Whilst a do a love of travel photography I’ve never been a writer so was keen to read what others had to say about their photography.

5. I was looking for a group of people interested in writing about Australia & the group seemed to fit the bill.

6. The opportunity to be in an active and positive group with the view of learning more about travel photography and writing, with a hidden desire to have some of my work published at some time.

7. Travel Photography and writing

8. I am a frustrated writer, so the chance to combine travel shots with words appeals hugely … any chance that these could then be showcased to a wider audience was a bonus.

9. Part of my family live there, I know and love this beautiful country and wanted to give evidence in Australia’s favour

10. It’s about Australia, was hoping to display my images to an audience that was interested in Australia.

11. I enjoy the groups thought ,photos and it is an opportunity for me to learn from the writngs and photos of the members

12. I wanted to see high quality location based photography from around Australia

13. We enjoy doing road trips during which I take many photos. I had hoped this group would inspire me to write more about my trips rather than just plonk images on a website. It certainly has inspired me more, I just need to find the time to write more.

14. Being from UK, I can’t really contribute to the group very much (my one and only trip to Australia was 3 years ago now!) but I wanted to view art and writings about the country I fell so in love with.

15. I love travelling, so i think the majority of my images are ‘travel photos.’ Also i am not a bad writer although it does require a lot of rewrites before i am happy with what i have done. I joined because i thought being a member of this group would help spur me on and force me to spend time developing these ‘skills’ of mine.

16. The chance to try to improve/use creative writing talents that have been dormant for many years

17. Darren Stones passion.

18. It was a group on Red Bubble that I could add most of my photos to

19. A great opportunity to be part of an active group that is unique.

20. I was interested to see what other Australian photographers were able to offer. I hoped that I would be able to offer something for others also.

Question 2. Which days of the week do you view works in the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group? Choose as many options as you wish.

Sunday – 70.8% (17)
Monday – 45.8% (11)
Tuesday – 50.0% (12)
Wedneday – 54.2% (13)
Thursday – 50.0% (12)
Friday – 54.2% (13)
Saturday – 62.5% (15)
Never – I’m not interested in viewing group members works – 8.3% (2)

24 answered question
3 skipped question

Question 3. What are the most important things the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group offers you? Choose as many options as you wish.

The opportunity to have my works featured – 38.5% (10)
The opportunity to be published in Discover Australia magazine – 42% (11)
The opportunity to win challenges – 26.9% (7)
To share my work with group members, thus increasing the number of views on my images and the chance of me making a sale – 53.8% (14)
To share my works with group members – 69.2% (18)
The group forums – 38.5% (10)
The opportunity to share my travel writing with other people who are interested in writing – 46.2% (12)
The chance to be published in a mainstream publication – 42.3% (11)
The opportunity to win competitions – 26.9% (7)
The opportunity to improve my travel photography and/or travel writing skills – 73.1% (19)

26 answered question
1 skipped question

Comments from respondents:

1. Experience, encouragement, exposure

2. Viewing the photos from other photographers

3. all of the above? :D

4. I have become a bit disheartened with groups in general. I enter challenges when I see them but overall groups just seem shallow as everyone is just pushing there own images.

5. To gain tips and techniques from other members. To have my work critiqued by other members. To improve my skills

6. To be taken away to places that I may never be able to visit by reading articles/writing and looking at photographs of others in the group.

Question 4. How often do you believe the hosting team of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group should feature members’ works?

Once per week – 59.3% (16)
Twice per week – 3.7% (1)
Once per fortnight – 22.2% (6)
Once per month – 11.1% (3)
Never – 0% (0)
I don’t care about the featured works – 3.7% (1)

27 answered question
0 skipped question

Question 5. Do you believe the hosting team of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group does enough for its members?

Yes – 55.6% (15)
No – 0.0% (0)
Not sure – 11.1% (3)
They do more than enough – 29.6% (8)
Their ideas lack imagination – 3.7% (1)

27 answered question
0 skipped question

Comments from respondents:

1. It is the most positive and active group on RB, especially the hosts who are all hands on, helpful and encouraging.

2. it’s an interesting , diverse group

3. I am impressed at the dedication of the hosting team and I regret that I am unable to be more involved at this point. A number of things have had to take a backseat but I will really try to contribute more.

4. I’ve only recently joined so I can’t really answer this one

5. Great that busy people can put aside any time at all to help others in the group!

6. It is one of the better groups, not sure if Redbubble is the right place for it though.

7. The hosting team in this group are always going beyond what one would expect to make sure that the member enjoy this group and get the most out of adding works to this group.

Question 6. Do you read the group messages of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group?

All of them – 33.3% (9)
Most of them – 33.3% (9)
Some of them – 25.9% (7)
None of them – 0.0% (0)
I would read them if they were shorter – 0.0% (0)
As a member at RedBubble, I don’t have group messages activated in my activity feed – 7.4% (2)

27 answered question
0 skipped question

Question 7. If you were a host of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group, what would be the first thing you would change to improve the group?

16 answered question
11 skipped question

Comments from respondents:

1. i haven’t got any omplaints – one extra idea might be to have a rotating focus on specific regions/parts of States or types of travel scenery (outback/national parks/cities)

2. I am still observing at this stage. Learning what others do. So no improvements needed as far as I’m concerned.

3. Make it easy to find the publication Discover Australia magazine . The links have never worked for me.

4. I see little to improve it as I am very happy with the group … maybe an outing or exhibit … just two possibilities

5. Being a host of some groups myself I know what a difficult job it can be! Would LOVE for there to be more outside editors etc exposed to the Group’s work, and maybe a literal get-together somewhere so we can meet and take the next step in networking and encouraging each other (perhaps with a speaker, or similar?) ... BUT I know the work that would need to go into such an undertaking!

6. Give more interest for people travelling and living for a while in Australia. Always interesting to know what they think about the host country

7. Not a great deal, seems to be a good group.

8. Maybe give hints o that perfect photo or getting the right information on your photo for others to read

9. more group letters

10. clean up the forum section, I found it fairly overwhelming with so many categories and topics. If there was a way of streamlining or simplifying things I feel that would be a great improvement. I don’t have any suggestions as to how this would be done though :(

11. At this stage nothing

12. Less rules, more FUN!!!!

13. Nothing at this stage

14. I would avoid the assumption that all members want to become actively involved

15. I am not sure that I would change anything at this time

16. nothing

Question 8. Are you interested in becoming a host of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group?

Yes – 7.4% (2)
No – 92.6% (25)
If interested in becoming a host, copy and paste your RedBubble profile URL in the box below. e.g. http://www.redbubble.com/people/dgstones

27 answered question
0 skipped question

1. Eventually I would like to be more involved, but I would like to be the observer at this stage. [URL provided by commenter. Kept confidential]

2. One day but at present I already have three groups

3. Already hosting 4 groups HOWEVER if a real-life meetup were thought to be a goer, would be more than happy to help organise it … [URL provided. Kept confidential]

4. [URL provided. Kept confidential]

5. Would be interested in the future but need to understand more about what is reuired (time etc)

6. Not this year as I’m going overseas for 2 months in Sept/Oct. Would look at being more involved next year if the opportunity presented itself.

7. Sorry not able to offer the time necessary at this time.

Question 9. Are you interested in becoming a sponsor of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group’s Discover Australia magazine?

Yes – 3.7% (1)
No – 96.3% (26)

If yes, please provide your name and contact email in box below

27 answered question
0 skipped question

Comments by respondents:

1. I’m not sure what this entails? [Email supplied. Kept confidential]

2. Please supply me with more information on this and I will see if I can help. [Name and email supplied. kept confidential]

3. Question 10 – you needed a box for all of the above!!!!

Question 10. If you had the chance of being on a deserted island with a host of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group for a night of fine dining and romance, who would you choose?

Susan Adey – 3.8% (1)
Joe Mortelliti – 3.8% (1)
Nerida Smith – 7.7% (2)
Darren Stones – 11.5% (3)
Leanne Nelson – 0.0% (0)
John Vriesekolk – 7.7% (2)
Sonia Ellem – 0.0% (0)
Paul Dean – 3.8% (1)
None of them – I’d prefer to stay home with the cat on my lap, watch re-runs of Gilligan’s Island, eat 17 stale jam donuts, drink 23 litres of raspberry cordial, and then go to bed at 8:00pm to read a Mills and Boon book. Heaven. – 61.5% (16)

26 answered question
1 skipped question

THE END

See yourself in print in Issue 3 of Discover Australia

2010-07-26T11:00:29Z

Have you ever wanted to see your name in print in a magazine? Well now you have the chance but you’d better be quick. Submissions for Issue 3 of Discover Australia are closing on August 10, 2010.

Discover Australia is the quarterly travel magazine of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group available in PDF format and marketed via RedBubble, Facebook and Twitter.

Discover Australia magazine Issue 2, June 2010

The first two issues have been well received with over 1000 views providing the perfect opportunity to get your travel writing and photography noticed.

Further information:

Discover Australia magazine – Information for contributors and sponsors

Your opinion matters - Survey conducted by the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group

2010-07-03T05:55:50Z

Hi everyone,

The hosting team of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group seeks your feedback about the group and its activities via a survey.

Your feedback is important as it allows the hosting team to gauge how the group is meeting your needs and expectations.

You can view and complete the survey at the following link. Thanks for your participation.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K6BWHBX

Results of the survey will be released in Issue 3 of Discover Australia magazine.

Survey - tell us about Discover Australia magazine

2010-07-01T21:41:30Z

Hi folks,

I’ve put together a brief survey seeking your feedback in regard to this group’s publication, Discover Australia magazine.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K7T78PW

Your feedback is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Darren

Win the cover of issue 3 of Discover Australia magazine

2010-06-29T22:47:16Z

Details here