CameraTalk » Alex Harrison

New website and Logo for Cameras Direct

Alex Harrison — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:50:52 +0000

Hey – just wanted to mention that www.camerasdirect.com.au website is getting a bit of a revamp. It should go live late in June 2010, AND what do you think of the new logo … above ?

Here is a few of the new features -

Tick tock, tick tock, we can certainly feel the excitement here as our launch gets ever closer.

This week I’d like to tell you about some of the enhanced shopping features we will be offering on our new website:

1. Drag & Drop Shopping
A cool feature that allows you to simply drag a product using your mouse into your shopping basket.

2. Compare
Drag & Drop product into your “Compare” basket to see how they stack up against each other. Excellent way to compare cameras and lenses.

3. One Page Checkout
Sounds boring but really it’s a great time saver.

4. Additional Payment Options
We will be offering BPay & PayPal in addition to Credit Card and Direct Deposit payment methods.

5. QuickView
Quickview allows you to see a products details without having to click through to a new page, very handy!

6. Real Time Stock Availability
Get real time information of what’s in stock and what is on the way to the warehouse.

7. Product Videos & Images
Additional product views have been added along with useful product videos.

8. SPEED
Hahaa! I knew you were waiting to hear that one. Yes we have improved the speed of the website considerably while also improving security and compatability.

That’s just a taster of what’s to come.

Life aboard a Halong Bay Junk Cruise

Alex Harrison — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:09:26 +0000

We had a lot of fun on board the Junk – well it was far from Junk, more luxury really. My daughter was looking for an invite for her upcoming 18th birthday party invite card, so we deemed the ship to be a pirate ship and had a bit of fun. I took out my trusty 5 in 1 reflector (doesn’t everyone drag one of them around the world, just in case?) and we mucked about. Yes, they are corny but frankly, who cares.

The Non-Pirate shots are to illustrate the sheer bliss of Halong Bay and the calm and peaceful life aboard the Junk.

Enjoy.

Did you hear that noise? No, I didn’t either. No Noise!!!!!

Halong Bay Vietnam gives you life and takes your breath away

Alex Harrison — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:38:01 +0000

Ha Long or Halong Bay means, Descending Dragon Bay. What is means to me is a sanctuary from the constant noise of the Vietnam mainland. Three days of peace on board a “Junk” that was very unjunk like inside, was what the doctor had ordered for the weary travellers. Yes the bay is commercialised, yes you will hear other people but the views are so stunning and so dramatic that you are often breathless from the sheer beauty.

Getting the idea that I liked this place? OHHHHH yer.

There are opportunities to day short trips from your ‘mother’ boat and one of them was into caves. The locals have added lighting for effect and it is very dramatic. I felt like I was in a fish bowl or in a water filled cave or … you get the idea …

Coming back soon …

Alex Harrison — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:38:57 +0000

Hi Gang. Well it’s probably obvious by now that we have been distracted.

So here is the news … We have been and continue to be busy building a new site / upgrade for camerasdirect.com.au.

We hope to have it live by middle of June 2010 .. very excited about it but can’t say too much at the moment. All of our crew are now very focussed on the work to get the job done so we are sorry but we will be putting cameratalk posts on hold for the time being.

It is possible that I will get the rest of my Vietnam posts up soon but that is all you will get for about 2 months.

Please hang in there with us and in the meantime, enjoy your passion for photography.

Cheers
Mark

On the road to Halong Bay Vietnam

Alex Harrison — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:44:49 +0000

Viewers of Top Gear will recall the Vietnam story when the intrepid trio arrive in Hanoi thinking they are in Halong Bay. The soon learn that the stunningly beautiful Halong Bay is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Hanoi.

We set off early one morning out into the already hectic Hanoi travel, dodging every mode of transport know to man and animal bound for Halong Bay.

The road after you get out of town, opens up to reveal the landscape photographers dream. Farmlands are far as you can see with ancient equipment along side modern machinery. The contrasts are mind blowing. The horns on every car, truck, go cart, push bike etcetc are also omni present.

I would prefer to allow the photos to try to present to you some idea of the area but alas neither words nor images for some reason truly do the are justice. You will simply have to go to experience the trip. What I will say is that the trip finishes at one of the most beautiful bays I have ever witnessed. Halong Bay is well worth the journey. Halong Bay is the topic of my forthcoming posts.

Lac Thien Restaurant Hue Vietnam

Alex Harrison — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:25:03 +0000

The Lac Thien Restaurant in Hue Vietnam is worthy of mention not only as it is written up in Lonely Planet but because the food is superb. The surroundings are well ummm run down, or stylish with you like a wild west type of place with writing on the walls. (As I do)

Another interesting fact is that the owner and several of the staff are blind. The owner makes a point of presenting you with a ‘bottle opener’ that he demonstrates with zest.

Give it a go should you find youself in downtown Hue and then you take a short stroll in the Citadel.

There is a Way to Hue – the Hai Van Pass

Alex Harrison — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:08:54 +0000

Hue, pronounced “way” is a major city in the middle of the east coast of Vietnam.

More than 2000 years ago, this region was part of the Nam Viet Empire. The realm of Champa was the ruling party which had reigned over this region for 17 centuries (quite a long time in anyone’s books).

In the 1300s, the King of Champa handed the region over to the Vietnamese. Hue came into being in 1307 after the Champa King Jaya Sinhavarman III handed the city over to Vietnam in exchange for marrying a princess of the Tran dynasty. Now that’s what I call a land swap.

The name Hue originated from the mispronunciation of the term Hoa. In the 19th century, Hue was the capital of the Nguyen dynasty, the region having been under French colonists since 1883. This period produced some beautiful buildings in the city, including the Citadel.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Gia Long, the first Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, carried out a large scale planning and new construction, making Hue the Capital of the whole country.

We hired a driver and set off from Hoi An via Da Nang, then on to the Hai Van Pass bound for Hue. The spectacular scenery is something to behold (as are the hundreds of cows on the road), not to mention full loaded semi-trailers on both sides of the road (up and down).

The photos are of that short journey. The next blog will cover the Hue Citadel and other stuff.

Hoi An… Did Someone Say Food?

Alex Harrison — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:36:38 +0000

Hoi An… after all that bike riding, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do — round up the offspring and grab ourselves a table overlooking the waterways. Order more food than would be even considered indecent, more cocktails than you should drink before getting back on a bike and, after a few hours of indulgence, hand over the equivalent of AUD$30. Ripped!

And NO, my son didn’t drink that B52 (not from the lack of trying) but someone did.

Reader: Ok, so this post is a complete indulgence? Write: You got it.