Benz World Blog » Blue

Jake Shimabukuro

Jason Benz — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 23:56:48 +0000

This is Jake Shimabukuro playing on the Jambalaya stage at Bluesfest 2017. Jake is a Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso who gained international notoriety by being the subject of one of the first ever viral videos. In 2006 unknown to him someone posted a video of him playing “While my guitar gently weeps” on a new website called YouTube. He was flooded with offers and has been making music all over the World ever since.

This image is available for download here.

Buddy Guy

Jason Benz — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 13:59:21 +0000

There are blues men and there is Blues Royalty. This is, without question, one of the last original Kings of the Chicago Blues. Bluesfest 2017 was honoured to have Buddy Guy playing on the Crossroads stage tonight. It was hard to believe he is 80 years old as he strolled around like someone half his age. Guy has been called the bridge between Blues and Rock and Roll as he links electric blues pioneers such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf with popular musicians like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix, who copied Buddy’s tricks of playing the guitar over his head and with his teeth.

UPDATE: If you would like to see the hands which shaped the history of music. Buddy Guy will return to tour Australia in 2023. 10th April in Melbourne, 12th April Sydney. Tickets from Bluesfest Touring

UPDATE: Buddy Guy will return to the festival in 2023, Tickets from the Bluesfest website.

UPDATE: Buddy Guy will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

This image is available for download here.

Powered Paragliding

Jason Benz — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 10:28:38 +0000

There seems to be no end of ways you can get around the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

This form of ultralight aviation is called powered paragliding or paramotoring.

The aircraft can be used to herd reindeer, transport soldiers or hire to adrenaline junkies.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Abandoned Observatory

Jason Benz — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 22:01:18 +0000

This is the Middle Island Underwater Observatory off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It was refurbished and re-opened in 2007 so visitors could descend six metres below sea level to view coral and fish including honeycomb cod, flowery cod, damsel fish, moon wrasse and gropers. It looked as if it had been abandoned again when this photograph was taken in 2016.

Close Encounter

Jason Benz — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 07:26:20 +0000

For the American presidential election, I created this composite of images pulled off the internet. Photoshop was used to blend them together.

Big Mushroom

Jason Benz — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 23:17:28 +0000

This was the “Big Mushroom” off the Taiwanese coast. The 12 metre high coral structure is considered one of the worlds most iconic ocean dive sites. Despite surviving being struck twice by submarines this 1000 year old life form has now been toppled by Typhoon Meranti.

This is one of 6 dives from the waters around Taiwan which I have been working on recently to get into Google Streetview. These images are a result of a collaboration between Panedia, The Ocean Agency and the XL Catlin Seaview Survey. Although I don’t do the Photography I always enjoy working on these beautiful images in Photoshop.

Ian’s Boat

Jason Benz — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 23:03:09 +0000

This is one of the Keppel Islands. I don’t remember which one as Ian was good enough to take us to a few islands in his boat on 1st Jan 2016. This is one of those rare occasions when I wish my camera had GPS. It is fondly remembered as the best New Years Day ever.

Raja Ampat

Jason Benz — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:24:18 +0000

These are the waters around the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia. This area has the highest density of marine life in the world. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef system but it is relatively young compared to this one. The diversity of life here is helped by being uniquely placed between the Indian and Pacific oceans and three continental plates.

These images are a result of a collaboration between Panedia, Google, The Ocean Agency and the XL Catlin Seaview Survey. This project takes up most of my working week, although I don’t do the Photography, I have a lot of fun working on these beautiful images in Photoshop.

Independence Day

Jason Benz — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 15:20:14 +0000

On this day England voted to leave the EU. 9 months later on the 29th March 2017 the UK Government initiated the 2 year exit process. I was in Australia watching the film ‘Independence Day’ with the rest of the Panedia team. The film was predictable, and watching the referendum results come in the following day was more exciting.

To make this image I downloaded the original flags then used Photoshop filters to add some depth. This makes it the only post which is not based on photography.

Australian Citizenship

Jason Benz — Wed, 25 May 2016 01:30:49 +0000

Today I became an Australian. The ceremony took place at the The Arts Centre on the Gold Coast. It was a sunny day so I cycled there this morning. I have been living, working and travelling through Australia since 2011. They call it the lucky country. I was certainly lucky enough to find photography work in 4 of the 5 states we passed through. Australia has also proved to be the most successful country for Stock Photography. It quickly eclipsed Egypt after the first set of shots were accepted by Shutterstock. It was not a difficult decision to apply for citizenship. I can keep my UK passport and it will make travel easier after my visa expires in 2016.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and in available for download here.