Benz World Blog » Lights

Hobart Skyline

Jason Benz — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 20:00:51 +0000

This night shot is Hobart in Tasmania, Australia. This photograph adds to the set of Australian Skylines I have been collecting since starting this blog almost 10 years ago. I always position the camera to get the city lights reflected in the water. A very small aperture was used to create a starburst effect. This reduces the amount of light so you need to use a tripod and a long exposure. Using this method you can avoid increasing ISO and therefore minimise noise.

Now I only need a shot of Darwin to complete the set and produce a calendar for 2020.

Today I arrived in the Blue Mountains and am looking forward to seeing my brother and his family who are visiting from the UK.

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

Burleigh Heads

Jason Benz — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 13:08:00 +0000

This is the view of the Gold Coast from Burleigh Heads in Queensland, Australia. Today was the first time I have seen the skyscrapers from this side at night so I decided to get a shot of the lights. I was here to have dinner with some friends from Sydney. Great tapas was enjoyed by all.

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

Vintage Trouble

Jason Benz — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 13:19:30 +0000

This is Vintage Trouble playing the Crossroads stage on the final day of Bluesfest 2016. They were definitely a highlight of the festival. It is impossible to overstate the amount of energy lead singer Ty Taylor puts into every performance. One review said “imagine James Brown singing lead for Led Zeppelin” I can’t think of a better description of this supercharged tight four piece band.

UPDATE: Vintage Trouble are confirmed to play the 30th Byron Bay Bluesfest in 2019.

UPDATE: Vintage Trouble will be back at the festival in 2023, Tickets from the Bluesfest Website.

This image is available for download here.

Cat Empire

Jason Benz — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:38:54 +0000

This is The Cat Empire electrifying the audience on the Mojo stage at Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia. They are a Melbourne based band whose music is a fusion of Raggae, Jazz, Dance and Ska with a distinctly Cuban feel. The performance was energetic and the infectious rhythms soon had the crowd dancing wildly as far as the eye could see. (image download here)

The Cat Empire will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Joe Bonamassa

Jason Benz — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 12:59:10 +0000

Bluesfest would not be a blues festival without a sharp suited guitar shredder to lay down some licks. In 2016 Joe Bonamassa stepped up to headline the Crossroads stage on the third day of the Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia. Joe’s career began opening for B.B. King when he was only 12. More recently he has been recording music with Beth Hart.

UPDATE: Joe Bonamassa will return to the festival in 2023, Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

This image is available for download here.

The Wailers

Jason Benz — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 07:31:21 +0000

This is Reggae Royalty in the form of The Wailers playing the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2014. They are regulars to the festival, often playing consecutive nights, each one performing a different album, Exodus, Uprising, Survival and Legend. This was shot from the middle of the crowd, which is the best way to soak up the atmosphere. I always look forward to their return, and this time I will get a closer shot as I have access to the front of the stage. Benz World Blog will be posting daily images throughout the event.

UPDATE: The Wailers will return in April 2022. Interested? Get your tickets from the Bluesfest website.

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

Coast Lights

Jason Benz — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 09:06:31 +0000

This night shot was taken from Q1 in Surfers Paradise. It is the tallest building on the Gold Coast and has a 360 degree viewing platform. This angle is towards Southport and The Spit.

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

Gold Coast

Jason Benz — Sat, 16 May 2015 23:02:35 +0000

This is the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is one of a set of Australian Skylines which I have used long exposures to photograph cities at night over water.

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

George Clinton

Jason Benz — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 10:15:17 +0000

This is George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at the start of a 4 hour set as the final band on the Mojo stage at the Byron Bay Bluesfest. George is known as one of the foremost innovators of funk music. I first heard their music in the UK through Nottingham funk band Fat Digester. It was a nice surprise to find them on the line-up for a blues festival in Australia.

This image is available for download here.

Film Student

Jason Benz — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 10:35:08 +0000

I often wonder how someone ends up behind a TV camera. At the 2015 Byron Bay Bluesfest, we saw film students from the local creative media institute filming bands on the main stages at the festival.

This image is available for download here.