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20. October 2010 11:11
by Rene Pallesen
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Self Portrait

20. October 2010 11:11 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

self portrait


Lately I have been playing around with Photoshop a lot more going through different tutorials.

Main purpose is to enable me to manipulate photos and add a different dimension to these photos. I have especially been trying to create some interesting profile photos that I can use of facebook and the like.

The portraits don't necessarily mean anything...mainly created them to see if I could do something out of the ordinary.The plan is to see if I can make a series Earth - Water - Fire - Air following the four basic elements.


It was really hard to get the starting photo right in my studio. It is almost impossible to do a photo of one-self and have it in focus...eventually Kim had to step in a help me (which I am very grateful for). In total it took me about 2-3 hours from start (taking the photo) to the finished result.


Portrait

18. October 2010 09:19
by Rene Pallesen
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Maroubra

18. October 2010 09:19 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

maroubra


Yesterday we went to the beach to have a coffee with a couple of friends. While Kim was catching up on all the gossip I went out to see if I could get some good photos of the surfers (The surf was pretty good that day).




18. October 2010 09:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Where to...Daddy???

18. October 2010 09:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

where to daddy


On the weekend I had a bit of fun with Aiden. I bought a world map on email just so that I could take the following photos of him...







And this last photo I call "Is this where you grew up daddy??"




He is now 4 months old and still doesn't like being on his belly...so I had to be pretty quick with the setup.

18. October 2010 08:46
by Rene Pallesen
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Family Portaits

18. October 2010 08:46 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

more portaits


Sunday night Kim and I was looking after Ethan and Kayla while Chong and KC went out for dinner.

Kims dad and Dylan popped over for a couple of hours (Kims dad wanted to see Aiden ;-)) and after dinner and after Aiden was asleep I set up the studio to take some portraits of the kids. Main purpose was to experiment a little to improve my photography skills...especially my study of shadows (It is easy to light, but harder to create meaningful shadows).

Lately I have been doing more photography using all my flashes with wireless triggers to get interesting angles and effects. A couple of days ago I bought a couple of pieces of fabric in different colours (blue and red) to use as backgrounds and the following photos are a result of Sunday nights photoshoot.




Ethan and Kayla

Dylan



Ethan

I used one flash camera right in a 60*60 softbox, Hair light behind camera left snooted. In retrospect I should have taken my 3rd flash and used this to light the coloured backdrops to create better seperation...the highlights above are done in Post processing.

27. September 2010 12:21
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Fire Devil fun

27. September 2010 12:21 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

fire devil fun


I had a bit of fun on the weekend and spent a little time using photoshop doing something different for a self portrait. Just a bit of fun for a Facebook profile photo.


It took me about 5 minutes to take the photo and about 25-45 in photoshop to modify the image.




After taking the image I modified the background, de-saturated the colours, saturated the green colours, added the cat-eye contact lenses and extended the canine teeth slightly...done! Not perfect, but good enough for what I wanted to try and accomplish.

19. September 2010 10:31
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Surf's-up at Maroubra

19. September 2010 10:31 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

surf up at maroubra


This week there was a big low pressure system of the coast of Tasmania resulting in 18 meter waves there. It was predicted that some of this swell would hit Sydney this weekend resulting in 3-4 meter waves on south facing beaches. This Saturday morning I went down to Maroubra to have a look...The waves weren't as big as I had expected, but there were lots of surfers there and I did manage to take a couple of reasonable photos (I may try again tomorrow).










I am sure that there were a lot of professional/semi professional surfers out there, but unfortunately I would not be able to recognise anyone. Some of the photos I took with my 28-200mm lens which is super sharp. I also took some with an old 500mm mirror lens...it is reasonable ok...but almost impossible to keep in focus.


10. September 2010 11:05
by Rene Pallesen
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Aiden Looks Like.....

10. September 2010 11:05 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

aiden looks like


Some people have said that Aiden looks like me (mostly) and some says that he looks more like Kim.

Here is a photo of Kim and I with Aiden as well as my mum holding me after I was born (I think):



I REST MY CASE!!!!!

10. September 2010 09:29
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Global Corporate Challenge ended

10. September 2010 09:29 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

global corporate challenge ended


This week was the end of the GCC challenge at work. It was 16 weeks of walking almost 10km every day competing against other teams within the company and other companies. In total there was more than 13000 teams of 7 team members each. By the end of the challenge our team was positioned at the top 10% which I think is pretty good.




Since the race finished I've been walking to work every day.

7. September 2010 04:09
by Rene Pallesen
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Breakfast with Audrey and Aren

7. September 2010 04:09 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

breakfast with audrey and aren


Last week we had breakfast with Audrey and Aren. Aren was born three days after Aiden was born at the same hospital and during Kims pregnancy we met them at the antenatal classes.

Menu was pancakes and afterwards I offered to do some photos of Audrey and Aren.




24. August 2010 11:06
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

10 minute passport photo shoot

24. August 2010 11:06 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

10 minute passport photo shoot


This afternoon Kim and I decided to try and take a photo of Aiden for his passport. This was not as easy as it sounded and he couldn't sit or lie still and was making all sort of expressions.

These photos were all taken within 10 minutes from start to finish... He is such a funny little boy!


Click to see larger photo
Perfect Moments Photography | A Rene Pallesen Journal

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5. February 2026 16:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Cook Islands - Snorkeling

5. February 2026 16:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

We went snorkeling in the lagoon
We went snorkeling in the lagoon








































5. February 2026 16:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Cook Islands - Long Boat

5. February 2026 16:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

On a rainy afternoon we went in a longboat. The idiot at the back almost got all of us killed by hav
On a rainy afternoon we went in a longboat. The idiot at the back almost got all of us killed by having no idea how to steer (that was his one job) and landed us on the outer reef.




5. February 2026 16:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Cook Islands - Boys at Black Rock Beach

5. February 2026 16:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

I also took some photos of the boys at Black Rock Beach.
I also took some photos of the boys at Black Rock Beach.













5. February 2026 16:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Cook Island - Turtles

5. February 2026 16:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

One day we went snorkeling with the turtles in the lagoon.
One day we went snorkeling with the turtles in the lagoon.































5. February 2026 15:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Cook Islands 2026

5. February 2026 15:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

This year we decided to travel to Rarotonga in Cook Islands. Some of the immediate family booked at

This year we decided to travel to Rarotonga in Cook Islands. Some of the immediate family booked at the same time so that we 
had some days together.






5. February 2026 15:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Cook Islands - Eating out

5. February 2026 15:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

In the evenings we were eating out. Every restaurant was facing the lagoon.Also cocktails were cheap
In the evenings we were eating out. Every restaurant was facing the lagoon.

Also cocktails were cheap, strong and flowing...









5. February 2026 15:02
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Cook Islands - Games

5. February 2026 15:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

Other times were spent playing games - Dark, Snooker Fuzball, building cairns and chasing crabs.
Other times were spent playing games - Dark, Snooker Fuzball, building cairns and chasing crabs.







5. February 2026 15:02
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Cook Island - Lagoon

5. February 2026 15:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

The beautiful lagoon surrounds the island, so much of the time was spent in the water.
The beautiful lagoon surrounds the island, so much of the time was spent in the water.




























Perfect Moments Photography | A Rene Pallesen Journal

Home

20. October 2010 11:11
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Self Portrait

20. October 2010 11:11 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

self portrait


Lately I have been playing around with Photoshop a lot more going through different tutorials.

Main purpose is to enable me to manipulate photos and add a different dimension to these photos. I have especially been trying to create some interesting profile photos that I can use of facebook and the like.

The portraits don't necessarily mean anything...mainly created them to see if I could do something out of the ordinary.The plan is to see if I can make a series Earth - Water - Fire - Air following the four basic elements.


It was really hard to get the starting photo right in my studio. It is almost impossible to do a photo of one-self and have it in focus...eventually Kim had to step in a help me (which I am very grateful for). In total it took me about 2-3 hours from start (taking the photo) to the finished result.


Portrait

18. October 2010 09:19
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Maroubra

18. October 2010 09:19 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

maroubra


Yesterday we went to the beach to have a coffee with a couple of friends. While Kim was catching up on all the gossip I went out to see if I could get some good photos of the surfers (The surf was pretty good that day).




18. October 2010 09:02
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Where to...Daddy???

18. October 2010 09:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

where to daddy


On the weekend I had a bit of fun with Aiden. I bought a world map on email just so that I could take the following photos of him...







And this last photo I call "Is this where you grew up daddy??"




He is now 4 months old and still doesn't like being on his belly...so I had to be pretty quick with the setup.

18. October 2010 08:46
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Family Portaits

18. October 2010 08:46 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

more portaits


Sunday night Kim and I was looking after Ethan and Kayla while Chong and KC went out for dinner.

Kims dad and Dylan popped over for a couple of hours (Kims dad wanted to see Aiden ;-)) and after dinner and after Aiden was asleep I set up the studio to take some portraits of the kids. Main purpose was to experiment a little to improve my photography skills...especially my study of shadows (It is easy to light, but harder to create meaningful shadows).

Lately I have been doing more photography using all my flashes with wireless triggers to get interesting angles and effects. A couple of days ago I bought a couple of pieces of fabric in different colours (blue and red) to use as backgrounds and the following photos are a result of Sunday nights photoshoot.




Ethan and Kayla

Dylan



Ethan

I used one flash camera right in a 60*60 softbox, Hair light behind camera left snooted. In retrospect I should have taken my 3rd flash and used this to light the coloured backdrops to create better seperation...the highlights above are done in Post processing.

27. September 2010 12:21
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Fire Devil fun

27. September 2010 12:21 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

fire devil fun


I had a bit of fun on the weekend and spent a little time using photoshop doing something different for a self portrait. Just a bit of fun for a Facebook profile photo.


It took me about 5 minutes to take the photo and about 25-45 in photoshop to modify the image.




After taking the image I modified the background, de-saturated the colours, saturated the green colours, added the cat-eye contact lenses and extended the canine teeth slightly...done! Not perfect, but good enough for what I wanted to try and accomplish.

19. September 2010 10:31
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Surf's-up at Maroubra

19. September 2010 10:31 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

surf up at maroubra


This week there was a big low pressure system of the coast of Tasmania resulting in 18 meter waves there. It was predicted that some of this swell would hit Sydney this weekend resulting in 3-4 meter waves on south facing beaches. This Saturday morning I went down to Maroubra to have a look...The waves weren't as big as I had expected, but there were lots of surfers there and I did manage to take a couple of reasonable photos (I may try again tomorrow).










I am sure that there were a lot of professional/semi professional surfers out there, but unfortunately I would not be able to recognise anyone. Some of the photos I took with my 28-200mm lens which is super sharp. I also took some with an old 500mm mirror lens...it is reasonable ok...but almost impossible to keep in focus.


10. September 2010 11:05
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Aiden Looks Like.....

10. September 2010 11:05 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

aiden looks like


Some people have said that Aiden looks like me (mostly) and some says that he looks more like Kim.

Here is a photo of Kim and I with Aiden as well as my mum holding me after I was born (I think):



I REST MY CASE!!!!!

10. September 2010 09:29
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Global Corporate Challenge ended

10. September 2010 09:29 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

global corporate challenge ended


This week was the end of the GCC challenge at work. It was 16 weeks of walking almost 10km every day competing against other teams within the company and other companies. In total there was more than 13000 teams of 7 team members each. By the end of the challenge our team was positioned at the top 10% which I think is pretty good.




Since the race finished I've been walking to work every day.

7. September 2010 04:09
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Breakfast with Audrey and Aren

7. September 2010 04:09 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

breakfast with audrey and aren


Last week we had breakfast with Audrey and Aren. Aren was born three days after Aiden was born at the same hospital and during Kims pregnancy we met them at the antenatal classes.

Menu was pancakes and afterwards I offered to do some photos of Audrey and Aren.




24. August 2010 11:06
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

10 minute passport photo shoot

24. August 2010 11:06 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

10 minute passport photo shoot


This afternoon Kim and I decided to try and take a photo of Aiden for his passport. This was not as easy as it sounded and he couldn't sit or lie still and was making all sort of expressions.

These photos were all taken within 10 minutes from start to finish... He is such a funny little boy!


Click to see larger photo
Perfect Moments Photography | A Rene Pallesen Journal

Home

15. August 2000 10:42
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

The Wildlife in Borneo . . .

15. August 2000 10:42 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

the wildlife in borneo
Ecochallenge ( Sabah 2000 )

Magellan HotelMoving into SilamRepeater StationInjured CompetitorTransporting a Repeater StationBeetleKids in Village
ArrivalSilam / Jungle OpsRepeater StationsThe CompetitorsHelicopterJungle Around UsThe Village

Jungles of Borneo
The Wildlife in Borneo . . .


The jungles in Borneo are really dense, dark and humid.

You will find that some of the photos look as though they have been over-exposed, but in reality, it is just the humidity in the air.

Me in the jungle




I have a photo of this at home - Glen enlarged it for me, and framed it!

Don't ask me why - I think I look rather wasted there.

Glen and I tried to race through the jungle.

The climb to the top of the mountain is rated as a 1.5 hour climb... Glen and I have done it in 26 minutes... actually I was confident that I could do it in less than 20 and so I did!

I held the record of taking 17 minutes to race to the top of Mt Silam, covering a distance of approx 4 kilometres through the jungle, up a mountain.

I was getting really fit (My girlfriend was proud of me).

Glen in the jungleGlen in the jungleGlen in the jungle

This photo shows how dense and dark the jungle can be. It was so humid there... no, not because I hadn't cleaned my lenses.

Glen in the jungleMe in the jungle


You can see how muddy it is in the jungle - I became quite dirty after many trips into the jungle.

Look how big these trees are!Me standing in front of one of these big trees!They look almost as big as the Californian Redwoods!

I think these trees are just as big as the Californian Redwoods. They might not be as old, but definitely just as big.

Beetle



This was taken with a 300mm lens, from 1.5 metres.


The most amazing thing about them, is when they are scared, the curl up into little "marbles".

It looks like a small bug, but it is actually at least 7cm long, which is actually quite big.

Moth in palm of hand


I noticed in Borneo, most of the insects there were huge.


The wingspan of the brown moth was about 15cm wide - huge!

They are mostly active at night, which is quite common for creatures in the jungle.

A couple of the girls stationed in the jungles, was stationed here. Not a wise decision, considering these girls were paranoid about the insects.

(Note: in the photo below, I still had conjunctivitis) I had the red eyes for most of the trip.
Moth on my elbowBrown moth

Big and beautiful, don't you think? You can see how big the black moth is compared to the size of the telephone.

Black mothMoth on wall

Plant with leaves in hexagon formation



These plants were kind of special because each branch split into two, so by the end of it, they formed a hexagonal pattern.


Below, are plants known as the "pitcher" plant.

The pitcher plants are meat-eating plants - you have watch out not to fall into them because they will swallow you whole.

Pitcher plant

If you just believed that, you are very gullible! *laugh*


The pitcher plant, like other carnivorous plants, feed on insects.

They have sweet-smelling nectar that attract the unsuspecting insect to it.

When the insect lands, it finds the surface slippery and fall straight into the “pitcher”, where the plants juices drowns it and is digested by the plant.

You may have heard of other type of carnivorous plants such as the Venus Fly Trap, and the Sundew plants.

Me holding a dead snake

Yes, you see me holding the snake with a leaf.


It was a poisonous snake, and I was worried about it's venom getting on my skin.

For example a puff adder, contact with the venom numbs the skin.

I was not familiar with the snakes in Borneo, and was not about to risk it.
A Tarantella


The tarantella was sitting inside the catering tent hunting.

Everyone was looking at it and admiring it, which was pretty amazing, considering I know many people who would willingly kill a spider in sight.

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Created: 7 Dec 2001

15. August 2000 10:41
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Repeater Stations . . .

15. August 2000 10:41 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

repeater stations
Ecochallenge ( Sabah 2000 )

Magellan HotelMoving into SilamRepeater StationInjured CompetitorTransporting a Repeater StationBeetleKids in Village
ArrivalSilam / Jungle OpsRepeater StationsThe CompetitorsHelicopterJungle Around UsThe Village

Repeater Stations . . .

Paul and repeater Station in aircraftMe and repeater Station in aircraft

Here, you see Paul and I transporting some of the repeater stations by air.

From Silam, we flew down to DFVC. We stayed there for three days before going back to Silam.

Me at site of repeater station

I am at one of the repeater sites. Here, the top of one of the mountains was cleared, so we could safely land a helicopter there.

Oh... did I forget to mention that I almost chopped one of my fingers in half at the repeater site?

On top of my infected eye, I had another thing for the medical team to look at. The fingernail had been chopped in half and there was not much I could do about it except clean it up and try to avoid infections. The medical team was great there... they were extremely good.

Site of Repeater Station


We had a few problems with some of the communications gear.


Paul and Glen were handling it, and at times I tried to assist.

The first few days had been really tough.

Solar Panel Photo 1Solar Panel Photo 2
The top of Silam is covered in clouds for most of the afternoons, so the solar panels are quite useless. A survey of the conditions made prior to the race was useless.


If you ask any of the locals, they would have told us that the peak is always covered in clouds... but apparently no-one asked them!!!

Generator


We had problems keeping the generators running - they were using more power than predicted and there was no sun on the top of Silam to recharge the batteries.


The generator itself was a re-built petrol engine with a car alternator on it.

We basically tried to use a system where we used a jerry can, cut holes into it, and relied on the force of gravity to transport the fuel to the generator.

This design ended up working best for us.

Site of repeater stationSite of repeater station
Our helicopter pilot sitting on the side there, just grinning...


On the third day of the race, I hiked up the mountain three times. I was really tired and all I could think of was getting a bit of a rest and some food. I managed to get a bit once I got to Danum. In Danum I managed to get 6 hours sleep before someone woke me up and told me that the repeater had died in Silam... again all the cars had to leave in a convoy... so rush, rush to find my driver and managed (just) to get into the convoy!

The road to Danum closes at 6.30pm and all the cars had to go in the convoy.

Helicopter at Repeater Site Photo 1Helicopter at Repeater Site Photo 2
The helicopter flew all of us to the top of the mountain, and waited there for us till we were finished. Glen quite often told the pilot, "You don't have to shut down, because we'll only be here for 5 minutes." Well... quite often, we were there for as long as an hour and half! (Don't worry, the pilot was sensible enough to shut down immediately... he got to know Glen very well.)


I went up there often make sure that it was still running. It is much better getting a helicopter to fly me up there so that I can bring some fuel with me !

Glen fixing generator Photo 1Glen fixing generator Photo 2

Glen has mostly been on top of the mountain getting the generator back online.
We have to keep the generator running 24 hours per day until the end of the race.


Glen fixing repeater Photo 1


On the third night after the race started, one of the repeaters went dead.


I had to hike up the mountain on the previous day as the generator had died.

I did not leave the mountain until it was dark, so I had to climb down through the jungle in the dark!

Fortunately I had my torch with me!

Glen fixing repeater Photo 4



Paul later gave me strict instructions to make sure that I leave the mountain so that I could be back at HQ while there was still light!


I found out that I did not have any problems navigating at night... I even offered Paul to go back up when the repeater died!

Anyhow, we ended up having to send the airborne repeater up!

Helicopter at Repeater Site Photo 3Helicopter at Repeater Site Photo 4
Glen fixing repeater Photo 2Glen fixing repeater Photo 3



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Created: 7 Dec 2001

15. August 2000 10:41
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

The Competitors . . .

15. August 2000 10:41 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

the competitors
Perfect Moments Photography | A Rene Pallesen Journal

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27. March 2019 14:03
by Rene Pallesen
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Nikko - Japan

27. March 2019 14:03 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments




















25. March 2019 10:03
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Australian Formula 1 grand prix

25. March 2019 10:03 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

On the weekend I went to the Formula 1 grand prix in Melbourne. It was a work sponsored event with o
On the weekend I went to the Formula 1 grand prix in Melbourne. It was a work sponsored event with one of our vendors and great access to see the race and the pits.

Here is some of the photos from the event.











5. February 2019 11:02
by Rene Pallesen
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Japan - Akihababa

5. February 2019 11:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments















5. February 2019 09:02
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Japan - Shinjuku

5. February 2019 09:02 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments











28. August 2018 19:08
by Rene Pallesen
0 Comments

Outdoor Artnude photography workshop

28. August 2018 19:08 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments

all
I did an art nude photoshoot over on the other side or Botany bat at Kurnell with a group of photographers and a Elen who was the model and organiser.



































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