Ewen Bell 📸

https://social.ewenbell.com/users/ewen

Editorial photographer. Author, writer and mentor. Traveller and lover of the Arctic and Himalayas. Partner to Shellie Froidevaux. I love seeing what makes people smile.

My photography website: https://ewenbell.com
Shellie's foodie blog: https://ironchefshellie.com
Youtube Ewen: https://youtube.com/@ewenbell

Public Key

npub1t4dvue4tfyhtfsujz6cc353335t9lkw303ll0msdguu35avef8lqfdy3tj

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs96kkwv645jt45cwfpdvvg6gcc69jlm8ghcllhacx5wwg6wkv5nlspz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0ds867lff

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1t4dvue4tfyhtfsujz6cc353335t9lkw303ll0msdguu35avef8lqfdy3tj

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Last Notes

2026-07-31 01:41:00 UTC

The golden light was coming through the windows and I resented having to share my attention with someone else instead of just wander about taking photos!
Anyhoo, my second colour photo in 24 hours. I'm out of control this week.
#Melbourne #Naarm #Photography #Coffee #NotMono
https://social.ewenbell.com/objects/8832ca80-d37b-4db9-b508-a595caf5aa52
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/b2/0b/00/b20b00f1c1cd651efba73ac997a00d595ba087d55d361d0fa28d22a43d531b25.jpg

2026-07-30 09:36:48 UTC

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A few more from the reject pile. I have no idea what I'm gonna shoot when summer arrives here, not gonna be as much fun as winter light.
#Melbourne #Naarm #Photography
https://social.ewenbell.com/notice/B8QEHKYaQR7v9UleM4
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/4b/6f/45/4b6f454da59498bcb59d7a9a9139ee9aa9c5893a4f48657800ff1d617edf615c.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/5a/97/d9/5a97d9de32a06368a6e8f6fec9a4956bad23e0ae33e181b6a0c31083f802dbf7.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/26/d2/33/26d233b077fdd8f9b62e4d3d38849438e3e19b97262049abc96a6f7fb9e1a818.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/68/85/88/688588a063a5cbf324649d3ee8f13c45f7f5930c9f57081c06e18e97132d165c.jpg

2026-07-29 11:10:26 UTC

Sharing a few of the photos that didn't make it into the zine for July. Have spent most of the day feeling straight up angry about various situations right now, and need to focus on things that nourish instead.
#Melbourne #Naarm #Photography
https://social.ewenbell.com/notice/B8QEHKYaQR7v9UleM4
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/cc/59/41/cc5941556fe46ef60445b39428e46f6b2f74acac285ae4be63e8fb212ea5c322.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/f9/da/ad/f9daad4d6c9ffc3fb86eaa5104355103a6bba7cd80f8ef7a7952010a2316bc48.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/0b/67/69/0b676961754aafe9c576e0900500c2cfc38f7000b8832f96580e7f2f8145ce37.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/58/35/60/58356085c31d1d3e6da37dcb4c123b2ff4b292b3e9b4046ddb749b235753e16c.jpg

2026-07-29 06:33:56 UTC

If you cannot do it for love, then do it for spite. Spite is totally valid.

2026-07-27 11:44:54 UTC

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Yeah some good advice there :)
I didn't realise TT made an F1.2 50mm. I should look into that. I tested another brand of 50mm F1.2 earlier this year, and it was a mess when shooting wide open. Lovely at F2, but not F1.2.

2026-07-27 07:14:21 UTC

Quick question for analogue and manual focus fans out there...
What do you think AF schmuckos like me fail to understand when it comes to the joy of shooting manual? I'm road testing a little 50mm lens this week, and observing in real-time how AF vs MF changes the way my brain thinks about photography.
I bet there's a few folks around here who have been shooting MF for a long time and are wondering why I have been soooo slow to figure this out :)
#Photography #EwenTube

2026-07-23 07:55:31 UTC

The drive home.
#Melbourne
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/53/e8/53/53e853b72c880157bf6f4ebec44ea4a1956ba3294ba020d6a5713a78a561d689.jpeg

2026-07-14 01:27:43 UTC

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I get requests for help from random people on the internet who watch a video or read a blog post. And usually they are the ones struggling with basic things like putting firmware onto an SD card. So there's a natural intersection between "I need help with my camera" and "oh I didn't see the google invite with the link".
Unfortunately I am not being paid to sit there and wait for someone who hasn't worked out how to open their emails. It's worse when it's a camera brand and some marketing genius is being paid a real salary to sit in a job but still can't be bothered to do that job.
And yes I will remain bitter about that mob for at least five decades to come.

2026-07-14 00:11:47 UTC

Had agreed to help someone over zoom and the first attempt to schedule was a mess, but now they've missed the second and I can't just blame it on time zones and I gave up a morning of photography for this.
Please people, if you ask someone for help then at least turn up and don't waste their time.

2026-07-01 07:20:01 UTC

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Spectacular 🤍

2026-06-20 10:42:51 UTC

Passion fruit seeds do not belong in anything edible.

2026-06-15 23:26:15 UTC

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Meanwhile over on LinkedIn...
Advert for AI generated headshots, so you can prove to future employers you can be as fake as they demand.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/50/24/27/502427996a9276046cdc200914cf5eac27b2e89e743421de6b65b49ccae381ea.png

2026-06-06 00:33:24 UTC

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Have also posted a short mention on the blog.
I get asked about this editing technique so often. It seems so simple to me, but I think it helps to sit and watch the editing being done. I mostly learn stuff through example rather then through theory.
https://ewenbell.com/blog/Ewen's_Bell_Curve
#Photography #EditingRAW #ToneCurve
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/38/14/db/3814dba1d2c07f6027649c95fedb35eaa8f16f1858fa9f8614a9494ad1324e63.png
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/06/d2/04/06d204120ff45635ceb19089e688eed24555199d83c9f6ff3e6f2459408ba43a.png

2026-06-06 00:20:33 UTC

New on the Tubes - "Processing RAW Photos with the Tone Curve"
My simple secrets to editing RAW photos that can help any photographer improve their skills. I call it "Ewen's Bell Curve" :) In this video I walk through examples of how I do my processing, editing and grading, and help guide you towards finding your own style.
It doesn't matter if you're editing with Lightroom, Darktable, Capture One, DxO Photo Labs or pretty much anything else. This video will help you make the most of the creative process and simplify your workflow.
YouTube Version:
https://youtu.be/1R_UKlPnZ2M
PeerTube Version:
https://makertube.net/w/u3WMTJ8wNhKcaGuWVMFaoe
#EwenTube #Photography #Lightroom #Darktable #CaptureOne #DxOPhotoLab #RawPhotos #PhotoEditing #ToneCurve
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/b4/46/55/b446550f38d71beba101159f3153165311398d4764f59894ff3bb475c8356d78.png
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/ec/27/54/ec2754f11c5217d42a44f1d2dff42eb568d887fc66c08eb7cc5bb3eca11d6cc5.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/ba/f9/af/baf9afb3fe959eeb41c8f01b2942f354380aca34adada3ae03369dbcb3a2c088.jpg

2026-05-25 03:29:44 UTC

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We all need to hear these stories. We really do.

2026-05-24 23:53:16 UTC

Everyone these days is talking about "monetization" and "personal brand". We used to just debate how to have enough income to live on.
Then I saw a post about how work life is now a constantly competitive space, and we did not evolve for that level of stress. We evolved to work together in a tribe and enjoy safety in numbers.
I haven't worked in an office for decades now. What's it like out there?

2026-05-24 14:07:09 UTC

New on the Tubes –
"Are cruises in Japan a good experience for photographers?"
https://youtu.be/-5INJ2eLi_E
Deep dive into the good and not so good issues when travelling around Japan on an small expedition ship trying to capture photos. I'll share some advice to get the most from your journey, and share a bunch of lovely images from my recent gig with Heritage Expeditions.
Will appear on PeerTube in a few hours too:
https://makertube.net/c/ewen/videos
... And audio only, where ever you listen to your podcasts:
https://ewenbell.com/podcast
#EwenTube #Photography #PhotographyVlog #ReImaginePodcast #Japan #HeritageExpeditions
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/8f/25/58/8f2558abe3ddfe58792e72117f4b48a0c94db5b0749d20208fb8feb2ca9fe26f.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/fe/8b/3a/fe8b3ab941ba734e6acdb4380e2e6cc790b7d8861ec5a9f15cca4c2aae4a5054.png

2026-05-24 01:02:00 UTC

New on the blog – TT Artisan 35mm F1.8
Food photography lens for smaller mirrorless cameras. Excellent quality images and a fast aperture make this lens the ideal companion to your APS-C sized sensor such as the Nikon Z50 and Canon R50.
https://ewenbell.com/blog/TT_Artisan_35mm_F1.8
#TTArtisan #35mm #APSC #FoodPhotography #Photography
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/5c/03/b1/5c03b1420809a71b41094915c62031e6460ebcdfebb2ed7b7cf80d068e669806.png
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/52/be/6a/52be6ad60b4c70f2b06df6c6260f7087a8c09a11a994ad0052c5f876c35526af.png

2026-05-22 23:04:17 UTC

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A day later and this thread still brings my mind back to the challenge of getting along with difficult people. Because on some level, we are all difficult people. We just don't always recognize this.
I am deeply aware of my own limitations for dealing with difficult people. People who habitually lie. People who talk loudly without thinking. People who exploit other people. People who lack kindness.
But we do need to get along with people we don't like. And as a society I think we are increasingly bad at this. we are increasingly selfish and intolerant. Which is why I worry that as i get older, I too am becoming less tolerant.
5/4

2026-05-21 22:45:54 UTC

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Clearly I do not have tolerance for everyone in this world.
I have far more empathy for those who are struggling to fit into society, and who respond to kindness. I have so little tolerance for selfishness and pettiness.
I have met so many wealthy people who were very kind, very grateful and very aware of their privilege. I have met some who are the exact opposite. Not many, because they don't like it when I don't give them what they want.
That lady who kept demanding more attention and privilege got a real surprise when I cancelled her booking for another trip. She figured her money was enough to buy my compliance, and she was wrong. She can now add my name to the list of terrible men in this world.
I don't know where I'm going with this thread now. I lost my train of thought a moment ago and so perhaps I'll stop here. My starting point was simply to explore what it means to be "difficult" in this world, and for whom these difficulties are apparent.
4/4

2026-05-21 22:37:36 UTC

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I've seen people who might be on the spectrum, but are also arseholes. This is especially challenging for me.
Maybe I'm reading that wrong, and maybe I just didn't understand them enough. One person was on her third trip with me and it's like they decided I was a pushover and they could just treat me badly from now on. They were very very very wealthy and enjoyed using that wealth to manipulate people.
They started making extra demands that were a) unreasonable and b) insulting. Shellie and I had flagged very early on during the first tour she did, that she needed a little extra attention and support. So we tried to make her feel at home as best we could. Everyone is different and we adjust to people's needs as best we can. Over time she increasingly took advantage of this. She saw her privilege as the default and demanded more and more.
I also had to endure weeks of her talking about how all men are just the worst people on the planet. Except her son of course. He was taught proper and he was golden. But every other man is an arsehole and we had to hear about this from dawn till dusk and then some. It gets very tiring being personally held responsible for thousands of years of patriarchy. I want the patriarchy to fk off too because they shit me and the biggest threats in my life have mostly been men and toxic masculinity, and I would change it if I could.
3/n

2026-05-21 22:26:35 UTC

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So I'm thinking about how we see "difficult people". Because there are people I cannot cope with.
There was one lady on a trip last year who is literally in the top three most awful people I've ever met on my journeys. And she behaves this way by choice. She's enjoyed a privileged existence and has learned that the best way to get what she wants is to be an arsehole. And she's good at that.
She selectively treats people with disdain in order to belittle them. She needs to do this publicly in order to elevate her self worth. She uses her full intellect to make life difficult for anyone around her.
My tolerance for her was worn to zero. I am not one to reward bad behaviour, because that seems to be a solid way to ensure they do it again and again.
Anyway.
Why do I see this woman as "difficult", while the young lad mentioned earlier as "brilliant"?
On a basic level, one of these people had intentions to fit in, while the other just wanted everyone else to fit around them. That's a problem in any group dynamic. It's also a lesson I've learned through personal relationships. It's not sustainable for your mental health when your partner is always the boss of everything.
(Yes fellas, this means you too!)
2/n

2026-05-21 22:18:25 UTC

Just thinking about the notion of "difficult people".
Two decades plus running photo tours and workshops has given me PhD level insights into human behaviour. But there is more to learn of course.
In recent years I've noticed that I have a handful of repeat travellers who join me on tours who are on some kind of spectrum. Or as one friend likes to say, "they come with extra letters". My wife is OCD, I am ADHD. The phrase sounds better in Norwegian.
Anyway.
I remember one fellow on a workshop was struggling with some daily functions and it seemed easy to empathize with that and we just found ways to connect on his terms and we had a great time. He was a lovely lad. Maybe 30 years old but talented and bright and kind. Then one day someone on the expedition crew asked me, "why is he so weird?" And it shook me a little because I didn't see him as weird at all. I saw him as coping with a very difficult world the best way he could, and actually doing really really well.
1/n

2026-05-16 17:04:26 UTC

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Awww thanks Karsten.
And yes, I have totally broken the model for zines and not sure I can go back to anything sensible again. Sorry, but also not sorry :)

2026-05-16 06:30:43 UTC

New zine is out today. Bhutan, butterflies and Buddhism in the Himalayas.
https://ewenbell.com/zine
Free to download. No subs or trackers or logins. My monthly photography zine where I share my moments and thoughts from the field.
#PhotoZine #EwenInBhutan #Photography #Zine #CameraNotIncluded
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/e0/19/be/e019bef1d05a67bff05fd6eac435c09840352a20e60d44b789023f2082fbe82d.png
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/13/a6/ef/13a6ef06dde897b3420f781024c82bfece5ce2d463049f0f9a9065d56aea21a3.jpg

2026-05-15 21:47:32 UTC

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One cultural difference in Australia is that in the 80s we had a govt that introduced retirement savings as a default form of employment income.
It changed the money market here, but also created a lot of very low maintenance funds that were owned by unions and the recipients. In other words, most workers took the default option and then retired on way more money than they ever imagined. Zero planning required to reach that point. Then at the age of 60 they suddenly need to start making decisions about their money etc. A good problem to have.
Only catch is that in most divorce cases the husband keeps all of his retirement savings and the wife usually has less. She might be in the workplace less due to having a baby for example, and was already being paid 75% of a man's wage. Many women struggle in their later years due to those losses in mid life.
The number one group of homeless in Australia are women over 55.

2026-05-15 21:11:11 UTC

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I've always been wary of financial advisors. Everything I've seen in the past decades has confirmed that distrust.
I look at Shellie's parents and how little they have to retire on, and I think of how much they've given away in fees they didn't need to give away. They've convinced themselves they got a good deal because their investments have gone up over the decades. To me this reflects the market, not the planner!

2026-05-15 11:09:16 UTC

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Or...
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/1c/97/6b/1c976bd18ecadfd60272785634d52f88f9f20122c11dbe6bce0438b3239d1dc5.png

2026-05-14 00:41:12 UTC

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This is the place me and Shellie head to a lot. Lunch is chicken-rice special. Sometimes we head for dinner but it's hard to pay full price after being trained on $10 lunch!
khaosanlane.com

2026-05-11 08:13:15 UTC

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My day out at the market was 100% shot with my cheapo 40mm F2 by TT Artisan. Can recommend :)
We like a fancy 50mm for studio work, but that 40mm F2 is a bargain and so easy to pack when travelling with the teeny tiny Lumix S9.
https://social.ewenbell.com/notice/B0ZbsKnYDgZI81bWVM
#Photography #Workshop #FoodPhotography #Lumix #TTArtisan
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/95/b7/67/95b767c0d7b2ca71ef96c4cf941d74f994ac9f479cb0591d9d8a20a01e2ab39e.png

2026-05-11 08:10:05 UTC

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The produce in regional Victoria really is amazing. Daylesford is especially lovely for the small producers who sell their goods at the weekend market.
Small is good :)
#Photography #Workshop #FoodPhotography #ShellieFoodLove #Daylesford
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/e9/23/58/e923583b4be25086fe997e962823264d8d000fdedf55ab6ea66a7596ba43f8d6.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/02/a0/c4/02a0c40854b67e0a8f847ff7cac21ee38f1076eac8bdb21be8b09fca3709f29c.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/5d/41/1a/5d411acf4be776123172fd3d05295333add5ebf1d40e77ba5e570a2c02d76a68.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/7c/61/12/7c611242ab06096239be8c4e7704061a9027bc54ac95ffc7a0421a3fc2ea7723.jpg

2026-04-21 22:04:33 UTC

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I spent a good chunk of my life working in medical research, and have watched in my lifetime how things like cancer have changed from a death sentence to the assumption that doctors will save you.
Medical technology is remarkable today. But also at a cost. Humans worked hard on lots of ways to increase our lifespan, without thinking about how to pay for that.
We have advanced science, but watched politics drive itself into a ditch. We can transplant hearts and lungs, yet we won't pay for some children to get a good education or dental care.

2026-04-19 11:15:12 UTC

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Lantern in Uwajima.
#Photography #EwenInJapan #Uwajima #Japan
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/7b/fc/9a/7bfc9a0203a33e4517523a51eff71d117282ab44e6e4e8e26823bb15926831e4.jpg

2026-04-19 07:25:03 UTC

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Was a bit busy during my Japan voyage last week so haven't had a chance to share many photos from the trip. Aside from the photo zine above of course.
So will be posting a few square layouts on this thread, starting with a few from Uwajima. The locals put on a nice welcome as our ship comes into port, dressing up some fishing boats with flags and giving us a big wave.
#Photography #EwenInJapan #Uwajima #Japan #Lumix
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/ca/95/8f/ca958fb5643ed9bdc16928de4354782b81f317c64203a858cd0b1be5e678ba50.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/7e/6f/42/7e6f42d7c6d21dc5beb1cf378594cae27966e54e2bdf21983540363c8e029eb6.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/5c/c0/e8/5cc0e887018434f7ef12784f41a6a5d9884c67b7c96308f100c9f1857be37c47.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/61/c9/93/61c9936ee3728e163f352cb58f983997846c5dd5ae2a24d0dd87b271e3fa2870.jpg

2026-04-18 22:56:10 UTC

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On my journey to craft some skills with video/cinema I reached out to members of s band I used to love when I was a young man. They were planning to come together for a single gig after covid so the timing was good. I filmed a bunch of stuff for them but they never used any of it.
I love their music, but deep down they were just regular people who do confusing things and maybe there's a reason they never became super famous.

2026-04-17 06:09:43 UTC

Managed to complete the April photo zine before I ran out of April :)
https://ewenbell.com/zine
Free to download. Not subs or trackers or logins. My monthly photography zine where I share my moments and thoughts from the field.
This month we have 108 pages of Japan, a lot of cherry blossoms and a little bit of seared Bonito. Enjoy.
#PhotoZine #EwenInJapan #Photography #Zine
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/46/d9/1d/46d91d8ed58f3ee88e669a15e08c56a465cab295c5cde4280dc692ec9b526ac7.jpg

2026-04-14 07:31:16 UTC

Watching that video by @npub1z7x…q5jf about why cars suck and it's such a compelling argument and a shining light on why we need better urban planning.
I've been radicalised to want people to enjoy a better life.

2026-04-12 10:15:35 UTC

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Looks like Mt Fuji :)

2026-04-12 08:07:38 UTC

#SilentSunday #Photography
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/cc/9d/94/cc9d9461930a770d59dead71971319d31815d5da66d60d990ecd59414726930b.jpg

2026-04-11 14:36:02 UTC

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Not even hungry but still gonna do this.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/e5/7c/3e/e57c3edf3494e2eceb42d581b8eab93da3c0cdf46b13f66d6e130a0e813266b6.jpg

2026-04-11 14:32:00 UTC

Portuguese Tart

2026-04-11 08:05:54 UTC

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It's not as though they are so radically different to ourselves, or that far away. I like to know what the neighbours are up to, especially as climate change starts to wreck the peaceful parts of our planet.

2026-04-11 07:56:09 UTC

Tried to find updates on the cyclone hitting NZ and the ABC website doesn't regard this as newsworthy beyond a car race being cancelled.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/7f/b9/18/7fb9188b0386f61422a099c6d8a683ba6a4fd7d2f2df9d48b40cebb5130e512f.jpg

2026-04-11 01:19:13 UTC

#osaka
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/62/5c/fa/625cfaf0d218c4c4a6fe8a0c5c9720d2e67dd2767033879f20e0a92860bb8520.jpg

2026-04-09 00:10:25 UTC

Hiroshima memorial is a powerful place. The Japanese have worked hard to keep this memory alive. Children bring paper cranes. Exhibitions document the atrocity. Time stands still for just a little bit.
The problem is that the people who most need to remember are the people who don't come here.

2026-04-08 23:19:00 UTC

Science: looking for answers.
Political Science: looking for convenient answers.

2026-04-07 23:41:39 UTC

Pilot at dawn
#EwenInJapan #Lumix #Photography
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/91/3e/5d/913e5d761e7ff97dc60ffce9880216afc3169007440e04c318d37837ef9812a8.jpg

2026-04-07 04:01:00 UTC

Sakura season is still going strong.
#EwenInJapan #Kochi #Lumix #Photography #Sakura
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/f0/1f/8b/f01f8bfc2d722564e517d2290a5a5cccdf9630408fc0e96877a7f6e5f3543e43.jpg

2026-04-05 22:51:55 UTC

Fish tails
#EwenInJapan #Owase #Lumix #Photography
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/ab/c7/b8/abc7b82b0d15064cd61d07249817e2b354cc082d02657e34f3567d9fd3a8d38b.jpg

2026-04-04 01:17:15 UTC

Arriving in Nagoya was very cool. There's a control tower in the port that looks like it was built for a Jacques Tati movie.
#EwenInJapan #Nagoya #Lumix #Photography
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/48/62/d1/4862d136c0386dec768b9aa53b2cf627a7841c3270593866096c476a602229db.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/c9/58/63/c95863dda6b98226945cc4cf9500b866067d366b4deb0f120a0b5e2650382a91.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/93/d0/ab/93d0ab0d513250a9cafd45fe95932ccf2f99c4712fb5c922f4408498ed670e13.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/eb/33/ec/eb33ecd938644ed356c017705aed32707bbf409b7e190fd3b87bfbfdb07c7fff.jpg

2026-04-03 09:06:41 UTC

Been a great day today. Long day and challenging but glimpses of loveliness. Japan is always going to be one of my favourite places.
#EwenInJapan #LumixS9 #Sakura #InuyamaCastle
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/90/c7/aa/90c7aaad829b547a6cfe8e55756d03f9f6cad35306d4dd05acce5e68e58e3a08.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/da/b0/72/dab072c0897e49a403d4f4a216aa41b677233d9272dbd9f0b33ea6ca9fd18280.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/47/f1/d5/47f1d5257cb64a059308a579d0ac1ca9c5c92a981fa1c019aa2b46fce17c3e60.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/65/08/a1/6508a19622ddb7a8a60190ce5a0f7b08d066a09cee8a6653410b0d64e3f74571.jpg

2026-04-03 08:58:19 UTC

Pink at Inuyama
#EwenInJapan #Lumix
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/f1/f5/f7/f1f5f7b543a582abc829313ce99962d1c3f9988cb2ae712d41070ab929cde319.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/d8/c1/3c/d8c13caabc10aa880363edee9699e8a56ac87f0c28d12ad46e5e3dd0e2e36b1d.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/f8/5c/6c/f85c6ca0d194a3ceba45304173d3b4b46db1b959346e504ea6ed633cd321f75a.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/30/6d/77/306d77769523baf9ff39f7a642249032fe4695bc34ec1f2a1ccd49bc88e5561b.jpg

2026-04-03 08:54:37 UTC

Absolutely marvellous little inclusion in the signage at Inuyama Castle. Perfection.
#corvids #inuyama
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/7e/2b/a9/7e2ba971f22ba21319de306a9aae0f1307e555de9dac9928b77a26a5d9f493e7.jpg

2026-04-03 08:52:37 UTC

People behind me on the bus are both talking without listening and can someone please shove a pick axe in my skull?

2026-03-29 23:22:52 UTC

Today's Office.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/ca/6d/a6/ca6da683d6013a382ac6b15191f46828ea67c760ec816233238f6901ba240ecb.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/da/f4/0c/daf40c6f50e7937b264613962052f64891930e9b8bc0b4a94803762d94011539.jpg

2026-03-25 10:52:16 UTC

Wrapped a super lovely night tonight. Shellie was special guest with Tamron for a 3hr condensed version of our Food Photography Workshop. Lovely crowd, lovely scenes and lovely photos.
These events leave us feeling really good. Whatever other bullshit is happening in our lives, we get to focus for a little while on something we do really well and focus on being useful to a bunch of nice folks. That's a win.
Anyway, we have a couple of places left for our 4-day Food Photography event in Daylesford (Australia) this May. Drop me a line if you're interested.
#Tamron #Harlowe #HoboLite #FoodPhotography @npub1j7c…ccex
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/ac/4c/3f/ac4c3faca50fe929c32ae342b732e8e5f7243f1e8e05a5832b0da5a28637c415.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/f3/3a/b7/f33ab7d0195aa3c1db0843774c9fa01ce555ea56088ab8273e3f17a5b938d60f.jpg

2026-03-24 10:55:12 UTC

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NBN treated us to 18hrs of unplanned "internet-holiday" this week :) Bonus points, the failure also took out the ONLY mobile phone tower that we can reach on our mobile plan. We did not know this until it happened!

2026-03-24 06:23:13 UTC

I had a positive interaction with a human-being related to the strata management of our building today.
I feel this noteworthy and quite unexpected. I have bought a lotto ticket as well.

2026-03-23 08:12:41 UTC

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Lovely

2026-03-22 13:27:57 UTC

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This has been a wonderful thread and I am really grateful to everyone who shared. I feel less alone with this challenge, and convinced that I need to set regular reminders to refocus on a physical notebook and pen.
All solutions are temporary solutions it seems. That's the nature of the beast.
One more observation though, one that hasn't come up in the replies but was itching the back of my brain. Another reason I'm finding it hard to sit at my desk and just get shit done is because the last few years have been really difficult... And have brought a lot of failure.
I don't just mean covid. And the war mongerers. And tech bros making everything shit. But personally I've gone through immense failure over the past decade. This is normal when you're self employed, but it does take a toll. When you first set off as a freelancer you have to learn that things don't always go well, and to ride it through. You need a thick skin.
But after three decades that thick skin can feel heavy and tiresome. It's really difficult starting off a new project and watching it die, let alone after three decades of that. Every so often something works and that keeps the lights on, but honestly most of being creatively self employed is rejection and failure.
And that's one reason I'm struggling to even get started on stuff right now.

2026-03-22 13:08:00 UTC

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Companies that change their UI all the time deserve a special place in hell!

2026-03-22 08:11:15 UTC

Realised today that "calendars/to-do-lists" used to be a really good thing in my life but that is no longer that case and I wonder if other ADHD brains have experienced this?
Pre-digital I always had lists of things that I needed to get done, and of course a fraction of things ever made it off the list BUT some things did and that was a win.
I feel now my to-do-list via calendar gets list inside tiny little boxes on a tiny little screen and I don't look at my calendar anyway it's rubbish. Thanks Google. I tried using a to-do-list in my note-taking system (UpNote) but again that is a deluge of information and I can barely focus attention on the most urgent note I'm working on and the to-do-list gets looked once every three months instead.
I am not doing any of this well, and that's making me unhappy.
Not saying it will cure my procrastination or lack of focus, but maybe someone else is doing this better and can share.
#ADHD

2026-03-21 22:11:30 UTC

If there's one thing I've learned from watching our world leaders in recent decades, it's that you'll never find happiness, joy or fulfillment from power. It's a hollow prize that does little to fill the hole in one's heart.
Connection and kindness matter more than war and destruction.

2026-03-21 05:49:59 UTC

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Yessssss...
https://www.about.ch/culture/food/basler_leckerli.html
I was hoping to find somewhere in Australia that sells a nice brand of it :)

2026-03-21 05:18:24 UTC

Basler Läckerli are even better than pfeffernüsse and I will not be taking any questions.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/3a/13/0e/3a130e9385bc3a02ba240ec67a07ae22865d67e4f50c97ca93196da0124b2c21.jpg

2026-03-16 06:08:13 UTC

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I have a friend in his 80s who enjoys proffering quotes that might otherwise belong in a Dick and Jane book.
"Oh, see John fall. Fall fall fall. Ouch ouch ouch."
:)

2026-03-11 11:54:25 UTC

Have been enjoying all the #MonochromeMarch action. I spend a lot of my time shooting B+W, processing them pretty simple with some warm tones to finish. It's a happy space for me.
Am sharing a video here that I made a few months ago that share a little of what I love about photography, travel and seeing the world in monochrome.
YouTube
https://youtu.be/hPsPe9mXaAg
PeerTube
https://makertube.net/w/5kLg74eXxbGao3Pus3nW16
#Photography #EwenTube
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/20/82/2c/20822c21397d63b054977a719a9765685e1b6a2c5c157a9a8f0f85cdb60152fa.jpg

2026-03-11 09:30:23 UTC

Surreal to be living a normal life here in Australia, planning shoots for clients and thinking about the business and working out which cafe to meet a friend for lunch next week and shopping for a new USB hub...
And then I see posts in my feed about Ukraine and Iran and Gaza and Minnesota and I remember how much of the world right now is experiencing the absolute worst existence imaginable.
It's just so surreal to be alive in 2026 and be totally aware of so much stuff happening around us. I feel as powerless as when I was a child, watching the world at war on TV.
It breaks my brain to think about how lucky I am.

2026-03-06 05:28:29 UTC

Sixty seconds on why our Aurora Residency is such an amazing experience. Without doubt the most unique photographic workshop in the Arctic right now :)
https://vimeo.com/1164975945/54a1e290de
#Aurora #Photography #WorkshopWithEwen #Norway
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/f1/41/8b/f1418bd4287b65d5721ddd0015e458f4da248c8702b6167af2d0d12deeff57e9.jpg

2026-03-05 05:25:25 UTC

March photo zine is out now :)
https://ewenbell.com/zine
Free to download. Not subs or trackers or logins. My monthly photography zine where I share my moments and thoughts from the field.
March 2026 edition of my zine comes from Arctic Norway. Lots of snow, slow moving light, warm embers and cosy homes. Plus the nordlys and capturing with a super-wide fisheye perspective.
#PhotoZine #EwenInNorway #Photography #Zine
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/f9/dc/0c/f9dc0c1baad76144fe288f69627e2278b610dce2907e5c46c0671ea3efa22773.jpg

2026-03-05 02:18:11 UTC

Turns out this is really really good! That little bit of carrot and celery brings the whole thing together nicely.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/5b/34/32/5b3432a58406bda76daeed2108d4180ca76c2088733a8ec6233e15fb3457e675.jpg

2026-03-04 12:39:47 UTC

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I was flying from Perth to Melbourne with Qantas last year and was offered a hot thing stuffed with the one ingredient I'm allergic to.
At least my bags made the journey. That's above average for my record with Qantas.

2026-03-03 07:36:17 UTC

Realizing how extraordinary it is, to be lucky enough to get on a plane and fly across the world... Even while there are children being bombed out of existence with the support of my govt.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/cd/7d/60/cd7d6065fd1f34d0a4fe427827cd0246bebf442dc19dcce5b5e8426c6e92ba6b.jpg

2026-03-02 10:11:08 UTC

Not digging this whole "wearing your hat indoors" thing.

2026-03-01 10:08:43 UTC

So many of the things
I thought were valuable
But we really just weighing me down
If I can't carry it, do I need it?

2026-02-28 22:40:33 UTC

Hey Melbourne peeps.
Back in the early 90s I knew an artist named Dave Dawson who lived just north of Brunswick St. Very creative fellow, very hands on. Very intellectual about life and psychology.
Then I moved to Texas, and never saw Dave again.
Kind of a long shot, but if you know a Dave Dawson who fits this description in Melbourne, I would love to reconnect with him. There are some people from my early life who I just wanna know how they're getting along all these years later.
#Melbourne

2026-02-28 10:38:24 UTC

Watching an economist explaining investor behavior on the stock market using Star Trek references and now inside my head all I can hear is "Spock Market" :)

2026-02-27 07:41:49 UTC

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🤍

2026-02-26 22:36:30 UTC

I love sharing my photography and am always looking for new ways to make the experience of viewing photography more rewarding. Maybe a photo zine will bring some of the joy that social media doesn't?
YouTube
https://youtu.be/vUUN_ZCH5qY
Will appear on PeerTube in a few hours too:
https://makertube.net/c/ewen/videos
... And audio only, where ever you listen to your podcasts:
https://ewenbell.com/podcast
#EwenTube #Photography #PhotographyVlog #ReImaginePodcast #Zine #PhotoZine
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/39/d0/85/39d08544fe2a6bbee5e71ffd5ab98e8e50de03b896c8e2357c53e2ebe2df6599.jpg

2026-02-26 16:36:03 UTC

Was about to share a podcast episode because it's got some seriously important ideas about the future of humanity... but then this popped up on the website with no option to say "no".
So basically humanity is doomed. Which is ironic because that was largely the conclusion from the podcast too.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/40/60/d6/4060d6faec79a93c693c6fd23775661680869f5a2a5374e5d700964ca42f4245.jpg

2026-02-24 17:35:07 UTC

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Arctic style disco lights, and the moon turned into a star.
Captured with the TT Artisan 14mm F2.8. Very compact little lens. Plenty of optical blemishes, but at this price who cares. Fun and compact. Good companion for the Lumix S9.
#EwenInNorway #Nordlys #Photography #Auroras #NorthernLights #LumixS9
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/20/ba/19/20ba196152c556aca66281bba66ed8506ddd7a837092f7486d61f3ba8b47230f.jpg

2026-02-24 08:19:36 UTC

Was one of those nights last night. 5 hours of shooting. Hard drives are full. Left knee is killing me.
Totally worth it.
#EwenInNorway #Nordlys #Photography #Auroras #NorthernLights #CaptureOne #Lumix
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/10/d3/34/10d334879516486536d433da75ed1091d27f99a8c14fde17cb8f2d58b876f610.jpg

2026-02-22 21:10:08 UTC

I need to defrag my brain.

2026-02-22 08:51:08 UTC

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Crikey!

2026-02-22 08:32:07 UTC

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I remember in the 90s when I moved back to Australia after living in Houston TX and I couldn't bare to watch Sandra Sully on the news because "accents" :)

2026-02-22 08:09:59 UTC

Someone posted a youtube yesterday and the host has such an outrageous Australian accent that I don't think I can live in Australia ever again.

2026-02-20 22:15:49 UTC

Reposting this from my main account. 10min video from my webcam here, so you can see what it looks like when the aurora is going off above your head.
https://makertube.net/w/ogLCSmXDoFz2D8Spku4kap
#EwenInNorway
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/5d/af/f1/5daff1c33345b4f67fc7c46b8083a4196edce0e1dcf75ef5ea489a3bbf0a2f5d.jpg

2026-02-18 08:35:51 UTC

Here's a throwback to a few weeks ago, when the weather was colder and the nights were longer. The days are starting so early now. I prefer the polar night :)
Forecast for Friday night is clear skies though, so I'll look forward to heading out to shoot again then. I've mostly been sitting by the fire and editing my zine this past week.
I have been tagging my winter photography this year, so you can walk back through the full collection here:
https://social.ewenbell.com/tag/eweninnorway
#EwenInNorway #Photography #Norway #Aurora #Nordlys
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/08/10/9b/08109b737affe6d33fc4016899951e689970032a33f117999d0db969f87bda2c.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/ac/89/26/ac892616499b5501c5a88e72a468af7dae0cba2bbf96c1e546901e82a1fd431e.jpg

2026-02-18 08:05:48 UTC

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I notice myself and others responding to these ideas with "when will the govt do something about this?"
And we know the govt won't do anything. They have no interest in changing the current power structures. So then we ask, when will the media turn on the govt to demand better? And of course that will never happen because the billionaires own the media and that is entirely the point.
So long as you have creeps like David Koch running morning television we cannot expect the media to hold a candle to reality.
But the internet gives some ray of hope. Seeing you post these ideas here on the Fediverse gives even more hope. A world where billionaires no longer control the media. Yes, it seems dangerous and reckless to let unfettered misinformation fill the void. But there is also room for community and solidarity and wisdom to flourish.
Which brings me back to the idea of "when will they do something about inequality". And I wonder who "they" actually are. Because really, "they" is us. We are the only ones who will do something about it. And I want to do more than just listen to a bloke from England. How do I change the system so we really do get a better govt???

2026-02-18 07:21:32 UTC

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Gary Stevenson is a force of nature. Compelling arguments on inequality and how the rich are stealing everything from the poor. I don't think our govts care of course.

2026-02-16 09:58:45 UTC

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Birthdays have been a problem for me since I was 5 :)

2026-02-16 09:35:24 UTC

Yesterday was Eagles. Today is Squirrel. I'm not lonely at all ;)
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/51/9d/84/519d846cbf2450949dff2a580ad74a89b52d7e786684a46a5d2a884258272bac.jpg

2026-02-14 01:24:02 UTC

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Motorola Edge are superb value and run a clean version of Android. Tonnes of internal ram and some funky colours :)
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/motorola-edge-60-fusion-5g-256gb-slipstream
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/motorola-edge-60-pro-5g-512gb-pantone-sparkling-grape
I bought one of these for a guide in Nepal a few years back. Still kicking along. Motorola offer long spans for security updates too.

2026-02-12 07:24:55 UTC

Last full day of Shellie today. I don't cope well with this situation. I miss her before she's even gone.
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/9d/9d/df/9d9ddfda6ca31c987ae89f05aaa3d32105ca2f8fcfc7e040c03326996c1d09ea.jpg

2026-02-11 20:19:12 UTC

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-14°C but I get to sleep in :)

2026-02-11 18:47:27 UTC

Would love to know if something made you smile today, and what that might be.
We saw a squirrel dash across the snow.

2026-02-11 13:05:49 UTC

Got up at 3am to drive our group to the airport. Auroras were going off as we packed up the bags. Saw some moose stealing a farmer's hay on the drive. Two weeks of intense photography and sharing is now over.
These workshops push me. They force me to be the best I can be, because I don't want to let anyone down. I want my companions to get beautiful winter weather, clear nights with nordlys and a taste of the most delicious local cuisine.
I want them to come to Norway and feel like they've had an utterly unique experience that nobody else has ever had. And this workshop was just that.
Anyhoo, here's a few shots from the final daytime outing, about 24 hours ago. Feels like a lifetime ago.
#EwenInNorway #Photography #Norway #Lumix #WorkshopWithEwen
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/42/52/c0/4252c029080fe906c553435e1d869ef9ca7ee0efddf6b67ebb4ab8334cafe73f.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/e5/ac/07/e5ac07e1d1bd984c1aa22ffadd5407d2cc736227b6045a0b3635dca2883595f2.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/60/cc/1d/60cc1d70ae7fb52cafe061d80044ca9afb8657311662bb670d06e9d6bee28622.jpg
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/e8/4a/da/e84ada6bd1e174e24b596078d120034adb85dd018713c2988fe0401b813d3071.jpg

2026-02-10 08:35:45 UTC

Last night we took everyone up to the top of a mountain, grilled hot sandwiches over the fire and ate muffins.
And we shot some auroras too :)
This has been the best workshop we've ever run. Two decades of learned experience distilled into two weeks of adventure and immersion. It's been calm and enriching. Lovely people and a wonderful way to connect with nature and photography.
#EwenInNorway #Photography #Norway #Lumix #WorkshopWithEwen #WinterLight #Aurora #Nordlys
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/7c/f2/b6/7cf2b697adf60a983f500ffaec558572192992773b603238e96a225c02142d0b.jpg

2026-02-09 09:02:39 UTC

Maybe you weren't expecting this today. The last flush of pink departing on the horizon before nightfall.
#EwenInNorway #Photography #Norway #Lumix #WorkshopWithEwen #WinterLight
https://social.ewenbell.com/media/17/cf/0d/17cf0dde36854809c47e68d9580be9f3d681d6ffc49252f302165b4d4caa5a6f.jpg

2026-02-09 06:09:47 UTC

I'm 55 years old and currently have a degree of financial security I never dreamt of when I was a young adult.
Back then I was in survival mode. I had no family to fall back on. The internet wasn't yet the internet. My recollection is of trying to navigate society to find a path forward. Trying to study at night while working a day job. Looking for somewhere to rent that was a good location but affordable. Buying groceries on the credit card because cash flow was a mess.
The year 2026 feels so different. It feels like the govt isn't trying to build a better society, but instead just wants to funnel more wealth to shareholders. And my focus is to avoid being swallowed up by exploitative systems both offline and online. Even the phone I hold in my hands while typing this is potentially betraying me with surveillance and data.
We used to say, "It's a dog eat dog world out there!"
Now it feels more like trying to cross a 12 lane freeway on foot.