Kingsley Klau:
Kingsley was born - Ceduna, South Australia (some years ago) and picked up his first camera (a Kodak Instamatic 133) at a local Ceduna Area Show, and used this as his first foray in photography after being inspired by his father’s photography on his outback trips.
His next purchase was a Nikon FE2 in 1984 whilst serving with the Navy and wishing to document aspects of his life and surrounds. It was the year he travelled to Hawaii and started to take images of Navy life and travels.
During the Gulf War (1990-91) - whilst onboard HMAS SUCCESS - he desperately wanted to visually document not only the aspects of the lead-up to the Gulf War, but the challenges of ship life confined for nearly 5 months away from family and friends. Many of his images made it to national archives and the ‘Navy News’. It was here he took photos whilst at sea, catalogued them and then resold the images to his ship-mates so they could share the photos with their own families at home. From these sales he was able to purchase a new camera - a Nikon F4s and a few lenses. The camera back then cost just over $2000.00 - quite a deal today after inflation! - Today you could grab a reasonable representation of the camera for a few $100.00’s!
The Nikon Film F4s film camera was supplemented with his first digital camera - a Nikon Coolpix 950 in 1999. At $2000.00 this camera was a revolution at the time when professionals scoffed at digital cameras - “it’s just a fad - not real photography” - was a common remark!
Impressed with the instant results and benefits of digital imagery, Kingsley then outlaid a considerable amount for a new Nikon D100 in 2002, when a 1GB Compact Flash Memory Card cost $990.00!! This camera served him well until considerations were made to open a photo/coffee outlet in Rockingham after traveling for three years as an Accommodation Inspector for the RAC throughout Western Australia.
Kingsley became an AIPP Accredited Photographer in 2005 and has since developed his skills to become an extensive teacher, both locally and in Perth.
In January 2006, Kingsley opened PhotoCoffee. Rockingham at that time had no dedicated coffee shop and combining this with photography services made for a possible unique outlet.
Since then PhotoCoffee has built a reputation of delivering excellent products in photography, coffee, courses, photography equipment and printing services.
Kingsley invested in the D-Series professional cameras - starting with the Nikon D2x, the biggest jump in quality / ISO performance and first of the full-frame Nikons - the D3 and now owns a D4, D810 Cameras and suite of lenses, Nikon Speedlight flash guns and equipment that enables him to cover aspects of photography that makes up his business. Recently a Nikon Df was added to his equipment list - and he enjoys using this camera as it reminds him of the enjoyable and care-free days of photography, when film and photography was not treated as a threat.
Today Kingsley photographs weddings, natural portraiture, corporate, local and away scenery and events. Documenting weddings and families is very rewarding work, especially when clients view their images and realise how important they are, and the images bring them back to their enjoyable celebrations. This gratification is further enhanced when the clients choose an image to become part of their home’s decorations for many years to come!
In 2006, Kingsley founded the Rockingham Photography Club, now one of the largest WAPF Affiliated Camera Club in Western Australia. Clubs bring like-minded camera enthusiast together to share their imagery, develop skills and enjoy fellowship. Modern technologies has seen a explosion in people taking images and a club is a terrific non-expensive way of learning more about their craft.
In 2008 he was voted in as the President of the WAPF (Western Australia Photography Federation) - a 2 year position. During this time he initiated and reinvigorated clubs, competitions and build the club base to double the overall Western Australian club membership. He was again voted as President for the 2016-18 years. During this time he initiated and had printed the book ‘WAPF Affiliated Clubs - A Snapshot - 2017’. The book was created to celebrate 100 years of the WAPF and made available to all 40 WAPF Affiliated Camera Clubs at the time.
In 2011, he was assigned by Nikon as the WA lecturer for their Courses. Teaching is one aspect of photography he gains a great deal of satisfaction from, enabling others to enjoy the benefits of photography and create their own historical and artistic files. He see’s how people gain satisfaction, confidence and enjoyment from their craft - and loves to hear the stories of their photography journey. He also teaches at Shoot Photography Workshops in Perth
Kingsley has been the tutor and sponsor for the local ‘PhotoVoice’ competition in conjunction with the City of Rockingham - were students, adults and others photograph in line with ‘Act-Belong-Commit’ and has seen how this competition has effected people’s life in a positive way.
In 2014, Kingsley joined Steve Parish with photographic workshops and trips. This collaboration has been beneficial to both photographers - Steve’s vast business, presentations skills and photographic knowledge and Kingsley’s technical, broad photographic and teaching skills make for a formidable team! They have completed a successful travel / workshop tour of Christmas and Cocos-Keeling Islands, and a nature workshop in the Peel district of Western Australia.
In 2015, Kingsley added to his photography tools an Inspire 1 Drone, and started a project using only a Mobile Phone (iPhone 6s) and apps by taking a photo-a-day only using this apparatus. Mobile devices are quickly becoming the new photographers tool - whilst not delivering DSLR results, these devices quite capable in many ways and inspiring people to engage photographically. This is a positive thing.
During 2015-16 Kingsley engaged in a project taking a photo-a-day using only the iPhone and Instagram. From this he created a book demonstrating the journey.
During 2015, Kingsley volunteered his time photographing WW2 Veterans initiated by the AIPP. Called ‘Reflections’ - it was the largest photographic project ever undertaken in Australia. Kingsley photographed over 60 WA Veterans and now these images, along with 6.500 others were published into a book held in the National Library and images form part of visual and story collection in the Australian War Memorial.
On the 24th December, 2015 - Kingsley closed his shop-front in Rockingham after a 10 year tenure and moved his business activities to home. This allows him to concentrate strongly in improving his skills and provide more personal service to his clients.
Kingsley enjoys all aspects of photography, has a fascination for nature, macro and ‘catching the moment’ and uses photography for positive mental health. His dog ‘Nikon’ - a dingo-cross is a constant companion.
LINK to some his more recent images, showing the diversity of his photography.
