My parents introduced me to photography with a 110 format Kodak Pocket Instamatic sometime around age 4. I don&#8217;t remember making too many masterpieces, but the hobby became a favourite and on my 12th birthday I was upgraded to a Pentax K1000. The K1000 served me well for 15 years, but by the late 90&#8217;s autofocus and motor-drive drew me to purchase a Nikon F70. Soon, I began to combine my photographic hobby with my business (aircraft charter and flying school). As the aerial photo part of my business grew, I became less happy with the results I was obtaining from my consumer-grade lens which showed obvious softness at larger print sizes. I realised that I needed to upgrade to better lenses. The more I researched the options, the more I didn&#8217;t want to compromise. A simple upgrade to better lenses wouldn&#8217;t allow me to take advantage of recent technological advances due to the limitations of the F70 body. I began to consider a digital body, as well as better lenses. While digital had some drawbacks when compared to the simplicity of film, there were also many advantages. In February 2005 Nikon released the D2X, and I placed my order. What followed was a quantum leap in the image quality that I was able to deliver to my clients. The Nikon D2X came with a steep learning curve, but the results were worth it. I hope that you enjoy looking through my galleries as much as I enjoyed making the images. Smugmug offers a referral discount system when you sign up for your own account. If you&#8217;d like to save $5 (and you don&#8217;t mind me saving on my subscription too), then please copy my coupon code ( <span class="green" id="referralCode">CYANijDwiMCIA</span> ) and paste it into the &#8216;referred by&#8217; field on the <a href="https://www.smugmug.com/signup.mg" target="_blank">Signup Page</a>. http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/photos/178829720_Mv4m6-Ti.jpg http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/popular/ 2009-12-24T07:35:39Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />A wave rolls in at dawn, South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Rosedale/3142538_GXbny#154758156_vxvxg" title="A wave rolls in at dawn, South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Rosedale/South-Coast20070311072/154758156_vxvxg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="70" alt="A wave rolls in at dawn, South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia." title="A wave rolls in at dawn, South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T06:19:12Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Rosedale/South-Coast20070311072/154758156_vxvxg-Th.jpg 2007-03-11 07:17:34 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Yachts moored at Bateman's Bay as the moon rises. NSW South Coast.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Batemans-Bay/3142348_HCQYV#155012785_xBWAJ" title="Yachts moored at Bateman's Bay as the moon rises. NSW South Coast."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Batemans-Bay/SouthCoast2006-05-130045/155012785_xBWAJ-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Yachts moored at Bateman's Bay as the moon rises. NSW South Coast." title="Yachts moored at Bateman's Bay as the moon rises. NSW South Coast." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T05:33:10Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Batemans-Bay/SouthCoast2006-05-130045/155012785_xBWAJ-Th.jpg 2006-05-13 16:55:48 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Grey Hornbill. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/2805505_G2Har#136708843_WqGJE" title="Grey Hornbill. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/Pilanesberg2007-01-11150/136708843_WqGJE-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Grey Hornbill. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa." title="Grey Hornbill. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-13T03:16:48Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/Pilanesberg2007-01-11150/136708843_WqGJE-Th.jpg 2007-01-11 12:43:39 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Construction cranes at dusk during the Canberra Centre Section 84 development, June 2006. Canberra, ACT.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Scenic/Industrial/2887453_iXTCR#155012641_8NxBN" title="Construction cranes at dusk during the Canberra Centre Section 84 development, June 2006. Canberra, ACT."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Scenic/Industrial/Canberra-Centre2006-06-04022/155012641_8NxBN-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Construction cranes at dusk during the Canberra Centre Section 84 development, June 2006. Canberra, ACT." title="Construction cranes at dusk during the Canberra Centre Section 84 development, June 2006. Canberra, ACT." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T10:24:53Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Scenic/Industrial/Canberra-Centre2006-06-04022/155012641_8NxBN-Th.jpg 2006-06-04 17:55:02 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Dawn at South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Rosedale/3142538_GXbny#154758127_jvQXL" title="Dawn at South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Rosedale/South-Coast20070311060/154758127_jvQXL-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Dawn at South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia." title="Dawn at South Rosedale, NSW south coast, Australia." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T06:16:08Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Places/NSW-South-Coast/Rosedale/South-Coast20070311060/154758127_jvQXL-Th.jpg 2007-03-11 07:04:41 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Snowy Mountains, NSW.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/2813157_6xrDg#150630797_2xYws" title="Snowy Mountains, NSW."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808152/150630797_2xYws-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Snowy Mountains, NSW." title="Snowy Mountains, NSW." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T14:56:18Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808152/150630797_2xYws-Th.jpg 2006-08-08 17:16:27 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Snowy Mountains, NSW.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/2813157_6xrDg#150630544_JCsDX" title="Snowy Mountains, NSW."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808147/150630544_JCsDX-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Snowy Mountains, NSW." title="Snowy Mountains, NSW." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T15:16:55Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808147/150630544_JCsDX-Th.jpg 2006-08-08 17:14:20 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Snowy Mountains, NSW.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/2813157_6xrDg#150630360_yRfdR" title="Snowy Mountains, NSW."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808140/150630360_yRfdR-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Snowy Mountains, NSW." title="Snowy Mountains, NSW." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T16:01:40Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808140/150630360_yRfdR-Th.jpg 2006-08-08 17:09:48 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Snowy Mountains, NSW.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/2813157_6xrDg#150576634_SxBXR" title="Snowy Mountains, NSW."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808133/150576634_SxBXR-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Snowy Mountains, NSW." title="Snowy Mountains, NSW." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T15:16:38Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808133/150576634_SxBXR-Th.jpg 2006-08-08 17:02:59 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Scenery on the Sunday Falls walk. Royal Natal National Park, South Africa.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/2805505_G2Har#149786258_g5LAu" title="Scenery on the Sunday Falls walk. Royal Natal National Park, South Africa."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/Royal-Natal2007-01-14074/149786258_g5LAu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Scenery on the Sunday Falls walk. Royal Natal National Park, South Africa." title="Scenery on the Sunday Falls walk. Royal Natal National Park, South Africa." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-12T18:04:23Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/Royal-Natal2007-01-14074/149786258_g5LAu-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Masked Weaver. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/2805505_G2Har#136674737_DKG6k" title="Masked Weaver. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/Pilanesberg2007-01-11052/136674737_DKG6k-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Masked Weaver. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa." title="Masked Weaver. Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-13T21:48:19Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Travel/South-Africa-January-2007/Pilanesberg2007-01-11052/136674737_DKG6k-Th.jpg 2007-01-11 06:59:20 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Fishing boats in Eden Harbour Eden, NSW.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Scenic/Nautical/2887447_RD9Ti#155427326_5bieE" title="Fishing boats in Eden Harbour Eden, NSW."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Scenic/Nautical/Eden2005-11-060003/155427326_5bieE-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Fishing boats in Eden Harbour Eden, NSW." title="Fishing boats in Eden Harbour Eden, NSW." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T10:03:20Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Scenic/Nautical/Eden2005-11-060003/155427326_5bieE-Th.jpg 2005-11-06 08:24:47 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Clifton Suite, Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Canberra-Australia/2812389_cvumd#151067701_ez6vM" title="Clifton Suite, Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Canberra-Australia/Clifton-Suite2006-05-05011/151067701_ez6vM-Th.jpg" width="150" height="90" alt="Clifton Suite, Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT." title="Clifton Suite, Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T14:42:34Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Canberra-Australia/Clifton-Suite2006-05-05011/151067701_ez6vM-Th.jpg 2006-05-05 12:36:02 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Snowy Mountains, NSW.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/2813157_6xrDg#150382773_jTGYm" title="Snowy Mountains, NSW."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808040/150382773_jTGYm-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Snowy Mountains, NSW." title="Snowy Mountains, NSW." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T15:13:43Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Snowy-Mountains-NSW/SnowyMountains20060808040/150382773_jTGYm-Th.jpg 2006-08-08 14:24:00 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />Northern approach to Coppins Crossing. FNAC walk at Coppins Crossing, ACT. Sunday 10th June 2006.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/FNAC/20070610-Coppins-Crossing-ACT/2982968_rH8eB#161524150_NEZFY" title="Northern approach to Coppins Crossing. FNAC walk at Coppins Crossing, ACT. Sunday 10th June 2006."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/FNAC/20070610-Coppins-Crossing-ACT/Coppins-Crossing20070610014/161524150_NEZFY-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Northern approach to Coppins Crossing. FNAC walk at Coppins Crossing, ACT. Sunday 10th June 2006." title="Northern approach to Coppins Crossing. FNAC walk at Coppins Crossing, ACT. Sunday 10th June 2006." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-26T03:33:31Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/FNAC/20070610-Coppins-Crossing-ACT/Coppins-Crossing20070610014/161524150_NEZFY-Th.jpg 2007-06-10 16:35:10 -35.28475000000000 149.03979166600000 0 <p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com">damonbanks</a><br />St John's Church and surrounds, Reid, ACT. Lake Burley Griffin and the National Carillon in the background.</p><p><a href="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Canberra-Australia/2812389_cvumd#150631357_bg2PU" title="St John's Church and surrounds, Reid, ACT. Lake Burley Griffin and the National Carillon in the background."><img src="http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Canberra-Australia/StJohns2006-04-250043/150631357_bg2PU-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="St John's Church and surrounds, Reid, ACT. Lake Burley Griffin and the National Carillon in the background." title="St John's Church and surrounds, Reid, ACT. Lake Burley Griffin and the National Carillon in the background." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-10-09T22:34:35Z damonbanks http://damonbanks.smugmug.com http://damonbanks.smugmug.com/Aerial-Photos/Canberra-Australia/StJohns2006-04-250043/150631357_bg2PU-Th.jpg 2006-04-25 12:37:58