Beautifully Unexpected

New Blog

2011-09-28T09:35:00.000+10:00

Last week I decided that I needed to change my blog, what I didn't realize is that I would be changing my blog. My blog has been upgraded to Wordpress, I still don't know if I'm smart enough for this but check it out and we'll see. My photoblog will now be: http://beautifullyunexpected.net/photoblog/

I hope you keep reading. See you on the other side

Strange Fascination Fascinating Me

2011-09-16T22:46:00.000+10:00

I've decided that I need to change my blog up, a bit of a shake up to keep myself going. The only problem with this is that I don't know how to change my blog...thank god for Andrew, who of course isn't home tonight. So for now I'm going simple and make changes as I go, so look forward to some exciting changes

Childhood Nostalgia

2011-09-15T11:12:00.000+10:00

This (stateside) summer Andrew and I made a trip home for a few weeks in order to attend the wedding of two good friends (lucky for me they held their weddings a week apart so we could attend both).

While we were there I was given the opportunity to give Andrew a glimpse of what summers were like for me growing up. Lying around our families cottage in New Hampshire, waking up to go for swims, reading in the sun, getting sailed around the lake by my dad and only changing out of our swimsuits at the very end of the day when the last light had faded.

We had bbqs with the family, naps in the hammock and relaxing evenings chatting over dinner on the porch, it was just as I remember it.

Since we were in the town my mother grew up in I was even given the chance to show Andrew even more of my younger life including the church that my Nana and Papa were married in, my mom and aunt baptised in, my mom married in, my sister and I baptised in (it goes on), and the farm that has been in my Papa's family for years, where my great-grandmother still lived when I was little and that my mother grew up living it.

It's the house my mom lived in when she and my father began dating. I just love the personal history of the town and it meant so much to share it all with Andrew.

Nothing better

2011-09-12T06:55:00.000+10:00

There is nothing I like better on a nice sunny day that some tasty guacamole, my dad does the best but I'm slowly learning.

Simple mix one fresh avocado, with half a chopped tomato, half a diced Spanish onion, 2 minced garlic, a sprinkle of coriander and the juice from half a lemon. Leave in the fridge for an hour or two before serving to let it all marinate and enjoy. Perfect and simple as we're going into summer.

I also tried to make, what should have been delicious, version of the Girl Scout Samoa cookies, my favourite, by One Hungry Chef. Sadly I didn't watch my caramel so while they looked amazing the caramel could break teeth, I'll try them again some time now that I know they could taste so good.

Crewdsonesque

2011-09-05T21:42:00.000+10:00

I attempted a crewdsonesque photograph. I don't mind the photograph of me but there is something that just isn't quite right about it.

The one I took when Coopa got in the way though is pretty neat. Andrew thinks it is a bit creepy but I like it. What do you think, creepy or cool?

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Through the Woods -1960s style photoshoot

2011-09-03T23:22:00.000+10:00

Courtney, Philadelphia 2007

Just One Cup

2011-09-01T16:16:00.000+10:00

So we are in need of some new photographs for a morning tea poster at work and I decided to see what I came up with. Now I need help deciding which is the best one. So, which is your favourite to advertising morning tea to students?

Cup 1

Cup 2

Cup 3

Cup 4

Cup 5

Cup 6

Cup 7

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Lost in the Woods

2011-08-30T09:45:00.000+10:00

Untitled, Valley Forge 2008.

The Dance

2011-08-29T08:40:00.000+10:00

The Dance, New Jersey 2008.

Paper Flight

2011-08-26T05:50:00.000+10:00

Time Aloft, Philadelphia 2007.

Time Aloft II, Philadelphia 2007.

Wonder

2011-08-20T14:40:00.000+10:00

Wonder, Philadelphia 2008

Wonder II, Philadelphia 2008

New old scans

2011-08-19T21:40:00.000+10:00

I was going through my hard drive the other day and came across a folder of scanned negatives that I never got around to working so I thought I'd take some time now to do so. Hopefully I'll be getting through them over the next few weeks and posting them as I go.


Untitled, Philadelphia 2007

Daring Cook: Spaetzle

2011-07-18T20:58:00.000+10:00

I recently joined an awesome new group called the Daring Cooks and the Daring Bakers where we are challenged each month to make something new that we've never done before. This month for the Daring Cooks we had to make pasta by hand, there were a few recipes given that we could choose from or we could go with our own, I decided to stick with one of the given recipes, spaetzle.

I've decided that I'll give the recipes only of dishes that I create well and that tastes good, as you can tell there is no recipe with this one. I tried my best to fall the recipe exactly but I think part of it was my pot of water took way too long to boil and I got a bit impatient. Even so I didn't think the actual dough had much taste so this was a miss for me, here are the photos of my attempt though:

Kenmore Asylum

2011-07-01T22:39:00.000+10:00

Last weekend my friend Alex took me out to the old Kenmore Asylum in order to take some photographs. Of course, Alex forgot his camera so he just took the time to show me around, he and a few others had spent a lot of time at the asylum a year or two ago when they were shooting a very creepy short film.

We headed out early in the morning and I got some great shots while the sun was slowly warming the day up for us. Below are some of the photographs that I really liked from the day, I really had a hard time narrowing it down. What I found to be most eerie about the old asylum, besides the fact that they were about to start renovating to turn the place into a resort of B&Bs, is that all the buildings are so nicely intact and looked after just completely empty.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Life After Dark Part 2

2011-06-08T09:36:00.000+10:00

Life After Dark

2011-06-01T19:20:00.000+10:00

Bagles Take 2

2011-05-25T21:26:00.000+10:00

I made my second attempt with bagels this weekend, doughnuts too but that'll come later. I finally managed to get the bagels right, although it took at least an hour longer to be ready to boil than it should have.

The recipe I followed is by Peter Reinhart as dictated by The Wednesday Chef, one of my new obsessions.

Makes 8 bagels

3 1/2 c plain flour
2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp instant yeast
1 tbsp honey
1 c +2 tbsp water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (yes I put this again but it's used separately from the other salt and I didn't want to confuse anyone)
Poppy seeds

Mix flour, salt (the 2 tsp), yeast, honey and water by hand until they form a ball of dough. Add more water if needed than let the dough rest for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 2-3 minutes until stiff but a bit sticky, not too sticky though. If it is too sticky or soft add a bit more flour. Place the dough in a greased bowl (Crisco is the best), cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Line 2 baking sheets with lightly greased baking paper. Remove dough from fridge and separate into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into loose balls by rolling on a dry, unfloured surface. If the dough wont sticky to roll into a ball lightly wet the spaces (I couldn't really wrap my head around this but it completely works). Once all the balls are rolled out begin rolling them out into snakes 10 inches long, making sure they are narrower at the ends. Take the snake and wrap it around your hand so the two ends are in your palm overlapping. Squeeze the ends together and roll them back and forth until they are sealed. Place the bagel onto the lined baking sheet.

Cover bagels with plastic wrap and put in the fridge overnight.

90 minutes before you're going to cook the bagels take them out of the fridge (I had to do about 2.5 hours). While the bagels are coming to room temperature fill a large pot with water, at least 4 inches deep. Cover the pot with water to bring it to a boil. Heat the oven to 450 F. When the water is boiling add 1 tsp salt and the baking soda then reduce the heat to simmer with the lid on.

To see if the bagels are ready place one in a bowl of cold water. If the bagel sinks without floating within 10 seconds take it out and put it back on the tray. Wait 15-20 minutes and try with another bagel. Once the bagel floats gentle lift a few and put them in the pot. After boiling for 1 minute flip the bagels over and boil for another minuet.

Use tongs of a slotted spoon to remove the bagels once boiled and place back on the tray. Once the tray is full sprinkle the bagels with poppy seeds and put into the oven. Bake for 8 minutes, rotate the baking tray and bake another 8-10 minutes. Once golden brown remove from the oven and let the bagels cool for 30 minutes before eating.

Eat and enjoy.

Bagels and Doughnuts Take 1

2011-05-21T17:45:00.000+10:00

Last weekend I made my first attempt at making bagels and doughnuts from scratch. It was a bit ambitious of me to try them both at once, this was proven when I dropped my bagel dough as I removed it from the fridge and shattered the bowl. I quickly cleaned up and chopped off all the edges of the dough so I had a nice clean middle.

Everything turned out alright for a first go but the bagels were flat, the water was too hot and I added too much salt so I killed the yeast which meant they didn't rise. They tasted deliciously but they were very small, about palm size. I'm going to give it another go this weekend to see if I can get them right this time.

The doughnuts will take a bit more tweaking to get right. The doughnuts themselves didn't have enough flavor. I tried to make them adult so instead of a normal chocolate icing I did a Kahlua-chocolate icing, it turned out too runny and sticky. I'm not entirely sure how to fix this so if anyone has a suggestion I'd appreciate it.

Heaven

2011-05-17T09:48:00.000+10:00

It was just two months ago that Dr. Pepper began being sold in local shops across Australia instead of specialty candy stores. So now, anytime I've got a spare $3.00 I know exactly what to spend it on.

Tea Parties and New Toys

2011-05-15T16:08:00.000+10:00

Every time I hear or say 'tea party' all I can think of is this:

For Kate's birthday we decided to hold high tea and get all dressed up, and I thought it would be a good chance for me to really play with my new toy, a Mamiya RB67 that I got back in February. I just picked up the negatives and test prints from Bica the other day and other then the fact that I've got to make adjustments for the external light meter I use, I couldn't be happier with the results. The camera has no light leaks, no streaks and an amazing sharpness and focal field, I can't wait to shoot even more.

Aboriginal Tent Embassy Shake-Up

2011-05-09T09:07:00.000+10:00

I went by the Aboriginal Tent Embassy today for the first time in a few weeks. When I got there I noticed a group of people in chairs on the right hand side of the field, I went to the left and started to look for Auntie Jude in the tent area but I was quickly pulled up short when I realized that two of the tents were down and Auntie Jude's looked like it was in pieces as well. My concern grew as I started towards the people on the other side of the field and heard a man yelling.

Once I got to the other group I patiently waited as the man who was yelling stormed off and for someone to acknowledge me so I could discover what was going on. The long of the short is this: Auntie Jude has been removed from the Embassy earlier in the week and would not be returning, the tents are coming down as there is an infestation and an exterminator is coming in to clean the area, there is now a committee in charge of the area who will be making a lot of changes over the next few weeks.

I had an opportunity to speak with one of the heads of the committee and explain that I had been getting to know Auntie Jude and make her comfortable with me so I could photograph the Embassy for the upcoming 40th anniversary. Now there is no Auntie Jude and the space that had been what I imaged photographing is no more. This just goes to show that as a photographer you can never get stuck in an idea when a project has just begun. I knew in my head exactly what shots I was going to try and get and that's now been turned upside down.

I'm going to spend a few days adjusting myself, this is going to give me a chance to decide exactly what it is that I want to focus on and find another way to do that. Considering the Embassy is going to be going through a massive change just now before the anniversary this is still a good time for me to be there and record a bit of history so I should be glad for that and figure out where to go from here. More upsets to come, I'm sure, before this project is complete.

Cinco De Mayo and Tex-Mex

2011-05-07T22:33:00.001+10:00

Having lived in Texas for so many years I love the excuse for a Mexican food themed evening and Cinco de Mayo was it. I made everything from scratch starting with fruit salsa, moving on to ranchero pork with marinate lime onions (complete with homemade flour tortilla's) and finished with warm sopapillas drizzled in honey. The fruit salsa was finished well before everything else, the rest of the food was finished just as we were ready to eat it, so it is the only thing I actually had time to photograph. So here we are with a delicious, light salsa recipe, perfect for anyone going into summer (those in the states who I am so jealous of).

Fruit Salsa (serves 8)

Salsa
1 orange (or mango if it's in season)
1 regular kiwi or 2 small
1/2 pint strawberries
1 can crushed pineapples, drained
2 small chilies, chopped, leave the seeds in if you want more spice

Cinnamon & Sugar Tortilla Chips
Pack of soft tortillas
butter
cinnamon
sugar

Salsa: Chopped fruit and chilies (I used the small Ned Kelly's from my garden) and mix in a bowl with the drained pineapple. Leave to sit overnight if you can to help the flavors blend together.

Chips: Heat oven to 375 F. Brush tortillas with melted butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake in oven for 5-10 minutes until slightly crisp. Once cooled use a pizza cutter to cut into chips.

Serve and enjoy, I know we did.

Artist of the Week: Sophie Calle

2011-05-06T09:37:00.000+10:00

Sophie Calle is a French photographer whose work investigates intimacy and identity. There is a voyeuristic nature to some of her images and it is said that she once followed a man from Paris to Venice photographing him without his knowledge all the while. She enjoys investigating the lives of others and turns herself into a private investigator to do this.

My favourite of Calle's work is the series 'The Hotel', where she obtains a job at a hotel in Venice and proceeds to photograph the contents of the room in between cleaning. She is giving a sense of identity to these people that even she has never met by exploring this deeply personal and intimate space of theirs. (All Photographs property of Sophie Calle)

Room 47

Room 28

Room 29

Room 44

And then of course there is the week she ate chromatic food each day, she was modeling herself after a character in a novel by Paul Auster, who was modeled after her.

Calle loves to experiment with her own life and the lives of others turning everything into art and I am left wondering what she will do next.

Hair and Make-up Shoot

2011-05-02T20:05:00.000+10:00

I've finally gotten around to sending off photographs from a hair and make-up photoshoot I did last month so since everyone involved will see them soon I thought it was about time to share them around here too.

The shoot involved a make-up artist, Cherie, hairstylist, Jess, and two models, Mai and Julia and it was a great day. Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Mount Kosciusko

2011-04-26T22:51:00.000+10:00

I had my first hike up Mount Kosciusko this past weekend and got some great photos along the way.

April Contest

2011-04-22T07:41:00.000+10:00

I joined the Australian Photography Forum recently. It's a great online community to talk with other photographers and share ideas. They do a monthly photography contest which I got really excited about, until I realized that you have to have posted 20 times before you can post photographs and links, since I won't have a chance to do that before the end of this month I'll share my April contest photo with you. The theme is 'Backyard' and here is my photo:

Liam Bailey

2011-04-20T10:01:00.000+10:00

Well, with my parents in the country I find that I get a lot less done, it probably doesn't help that I haven't seen them in 1.5 years so time with them seems so much more important then anything else. While they're spending a few fabulous days in Melbourne I'll get on with some posting, or at least try to.

The good thing about trying to clean up my inbox this past week was that I got to rediscover all sorts of books, websites and artist that I had forgotten about. Liam Bailey, this weeks Artist of the Week, is one of those.

Below Liam does one of the things I love about photographer, he shows people the beauty in discarded objects. The first ___ photographs are balls that were found around London, you wouldn't normally look twice at these but Liam forces you to, and they're great once you look. They all have character to them that you never would have noticed if it wasn't for Liam. So enjoy, and check out some of his other work here.

All Photographs are property of Liam Bailey.

I couldn't resist adding these last two either, they are a collection of postage stamps that Liam found at flea markets and the like. His work has a distinct archival quality to it.

Merry Beach

2011-04-11T21:36:00.000+10:00

I spent this past weekend at Merry Beach in Kioloa, NSW. We were lucky to get beautiful weather while we were there and I got some amazing shots when I woke up early in the morning. These are the reason that I love living in Australia.

Dan Wilton

2011-04-08T09:55:00.000+10:00

Dan Wilton is one of those artist of my age that I referred to a few posts ago that acts the way I think artist my age should act, it makes me a bit jealous of how I perceive his lifestyle to be (for all I know he spends his Saturday nights feeding his cats and reading on the couch sipping tea but somehow I don't think so). His work is part of this genre of raw, street/party photography and culture that has been present in artists since the 1960s. He hangs out with musicians, goes to festivals and explores weird and bizarre looks for his photographs, I can't help but love it.

Below are some of my, so far, favourite works that Wilton has done. All photographs are property of Dan Wilton, more wild adventures can be seen on his blog.

The photo above and the two below are some of Dan's photographs from Bestival

This one and the two below are from a project Dan did when the financial crisis hit the UK a few years ago

Rineke Dijkstra

2011-04-04T19:36:00.000+10:00

I apologize for the delayed Artist of the Week but my mom arrived to visit me in Australia for the first time and I've been a bit distracted trying to get ready for her.

Rineke Dijkstra is a Dutch photographer who takes mainly portraits against clean, simple backgrounds. What strikes me most about her work is the way she captures people on the edge of change. She photographs youth at the beach, awkward and shy, unsure of their bodies and themselves, or the women she photographs just after they have given birth, these women do not shy away with their bodies, they stand up taller and proud, holding on to their change and presenting it for all to see.

All photographs property of Rineke Dijkstra:

Choose 3

2011-03-30T10:29:00.000+11:00

Hello All, I am horrible at making choices when it comes to narrowing down my favorite photographs and now I'm stuck. I am submitting photographs to possibly be printed by Avant Card, the only problem is you can only send in 3, and I'm stuck on which 3. I could really use some help so tell me which 3 it should be:

Paul

Urambi Hill

Snow White in Real Life

Maria of the roof

The Long Road

Bull

Circus

Flag

Subway Symphony

Happiness is...being you

2011-03-29T11:17:00.000+11:00

I have been pouring through Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project this past week (absolutely amazing and inspiring) and have come to realize what may be a stumbling block in my quest for a true self-portrait. That is the acceptance of my own true self. Rubens talks about how she used to not tell people about liking certain things, like reading Harry Potter, she was nervous about letting parts of herself show because of what people might think, and pretending to like things because it seemed like she should.

I can completely sympathise with Rubin in this because as an artist I have always felt out of place. I have never felt cool enough or arty enough to be a fine art photographer, because if you're a fine art photographer my age you must be one of the two.

I've always felt too...normal I guess, uninteresting. I dress too preppy, I don't enjoy arty films, I don't hang out at dive bars, buy all my clothes second hand or read Tolstoy. But as I come to terms with what I do enjoy I am going to try and let that show in my images, because even though I don't fit what I see as the criteria to be a fine art photographer I am one and I am going to start finding joy in what I like, like hamburgers, romcom trash and spy novels. Heck, I'm a feminist who loves to bake while listening to Jimmy Buffett, such a hodgepodge makes me special (I just love the word hodgepodge). The photographs over the next few months are going to be quite a mix and hopefully quite me.

How do you differ from the image you have of your profession?

The Quest Continues

2011-03-28T12:29:00.001+11:00

My quest to find a good self-portrait goes on. I think these are pretty good, they don't show my face but they do give a bit of sense about me.

Corrine Day

2011-03-24T20:37:00.000+11:00

“Photography is getting as close as you can to real life, showing us things we don’t normally see. These are people’s most intimate moments, and sometimes intimacy is sad.” – Corinne Day

I find Corrine Day to be one of the most inspirational photographers I have looked at. She had such drive, such force and creativity. It seemed as though she could go anywhere, do anything, she was a breakthrough artist, always striving. Her images are striking in so many ways, they are bold and direct, they are creative and mysterious, they all have her flair.

She is known as the person who discovered Kate Moss, the one who started drug/waif look. She was free, quick on her feet and it appeared always creating. When I think of how I want to be considered at the end of my career I know that I want to be like her, even if I don't make the impact she did I want to know that I tried.

From the shoot that started everything, one of the images from the Kate Moss shoot

ATE - Lantern Making

2011-03-21T14:12:00.000+11:00

I spent some time across the field from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on Saturday. I went to see Graeme and his friends who do some support work and protesting with the Tent Embassy. They were starting the process of making new, and refurbishing old lanterns to be used for a vigil the night before ANZAC Day. I ended up spending more time helping and talking than taking photographs but it was a nice experience to begin to get to know some of the people who are connect to the Embassy for one reason or another. From now on though, I think I will need to carry a tape recorder with me and have it on at all times, there is just too much to remember and I want to make sure I get everything right.

Elliott Erwitt

2011-03-20T16:51:00.000+11:00

I was introduced to Elliott Erwitt's work during my masters program, which is a shame because I should have known of him long before then. His images have a subtle, sometimes not so subtle, humour to them that makes them a pleasure to look at. He has been a member of Magnum since 1953 and has traveled the world over documenting what catches his eye, and what a great eye he has.

Here are a few of my favorites (All Photographs property of Elliott Erwitt):

Happy St Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T21:49:00.001+11:00

In honor of St Patrick's Day I have made Guinness cupcakes, a delicious recipe I got from Confessions of a Tart. Now she was a bit more fancy then me with a ganache filling and such but I'll give it a try next time.

Cupcakes:
1 c Guinness
1 1/4 c butter
3/4 c cocoa powder
2 c flour
2 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2/3 sour cream

Bailey's frosting:
3 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 c butter
2 tbs Bailey's
2 tbs heavy cream

Pre-heat oven for 350°

Melt butter with beer over medium heat. Once melted add the cocoa powder and mix until smooth then set aside to cool a bit.

In a bowl mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl use a mixer to beat together eggs and sour cream until smooth. Beat in the beer mixture then beat in flour mixture until all smooth. Pour the batter into cupcake foils, about 3/4 of the way up. Bake for 15 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Once the cupcakes are cool mix up the frosting. Beat the butter until it is fluffy. Add the sugar a bit at a time and mix well until the frosting is a bit stiff. Add the Bailey's and heavy cream, mix and then decorate the cupcakes and enjoy.

I brought them in for afternoon tea today and they went very quickly so give these a try.

A New Journey

2011-03-15T20:45:00.000+11:00

I started a new project this weekend, this will be the most extensive project I've ever done, it will span the next 8 months and requires me to really open myself up to try and learn about a new culture, and a people who are very suspicious of everyone. I have to build a trust and make sure that I can keep it while reporting on people that are at the heart of controversy many times here in Canberra.

So here starts the project and my time at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Let me know what you think of the photographs because I need feedback on the direction I am going in.

Eye on Afghanistan and Canberra in a matchbox

2011-03-14T21:03:00.000+11:00

This weekend I went down to PhotoAccess to catch two of their shows Eye on Afghanistan and Canberra in a matchbox before they closed.

First, Eye on Afghanistan. It contains photographs from 4 different photographers, Palwesha Yusaf, Virginia Haussegger, Sanaz Fotouhi and Gary Ramage. The photographs as you begin as vibrant, full of life, character and culture. I enjoyed the painterly light of Haussegger's photographs that reminds me of Caravaggio's work.

As you walk through the exhibition you get an understanding of the people and begin to relax looking into the curious, proud and smiling faces staring back at you from the wall. One minute you are smiling at a young girl still remembering the feisty, dancing children from earlier, then you turn your head to see you have been pulled from these pleasant scenes to stand before a triage unit as army doctors struggle to help an injured soldier. And just like that it has all changed. Gone are the cheerful times, the happy faces, in it's place lay children in hospital beds with missing limbs, soldiers carrying a fallen comrade and everywhere guns at attention.

It's hard to call a photograph of an injured child beautiful but Ramage has brought a beauty to the harsh realities of this war. The arrangement of photographs in the gallery shock us from the peaceful times and images just as the inhabitants of the country must have been. In each image we see a person, a human life we can connect with. Between that emotional connection and the technical use of light and colour of these images are beautiful and wonderful presented to draw you in and get you feel for these people.

Second, Canberra in a matchbox. This was the most recent member's show which showcases works by various local artist inside of Redhead matchboxes. The only confine of the work was that the photographs needed to be taken in the ACT and the print needed to fit inside the matchbox. The variety of images and styles shows how different people think of Canberra and their life there. It was quite an interesting show with photographs ranging from landscapes of the city to a series that depicted a day in someone's life here in the city. Assignments with just a few restrictions can really allow people to be creative and this show was a success with that.

If it weren't for the fact that both show closed on Sunday I would recommend a viewing of them both so instead I'll say keep an eye out for the next show opening at PhotoAccess soon.

Coopa Turns 1

2011-03-13T20:51:00.000+11:00

It's Coopa's first birthday today so I thought I should commemorate the event with a new photograph, not that I don't take enough of him already. So here is Coopa at 1 years old.

The Quest for a Self Portrait

2011-03-13T08:02:00.000+11:00

I’m not good at self-portraits. I think it’s hard for anyone to be because as a photographer I like roles too much, so when I’m in front of the camera I don’t want to be myself, I can’t be myself, I have to take on a persona, another person entirely. The biggest problem I find is that I can’t be natural, I’m naturally shy in front of a camera, my persona's aren’t. When you’re photographing someone else there is that chance to catch them when they drop their guard, the second they stop seeing you and regain themselves. There is no opportunity for this in a self-portrait, we know it’s coming, we are consciously aware of what is going on because as soon as the timer goes we need to check the image and rest ourselves, again.

Andrew always teases me about my self-portraits. He says that I look sad in them. I’m not sad, I’m trying to concentrate on relaxing, a very difficult task. With a self-portrait you have a choice of how to show yourself off to the world, we are all flawed, and some of us aren’t ready to delve into who exactly we are, we’d rather present an ideal, what we want everyone to think we are. Now, everyone tries to do this when they’re getting their picture taken, but it comes back to the person on the other side that, if they’re good, sees through and still manages to take everyone unawares. So what are you supposed to do when there is no one on the other side?

This has come about because with my new website I think I need a new portrait. I love the one that is up there now, taken by the amazing Christopher Benjamin, but it’s going on 4 years old now so it’s time for a change.

I think the closest I have coming to a true self portrait is the one of many me’s that I showed in my blog about Identity in Portraits. Each one is a different persona that I enlivened for the camera, none of them are true me but together they are all me.

So here, as soon as you see the title 'Self Portrait' you know it's an act. I'm not really sleeping, how could I be when I'm responsible for the shutter.

If I had actually been sleeping this is what I really look like in the morning, nothing sweet innocent with good hair, although this is a better hair morning than most

I'm not caught off guard by a joke

or taking a picture....well, technically I am taking a picture, just not with the camera I am holding in the picture.

But it's only fair we get to act and present our carefree, spirited ideal image to the world like everyone else, people just tent to be more suspicious when they know that you were the one in charge, you're so much more likely to manipulate to flatter yourself. But aren't we all?

Blog: Bent Objects

2011-03-12T10:23:00.001+11:00

There are a few blog that I read religiously, Terry Border's is one that I have been reading for 4+ years now. He creates great humorous photographs using things found in his kitchen, they've been using by companies like OXO and cards for Target. He has even started an entire day dedicated to orange foods, it's spread quickly and far. Here are some of my favourite photographs, there are many many more on his blog, Bent Objects.

Stanley Kubrick

2011-03-10T09:58:00.000+11:00

Since my foray into circus life was inspired by Stanley Kubrick's work it seems only fitting that he is my Artist of the Week this week.

Most people know Kubrick for his eccentric lifestyle and his film work such as A Clockwork Orange, 2001 and The Shinning (my personal favourite). What most people don't realize is that Kubrick was also an incredibly talented photographer. I, in fact, did not realize this until a friend bought me a book of his photographs one Christmas.

Kubrick actually began his career as a photographer working for Look magazine before making movies. While there he spent a few years photography a family circus, it was these photographs that inspired me to photograph the traveling circus the other week. It's amazing to see the differences, not just the lack of animals but how much more glitz they've added to the show today and how much has been removed from the patrons.

I tried to find some other Kubrick photographs to share but they are very hard to come by, once I've located the book at my parent's house I'll do another post so you can see some of his other amazing work with jazz musicians and people on the subway, very inspiring stuff. For now, enjoy the show:

(All photographs property of Stanley Kubrick)

We Have Morals

2011-03-07T10:51:00.000+11:00

The circus is in town.

Ever since seeing Stanly Kubrick's photographs of an American circus in the 1940s I have wanted to photograph a circus myself. I finally got the chance to do so this past weekend photographing Webers Circus as it is performing in Canberra over the next few weeks.

The only thing the circus is missing are the typical circus animals, this is because, as I explained to my parents, the ACT has banned all circuses with animals in their show, "Prostitutes are ok but animals in circuses aren't", to which Andrew quickly replied, "Yea, we have morals". Even without the animals it was a great show and a fun chance to relive part of my childhood.

I know there are a lot here but I took over 700 so trust me when I say that I narrowed this down. My favourite two are down at the bottom so I can finish with the best.

They did have a few animals but I don't think dogs and miniature ponies count

I just love the shadow following her on the wall, it makes me think of Peter Pan

This I had to include because the guy was pulled from the audience to follow along with what the clown told him to do and as soon as she left the ring he started dancing around and didn't notice her return

Book Review: The Volcano Lover

2011-03-04T23:02:00.000+11:00

If you're a photographer then you've read Susan Sontag's On Photography, which is why I couldn't pass by The Volcano Lover without buying it.

It reminds me of a Jane Austen novel, set in the late 1700s it follows a collector and British ambassador to Naples for around 25 years of his life. He gains and loses art and wives, studies a volcano, flees the invading French as their revolution takes hold, meets with Kings and Queens, travels the sea, befriends Admiral Nelson and lives through so much history. What I find very interesting about this book is the lack of names. There are some times when a person is referred to as Duke *** instead of putting the actual name in, it's almost like a test to see if you can deduce who everyone is, Nelson himself is never named, it's simply through a knowledge of history that you realize what is going on. (I'd tell you who everyone is but I think it's more entertaining to let everyone work it out for themselves)

When I am reading a novel the last thing I want is to be pulled back into my own time by the writer and therefore reminded that it is fiction and I am where I actually am. It drove me crazy that Sontag repeatedly did this, continuously making modern day analoges that nearly made me put the book away until I finally realized that Sontag was doing this to draw us into the story more, not push us away. She was trying to help us relating to the characters feeling and state of mind, she gave us modern situations before throwing us back into the character's own peril to get us to understand the emotions and reactions the character had. It still drives me a bit up the wall but I can understand and appreciate what she was doing.

Sontag is very true to details with this work, as she is in everything she does. And since the main character, simply known as the Cavaliere, is a great lover and collector or art and various artifacts it allows Sontag to do what she does best and impart artist knowledge subtly to the reader. I have many pages that have been earmarked and written on for future reference for their simple truth that applies to life and art.

Collectors show the world what has gone "unappreciated, neglected, forgotten. Too much to call this a discovery; call it a recognition" (pg 71). When you think about it, photographers are collectors, they collect memories, moments in time, which is, according to Sontag, and the Cavaliere, what art is all about, the significant moment. That is photography, a moment of feeling, of a look, something frozen in time and truthful, well, some of the time.

I took so many notes in this book that I cannot not recommend it, there is too much it has given me to think about. There are definitely slow parts, and it took me 2 days to get through the last 50 pages but it was worth it in the end when you come across quotes like the one I'll leave you to consider.

"To collect is by definition to collect the past" (pg 268) (I feel like it could be an essay question for school

Royal Canberra Show

2011-03-02T11:42:00.000+11:00

On Sunday I worked for ARF at the Royal Canberra Show. Once I was done for the day I thought I'd take a look around and here is some of what I saw:

Gregory Crewdson

2011-03-01T06:42:00.003+11:00

Gregory Crewdson is one of the most elaborate photographs I have come across. He spends days building sets and uses thousands of lights to get his images just right. For a while he took over an entire town in Massachusettes to make photographs. His work is large, detailed and very mysterious. That is what draws me in to his photographs, there is something in each one that is not quite right and some times you have to look around the image for a while before you discover what exactly it is that seems out of place.

There is something captivating about each image, I think part of it for me is the unknown story. Each photograph is a glimpse of some story but we don't know what it is, we are given hints and are left to our own imagination to create from there.

Enjoy some of Crewdson's photographs below and see what story you come up with.

Birds of a Feather

2011-02-28T20:36:00.000+11:00

One of our neighbors has birds, not nice, sit in a cage birds, ones that live on his roof in a pack (pack?). Every now and then you see and hear them race past (it makes this soft wooshing noise like a breeze coming through trees, very peaceful).

It amazed me when I began photographing them to see that they created this beautiful choreography as they go, weaving in and out of each other, creating patterns in the sky that can't be seen until I froze them on my screen (totally didn't mean to rhym there, please don't judge me).

I just like how here they look like old school fighter planes

These two were watching the birds in formation chattering away

11,711

2011-02-27T07:45:00.000+11:00

On my studio wall is a postcard with a quote from Henri Cartier-Bresson which says 'Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst' (I actually did a rough count because I got curious of where I'm at, well, it's more than 11,711, suppose that means I'll be good soon). I leave it there as inspiration, not just for the words but the postcard itself. It came from Project Basho back in 2008, back when it was still new and I was allowed to thrive in the middle of this every growing creative life force.

I remember the first day I went to Project Basho, I was sure I had the wrong address because all I saw was boared up rowhomes in the wrong part of town. But then Tsuyoshi opened the door and welcomed me into what became my second home in Philadelphia.

I decided to ease into life there so I signed up for a medium format class. I was nervous because I had never shot bigger than 120 film before, and I didn't do that well to be honest. I'm used to shooting fast and don't have enough patients to painstakingly create the perfect image on those giant screens. But that didn't matter, I could tell this was a place I needed to be, as much as possible.

I threw myself into any work they would give me, updating the website, learning coding and about metadata, helping with the darkroom, assisting with framing, events and emails. In return I found a home and a family. I was allowed unlimited late night access while Yoshi visited his family in Japan. I was given my own key and made friends with another artist, Al, who shared my late night darkroom tendencies. We sang, we dance and printed into all hours of the night.

Yoshi taught me colour printing, introduced me to classic photography films and made me appreciate good Japaneses tea and classic mochi. One night we had shared a dinner of Indian food with a gentleman from the Ivory Coast who had to flee the country because rebels were going to kill him because he worked as a security job in the city. It was a fascinating time in my life and I am so proud to see how much Project Basho has grown over the past few years.

And that is what I think of whenever I look at that postcard, the wonder that is Project Basho and the amazing impact it had on my life.

If you're near Philadelphia stop into this hidden art gem, the 2011 Onward Show is on now until March 27.

Mitra Tabrizian

2011-02-23T14:57:00.000+11:00

I was lucky enough to have Mitra as one of my professors while doing my masters program at the University of Westminster. To be honest I don't know if I would have heard of her otherwise.

Mitra is a British-Iranian photographer currently based in London. She has exhibited throughout Europe, the UK and the USA. She spoke to us in class of identity, and she is one to deal with this well since her identity is split between her life in the UK and Iran. An incredibly mysterious, intelligent and talented woman and I hope you will enjoy her work as much as I have.

This was one of the first images I saw of hers:

Photograph by Mitra Tabrizian from series Terhan 2006

The above and below are part of her incredibly detailed, and well staged tableaux.

Photograph by Mitra Tabrizian Untitled 2009

Her work over the past few years has been very moving and engaging, you could spend ages staring into these images, trying to make sure you see every little detail that she has carefully arranged. I am drawn to one of her first series, Correct Distance. It has a film noir style, so brilliant that I am waiting for Humphrey Bogart to appear around the corner at any moment. As a romantic, film noir to me always manifests into Casablanca and long lost loves, there is always a story behind images like these, and Mitra chooses not to share what that is.

All Photographs Above Copyright of Mitra Tabrizian

Gibraltar Falls

2011-02-22T06:41:00.000+11:00

We decided to take a nice swim on Sunday down at Gibraltar Falls, it is a gorgeous spot on a perfect day.

Book Review: Expressive Photography

2011-02-19T09:01:00.000+11:00

I get most of my books from the library, saving the purchases for ones I will turn to time and again. Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart is one that will remain on my shelves and wear down quickly.

It doesn't teach techniques but offers tips and inspiration from a variety of passionate female photographers. It's their words that have me reach for the camera and feeling the thrill I get from behind the lens reignite. This will be a book I reach for when I feel down and unsure of my work, a book that will remind me what inspires me and why I do what I do.

The only thing I am disappointed about is the ending because, there wasn't one. Instead, the last section finished and the book was done. I didn't need a big wrap up but I think something was needed to tie it all together.

If you're a female photographer, or even just someone looking for a bit of creative motivation, I'd highly recommend this book, you can always get it from your local library just in case.

Lee Miller

2011-02-16T06:05:00.001+11:00

I have decided my blog needs to expand beyond just photos I've taken, so once a week I will introduce a new photographer I like, consider it an educational addition to the blog.

It was hard to narrow it down for the first one but I've chosen Lee Miller. Lee Miller was an amazing woman, she began as a model for Conde Nast before running away to Paris at the age of 22, once there she camped out on Man Ray's doorstep until he agreed to take her on as an apprentice, eventually his lover as well.

She learned from Man Ray, was ingrained in the surrealist movement and grew all the time, eventually ventured out on her own. What impresses me most is that when World War II broke out she became the official war photographer for Vogue. She was one of the few females who traveled through the war zone, she showed what life was like trekking right behind the Allie soldiers at the end of the war, in fact, she and another photographer were staying in Hitler's apartment in Munich when his body was discovered, that is where this photograph was taken by David Scherman, of Lee Miller having a bath in Hitler's bathtub. That's quite a woman who would do that.

Lee Miller in Hitler's bathtub in Munich - Photograph by David Scherman

Through her whole life Miller stuck by her passion, she was constantly learning and pushing herself, in such a man's world she stood with the best of them. Below are a few of my favourite photographs of hers. For more you can see Lee Miller, A Life.

Women working in wartime London by Lee Miller

David Scherman by Lee Miller

A Nonconformist chapel in London after the Blitz by Lee Miller

Picasso with Lee Miller's son by Lee Miller (I mean, seriously, who gets to just hang out with Picasso)

Dead SS Guard by Lee Miller

Self-portrait by Lee Miller

Now you too can glow in the dark

2011-02-14T22:34:00.000+11:00

Recently tours have begun to be led through Chernobly Power Plant. I have to admit that I am slightly against this, and not because you may come out with slightly more of a glow than you had when you went in, but because I have to wonder if it will ruin the whole reason that people seek it out.

There are plenty of people who travel to Chernobly for the thrill of walking around a nuclear desolated land, but there are many of us who are drawn to the absolute beauty of places like Chernobly, this place frozen from human interaction and turned back over for nature to try and recover from what was done to it.

The place is an archive of that time, to bring tours in will, well, commercialize the place to begin with, something that was once considered a sacred space for those photographers willing to take the risk and make the journey will be a place any one can visit with their wife and three kids on the yearly family holiday. When the town was finally evacuated after the reactor went at Chernobly they left most of their belongings behind thinking they could come back in a few days, since they were never allowed back these possessions represent the life at that time and what was left behind and lost.

There are memories and life held in those walls, along with the radiation. I'm not saying other people shouldn't have the option to see this, in fact it should be seen, that is why photographers go in there to begin with, to show the beauty that still survives in the faces of that disaster, but making it so accessible does seem to detract the importance of those images that do make it out.

And speaking of those magical images, take a look at some of them that have been taken by brave adventurers.

Ruins of Chernobyl, Over 20 Years Later

And:

Photograph by Gleb Garanich

Photograph by Sergey Supinsky


Photograph by Sergey Supinsky

Austin & Jessie

2011-02-13T21:04:00.000+11:00

Since it was such a nice day today Kate came by so I could photograph Austin and Jessie. Below are the results, Austin is such a good subject and very happy with the camera as you can see.

Austin:

Jessie:

Bungendore Show

2011-02-01T21:42:00.000+11:00

I attended the Bungendore Show this past Sunday to help out with ACT Rescue and Foster (ARF), they are a great group that help re home dogs that would otherwise be put down. We were lucky that the pet parade and dog 'races' took place right behind our tent so I had a great view to shoot from. Below are some of the images from the day.

Milo

The ARF Tent

More Milo

Part of the Pet Parade, this puppy and his little boy owner were adorable running all over the field

A strange site to see in a pet parade that was full of dogs

During the 'races', those little ones could go fast

A lot of the dogs were more interested in playing with each other than running to their owners across the field

Dani McGowan Photoshoot

2011-01-30T18:33:00.000+11:00

These are some photos from a photoshoot I did last weekend with this model I know Dani, we had a great time hiking all over Mount Taylor and the photos came out phenomenal.

Boxing Day Rodeo in Jindabyne

2011-01-18T19:38:00.000+11:00

Judy and I went to watch the Jindabyne Boxing Day Rodeo where we got to sit right on the edge of the action, below are some of my favorite photos from the day.

Perry Sandhills

2010-11-21T19:04:00.000+11:00

Andrew and I went out the Mildura in the Victorian outback a few weeks ago. While there we decided to take a drive over to Wentworth and check out the Perry Sandhills, these are the images from our journey into the desert:

Archive of the Lost

2010-09-15T09:46:00.000+10:00

I have been working recently on an article discussing photographing ruins as an archive of the place. Photographic archives have come into popularity the past few years, used to document the life of an event. I feel that ruins themselves can be archives, they can remain as they were at their last use, a moment frozen in time, they can show evidence of the years that have passed through items left behind by people who have traveled to the site. While in Fiji I had the opportunity to photograph what I consider an archival ruin.

Korolevu was the first resort on the Coral Coast and business boomed while it was open, business was so good that an airport was opened across from the resort to fly the guest from Nadi straight to the resort. Sadly, in 1983 a hurricane hit the resort knocking out all power that wasn't restored for months, around the same time there was a lease despute that saw the hotel stripped down to nothing. The resort was family owned and opertated so the money was not available to get the resort back on its feet. So there it has sat since 1983.

The photographs I have taken show the resort 27 years on, the buildings still standing, the paths barely visible in the underbrush and natural vegitation taking back over. Soon the land will be sold and redeveloped and there will be no evidence of what original stood on the site, that is where the photographic archive comes in. My images are just part of that archive, photographs were taken of construction, of the building while it thrived, the initial destruction and now the regrowth, all of this makes up the life of the building. I hope you enjoy my contribution.

The Queen's Birthday

2010-08-16T18:47:00.000+10:00

As per usual Andrew and I can't agree on which image is best so I'm putting it out there for you guys to decide. Which of the three images works best to represent the Queen's birthday?

Jayden

2010-08-11T11:27:00.000+10:00

The other weekend I had the joy of photographing Jayden, an adorable little boy who just loved the camera, here are some of my favourite results.

Ray White Corporate Portfolios

2010-08-07T11:32:00.000+10:00

Last week I took some photos for work:

In the middle of it all Scott jumped into for his quick 60 second photo shoot, the results were brilliant.

what an agent

52 Fail

2010-08-02T06:48:00.000+10:00

Well, as you can see my attempt at 52 weeks of self portraits has failed, I'm ok with this though because it was really just a way to make sure I keep taking pictures and I think I've been managing that without rushing to try and jam a self portrait into the mix every week. There will still be some self portraits and a whole lot of other things I'm trying out. Check back tonight for some fun and exciting images I did this past week.

Action Jackson

2010-07-21T11:47:00.000+10:00

I've started my lovely pet photography side business now and it is so much fun, mainly because I get to play with more puppies. These are the photos I did the other day of Jasmine Jackson, the dog of one of the guys I work with at Ray White. Off to a good start with the pet photography I'd say.

Additionally, I have signed my office up to participate in the RSPCA's Cupcake Day on August 16th. If you can either come by our office on that day for a Cupcake or donate online to benefit the RSPCA the animals would be very grateful: http://www.fundraise.rspcacupcakeday.com.au/ray_white_belconnen

Miss Shelley Ray

2010-07-20T11:35:00.000+10:00

This past weekend I convinced my friend Shelley Ray to let me photograph her, she has this very natural appeal and the best accessories ever. We got some great shots in my studio and down on Pine Island and these are my current favourites from the day.

Shelley has the perfect accessories to pull off shots like the one below that look so vintage Vogue.

Business card

2010-07-18T17:52:00.000+10:00

The new business cards Andrew designed for the arrived in the mail the other day:

52 Weeks - Week 12

2010-07-17T23:26:00.000+10:00

Fairy Tales in Real Life

2010-07-09T18:57:00.000+10:00

I have a fascination with enchantment and fairy tales that started, well, a long time ago. Recently I've become very interested in how fairy tales fit into real life, they seem out of place in this modern world and that is what my new series is looking at, how fairy tales fit into my grown up, disillusioned life.

Upcoming Shows, etc

2010-07-08T12:38:00.000+10:00

I have a lot going on over the next 5 months so I thought I'd let everyone know in case anyone is in the area of my upcoming shows and are able to attend. I'll leave a list on the side of the blog with upcoming dates of interest for everyone to keep an eye on.

Picture This - 16-29 July at Brunswick Street Gallery in Fitzroy outside of Melbourne, Australia

Unwrap Your Mind - 22-? August That Gallery in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong

Hang it Yourself - 5-19 September PhotoAccess in Canberra, Australia

Cranleigh Art Show - 15-17 October Cranleigh School Canberra, Australia

Southside Market and Fair - 4 December 10am-2pm at Macarthur Scout Hall

52 Weeks - Week 11

2010-07-06T12:03:00.000+10:00

This is what I worked on instead of rushing out a portrait last week. I know it's a bit late but Happy 4th of July.

52 Weeks - Week 10

2010-07-05T06:59:00.000+10:00

I am giving myself a Gimme week with the 52 Week project this week, being absolutely slammed at work and running around trying to prepare for a 4th of July party on Saturday I didn't even have time to bake anything except from a box. So that is going to be a break week for me, but it means I'll come back with something even better this coming week so stay tuned for that and Happy 4th of July!

Pepper People

2010-06-28T20:41:00.000+10:00

I took some time on Sunday to play with my food since my parents aren't around to yell at me when I do it now.

Coopa part 2

2010-06-27T10:13:00.000+10:00

After this post Coopa my dad thought I should try putting the two photographs together to make Coopa stand out even more against the background so here it is:

52 Weeks - Week 9 (A Side of Myself I've Never Seen Before)

2010-06-25T21:37:00.000+10:00

Should have been posted last night but we spent the day working on the garden and collapsed last night.

Cupcakes Try 1

2010-06-25T20:31:00.000+10:00

With another attempt to follow in the footsteps of my good friend Jenny Lou I made some cupcakes the other day. I had to photograph these quickly as someone coughcoughAndrewcough decided that when they were told they could have a cupcake that meant the nice looking one sitting on a special plate all by itself away from the other cupcakes, so this isn't as nice as the one I had prepared but I do what I can.

Whistling in the Dark

2010-06-23T16:49:00.000+10:00

Besides loving abstract art right now I feel like there is something beautiful in the way light moves on a dark night, light is always a refuge point in the darkness and I hope some of that comes across, a dance of colour and a jolt of light to bring the nighttime to life.

Things We May Never Know

2010-06-22T18:52:00.000+10:00

My friend from the University of Westminster, Cheng Ting Ting, is having her first solo show called Things We May Never Know in London. So if anyone is in London around July 15th stop by Matsu Photographers Gallery to check it out, her work is really exceptional and worth a look.

King Coopa

2010-06-22T09:11:00.000+10:00

Not much to say other then I am loving having my own studio set-up

Ice cube attempt

2010-06-20T11:05:00.000+10:00

So I've been trying to figure out how to photograph coke like they do for the adverts and such, with the bubbles and nice looking ice. I read somewhere that it's done using clear jello for ice cubes so I decided to give it a try.

My goal

You can't see anything but there is jello in there

After the jello set I cut it into cubes

And filled my pretty glass with some of my new ice cubes

Finally I set up my lights and began my first attempt at getting a great drink shot. The results are below, not too bad but not as good as I was hoping for.

Dedicated to Jenny Lou

2010-06-19T08:15:00.000+10:00

My good friend Jenny Lou from university is going to pastry school and keeps posting these amazing photographs of what she makes on her blog, found here. I've been inspired by this and have decided to give it a try myself, so here is my first attempt photographing these mini chocolate chip cheesecakes I've gotten pretty good at making.

More yumminess to come

52 Weeks - Week 8

2010-06-18T21:07:00.001+10:00

52 Weeks - Week 7 (Inspired by Francesca Woodman)

2010-06-16T08:34:00.000+10:00

Due to celebrating the Queen's birthday this weekend, we got a nice long weekend to relax. That means everything for me has been pushed back, hence the mid-week posting of what should have been on Sunday.

I've long admired the work of Francesca Woodman and have used her work as inspiration for this weeks self-portrait.

52 Weeks - Week 6 (4 seconds of my life)

2010-06-14T15:53:00.000+10:00

Present to Myself

2010-06-10T21:47:00.000+10:00

My present to myself.
I know, how exciting, a box. But wait, it gets better.

See. A bag. Better than a box. But wait, it gets better.

Getting the picture? (What a terrible pun, I apologize)

Yay! I plan on spending the weekend getting acquainted with my equipment, I'm just so excited! Check back here later this weekend for some more excitement!

The power of the sun

2010-06-09T17:04:00.000+10:00

I was opening the curtains the other day and this lovely scene unfolded in front of me, it reminds me why I love our new house so much and why it's hard to get out of bed on such nice sunny days.

And then looking at the rest of the bed it's even easier to see why it's hard not to be lazy and lie in bed all day.

Identity in portraits

2010-06-08T20:00:00.000+10:00

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of a portrait, it's something that drew my attention while I was in university at the University of Westminster.

There is an issue with this idea that a portrait can be a true representation. It is, in fact, always influenced by an outside source, the photographer, the viewer, sometimes it's false because the person is showing who they want to be and not what they really are.

There are so many different facets of self, how can someone be represented in one portrait how can someone represent themselves let alone someone else in one image, the only reason we can look at a photograph and say “yes, that is them” is because we have intimate knowledge of that person. We know them, that one image doesn’t actually show them fully as a person but that one image triggers something in our memory, it brings that person to life and that is what makes it a portrait because it makes that person real to those who knew them, it brings them out.

But that’s going to be different for everyone who views that image depending on their relationship to the person in the portrait, whether it’s a business relationship, whether it’s family or a close friend, someone who knew them through charity work, or a drinking buddy from uni, those dynamics change how the portrait is viewed, the message it gives off. For one it could be someone representing those they help, the homeless and less fortunate, for the other it could be reminiscent of the morning after a wild night out, two conflicting messages all from the same image. The memory that’s brought forward is different so it’s still not the same message being sent across through that image.

There can never be just one message given out from a portrait, it’s different, it’s human nature, we are all made up of too many different things for a true portrait to be done in one. As an answer to my dilemma of how I could represent so many different, and often opposing, sides of myself I created this image while I was studying, it doesn't give a complete idea of me but I think it shows me better than any other portrait has.

I'm sorry if some of the above was a bit rambling, my thoughts seem to jumble together sometimes and the easiest way to work it into something cohesive is to get it all out so I can look at it. I've been examining the idea of self and the idea of portraits for a little while now and will probably continue to do so for the rest of my life.

52 Weeks - Week 5

2010-06-06T11:49:00.001+10:00

Web update

2010-06-01T15:50:00.000+10:00

After slacking off for a while I've finally updated my website. Check it out, Beautifully Unexpected

52 Weeks - Week 4 (Am I really there)

2010-05-30T17:53:00.001+10:00

Recently I've been finding that automatic doors are not opening for me, and on occasions have closed on me, it makes me wondering if I'm invisible.

You can see me, right?

Coopa

2010-05-27T20:51:00.000+10:00

This is my lovely little boy. It's hard to get him to stay still but I managed a few shots, I call this first one "Moody Coopa" :)

I also have these two that I've been playing around with, I can't decide which one I like better, any opinions on which you prefer?

52 Weeks - Week 3 (Jai guru deva)

2010-05-24T10:46:00.000+10:00

52 Weeks - Week 2 (Podophobia)

2010-05-21T08:44:00.000+10:00

So I'm not afraid of feet but I hate mine. They're too big, whenever I find cute shoes they never actually have them in my size, when I was living in London the only shoes I could buy were sneakers and that's because they were men's shoes.

Besides being way too big they're all tough and hard from running and walking around barefoot all the time, I'm too lazy to paint them so the polish slowly chips away and I'm beyond clumsy, constantly running into things, stubbing my toes, dropping things on my feet.

This is an attempt to reconcile with my feet, they don't like me and I don't like them, but I want to change that and that's why I photographed them for this series, you don't have to like everything about yourself but it's still a part of you. As ugly as they are they get me around and help me run like the wind so they can't be all bad.

I give you, my feet.

Umbria Hill

2010-05-19T13:41:00.000+10:00

As I said, another post soon. I popped across the street during lunch to pick up some film I had developed recently. This is from a walk I did recently up Umbria Hill in Canberra. It's amazing that there is such wild nature so close to the city.

We took this walk two weeks back on a lovely fall day, yup, it's fall here, and all of you in the US can laugh now but I'll be the one smiling when I'm having a bbq outside on Christmas Eve before going for a swim. I actually still haven't gotten used to the backwardsness but I figure it will come with time, for now I keep checking the date and getting confused as to how it's so cold so close to summer.

Since we took the dogs with us I became responsible for chasing off the kangaroos so that the dogs wouldn't do it. Dogs seem to really enjoy chasing kangaroos, who in turn love beating up dogs that try and catch them, not a good situation. As we walked up the hill we noticed the kangaroos in what appeared to be a race, they kept running laps around a line of trees before disappearing over the side of the hill, presumably towards the finish line.

Once we got to the top of the hill I decided to walk over to the edge and see if I could spot more kangaroos, a novelty that will never wear on me. I noticed one a bit down the hill so I started towards it, about halfway down I noticed a few more heads pop up and realized that there were about 5 or 6 kangaroos right in front of me. This is the point where I wished for my long lens which I'd left at home thinking I'd go for sweeping landscapes instead of close-ups. The kangaroos didn't seem too bothered by me and soon moved on.

As we started down the hill I noticed a few right near the trail and got straight to my job of chasing them off. It didn't seem like a big deal and soon I was stalking through the bush roaring like a dinosaur at them. It was only as I got closer to them and realized two things that I became a bit worried, 1- they weren't moving or the least bit scared of me, and 2- they were much bigger than me. One even hopped towards me to see how serious I was, my little dinosaur growl wasn't doing much. Luckily after another minute they got bored with me and wandered off to race through the fields.

I keep telling myself that I'm going to be more brave around kangaroos so I can actually pet one one of these days but there is just something unnerving about them when they stare you right in the eye, even the little ones are a bit intimidating.

Enjoy the photos and hopefully I'll get another close encounter with a kangaroo soon.

Soon

2010-05-19T08:59:00.001+10:00

I know I haven't posted in a few days but it's coming. We moved this past weekend so everything was in a bit of chaos, but now I've found my computer and we should have internet up tomorrow (fingers crossed).

I have to say though, I never realized how hard it would be to move house with a puppy, I think it may even be harder than moving with a baby. The main difference is the baby will stay put while you're getting things done while the puppy will run inbetween your less as you move heavy furniture, pee everywhere, eating packing material and get stuck in tight little spaces he shouldn't be going in in the first place. We spent half the time this weekend chasing Coopa away from places he shouldn't be and trying not to drop furniture on his tiny little head. But now that the move is over the pictures are on their way, tomorrow :)

52 Weeks - Week 1

2010-05-09T17:43:00.000+10:00

I've decided to do the 52 week project, where you have to take a self-portrait every week, the 365 one just seemed a bit too intense for me. My biggest problem is that when I have ideas I want to do them right away, I have problems pacing myself. Anyhow, here is the first one, a bit more serious then I intended but I think the whole point of this kind of exploration is to have fun and get some different results, see where things take you. So without further ado, the beginning of my 52 weeks.

Signs of Fall

2010-05-07T22:01:00.000+10:00

In line with my need to photograph more I took a walk during my lunch break. It's turning to fall now and I love seeing the beautiful colours of the trees against the blue sky.

I noticed these two bottles and it almost appeared as though they were having a rendezvous in the sunny park, it's just where I wanted to be sitting with Andrew enjoying the day. It reminds me of when you see shopping carts in random places that make them appear as if they have a secret life.

Inklight

2010-05-06T15:40:00.000+10:00

I just saw that one of my photographs is on the website of Afterimage Magazine - The Journal of Media Arts & Cultural Criticism. I'm currently trying to get an article published with them so this is a good step in the right direction.

Go check out my photograph and while you're there have a read over this magazine, it's really quite impressive.

www.vsw.org/ai/inklight/
My photograph is on the first page, bottom row, second from the right.

Vandalize America

2010-05-04T20:27:00.000+10:00

One more oldie before I get on to the new work, it's just hard to resist reminiscing. I'm going to be a bit sad when we are settled into our house and I won't have moving as an excuse to dig back into some of my old work. I think I'm going to make this a regular occurrence because your opinion changes all the time and what I may overlook and dislike today will be brilliant tomorrow.

This is from a series I started working on while living in Philly. I saw a tag down on Penn's Landing that said "Vandalize America" and I thought it suited the graffiti and 'sticker' art that is seen throughout Philly and many American cities. These are ones that struck my fancy.

I came across these Eggyolk tags and I really enjoyed where the artist decided to place each one:

Ghost in a Wishing Well

2010-05-02T16:45:00.000+10:00

So I've been slacking off a bit since I've gotten to Australia and I need a way to motivate myself, hence this blog. I figure if I'm showing off some of the stuff I'm playing around with it will force me to do some more.

I came across these while packing for our big house move. I was trying to recreate an old school, 1970s Rolling Stones-esque pictorial. Feel free to give me some feedback.