Looking Closer opens this Saturday, 29th October, at The Orangery Gallery in Shenton Park. It runs until Sunday 13th November. It has been an exciting journey towards my very first solo photographic exhibition and one that covers places I have visited all around the world.

I felt that it would be a lovely opportunity to share with you one of the key images of the show and the story behind it. All the images in my exhibition, “Looking Closer“, speak about those moments of unexpected beauty and light that I stumble across while venturing through unknown towns and cities. I take pride in focussing on those little “nooks and crannies” that most may just walk straight on by.

“Torii”

If I could have lied on the ground staring up at the Torii, just like a child, I would have. The Fushimi Inari Shrine was something I had dreamed to see…to bear witness of such a sacred and visually inspiring place. When I saw it featured in the film “Memoirs of a Geisha” I can remember turning to Tom and saying “We have to go there one day!” (Tom is always so happy to go with the flow)

It was a cold morning, wet from last night’s rainfall. Sleepy eyed, Tom and I stumbled out from our gorgeous Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn/lodge, and made our way towards the Torii Shrine. After a wonderful train journey, speaking to an elderly Japanese lady whom was so excited to hear our Australian accents, we eventually found the Shrine. Believe it or not it was quite tricky to locate.

The Torii poles line the mountainside for kilometers and I was almost silenced by its sheer beauty, yes it takes a lot to shut me up!

I trust that I have been able to capture a glimpse of the Torii and their majestic presence that has been such a significant symbol of Japanese Culture.

I hope you are able to come along and see what other images have created the dialogue of “Looking Closer”.

Namaste

Please view the exhibition video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-JnewWs8Cw

I have taken a good look through my portfolio recently and have been updating various images. While doing so I remembered back to a book I bought a couple of years ago, one that had such a profound effect on me. Annie Leibovitz’s “At Work”.

Annie is a photographer whose name is spoken on the lips of every budding photography student.  Me, on the other hand, only came across her work accidently as I have never formally studied photography and predominantly self taught. This meant that I completely missed out on the classroom chatter on the best or favourite photographers of the past and current times.

When I purchased her book “At Work” I did not anticipate the effect it would have one me.  Aside from the fascinating stories she shares with her readers, at the back are a series of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, one of which I still remember each and every day.

When asked “What advice do you have for a young photographer who is starting out?” her answer struck me:

I’ve said about a million times that the best thing a young photographer can do is to stay close to home. Start with your friends and family, the people who will put up with you. Discover what it means to be close to your work, to be intimate with a subject. Measure the difference between that and working with someone you don’t know as much about. Of course there are many good photographs that have nothing to do with staying close to home, and I guess what I’m really saying is that you should take pictures of something that has meaning for you. When I was a young photographer at Rolling Stone, I learned that what I did mattered. This may have been because I was published, but whether you’re published or not, you have to care about what you do. You might even seem to be obsessive about it.

After reading this I have consciously thought of what she wrote time and time again. My family and friends have always been willing for me to place a lens in their faces. Don’t underestimate the power of those moments even if no one else sees what you see…

Bec is always willing to have a good laugh with me

After buying my Canon 5D Mark 2 I was so excited to show my husband. I stopped by his work and this was the very first photograph I took!

Ali always manages to remain as the boss of the household! Work or no work!

It is great that those around me never take themselves very seriously, well they can’t really with me pointing a lens in their faces…

Very fond memories…capture them…

And lastly me…well my portrait isn’t taken too often and when it is…well let’s just say ginger biscuits are the best!

Well I can say that working for yourself has its ups and downs and loneliness is one of the down sides. A new client that recently took me on, helped to shift my slight sense of disconnection. I walked away with a massive smile on my face and may I add there is a lot to say for an “older” model…they were fantastic subjects!

The word Together from the thesuraus read:

all together, as one, closely, coincidentally, collectively, combined, commonly, concertedly, concomitantly, concurrently, conjointly, contemporaneously, en masse, hand in glove, hand in hand, in a body, in cooperation, in one breath, in sync, in unison, jointly, mutually, on the beat, side by side, simultaneously, synchronically, unanimously, unitedly, with one accord, with one voice

For me, all these words seem to jump out of the page. Being such a people person I really struggle at times with working in such a solitary way. It seems that I may not be the only one and I googled the word only to find that many musicians have sung about the word including Mr Jack Johnson…

And more famously John Lennon’s, ‘Come Together’…

I realise each and every day that we all crave to have that sense of connection with those around us.

Enjoy!

xxx

With my own parents now back in town for good, after living overseas for the past 3 and half years, I captured my father packing up boxes of old clothing and memories. It is amazing how our work/life can have such a big impact and really play a big role in creating the person we are today.

Since returning back to the office and post processing hours, I have reflected on my passion towards Industry and Mining. I guess you could say I felt like I really “found myself” up in Parburdoo amongst such passionate people, industrial surroundings and my steel capped boots.

I can’t bring myself to wash the red dirt off…

So I looked back through my favourite photography history book, “Photography a Cultural History 2^nd Edition”, to gain more context of Industrial and Mining Photography. I have consciously chosen to develop and broaden my photography into Mining and Industry, as well as Architectural, Interior and Professional Portrait Photography.

Some of the photographers I look to for inspiration are the likes of Larry Burrows, Andreas Gurskey and Erk Almas.

Larry’s images always leave me breathless and reflective on our own mortality…

I am always transfixed by the colourful, patternlike imagery of Edward…

And the sheer beauty of Erik’s mind scapes…

But Margaret Bourke-White would have to be another that really stands out in my mind. THE first professional female photographer I ever read about and one of many firsts in the history of photography, I can’t help but feel compelled by her choice in subject matter. Known as “…the daring camera girl scales skyscrapers for art…” (Vicki Goldberg ‘Margaret Bourke-White: A Biography)

It is so lovely to feel a sense of connection to those that walked similar career paths in the history of photography…

Until next time…

It is so lovely to feel a sense of connection to those that walked similar career paths in the history of photography…

I couldn’t wait to share my latest adventure with you all. I was recently flown up to a small town in the Pilbara called Paraburdoo, Western Australia.

Although tired from a very early start, and a lack of sleep from the excitement, I just couldn’t help but quickly pull out my camera before even setting foot on the plane. I have travelled so much over the years but a beautiful sunrise over the planes still makes me smile.

Once I arrived in Paraburdoo, I was greeted by Karen, a wonderful lady and passionate employee of Rio Tinto. Within half an hour of being in the office Head Quarters I already felt I belonged. Passionate people and always with a smile on their faces. Shortly after arriving to the main office I had the opportunity to meet with Sinead Kaufman the Mine General Manager. Truly an inspiration to us all. A red head, shorter than me (yes yes it is possible), currently 7 months pregnant, has a 4 year old son and a unique ability to make anyone in her presence feel at ease.

Sinead, a manager unlike any I have met before. I was reflecting on how she has managed to gain such a high level of respect from hundreds of employees. I feel that her leadership qualities and passion towards relationships, set her aside from any General Manager I have met before. Sinead Kaufman is a true inspiration.

Then I had the pleasure of meeting Buck my Press Liaison. I was accompanied by Buck, a fabulous guide who knows the ins and outs of the entire mine site spanning some 50km. We drove constantly, observing the constant movements that come with an Iron Ore Mine.

Before visiting Paraburdoo, the perception I had was a sense that those in mining earn a fair amount of money and at times sacrifice a lot in the process. What I came back with was a realisation that most are INCREDIABLY passionate about their work, the land and being in the outback.

Always watching the sunrise and sunset, they work around the clock.

Tana, a mum, truck driver and team safety representative and great woman!

Rubin, a father 2 young girls and soon to be a 3rd, wonderful Maori New Zealander with a big heart.

It seems that my passion in yoga is now growing so quickly. I recently took some time to connect my yoga experience with my other passion, photography. You may be thinking, “Well, Heather why didn’t you do this sooner? It is so obvious?!”

I have now been practicing yoga for 10 years but my passion was reignited 3 years ago when I started to attend Yoga Om, an Ashtanga yoga school in North Perth. As my practice grew I became more aware of the burning desire to make yoga a more active journey. Ahhhhh yes the goals started to creep in!  What can I say, a dreamer and creative at heart.

Now, a teacher in training with the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Australia, I am excited about the unknown journey ahead.  I think that is what I love the most about it.

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like ‘If you live each as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right’. It made an impression on me, and since then, the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc, and former CEO of Pixar Animation Studios.

A dear friend and I got together and brought a long last vision of mine to life.  With her career in yoga also launching we decided that it was time to collaborate.  I find watching and looking at imagery of yoga postures so beautiful. With this in mind, I am also well acquainted with the fact that the postures/asanas are just 1/8 of a yoga path. It is not about what is on the outside that truly counts and I meet people daily that are searching for that connection within themselves either through yoga or some other path. I make sure that I remember this each and every day of my yoga journey. At times I find it challenging as my work is predominantly focussed on the visual, outside world.

I started reading a wonderful book recently called “Screw Work, Let’s Play” by John Williams. John speaks about the concept of how work can and should be “play”. Work/Play isn’t and never should have been seen as a selfish act.

I found myself drawn to John after listening to him speak online for the ‘Creative Souls Telesummit’, coordinated by Tamara Flemming in the United States. His interview was very inspiring and, as a small business professional, I connected with how he enforced the importance of being passionate about what you do for work as you are involved with it most days of the week!

He introduced this idea of The Play Ethic

“The Play Ethic is about having the confidence to be spontaneous, creative and empathetic across every area of your life…It’s about placing yourself, your passions and enthusiasms at the centre of your world.” Pat Kane, author of The Play Ethic

When I took some time away with some dear friends and travelled to the beautiful restaurant/cafe Samudra in Dunsborough, South Western Australia, this idea of the Play Ethic really “jumped out” at me. I think that everyone is creative in their own way and this cafe is certainly an expression of a collaborative creative project. I love it! I always look up to those who grow their own vegies, particularly a whole restaurant. I just had to capture the atmosphere for you all. I felt that Samudra’s atmosphere and environment speaks as a beautiful metaphor that we can truly make our passions our work and our work our passions. That they should work hand in hand and be the centre of our life.

With that in mind we can still get run down and tired, even doing what we love. This week I need to take some time out and reconnect with mself, not just the professional photographer hat I always wear. These images and memories certainly do that for me…how do you reconnect with yourself and embrace a Play Ethic of your own? Or maybe you are planning to? Or hadn’t even paid it much thought…either way I hope this has sparked an internal conversation or your own…

Enjoy

xxx

Just received this in the mail! I feel like a kid who has just got their first library card!

I know I bombard you with images of architectural, industrial and commercial subjects. Well for today I thought I would share a little love story of two people whom are very dear to me. They have both overcome such huge obstacles in their lives and are now happily living together with a bright future ahead.

I guess the little words of wisdom that they have taught me is to truly never give up on your dreams, no matter how high the “mountain” is.

Thank you guys

xxx