Hi Guys, today is the first day of a month of GREEN…hmmm you are probably thinking I am “In a faze”. Well may be you are right but I have decided to spend a month taking one photo a day of something GREEN. It can be absolutely anything. It will mean me having a camera on me at all times, just in case I come across something on the road. The images will be shot on film, Polaroid as well as digital, whatever medium is most suitable at the time. I will collate the images side by side…

So here we go. My colour journey…

Day 1 Image 1…

Night Sketch By Heather Robbins

I took some time out this evening with my best friend Bec and we sat and drew together. I haven’t done that for such a long time and it made me remember how much I love to draw. I chose this vase because I am secretly obsessed about it. You are probably thinking, “Why? How weird…” I love the way the light catches the green layers in the glass and how it reflects a myriad of various greens. I also wanted to attempt sketching it in texta, a very difficult medium to use unless you have a childlike mind with few pre-conceptions!

I managed to borrow the vase from my gorgeous sister in law and have not returned it since. How long can you borrow something before you appear rude for not returning it?

My entire photography education to date has consisted of self learning as well as learning from those around me that are more experienced. I am so grateful to all of those photographers whom have allowed me to assist them and learn the way they see the world. So being practically self taught, my photography history is a little rusty and I have taken to watching the documentary “The Genius of Photography”. It is teaching me so much and in a visual way which I effectively connect to. It has definitely kept me motivated during these solitary wintery days.

To all those image makers out there, even those who love anything that is about the history of  a creative art form, I definitely suggest you spend the time and watch this documentary. It has been a wonderful eye opener for me and the history of an art I will spend my life learning.

Enjoy,

A bientôt

Namaste

Well what can I say, France has fascinated me since I was 12 years old. No I wasn’t spoilt enough to have visited France so young, but French class at school definitely caught more of my attention than maths or science.

Unlucky for me, a keen interest in French wasn’t going to be the only subject that would get me through my high school examinations, but it has definitely maintained some sanity in my current weekly rituals. I am currently still speaking French along with my fabulous tutor, Elisabeth Rosinel.

I absolutely love my lessons with Elisabeth. They are an hour and half of my week, sometimes longer because we get caught up in deep discussion, where I connect with another language. It takes me away from the every day and encourages me to reflect on my life, my passions and my visions but in a way that also challenges me.

Let’s face it, when trying to engage in a discussion, in a foreign language, there are always phrases and the use of slang that we do not understand. That is why I love it. I learn how to speak “everyday French” and the discussions are all related to mine and Elisabeth’s current life challenges.

When I travelled through France, I was able to completely immerse myself in the culture. I managed to walk each town and city I visited, finding small fascinating corners that i just had to capture.

I loved walking past old buildings, some busy with people and others boarded up with remnants of what was once there. I also loved the vibrancy of the buildings especially in the older parts of towns. Nice is one that really stands out in my memory…

Paris, the “city of love”, is not such a city of love when one has to live there. Unlike the beautiful and welcoming country towns of France, Paris can be a may hem if grumpy business people and annoying tourists. But I always managed to find peace during my days wandering around Paris. The galleries were always my first stop and while walking through the Museé D’Orsay I captured this beautiful view, Montmatre a gorgeous icon of Paris and it’s many facets.

It has been some time since I have had the pleasure of traveling to another country and exploring everything it has to offer. But when I do manage to travel, I find it is the most amazing source of inspiration and gives me the space to explore and develop new ideas and visions of my own.

For the time being, my French lessons are giving  me just that…

A Bientôt

As some of you may have read in a previous post, I managed to connect with a lady whom I hadn’t seen for some years. Michelle Cowan, Managing Director of Specialized Training and Development, had spoken at the Lunch Box List International Women’s Day Luncheon.

Michelle later contacted me to come and take some photos of Eagles player, Dean Cox, alongside some young footy enthusiasts. And they were definitely enthusiastic. It was a three day Dean Cox football camp, where the boys are completely immersed in the sport.

While waiting to start shooting, I managed to meet one of the Dad’s whom had brought his son along. I first asked which one his son was. Once we started chatting the father mentioned that his son had barely got any sleep the night before. He said “He was just so excited about coming today, he just couldn’t wait”.

Now, not being a footy fan myself, I must admit I had to read up on Dean and his football career. In person, Dean is a pretty awesome guy. It was very generous of him to come along and volunteer his time. I am also certain he definitely made it a day to remember for most of the boys involved.

Sometimes it is the simplest of things, like kicking a football, that can bring so much to one’s life. the boys’ smiles were infectious, I definitely walked away lighter…

Some of you already know, but for those that don’t, I have always been fascinated with graphic patterns. My first ever photographic assignment was spent photographing graphic shapes and lines in my surroundings. At this stage I knew nothing about aperture or shutter speed. I knew to try and read from the light meter in my camera, that was all.

Well needless to say it didn’t stop me. I started to find patterns, patterns I had walked past and looked at almost every single week. Suddenly my surroundings appeared so much more intriguing. What I didn’t realise, is that it was training my artistic eye…

It is so funny how old “habits die hard”. Now looking back, I can see the influences in my current work.

I was on a shoot at Patrick terminals earlier this year and some thing really caught my eye. There I was, on top of the tallest crane in the Fremantle Port, and I looked down to the trucks and shipping containers below. On the ground they were enormous, well certainly for a little person like me. The trucks were hauling past at amazing rates. Picking up, carrying and delivering the shipping containers at a rate of a container every minute.

Now looking down onto the trucks and containers, everything seemed so small. Lego memories flashed over me. I could imagine myself picking the containers up and stacking them myself, only to have my big brother come along and steal them for his own lego landscape…

It is so nice to look back over your past work and compare it to the current work you are producing. No matter what industry you are in, I think we quickly forget how far we come and what we achieved.  With this in mind, I will always remember how I will always be learning that’s the best part…

Namaste,

A Bientôt

xxx

Well I have not gone to the bank quite so early before but it was nice not to have to wait in a queue.

6:00am I walked in the door, lights and camera in tow. I was quite amazed at how many people arrive at work that early. I passed the city train station and there were at least 30-50 people walking across the road, having just hopped off their early morning train!

I wander if there is a reason to this besides wanting to make their clients feel more comfortable…It is nice to see businesses, that have been around for so many years, take a make-over. Makes younger businesses, like Red Images, reflect on how it is a sign to never get too comfortable and always try to reinvent oneself.

I gather that reinvention, for a company, is never an easy process. We just look forward to the day that Red Images will be at a stage of a “reinvention”, it is a sign of growth. For the time being, let us enjoy the process of the building blocks!

Ever since travelling throughout France I have always enjoyed Tapas bar and Restaurants. There are noticeably more and more Tapas Restaurants sprouting up all around Perth. Some of which I have had the pleasure in eating at.

Rustico Tapas Bar and Restaurant contacted me to photograph their new restaurant. Shall I just add no bias, they have such an amazing menu! It is a challenging job photographing beautiful food, especially when the food is so fresh and almost effortlessly, a true representation of Rustico’s atmosphere.

Vanessa Hilton opened Rustico only just a couple of months ago. The beautiful decor and lanterns emulate what I am trying to create in my own home. Gorgeous rich reds, Middle Eastern lanterns and a comforting environment to enjoy a beautiful glass of Sangria and a plate of Paella just like out of Spain, believe me!  I managed to see restaurants, just like Rustico, in Dubai while visiting my parents. In Dubai you tend to have amazing atmospheres and food but you definitely “pay the price”.

Rustico is definitely affordable. Even though it is not within the Perth metro area, based on the beach front in Rockingham, Tom and I are already planning a dinner together there! May be we might bump into you…

How can we stop domestic violence? Well jumping out of a plane can be one way! Very early last Saturday morning, a large group of amazing volunteers drove all the way down to Pinjarra to jump out of planes for the Global Good Foundation (GGF). With coffees in hand, Tom and I grabbed all the camera gear and a breakfast on the run (really do not want to divulge where from) and joined these eager people. I felt privilidged to be ask to photograph the morning and was so blown away by the sheer generosity and eagerness to raising as much funds as possible for GGF. I am sure it was a thrill to do so, but all of these people jumped out of planes with the generous sponsorship from people from all around Perth and there was no backing out!

The morning would also not have been the same without the great GGF Team. We are all just a little enthusiastic that, a 7am drive and an 8:30am start in Pinjarra, is “right up our alley”… sausages and all!

GGF was founded by Tenille Bentley, an amazing young woman who experienced, first hand, the effects of domestic violence. When you have a spare moment, please feel free to take a look at what GGF is all about and if jumping out of a plane is not for you may want to join us at the 2010 Gala Ball. We will all be dressing up and dinning with some very inspirational people, all with the intention to raise more funds for those whom have suffered.

See you there next time!

Since shooting the musicians behind the name Jade Diary, I have been compelled to see them play live.  In amongst her full-time work, husband and, oh yes well a life…Cheryl Lim brought The Jade Diary together. Band manager and lead singer, Cheryl has got an incredible drive and passion to see her dream become a reality.

I think we can expect to see these guys a lot more frequently around the music scene in Perth so keep a look out and take a look at the official Jade Diary website, they have some sample music for all to listen to.

The Jade Diary, reminded me that we can all make time for what we love to do in life. Either it be music, photography, dance, painting, drawing, wow I could go on forever. Whatever it is that brings out your creative spirit, in the words of NIKE,  “ Just do it…”

The day that Shirley contacted me to take her portrait, I was inspired instantly. A young woman about to be published for the first time?! That is something to be proud of. Shirley Marr has made me realise that we only have to make time for what we are passionate about and dreams really do come true. In amongst her full-time work, renovating her home with her husband, satisfying a passion in baking, Shirley has managed to write an intriguing novel based on a young woman whom has “everything” but her fury leads her into another world…

I have had the pleasure of reading Shirley’s manuscript and Fury will be out in bookstores in May 2010, make sure you keep your eye out for it…