incline
Now Playing: esthero - breath from another
Topic: self-portraiture



Less than a week to get yourself a copy of darkness & light!

And if you're looking for a way to spend your stimulus package, here's a suggestion.

100 people - #3: Chris
Now Playing: the puppini sisters - betcha bottom dollar
Topic: 100 people



I can't remember the exact circumstances under which I "met" Chris, affectionately known as Ziz. I believe I came to his notice through the Melbourne and / or Melbourne Silver Mine groups on Flickr sometime in 2007, and we started exchanging comments and messages and finally met in person at Unsensored 07 at Kerala Gallery.

Since then we've met up for various exhibition openings and viewings, various Flickrmeets, and well, any excuse for eating and / or drinking that can be made.

Chris primarily works in film photography, taking beautiful urban abstracts and capturing reflected light, and from time to time some beautiful portraiture. His love for photography (and his quirky sense of humour) has carried over to the naming of his kitten, Eighteen, with her 18% grey colouring.

I took this portrait of Chris on Wednesday as we sat in the front window of Bar Open on Brunswick Street drinking pinot grigio and Mercury sweet cider, people-watching, discussing photography and other things, whilst digesting the Kodak Salon and a large meal from Joe's Garage.

i was always your girl
Now Playing: the reindeer section - son of evil reindeer
Topic: photography



About a week ago, I received an email about what I would consider to be pretty much my dream workshop.

Aaron Hobson is running a 3-day workshop in his local area, the Adirondacks in upstate New York, primarily based around narrative, cinematic-influenced photography, to culminate in an exhibition on the final night.

Not only am I an admirer of Aaron's work, I share a passion for cinematic imagery and self-portraiture with him. He is one of the many folk I would love to share a pint with and discuss photography, inspiration and self-portraiture, and the landscapes and abandoned structures, whether houses or places of industry, in his photographs regularly invoke my jealousy at what is at his proverbial fingertips.

Currently I don't know that I will be able to scrape together the funds for a trip to the US in August this year, but failing that I hope he will be able to continue to run workshops like this in 2010 which would be more likely for me to be able to participate in.

If you're able to participate in this and you think it looks good (I think it looks awesome!), I encourage you to contact Aaron through the workshop site.

And to all photographers reading this in New York, Los Angeles and maybe San Francisco (or even non-photographers!), if I were to come over to the US in August this year, or in June or September next year, would you be interested in catching up to show me around, take photos, or even just for a pint or a coffee?

the persistence of memory
Now Playing: pink - funhouse
Topic: f-stop magazine



The collaboration I recently completed with Los Angeles photographer Aline Smithson
is included in the latest issue of F-Stop Magazine.

And if you're in Melbourne, come on down to the opening of the Kodak Salon 2009
at the Centre for Contemporary Photography,
corner George & Kerr Streets, Fitzroy, from 6-8pm tonight.

starstruck
Now Playing: paul kelly & the coloured girls - gossip
Topic: photography books



darkness & light only available until 16 April 2009!









*images in this post are not included in the book, they are "out-takes" from my 365 Days shoots.

a sidelong glance
Now Playing: depeche mode - exciter
Topic: photography



I just booked my flight to Brisbane to visit my parents for my birthday (the 17th of April). My return flight arriving in Brisbane on 16th April and returning to Melbourne on 10th May is costing me far less than I expected. Apparently I had more Qantas Frequent Flyer points than I thought, so most of the cost is being covered by them! Nice one!

So if you're a photographer in Brisbane, drop me a message and let me know if you're maybe interested in catching up for a photo walk or a drink. My parents live a bit of a way out and I don't drive, so my mobility may be a bit limited, but I'll see what I can do :o)

Meanwhile, I have an image in the latest round of the Saatchi Showdown. Please vote.

And I will have a print in the CCP Kodak Salon 2009, the opening night for which takes place from 6 - 8pm April 2nd 2009.

If you're after a print from my stores I'd recommend getting in before I jet off, as I won't be able to post / ship prints whilst I'm out of town.

And darkness & light is only available for another 20 days!

in her own image
Now Playing: the pixies - trompe le monde
Topic: photography books



About a month ago I took over the task of designing In Her Own Image, the second collection of self-portraiture from the Female Self-Portrait Artists' Support Group. Miss Aniela, who had originally been intending to design the book in InDesign, had found her career taking off in a big way and realised she just didn't have the time needed to devote to putting the book together and all that entails, so I somewhat foolhardily agreed to pick up where she'd left off.

After countless hours spent downloading, prepping and importing photos; arranging image combinations and formatting within Blurb's Booksmart software with the assistance and suggestions of many of the book's design team; adding image and artist credits and contributor details; and then proofing it all with the assistance of a couple of lovely ladies from the design team; I finally uploaded the book to Blurb about midnight last night and ordered a softcover copy for proofing.

The book is now expected to be available to the public in early April and features the work of 87 female self-portrait artists in a beautiful 316 page edition.

The front cover features a wonderfully surreal image by Erika Pham, and has been designed by the very talented Elle Moss and Heather Evans Smith.

The book will be sold at cost through Blurb, and you can bet I'll be providing a link to it as soon as it's ready.

In the meantime you might like to pick up a copy of the first collection, She Took Her Own Picture.

In Her Own Image features work from the following artists: Alisha Shevlin, Angel Lynne, Angela Gott, Angeline Stewart, Ashley Lebedev, Bazil Zerinsky, Bee Brady, Bethany Helzer, Bogna Kuczerawy, Brienne Griffin, Bronwen Hyde, Cheryl, Christina Ruvoldt, Christy Marie, Crystal Rose, Cynthia That-Cacopardo, Dana France, dani, Elise Hibbard, Elizabeth LaFreniere, Elizabeth Livermore, Elle Moss, Elsa Björg Magnúsdóttir, Emily Basch, Emily Sandifer, Emma Newson, Erika Pham, Eva Moreno López, Felicitas Klische, fernanda montoro, Gemma Gonzalez, Heather Evans Smith, Hélène Deroubaix, i.anton, Ilina S, Jennifer Evans, Jennifer Henriksen, Jill Evans, Joanne Cruickshank, Juliet Home, Juliette LaCour, Karin Elizabeth, Kate Armstrong, kate passaro, Kimberly Rose, Kiyo Murakami, Kristina Martino, Laura Acosta, Lauren Bentley, Lena Paloma, Lisa Noble, Lucy Nuzum, Lucy Wen-Shu Shih, Maggie Phelan, Margaret Tyson, María Elena Costa, Mariangela Totaro, Marico Fayre, Marie Killen, Maryam Siddiqi, MaryElise Tomczak, Maureen Fogarty, Megan Horsburgh, Melissa Gridley, Michelle McRae, Michelle Merle Pace, Miss Aniela, Monica Costa, Monica L. Shulman, ms.sparkles, Nathalie Griffiths, Özlem Haluk, Pamela Jesuitas, Qathi Gallaher Hart, Rachel Blumenthal, Rossina Bossio, Sarah Mercer, Sarah R. Bloom, Sarah Wright, Sevgi K, Sharon Cooper, Sharon T. Wheaton, SophieCharlotte, Susan Knight, Teffin, Teresa Horstmann, Wendy Anderson.

100 people - #2: Natasha
Now Playing: grant lee buffalo - fuzzy
Topic: 100 people



Natasha and I met virtually through a mutual friend about two years ago, but only met in person in late February this year, about a week before we set off on a road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide. The road trip actually ended in Halls Gap for me, but Natasha continued on to Adelaide and is, as I write this, now in Sydney as she traipses across Australia and then on to New Zealand on a much needed break to visit various friends.

Hailing from Derby in England, she currently lives and works in Vancouver, Canada and is a talented portrait photographer.

This photograph is one I captured of her on our first night in Halls Gap after a long walk into town and back only to find out the Halls Gap Hotel, a mere 100 metres or so from our accommodation, was the only pub in town.

lost in oz
Now Playing: elton john - goodbye yellow brick road
Topic: self-portraiture

recline
Now Playing: nick cave & the bad seeds - the best of
Topic: self-portraiture