halo
Now Playing: faithless - outrospective
Topic: self-portraiture



I haven't been photographing myself much lately, as I've been rising around 4:50am to catch the 6am bus to the city to start work at 7:30am. Working till 3:21pm, then often not managing to make my connecting bus at Griffith Uni, so having to sit at the busway station for up to an hour before finally getting my connection and arriving home about 5:45pm. By around 10pm I have to head to bed in order to get enough sleep to do it all over again the next day.

My latest mantra is "the end justifies the means"...

Suffice to say I don't have much time for much of anything at the moment.

And yet I'm going to give NaNoWriMo a go commencing tomorrow; I'm working on some plans for a couple of new stores on Etsy; and I am trying to edit my backlog of non-self-portraiture; making travel plans for Phil's visit in March / April, and for my trip overseas to hopefully commence in June 2010.

I'm still having trouble with my camera, so going to take it in for a service on Monday and see if it can't be sorted out. Otherwise I may end up having to buy a new one earlier in the new year than I'd hoped (I'd hoped to get one close enough to my overseas travels to buy it duty free).

On the good news front, licensing for one of my images in the Flickr Collection on Getty Images sold in September, so that will make a nice dent in my credit card debt; as is the pay from the work I'm doing.

If you're in Brisbane and have any suggestions of / access to cool locations for photography, and / or are a photographer, artist, writer or musician, please feel free to get in contact. I'm still finding my way around the city and getting to know people, so I'm keen to meet other like-minded folk around town.

I think I've also sussed out a pro lab locally, so if anyone would like to purchase any prints, please take a look at my store!

my pussy. let me show you it.
Now Playing: the divine comedy - something for the weekend
Topic: self-portraiture



Today I went down to the Gold Coast Arts Centre to see what bargains I might find as the costume store was having a sale.

I managed to pick up four wigs, a corset and this disarmingly creepy, but ever so cool, kitty. All for $65.

I've taken a bunch of photos with my kitty (unnamed as yet), but a lot of them have come up badly because my auto-focus is playing up and has been for a few months now :o( Time for an upgrade, but it will take me a bit of time to save up for my next camera.

i had a dream about this place
Now Playing: pulp - different class
Topic: self-portraiture



Well, it's the second one I've had, but they're both the same. They start out that I'm in here, but it's not day or night. It's kind of half-night, you know? But it looks just like this, except for the light... - Mulholland Drive

So I have now officially moved. I am currently in a state of flux, otherwise known as Queensland.

The last week of my move was anything but smooth, given my removalists called me at 7:15am two days prior to the agreed collection date to let me know they were collecting my belongings anytime after 12pm that day. Apparently they were supposed to advise me of this trifling detail at some stage over the preceding weekend but hadn't seen fit to pick up the phone. Brilliant work on their part, given I had allowed for another two evenings of packing and therefore was not prepared at all for what ensued; not to mention one of the removalists in particular was rude, impatient, aggressive and totally unsympathetic to the position they had put me in. This easily became the worst experience I've had with a removalist company EVER.

Thankfully, despite all concerns to the contrary, they managed to deliver my belongings to my parents' place intact, and apart from a few items I'm still trying to locate, seemingly without anything going astray.

I have a few upcoming blog posts in the works, predominantly in relation to a couple of modelling roles and a collaboration I took on prior to my departure from Melbourne with some wonderful fellow artists. Hopefully I'll be able to post about those this weekend.

I also got the breathtakingly fantastic news today that I've been shortlisted for the Toyota Travel Award. Though a small superstitious part of me flinches at mentioning this out loud, I feel like I should share my joy at this achievement with the whole world as I've no guarantee of winning the grand prize, though I'll work my darnedest to do so.

So I will be back in Melbourne, albeit it briefly, sooner than I expected. However I won't be there for the opening or judging of Picture This 09 at Brunswick Street Gallery, but my work will be, and I will be in spirit. The show will be open for viewing on Saturday 12 September, and the official opening and announcement of prizes will be at 6pm Friday 18th September.

I have also left a few pieces in the storeroom at Brunswick Street Gallery, so feel free to contact myself or the gallery to find out which pieces if you're interested in purchasing.

If you also feel like voting, I have images in the Colour Theory and Gender Roles themes through JPG Magazine.

On a side note, a big thank you to those who came out for my leaving drinks, and to Mat for his patience with me as a not-sure-if-i'm-coming-or-going house guest for the last few weeks I was in Melbourne.

she wears a sundress in the middle of winter
Now Playing: flats & the friendly few - this man's junk (single)
Topic: self-portraiture



Wow. Almost a month without an update. Anyone would think I'd moved house...

But I haven't yet. Well, not properly. I'm currently staying with my friend Mat as I sold my bed two Saturdays ago, and I've been packing and sorting and garage-sale-ing and exhibiting and all manner of other things.

Unsensored09 and Corangamarah Art Prize have both been and gone.

The opening of Unsensored09 was very enjoyable, catching up with other Silver Miners and also with a friend I randomly ran into about a month or so ago whom I hadn't seen for about 10 years, and meeting his lovely wife.

The opening of Corangamarah Art Prize at Otway Estate Winery & Brewery was also a great night. Meeting those behind the prize, being interviewed briefly for the Colac Herald, and being totally spoilt by attentive staff ensuring I got enough vegetarian fare during the course of the evening. The food was absolutely delicious.

The work in both exhibitions was very strong and I was pleased to see my work hanging alongside Simone Maynard's again this year, and also Samantha Everton's work, another Melbourne-based photographer I greatly admire.

Despite my initial intentions of these two exhibitions being my last in Melbourne and surrounds for a while, I'll have three prints on display in Brunswick Street Gallery's Picture This '09 exhibition opening at 6pm on 11 September 2009 and running to 24 September, and Mark is holding a number of my prints in his storeroom ready for a new display room to be opened in the gallery in a few months.

And my plans for overseas travels in 2010 are coming along nicely :D

As you might imagine, with all the upheaval of my impending move I haven't had much time to edit new images, though I have been shooting, but above is a new self-portrait I took last weekend in Jessica Tremp's backyard before setting off for James & Jo's wedding.

Hopefully we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming in September!

oh... and this dress? one of two new favourites from my soon-not-to-be-local-op-shop. each dress was only $6.99! i'll miss that place *sob*

the ghosts of saturday night
Now Playing: tom waits - the heart of saturday night
Topic: self-portraiture



Around this time last year, when applying for the Toyota Travel Award, I posted about my revelation that I could actually conceive of letting go of all my major furniture items apart from my piano and dresser, and if push came to shove my red ribbed-velour lounge suite, in April this year if I'd been successful in my application.

Although I didn't win that award last year, I am now actually in the position of offloading many of my belongings, particularly the larger items; and even, I have now decided, my bed, if I can find a taker. And only a few months after I would have had to if I had won that award. Funny how things go, eh?

I've managed to find homes for most of my larger items - including the dresser and the red lounge suite above (though I am keeping one armchair which I use and abuse constantly whilst at my computer). The only major item I haven't found a home for is my blue refrigerator. It is full of awesome (the fridge itself, that is; the contents are questionable...) But that too will have to go.

Meanwhile, I'm considering a new 365 Days project to begin on the day I move to Brisbane, but I'm not convinced I'm not utterly crazy even thinking about it.

And, although this move is partially prompted by the need to repay debts and save money, I am entertaining the thought of joining a gym once I'm settled and have some work sussed. I need to get back into shape - though I've not put back on that much weight I didn't reach my goal weight, so need to work on that again.

Though that may be delayed depending on what the odd lump is in my upper abdominal area, just below my ribcage. The strange spherical lump I have now dubbed Heffa which a doctor will be taking a look at on Monday (assuming she doesn't call in sick again, like she did yesterday!)

But right now? I think I'm going to get me some serious bed time. Goodnight x

so tonight that i might see
Now Playing: mazzy star - so tonight that i might see
Topic: self-portraiture

part of the furniture
Now Playing: catatonia - equally cursed and blessed
Topic: self-portraiture











I've been a bit frustrated of late.

I have been very inspired with self-portraiture and non-self-portraiture ideas, but for various reasons have not been happy with the shoots that have come out of my self-portraiture attempts of late.

In some instances I've chickened out of doing shoots. For example, I have a specific idea for a (respectful) shoot in the burnt out bush around St Andrews and Kinglake but was aware of how conspicuous I would have been to folk driving by the perfect location I found, and how, despite my intentions, my actions may have seemed disrespectful.

In some instances I've not found a location that suited for what I was after and decided I'd rather just have a relaxed day enjoying chilling out on the beach (Lorne and Mooloolabah).

And in other instances I've gone ahead with the shoot but not been happy with the results, despite feeling quite positive about the shoot at the time. And then I'm not sure whether this is now me expecting much more from myself, not being as easily pleased as I perhaps used to be. Case in point, the above shots aren't bad per se, they just don't rock my socks like some of the work I've done in the past 12 months, though previously perhaps I'd have been quite pleased with them. I didn't even think enough of them at the time of the shoot to bother to edit any of them until two months later, and I've now edited a few more and am posting them almost a further month later...

I think I've also become more critical of my body in the past 6 months, since losing so much weight last year, then putting a little bit of it back on in the past few months.

It's a phase, I'm sure, so I'm not letting myself become too disillusioned. And I'm trying not to push it and become further frustrated. Just focusing on other things that have looming deadlines anyway and I will come back to it later.

One of the things that has been thwarting my attempts I can at least change a little though. My "new" abode (I say "new" though I've now been in here about 6 months) is lacking in the natural light department, and even in the artificial light situation it's not ideal. Being a former commercial property the lighting is predominantly harsh fluorescent lights, which is obviously not suitable for many of the shoots I want to do. Even the light in my bedroom is one fluorescent tube and one household tungsten bulb, both running from the same switch.

So I've decided I will (with the aid of a friend with a ladder) remove the fluorescent tube and the yellow paper lampshade on the hanging bulb and seek out a suitable secondhand shade (possibly just a simple one along the lines of the ones in my last place) and increase the wattage of bulb in that socket, if necessary. At least then I will have one room in the house where I'm not forced to work with shaded lamplight or ugly fluorescent lights.

I so wish I had a proper studio though. Something with natural light, as well as the option for studio lighting, a reasonable amount of room, privacy, 24 hour access. Le sigh... Anyone know of anything available for peanuts? Cos that's about all I've got right now.

saturnine
Now Playing: fever ray - fever ray
Topic: self-portraiture



view larger

Feeling a bit like this at the moment, though this was taken back in February.

My birthday is next Friday. If you want to make me happy you can buy me a 17" MacBook Pro or a Nikon D700. Or you could make a donation to the "Send Bronwen to NY, LA & London Fund". Either / or. Or all. I'm not picky. Just sayin'...

Or you could do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of darkness & light.

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.

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