Jack and Liam

17 December 2009
Jack and Liam have been living in Darkan with their Father, but the last day of school was their last day living here in Darkan. Now that Jack is going to High School they have gone to live with their Mother. After school I ducked up to their house and took some photos of the guys in the house. This is the end of this period in their lives, and I was glad to be able to document it.
Jack is wearing his school t-shirt which his friends at school have signed with black marker.
(Click small photos to make them larger.)

Getting Serious

OK. This blog has been SERIOUSLY lacking! So now I am back at work for 2010, and I plan to get serious and get some work up on the blog. And then I’ll need to get someone to read it! Two page views yesterday is embarrassing, but then again I am glad only two people looked and saw what an embarrassment the blog is…

I had a long break from the studio over Christmas and New Year and the school holidays. But I was thinking about things. Things like the projects I have planned, the competitions I want to enter, some promotional stuff to do and lots of organising too. But thinking was the easy part – now I have to get down and do it!

Look again soon to see some of my new projects for this year, and more posts of photo shoots that I have done.

Thank you dear reader (you know who you are!)

Kris and Katie: pre-wedding photos

Kris and Katie are getting married tomorrow. A couple of weeks ago, when Katie had a trial run with her make-up, we went out to the farm where they live and checked out some photo locations. The weather didn’t help us, so we ended up shooting some inside. I love the ones in the kitchen!! In the wind Katie’s long hair was uncontrollable, so I am glad she has decided to wear it up for the big day tomorrow.

Window Display

I had help from Candy, a helpXchanger who is staying with us, to design this banner for the front of my studio.
The banner hasn’t been printed yet – have to coordinate a time to do it – so it is not in situ yet.

Window Display

Coordinated Outfits: Family Photographs

Children at the Farm

During the school holidays I took the children to visit my parents. We made sure everyone was dressed nicely so that we could take some photos at any opportunity. I bought the coordinated outfits the previous week, and Matt was horrified that he had to wear a PINK polo shirt!

The photo first opportunity came before we even left the farm, as it was a foggy morning and the sky was diffusing the light beautifully. We chose bare feet for everybody too, although some complained when they had to walk on the rough gravel road without shoes (how tough are they??)

Children at the Farm

Breaking Out

I love learning new things, and meeting new people.

On Tuesday I attended the Breakout at the Breakwater event at Sorrento Quay in Hillarys. There were four excellent speakers: David Oliver, Ric Syme, Christian Fletcher, and Alan Moyle. Have a look at their websites to see how well awarded they all are. They had lots of knowledge and experience to share with us (not to mention Tim Tams – thanks Alan!) and I brought home a heap of notes, some of which I have actioned already.

The event was put on by Fitzderalds, Jorgensen Albums and Camera Electronic, who all had trade displays and representatives there. I am once again tempted to buy my own large format printer, and I really must get a stock of the really cute tiny brag books from Jorgensens’. I found out that Fitzgeralds print great gift/greeting cards as well as postcards. I already know they are great printers because they printed my “Woman’s Work” exhibition prints in 2007.

Macro

I think I’d like to get a macro lens. Maybe I’ll borrow one first and see how often I use it. These flies were on a fence when I was out with my camera the other day. I had on the 24-105mm lens and it did an OK job, but not seriously macro. Every year at this time I get a longing for a macro lens. I think it is the wild flowers that does it.

Blow Flies

About five years ago (goodness it is even more than that – 2003) I started to try to document the wildflowers of West Arthur, and Jan Smith identified and gave botanical names for most of the ones I photographed. Now that she has gone a wealth of botanical knowledge has been lost. Thankfully we have several local people who are very knowledgeable on the local botany, and there is a very good herbarium at the library in Darkan. Unfortunately I look at the photos from back then (when I can find them in my archive!) and I know I could get a much better quality image with the EOS 5D Mark II.

So which lens should I use to photograph wild flowers this year?

Family Photos: On the Farm

I had thought Alyssia wanted some studio portraits of her boys, but when I saw her to make the appointment she decided that the farm looks so good at this time of year that she would instead have some photos of the boys on the farm. And that turned into family portraits. We went down to a creek near their house, which had been flooding the night before, so there was plenty of water. Little Jamie found a great big stick to splash in the water – pretending to catch some fish. Some of the clothing ended up being splashed, which has required a bit of photoshop work to fix up.

Boys on the Bridge

By the Creek

Fishing with a Stick

Maybe I will still see the boys in the studio for some studio portraits. But to tell the truth I would love to spend some more time with them down by the creek!

Baby photos: Charlee Jean

Sweet Little Thing

Baby Charlee was eight weeks old when she came into the studio last week. She is such a sweet little thing! Her sister is in my daughter Bonnie’s class at school, and Bonnie would really love to have a baby. She won’t be getting another one from me, although when I have a darling little one like this to cuddle I wish I was able to have just one more!

Charlee

Hand and Feet

Entries

Bonnie, age 9

Smokin'

Today I realised that the entries for the Perth Centre for Photography Iris Awards close tomorrow at 5pm. So I had to act FAST!
Bonnie came into the studio after school, and she was eating a redskin sweet. That led me to this idea, and we wrapped the red lolly bar in white paper, with the red end sticking out. Then we got the water bottle from the kitchen that has a bit of a wine bottle look. I tried to light it to look like she was in a night club. At the age of 9!
Unfortunately my number one critic didn’t quite grasp the concept, so I’d be pleased to hear comments from anyone else as to what they think.
What do YOU think?