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.
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
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??)
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.
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?
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!
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
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?
I can’t believe I have just booked to go to the Blowfish Diaries in Sydney this weekend.The price was discounted so I jumped at the opportunity and booked the cheapest flight I could find online and the closest hotel I could find to the venue.
I had read through the list of 18 presenters for weeks, wishing I could get there to be inspired by the experts and passionate photographers who will be speaking and conducting group sessions. Then this evening the AIPP sent out an email about the discount, and I read through some of the blurb on the site:
Assembling some of the best photography talent in the country, Blowfish Diaries 2009 is your best opportunity to re-ignite your passion for images that move people. In a market filled with pessimism and bad news, BFD2009 is the ultimate insurance policy
By continually educating yourself and learning from our assembled industry leaders and prize-winners, you can equip yourself to take your photography and life to a whole new level.
With such an array of workshops, seminars, and informal break-out chats with our guest speakers, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to grow your skills, your business, and – most importantly – learn how you can contribute to the world in a positive, meaningful way!
And now I am going!
There is just the little question of a 9th birthday which I will miss because I’ll be away. I hope my daughter is forgiving… (maybe the promise of a gift from Sydney would help?)
I have been taking quite a few photos of a particular farm during the school holidays. I am going to put the photos into a book to make up a “Farm Album”. This will be something that I hope to promote as a service to farmers throughout the district. The idea is to photograph all aspects of the farm, including the houses, machinery, farm buildings, livestock, infrastructure and landscapes, as well as the people involved in the farm. This will be a record of the farm at a particular point in time, and I imagine it could be quite a valuable historic item in years to come. I imagine the young farmers of today showing it to their grandchildren in fifty years time and trying to explain the antiquated machinery they used to use. Or generations of the future marvelling that we actually farmed sheep for wool in the old days…
Everywhere I go to visit people on farms I see on their wall the ubiquitous framed aerial photo of the farm. It is interesting to see the farm in this way, but a farm album will show so much more about a farm than a single image can. As well as a reference and a historical record, a farm album could be a great gift, for example for parents who are retiring from the farm.
Farm Landscape
Farm dog hiding in kennel
