The Picnic Music Mix

It's a ridiculously hot Wednesday night and I'm sitting in my office finishing up everything that needs to be done before Christmas. I'm trying to finish it all tonight so that tomorrow I can relax with Nick and maybe go for a picnic.

I've already prepared the perfect Picnic Mix to go with our outing. If not, I'm still going to listen to it tomorrow, though probably in a dimly lit office starting at the screen. At least I know the music is going to be killer!

You can check it out on iTunes along with some other ILW playlists. Or you can sample some of it below.

Hope you all enjoyed your Wednesday and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and that you get to spend it with all the lovelies in your life.

(Also, you might notice a running theme with trees in the music mixes. I do so love trees. This one's my favourite in Centennial Park...and yes I have hugged it...it was oddly comforting).

Tuesday

Oh, how I loathe thee, Tuesday. Really, I don't hate all Tuesdays, just this Tuesday. I feel rather like a headless chook. My website and email are down for the day, because the server they were on has died. Luckily there's backups and whatnot, but whilst the new server is being built and everything being restored, I am sans email.

So, if anyone is wondering why there's no love being returned, it really isn't that I've shaved my head and decided to join a cult. I still love you all, just have no way of seeing or responding to it all.

However, it also means that I got a day off, a day to play, and boy did I ever!

I sometimes think that we get into creative fields so that in a way we don't have to grow up. We get to play, take photos, draw pretty pictures (well, logo designs for companies, but they're pretty, and they are pictures). But still, it's an awesome job, if you can call it that, and today was definitely one of the reasons I love to do it.

I went around taking photos. This is one of them.



Definitely one of the perks of being a photographer. Loads of camera gear and the entire city to explore.

Rush for a change of atmosphere

While listening to Big Audio Dynamite's song Rush I started thinking about all the things that have changed in the last year. I know, very strange song to start thinking about life to, but well, sometimes that's the way these things go. The last year has been a crazy, hectic and ultimately awesome year. I've spent it doing what I love, and I can honestly say that I can't imagine doing it any other way. Even with the sometimes sleepless nights because of deadlines, it's always worth it.

But, with the good comes the bad, and I have had quite a lot of loss in terms of family and friends that have passed away this year. To be honest, I don't think any of that hit me until very recently. When you take one hit after the next, you don't really realise what's happened until you get a moment to resurface, at least that's how I felt this week when I got to reflect on the year gone by. Saying that, I'm really grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of those people's lives and have them be a part of mine.

This is a photo of a rose from Nick's grandmother Marisa's funeral last year. We left it hanging upside down to dry. It reminds me of her every time I see it.

Where The Wild Things Are

Nick & I went to see Where The Wild Things Are last night and I have to say that it was an absolutely amazing piece of film-making. I was a little worried at the start that it would be another of those movie adaptations that goes in the "why did they do it" pile, but I was pleasantly surprised. Though, I shouldn't have been worried with the very talented Dave Eggers handling the screenplay and the ever awesome Spike Jonze directing. If you have haven't heard of Spike Jonze, his movies Being John Malkovich & Adaptation should show you how brilliantly he can bring very weird concepts to life.

I'm absolutely in love with the cinematography, the story, the directing, everything, including the absolutely phenomenal soundtrack that perfectly accompanies the story by Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Absolutely stunningly haunting and melancholic.

The fantastic movie was topped off by our trip to Borders and checking out some magazines, this in itself, not that fantastic, however, as Nick was making his purchase I noticed a Where The Wild Things Are crown behind the counter. I said to the two guys behind the counter that it was awesome, and that I totally wanted to get one, the lovely guys actually gave it to me! I really felt like a kid in a candy store...a candy store in which everything is free and wonderful.

I did a little happy dance, to which Nick & the Borders guys can attest to, put on my crown and proceeded to drive home.

The End.

Inspirations Abound: Where The Wild Things Are

So, I've been a tad obsessed with Where The Wild Things Are, and eagerly anticipating it's release in Australia this Thursday. It's a story that I think most of us grew up with and I'm ridiculously excited about seeing it. I'm actually thinking about getting tickets early for it, and perhaps treating Nick & I to gold class.



I've found myself also obsessing about all things Wild including the recent Where The Wild Things Are clothing collection by Opening Ceremony and their range of jewelery. I want it all!




I also came across this shoot styled by the incredibly inspiring Sasha Leibowitz for Karen magazine. It reminds me of playing dress ups as a kid and definitely has a Where The Wild Things Are feel to it.



Edward Gorey's gothic, macabre illustrations.



Nothing, and I do mean nothing, would be complete without a music tying everything together and my inspirations aren't any different. The video for When I Grow Up by Fever Ray and the music itself has an eerie quality that is absolutely mesmerising. Hope you enjoy

A Little Bit Of Silliness

I was cleaning up my muck about CF card, which is a separate card I have that I take silly photos or personal projects on, and I only clean that one out every once in a while.

Today I came across these photos of Natalie Biller & I. We were having a meeting about our beauty shoot with Tereza Kysilkova some time in October (yes, it has actually been that long since I looked at this card), and I had my beauty dish set up from taking my self-portrait series for the ILW website.

Well, you can see for yourself what we got up to. These are my favourites and also rather silly.

Shooting Products

I did a shoot quite some time ago for the lovely Giselle from My Chameleon. It's an online clothing store that just launched! I was really excited to see it all up and running and very glad that I could finally share some of the images.

The clothing is all impeccable. Giselle really has a flair for picking great pieces that are going to be big brands. When we shot, in September, she introduced me to a new range of t-shirts by the brand Kain. I hadn't really heard of them, but sure enough about two weeks later I saw some photos from the set of Sex & The City and Sarah Jessica Parker is wearing a Kain t-shirt.

The shoot was a tough slog and my back was none too pleased about holding a big camera at off angles for two days straight, but I think it was well worth it. The online store looks amazing, and with her knack for finding amazing brands, I'm sure both Giselle & My Chameleon will be a fashion force in the future. Looking back on that shoot though, tough slog still somehow managed to include Ice Cream sandwiches. They seem to be a theme with my studio shoots, I really hope it continues that way...I might write that into my contracts or something...

Check out the My Chameleon store, I'm sure you'll find lots of things to tickle your fancy.

I Love Wednesdays' Thursday Music Mix

This post was supposed to be done yesterday and made into a Wednesday Music Mix to celebrate the awesomeness that is Wednesday, but alas work needed to be done and sent to all my lovely clients. So, we have the confusing title of the I Love Wednesdays' Thursday Music Mix.

For those of you that don't know me very well, I LOVE music and I mean LUUUUUURVE. If I had it my way, I'd have music playing pretty much 24/7. I've played the piano ever since I was 9, having just seen Amadeus and declaring that I wanted to be "like that kid."

Lofty ambitions aside, I loved to play, I love being part of the music, creating something beautiful that can be so incredibly moving. However, saying that, the whole practicing scales for hours thing was never really my thing. I wanted to experience the joy of music, not sit playing scales all day. But, one is part of the other, so I endured the scales to enjoy the music. I still play now, though not as much as I used to, and that's something that I do definitely regret.

Nick & I didn't have the space (or money to move/tune) for my piano when we moved into our apartment a couple of years ago and I can tell you that the pain of living without Alfred (my piano's name, because he looks like an Alfred, he just needs a bow-tie) was quite frankly, well I don't think I have the words to describe it, It's almost like you're missing a part of yourself. We finally moved Alfred around June and I'm very glad that he's with me. Even if I don't get time to play as much as I'd like, it's still nice to have him there.

This Thursday Music Mix is a compilation of songs that are leaning more towards the "alternative" music genre. Though anything gets thrown in there. They all remind me of specific events, moments or things that I have been a part of over the last 4 or 5 years.

I've made them into playlists on iTunes so you can check them out. I'd love to know what you all have been listening to lately.

An E-Session with James & Christine

James & Christine both worked for Oz-Email back in the day (and by back in the day, I mean a few years ago, which in the world of technology really is back in the day). James had a thing for Christine, but she insisted that she didn't want to be involved in a relationship. He knew better, refused to take no for an answer and very slyly convinced Christine to go get drinks after work without her really realising that she'd just agreed to it. A few drinks and a work harbour cruise later and they were official dating.

It's now 5 years later and next November James & Christine will be tying the knot and I'll be there to capture all those moments. I really can't wait!

Love you both!

Attack of the Doppelganger....Or Attack on the Doppelganger...

Have you ever thought that a stranger was in fact a person that you knew?

I don't know whether I'm phrasing that correctly or not, but yesterday I walked (read ran) up to a lady I thought was my friend Jo...now I should also say that I approached/ran at her from behind and rather excitedly uttered/yelled "Jo...Oh my god, what are you doing here? It's been forever, how was your trip? Did you have an awesome time? I want pictures, lots of pictures...though not all 13,000 you said you...."

It was at this point that she turned around to face me completely and stared with a look that can only be described as an intriguing mix of horror and pity at the crazy lady yelling at her and going in for a hug.

Now, there's nothing much I could do at this point than to try and stop my hug motion, which only went so far as becoming a very awkward half hug as I had really gone too far into my hugging motion to stop.

I looked at her, she realising my "situation" looked at me, I mouthed the words "I'm really sorry, I thought you were someone else," and scurried on to do my banking.

Oh, if only this were the first time that had happened...maybe I'll learn one day...I wonder if this happens to other people...

Sunday Night, A Great Drink and a Cool Breeze

It's Sunday Night and I'm sitting on my balcony drinking an awesome concoction of Paraiso (a lychee liqueur), lemonade with lemon and lime juice. It is so incredibly tasty. I'm also wondering what happened to the week that was. It's been a very strange one. I've been designing a few wedding albums, retouching photos for the upcoming few issues of Freestyle Magazine and just trying to organise myself before the end of the year. I'm going to be upgrading my studio and equipment in the next few months and absolutely can't wait to have new toys to play with!

Though, I have to admit that I was looking forward to the weekend and getting some rest. Nick and I have been looking for a house to move to and it's a really tricky finding a place to suit you, in the area that you want to live and within your budget. I'm starting to think that it's almost impossible and I have to admit that both of us were feeling rather down after viewing the houses in the wee hours of the mid-morning, so we took ourselves out for breakfast to our favourite cafe, Urban Bites in Newtown for some absolutely scrumptious bacon and eggs and then over to the Rocks Markets to check out the stall of the lovely Miss PenelopeRED. I had to photograph Penny's stall and I decided to buy myself that very cute stripey top with the red bow. So incredibly cute! I suggest you go check out the lovel Penny's stand at next week's Rocks Market. She has some absolutely beautiful things and they're all hand-made.

Wanna Play Dress Up?

So, I'm finally getting on top of everything after the holiday/food poisoning debacle that was the last couple of weeks and I have another shoot to share with you. This was a pet project of mine that I've wanted to shoot for about the last 6 months. The first time we were supposed to shoot, our lovely model, who is also a fabulous singer, Charmaine Bingwa was taken to hospital. We were all really worried and cancelled the shoot because we really wanted to do it with her.

When I got around to organising it again, it all fell apart with one week to go and I had to find a new stylist & make-up artist. I really lucked out when I found Elisa Chan, who came on board with less than a week to go and organised clothing & accessories and...literally EVERYTHING. She was easy to get along with and so talented that I was glad to have randomly come across her work. She got into contact with Rosalyn Win, a Sydney-based fashion designer, and Rosalyn was lovely enough to give us a selection of her dresses for the day. The make-up artist Corrine Grbevski who was so meticulously organised, talented and lovely to work with.

I really don't have enough words to describe how lovely these ladies were to work with and how lucky I have been to work with only lovely people. I really consider myself blessed.

I hope you enjoy the photos.