Tag Archives: photography

Rutherglen

Our first stop was the town of Rutherglen. An hour out of Albury and close to the Murray River, it’s a quaint North-East Victorian town with lots of lovely architecture.

Rutherglen

Rutherglen

The second picture is of our bed and breakfast – that allows dogs! So Bridie was happy.

An early morning walk took me to the paddock around the back of the B&B, where I encountered some ladies having their breakfast.

Rutherglen

Rutherglen

Rutherglen is famous for its wines, and we sampled a few (Pfeiffer, Andersons and Cofield are just three). The wines (both sweet and table) were delicious, and since all the wineries are generally small operators, we even got to talk to some of the wine makers. And for those contemplating a road trip with their furry friends, many cellar doors even allow dogs.

In the Field – Part 2

Being ‘in the field’ could also mean exploring my suburb, as I am compelled to do for time to time. I called the latest installment Lost Suburbia, and it was part of my TAFE Diploma of Visual Arts photography major work.

I wanted to capture these brick bungalows and their details before they are all replaced by McMansions. I used black and white film – the medium most commonly used when these houses were built in the 1940s – and developed each shot in the darkroom myself.

Lost Suburbia

Lost Suburbia

Lost Suburbia

Lost Suburbia

Lost Suburbia

Lost Suburbia

In the Field – Part 1

Creativity doesn’t need to be confined to just the home, school or studio. Photographing and sketching in the field provides stimulus and is great practice. It’s really true that the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

One place that’s inspired is my old haunt of Oatley Park, by the Georges River. I might not have been a frequent visitor in recent years, but I made up for it in the last few months: shooting photographs at the castle.

Oatley Park Mornings

Oatley Park Mornings

And sketching by the baths.

Oatley Park Mornings

Oatley Park Mornings

Mornings are my usual time there. It’s when the light is golden as the baths are illuminated. If you wake up early enough, you might even see the sun rise.

Oatley Park Mornings

Oatley Park Mornings

Degenerate – Part 1

The final week saw us delve into the world of street photography. It’s not a genre that I’ve had lots of practice in, and I found photographing the street a confronting and at times frustrating experience. Opportunities can emerge from anywhere and disappears as quickly as they come, and it’s difficult to be always ready to capture them. Hence, I admire the work of photographers who are masters at it: check out the work of Trent Parke, Martin Parr, and classic photographers Eugene Atget and Vivian Maier. Such work must demand years of practice on the street.

Part of the assignment was to spend two hours on a cold winter’s night photographing Taylor Square. I contrasted these shots with photos taken in an hour one afternoon in the Central Coast suburb of Ettalong. Surprisingly, there is a definite thread running through it – one of social decay – hence the series title, Degenerate.

Degenerate

Degenerate

Degenerate

Portraits – Part 2

I have been getting to know the people at the Windgap Foundation (a not-for-profit that supports people with intellectual disabilities in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney) through my volunteer work with them, and I thought that they would make great portraiture subjects. I was right.

Windgap Portraits

Windgap Portraits

The clients are so open and full of character that it was easy to take a great portrait. Added to that was the fact that I had gotten to know them for 18 months, so familiarity with the subject certainly helps when it comes to taking a good portrait.

Windgap Portraits

Windgap Portraits