Tag Archives: sydney

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

Winter Tea Party

My friend F’s winter birthday was celebrated with high tea at the Queen Victoria Building Tea Room.

High tea

It was definitely tea with all the trimmings, but with a difference – the Tea Room also catered for various food intolerances and vegans!

High tea

All those items on the tea stand was for one person, so be prepared. But where were the scones, I hear you say?

High tea

Of course, there were scones – enormous ones, served with the prerequisite jam and cream. Satisfied?