Its That Time Of Year Again.

Well its that time of year again, the birds are singing, the suns shinning and love is in the air. Yes you guessed, its the wedding season. Beautiful brides and handsome grooms can be seen gracing local roads, beaches, parks and hilltops.

Weddings are fantastic. Its such an amazing moment shared between a couple there family and friends. To be asked to record those moments in pictures is really an honour that shouldn't be taken for granted.

The Game Is On.

Yes people, as mentioned before, my butt is in the hot seat so if my start to the new year is anything to go by, I'm in for a wild ride.

So I kicked things off with two biggies, the Summer X and the Opotiki Rodeo but hey, you've got to love it. The deafening noise, the chocking dust (finding its way into every unprotected camera part) the heaving crowds, it all make for a noisy, dirty series of fantastic pictures.

These are two events I love to cover and the crowds flock to them every year. Despite the extensive de-dusting exercise on all of my equipment and myself plus the sunburn, I get a kick out of checking out the pics on my PC and sharing the results.

The Temperatures Rising.

Well as you all may have heard, the Beacon is now minus another photographer leaving me here on my own. So far so good with only a couple of really insane days to deal with. This may be generally our slow period as far as news goes but the past two weeks has been the exception with 4 fires a couple of road crashes and a train derailment.











So I guess this will make for a rather interesting environment when this really hot up around here.
Its not going to be easy but am looking forward to the challenge.

Keeping Creative

http://www.thistonybridge.com/2009/12/01/crossing-the-abyss-of-discontent

Well things are now moving along rather nicely with only one image left to take for the summer arts festival so its panic over for now. Last weekend saw the completion of a picture which had presented itself to me almost 18months ago now when traveling out towards Taneatua to visit my sister. I spied this old chimney standing majestically under a macrocarpa tree. It makes one wonder what its history is and who spent time on many a cold winter night drawing warmth and comfort form its glowing embers. A scout around by my partner produced an old tap that was attached to a cast iron plate, maybe an old water heater. A dirty fork, an old light bulb, rather small and an unusual shape encased by a ceramic surround which by some miracle has managed to survive years without the hoof of a cow smashing its delicate surface.

This place gives birth to many photographic possibilities, with a few spending many an hour being churned and manipulated by my overactive imagination. At one stage I made the effort to drive to Wellington to pick up an old mahogany occasional table I had bought off trademe as a prop for the picture I thought my mind had settled on but after 6 more months and a new idea now in flavor the table now occupies a corner of my lounge gathering dust.

I felt the need to not only create a great image that tells my story but also to do this old chimney justice and maybe give it the opportunity to tell its own story. Tricky as that may seem, I feel I have managed to achieve just that.

While I cant show you the finished picture complete with chimney, I can introduce you to the model who graces the image. She's a natural beauty who has been waiting just as long to take her place in the picture as I have been to take it. I suppose the only two things that have never changed over the past 18 months is the location and my choice of model. Many thanks Michelle for being so waiting so long.

Places like this are full of creative possibilities just waiting to be tapped into. I have been made aware a few times in the past of a poor few suffering from some creative block or a lack of inspiration and I have a small fear of falling into that abyss. I don't see this happening any time soon but there are those who do. I read a fantastic article from one of NZs current photographic greats "Tony Bridge" who wrote about just such a thing. It seems to have strengthened my current position but for those either on the top or bottom of the abyss, its a must read. (refer to the above link) We have to feed the creative mind in order to grow but sometimes its just a case (as with the chimney site) of not trying to over think an idea but to just sit and listen. It wont take long for your surroundings to give you all the inspiration you need.

Most of us including me could be accused of taking our creative juices for granted. Following Tony's advise and re-reading over again and again from time to time will not only help us to keep fresh but remain relevant in an ever changing world.

What Our Eyes Dont See

Ok so I know things have been a bit quiet around here lately and I do apologise for that but I have been working on my summer arts project which has kept me rather busy. This creative stuff is hard work man.

Anyway, I have spent some time planning and collecting material, clothing and location scouting for up and coming shoots with the big deadline looming. With 7-8 wks left to finalise a collection of at least 6 A2 size prints I am beginning to think I may not quite get them done so I was not to happy to think I was going to have to omit my latest creation from the exhibition. This is surely going to leave me in a rather tight spot time wise so I will have to fire on all cylinders.




The above image is the picture in question. I am showing you this because it's no longer intended for showing in the summer arts festival (all others will remain under wraps till then)

Whats wrong with it you ask?? well firstly its not really going to fit within the image set. It stands out to much, is to strong and with art being as subjective as it is, could lead to some rather negative and harsh interpretations as to what its all about.

This image would need to much explanation for the viewer to understand where I am coming from and by the time that's done, ones mind may have already taken it to literally. That's just what people do with photography,and yes that is ever so slowly changing. In the grand scheme of things the art of painting has a very long, bright and interesting history where as the art of photography is still a child just sometimes with a mature voice crying to be herd.

This image is not meant to portray a violent act or to depict the end of a life, its about the restrictions we put on ourselves, we become tied and dependent on our physical and mental comfort zones, come to beleive we cannot when we can. One cannot hope to succeed in less we break away from our self imposed bindings then push to challenge ourselves. This image is the tragedy of succumbing to normality, contentment and in the end, leaving this world without finding out who we really were or what we could have done.

Deep aye.

I realise this interpretation may be to deeply embedded within this picture. At the end of the day is this just a photograph? and if it is, can we see past what lies in front of us?

I love being asked about photographing toddlers. They're not camera shy, run around and do there own thing leaving me to fire at will. This always results in random, spontaneous images the are sure to please mum. I also love the chance to include the parents in the hope the interaction between them will lead to some great shots.

These two bring the picture to life. Claire and little Paige.

When attempting to photograph tiny tots, you cannot go into it with any preconceived ideas. Its the child that dictates the terms here so just let them go and fire away. If they're not in the mood, cut your losses and try again another day. Lucky for me, Paige was a little star.

Chasing The Sun

Some images just happen, when things come together and fall into place to create an picture that the subject can be proud of. This picture to me is a great example of what quality afternoon light can achieve, there is no substitute for it, you cant hold on to it, and in a heart beat its gone. All images subsequent images lacked that little piece of magic.

The image was shot on Waiotahi Beach. Expect to see this model grace these pages again sometime in the future.

Yeah Im Still Here.

Well you may think things here have been rather quiet over the last month or two and for that I do apologise. Behind the scenes I have been flat out working on a new project for the Whakatane Summer Arts Festival which runs in conjunction with the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards. As a guest exhibitor I have been developing a new series of images that reflect the trials, changes and emotions we all experience throughout life's journey.

No, sorry but I cannot give you a preview just yet as its a series of six to eight images I plan to keep under wraps until the festival so you may just have to come along to the show in January next year for a look. All I can say is that these images are a new and exciting development in my photographic journey which I hope will prove to be better than anything captured to date.

See you there.

Kodak Gold Awards 2009

Well the results of the 2009 National Kodak Gold Awards are in and this Whakatane photographer has scooped a silver award for Weddings and a Gold award for portraiture.


After achieving three silver awards in last years competition, the gold was a sort after and now a welcome addition to the trophy cabinet.

Silver Wedding Award: Russel and Anna at Ohope Golf Course.

Fantastic day and many thanks to you both.

Gold Award winning portrait of Tasha.

Taken at the White Cross Orchard.

She was a great model and a pleasure to photograph.

To Be a Boy

I feel very lucky to be able to say I had a fantastic childhood. Yeah there were a few major trials to over come due to the ever so complicated lives of grown ups but as far as being a kid was concerned, it was a real adventure. I was rarely around the house suffering from the common affliction that seems to torture the youth of today when the PlayStation breaks down, no I was out all over the country side exploring with my older brother. With over active imaginations we climbed, ran, laughed and cried with each passing summer day.

It was then no surprise I loved the American movies with kids as the main characters, off on adventures always accompanied by a white dog with a black patch on one eye. The little rascals is one such film which I could always relate to and so just as that film inspired me as a boy, it inspired me to make the images below. I may not be a kid anymore but I can honestly say I still have have that sense of adventure and an over active imagination.

I see my self in these images so is was an unusual feeling to be standing there as a man photographing what seemed to be a reflection of myself as a boy.





I treasure that playful youngster that still lives within me and hope Little Harry (above) has as much fun as I did at his age and as I do now at mine.