Uleash the T Bomb.

Well it has been a while but I thought I would treat you all with a few pics from my favorite Model, Tasha. I managed to shoot a few different scenarios and I hope she sees these as welcome additions to her portfolio.

I love using light and sometimes the lack of it to give simple portrait setups some real punch.

Tasha has been begun some training with one of NewZealands top modeling agencies so as time goes on, expect some stunning images from this young woman in the future.

Done it Again

Well I hear you say "how did you fair in the Community Newspaper Awards"? and my answer would be..... FANTASTIC. I scored the "Dick Graig Memorial Award" for best photographer for a second year running. I am stoked about that as I had thought there were a few gaps in my portfolio but it looks as though the judge still saw fit to pat me on the back.

Below is a small preview form my portfolio I submitted for the competition.

Its just a bit Classical

Well as promised, here are a few pics from my latest photo shoot. There are no messages here, it was just a case of taking pictures for pictures sake, for fun and the pure enjoyment of it. Many thanks to Hannah and Georgia for showing up (had me going there for a while) and putting up with my bossy instruction.

Many thanks to Lee Clark from Whakatane High for the loan of the violin.

Will I Retain My Title???

Well it's that time again, yes its the annual Community Newspaper Awards. I have been informed I am a finalist which means I have won something, but what?? Guess I will have no wait until Saturday night to find out. I have a person on the inside ready to squeal when the results are released.

ALSO

For all of those image starved watchers out there, I have two photo shoots booked this weekend. Yes two on the same day so will have to be on the ball I reckon. I have acquired the services of two first time but keen gorgeous young ladies to who have volunteered to suffer the stress and strain for the sake of great pictures (fingers crossed). So tune in sometime early next week for a sample of how it all went.

The Road To Happiness

Well its a big congrats to Ben and Holly, recently married at the stunning lake Okataina. It was a fantastic day and a location I would recommend to any prospective Bride and Groom. I may even get Married there myself.

Wedding photography, through extremely rewarding really is hard work. The result is usually sore feet, strained eyes, aching shoulders plus a yearning for a hot shower and a cold beer.

It pays not to dwell on the fact that its a one shot deal so planning is essential. Know your gear inside out, know the location back to front and know your self and your limits. Good prep and planning may help steady the nerves but although it may not allow you to relax, it will help to enjoy the day and love what you do.

Love that last image. What a cutie.

As the Wedding season draws to a close I am looking forward to the end of the year when the confetti begins to fall again.

A Day at the Circus.

Well, as promised, here's a few pictures I shot today. After many a frustrating episode unable to access keen and enthusiastic models, now I have the luxury to pick and choose to suit the theme of each shoot. Now after a short break, it feels great to throw the strap around my neck and raise the viewfinder up to the eye and shoot for me. The idea here was fun for the girls with a punchy carnival theme.

Enjoy and comments welcome.

The Holiday Is Over.

Well it's been a while I know but have no fear, I have not disappeared into a sea of nothingness. There is a fair bit happening behind the scenes with a couple of projects requiring some thought and planning long before I get anywhere near the camera.

In the mean time for all those image starved readers, here is a few recent images captured while out and about during work hours.

This was a real challenge. These arrows travel at hundreds of feet per second so capturing it a just the right point of release required a shutter speed of 4000th/sec and quite a few frames before I got it right. For me its so important to have the image already captured in my mind long before arriving at the job. Be prepared to be flexible as nothing is ever exactly as you want it.

Photographing bands and live performances can be just magic.

Hard, gritty and an accountant. Great to see local business men getting down and dirty for charity.

If you have never been to a rodeo, please go. There a so many fantastic action pictures just waiting to be had. I get to do this stuff for a job. Not a day goes by without me thinking about how luck I am.

I have another photo shoot on the horizon involving a fantastic model, a rocking horse and ???, well you'll just have to watch this space.

One Step Closer to World Domination

Hey guys, well this photographer has a website. Yeah I know, why has it taken him so long so get around to it?? Good question. So with no excuses from me, you can check it out at

http://www.troybakerphotography.co.nz/

Feed back welcome.

The Covers Are Off II

And so after far to long a wait, here is the next set of three.

I know the series was based around the "shared human experience" but I did stray a little here. This image portrays the Greek goddess Persephone. The story may be a bit long winded to go through here but a quick goggle search will tell all. This pic only took about 2 hrs to complete so was one of the quicker to setup and capture.



Next we have an image I hope the fairer sex will relate to. It highlights the tasks and responsibilities women have had to face from the colonial years through to the current day. This is supposed to be the age where women have independence, personal freedom and choice? The chimney symbolises the past with the drees and shes the present and the basket of washing??

Well there are some things that just haven't changed.

I love this image as its relevant to the days we live in. It demonstrates that we are tied to this world, our actions influence it and shows we are not immune to the changes in the planets delicate biological balance. Although some may argue this is not a human experience, but a common realisation!, if we all do nothing to change our ways, we will all have a rather nasty experience.

I have no immediate plans to stop designing and photographing pictures for this project. I am learning to so and having to much fun to stop now.

The Covers Are Off

The Covers are off and the moment of truth has arrived. After two years of working on this project I have finally managed to get 6 pieces into a public exhibition. This is the first time I have really had one of my personal projects displayed in public but I am sure I am not the first photographer to feel a few opening night nerves on there first showing. For any one out there who can get to the Whakatane War Memorial hall complex, I welcome your feed back on what has been a fun and enlightening journey to create a series designed to capture some elements of the human condition.


So here is the first three.

One I was told "If you want to succeed, never give up" well it didn't take me Long to realise that although this may sound like good advise the key is to know when to give up. The watering of box thorn, (a flower long gone) is a waste of time and energy so be aware, pull back now and then, reassess then try a different direction.

If there's one thing that fascinates me its youth. I had a fantastic childhood with not a care in the world and time just didn't matter. I believe that even at my age I still have more child within me that adult so thought it appropriate to highlight the promise of youth in the above image.

In our lives one of the lessons we all have to learn I (some take longer than others) is that there are consequences to all of our actions no matter how small. What better way to illustrate this that to photograph a scene reminiscent of the tale of Adam and Eve but with a slight modern twist.

Next Three coming soon.