A willfull return


I have been away from photography for one year and one day. From a photography perspectrive, I hated every minute of those long 366 days not having camera in hand. Some things we you just have to try and if the pays off, well then great. In my case my circle is now complete and here I find myself back with my camera. The difference is it's now to be my full time business and I am scared and so happy at the same time haha.

I intend to take some time to fill in the gaps of where my photographic journey has taken me since my last (so long ago) post which will give me the chance to re-familerize myself with where I have been all this time.

My camera fits me like a glove. I think I may have forgot that when removing it and trying one that belongs to a farm manager. As much as I wanted it to (I hate failure) it just didn't fit me so I am back to what I know and do best.


WISH ME LUCK.

It;s All In The Gallery V

Catch of the day.

Model: Briar.

All in the Gallery IV

A reference to a common journey. No matter where we are from, no matter what our race, our ancestors traveled here by boat. Each made the decision to undertake the arduous journey over many months, traveling here from distant shores in search of a new life on new lands.

Model Nia Lee aged 9.

It's all in the Gallery III

Model: Terina. (first time model)
Location: Ohiwa Harbour.

Image number 3 of 9.

I have a lot of fun with this. Truth be told my intention was to make an entirely different picture this day but the act putting vision into practice eluded me. Instead this picture was an unexpected but welcome result.

It's all in the Gallery II

Her is Image number II.

Model: Melissa

It's important to for a picture to tell a story or invite the view to find their own in order to give an image a presence.

It would be all to easy to explain each piece, the meaning, the process but with this series the process is the viewer drawing out a part of there own experiences and relating it to what they see in front of them.

It's all in the Gallery

"HEY I AM BACK". I have been absent for a long time but would like to get this blog back to what it used to be starting with news of my first solo exhibition at the Whakatane Museum Gallery.

The exhibition opened last Friday with at least 80 people turning up to show their support which was quite humbling. I will be posting image from the exhibition over the coming days starting today.

Enjoy.

Model: Emma

Emma was a first time model who was as nervous as any I have worked with before. With minimal instruction she understood the concept and certainly exceeded expectations.

You've just got to love weddings. 

Each is so different and reflect a couples personality and love for each other. This wedding was no exception, with a great couple looking to the future and a life together.

Congratulations to Rocky and Michelle. We wish you both all the best.

Wedd In Style

Renee and Lance tied the knot on a stunning December day in Onepu. Cant think of a better way to finish the year.

                                Congratulation to you both.

             I think this policeman just wanted a peak at the car.

A little bit of Hannah

This is the third time I have photographed Hannah with the second resulting in a national photography saloon award so when I hear she's back in town it's time to dust the camera off and head out into the wilderness.

                                                                         
                                                         Can't wait until number four.

                                                                           Enjoy.

The Road to Heaven

I had entitled this Image "Rod to Heaven". The symbolic nature of this scene struck me in an instant as I stood on top of a ridge line just outside Martinborough. There are times when during the present we look back on our past then inadvertently cast out eyes to the future.

Looking back, this was one of those moments. I was straddling this fence, and considering the vision stretched out before me when my phone rang. It was a close cousin asking me to be a god father to her new born son. Having no children of my own, I was elated and honored to be considered.

A new and bright future loomed before this youngster where as my existence on this earth was statistically half way through. The fence became my road in life, meandering its way through the highways and pathways of this world to stop at this point of time. The posts were me, my life, my future, the result of a full and varied life. Worn from time and experience.

We all consider our end, as mine stretched out before me, the light out before me, the body finding youth again as the fence posts right themselves when Heaven approaches. Its not a sad story by any means but one of joy and fufulment. A satisifaction of making the most of what I have, looking back and saying "Hell Yeah, what a ride".

Perfect Couple, Perfect Day

 The first wedding for 2012 is under my belt and I must admit to being overly keen to get stuck into this one.

Kat and Jason were married last weekend under a blanket of beautiful Tauranga sunshine and all I can say is WOW. Stunning bride, proud groom and an amazing day other couples would be envious of.

Many thanks to the happy couple for including us and making us feel so welcome.  

Medal Success.

2012 North Shore Salon of Photography sees a Silver medal and a highly commended come my way.

Many thanks to all involved including the model, Hannah.

It has been an eye opener placing my pictures under the eye of a judge and / or the general public to view, comment and critique. Photography for me involves burning the creative candle, pouring over ideas and concepts then mixing them with my own experiences with a view to capturing the completed image in my mind long before its actually made. There is a lot of me mixed into every image I create, maybe more than I realise so my work can be a deeply personal process and I do have a strong connection to each piece. Making the decision to put these pictures out there for the first time can be daunting for some, it certainly was for me.

Making the awards scene a source of self glorification is not what its all about for me (although to win is cool), I gain plenty from just mealy creating. Gaining an award is a not'only just a method by which I can  market myself but is also a way of measuring where I am in the big wide world of photography, seeing who's doing what and where.

Stop The Press

           

               A Print Press Room, a Model and a Camera. A great was to spend a Sunday I reckon.

                                           Many thanks to Casey (Model) and Alice (makeup).

Nga Haerenga “the journey’s”

I have recently been charged with the task of capturing some images for the Opotiki District Council with the aim to promote the areas as a mountain bikes paradise. Now this was and is an assignment close to my heart as I happen to love all things Mountain Bike. I began pounding the trails in the Tarawera back in the late 80s before some genius invented suspension which not only gave added traction and efficiency but softened the pounding the body took when flying down a mountain at speed. I have been well aware of the off road opportunities to be had in Opotiki so took this as a chance to see what all the fuss was about.

All this is part of the national cycle trail but the locals here are keen to let all who ride know that this is just the beginning. You can take a leisurely ride on the 19km scenic/beach trail or for the hardened trail beast theirs a 91km loop tail.

The scenery is breath taking, the trails well manicured so I can't wait to get down and dirty during my next assignment riding and photographing the Otipi track.

http://www.motutrails.co.nz/

And then there as three.

 I must admit to not receiving to many requests to photograph couples waiting for there first child which is unfortunate because I do enjoy photographing them. After all its the creation of life itself, the start of not just a new family but a personality, an individual waiting for new experiences, grow family's of there own and touch the lives they all who share.

Pre Wedding Bliss

 Brendon and Katie are counting down the days until their wedding in sunny Rarotonga but can think of a better place than Waiotahi beach for a few pre-wedding portraits.

FAB MAG

Its been a long time goal to feature in D-Photo so a five page spread in this issue is fantastic.

There are times when finding photographic subjects is near impossible but when you have stunning nieces at hands who certainly are not camera shy, it,s just all to easy.

So here is Nicola other wise known as Stix".

Ohope and the Confetti Rain

The sun shone and the confetti rained down on Ohope beach over the weekend as Sam and Andrew celebrated their wedding. The Wedding season may be all but over but this one was a blast.

Congrats to Sam and Andrew and cheers for a fantastic day.