12.12 Submission for November - Reflection

It's nearly the end of the year which is a great time to reflect. It's been one of the best years for me in many ways. I've had lots of creative opportunities (including 12.12!) fun times spent with friends and family and getting more involved in the local arts community. I'm looking forward to 2014 being even better...

For this month's theme I was going to use mirrors, but it just didn't work out how I'd planned and none of my practice shots looked how I'd imagined it would in my head. So I decided to not be so literal and reflected on a day that was personal to me, which was my wedding day. I'd found my veil packed away and tried to remember who I was on the day I was married and the person I am now. It was a slight diversion from my original plan but nevertheless I enjoyed doing something different...

Wedding day - reflection on the past

SLR 680 camera

PX 600 Silver Shade Impossible Film

12.12 Submission for October - Secret

This month's 12.12 submission for "secret" was one I was looking forward to doing because I had so many ideas - one of my favourite books is "Postsecret" by Frank Warren, which inspired me greatly. Rather than keep a secret hidden I decided to use the theme to reveal one...well, kind of....

I (still) have imaginary friends

Polaroid Spectra SE 

Impossible PZ680 film

Watercolour background/airmail twine

Globe Lane Festival 2nd November

Wollongong is having some great cultural events on at the moment and Marcelo and I were lucky enough to be involved the Globe Lane Festival. Here are a few snaps of our stall....

 Marcelo & I 

My Polaroid postcards & prints

My lovely lady friends Emma-Lee Crane from Milk Thieves and Jude Felton from Something for Doris.  My two favourite places to shop in Wollongong for pretty knick-knacks, ephemera and vintage dresses.

Globe Laneway Festival - Saturday November 2nd in Wollongong

Marcelo and I will be there this Saturday selling our wares - so come down and say hello if you are local - we would love to see you! There will be plenty of entertainment and stalls from 2pm until 8pm.

https://www.facebook.com/Globelanewayfestival

12.12 Project Submission for September - Mystery

I had so many ideas for Mystery but in the end I went for simplicity - sometimes it's nice to just present an image and let the viewer take away from it what they will. It always amazes me how people interpret things differently and see things you haven't. It's that very thing that keeps photography intriguing.

Mystery of the man by the sea

SLR 680 camera - PX680 colour protection film

In between days

I have lots of photos piling up in boxes and now that I'm on holidays, thought it might be good to scan some. I've been shooting mainly on Impossible film lately with mixed and interesting results. There seems to be an adverse reaction to the sun with shielding freshly ejected film still necessary despite it being labelled colour protection. Maybe the film boxes should read "Colour Protection Film" (Australia not included). So two things are now happening - I've taught myself to pull the film out in record speed and hide it somewhere dark asap (pocket, front of shirt, bag etc) and I'm doing more shooting indoors...

SLR680 camera - PX680CP film

Bombo - August 2013

SLR680 camera - PX680CP film

Windang - Jan 2013

SLR680 camera - PX600 Silver Shade

Austinmer - Sept 2013

12.12 Project Submission for August - Light

12.12 Project Submission for August - Light

It's hard to believe a month has gone by and I'm uploading my next photo - I have many more from recent adventures, so watch this space.

Our latest theme for the project was "Light" and I wanted to keep it really simple. I love watching light change - from pale yellow to deep golden, casting shadows and making beautiful patterns on walls. 

So it's just me, my camera and the winter light of August.

12.12 Project Submission for July - Stranger

For the July theme of "Stranger" I wanted to piece together a little story. I could have made it longer but adding too many photos meant the intent would be lost. My aim was to base my shots around a traditional fairy tale and alter the ending, giving the female character the upper hand instead of being portrayed as the victim. I was inspired by a book at work called "Feminist Fairy Tales" as well as current events occurring in our country and overseas. Thanks go to my wonderful actors - my husband Marcelo as the "Wolf" and my niece Carmen as "Little Red Riding Hood with a difference". 

12.12 Project Submission for June - Transition

This month's theme for 12.12 was "transition" and I really enjoyed doing this despite a bundle of out takes. There are always lots of ideas floating around in my head (sometimes waking me up in the middle of the night so I could write them down)! This time I used two different cameras - my trusty SLR 680 and a newly acquired Spectra SE. I also enjoyed using props, including a beautiful birds nest which was loaned to me by a friend and kindred spirit who also loves collecting ephemera - thank you Jodie. Of course this photo would be nothing without my beautiful niece Carmen...thank you sweet girl. 

12.12 Project Submission for May - Silence

The month of May had theme of Silence for the 12.12 project.
I had so many different ideas in my notebook - lots of thumbnails, scrawls on post-its etc. I wanted to challenge myself with another portrait because I tend to be more comfortable with landscapes. So where do you find silence in a person? With the way the world is today - especially for young people, it's sometimes difficult to capture this. I was blessed to have my niece model for me. She has an inner serenity that is so rare for someone her age. 

O Silence, how I long for thee..

Silence is the time and space after drifting to sleep 

before dreams begin..

Polaroid SLR680 - Impossible PX600 cool film

What I've been doing of late.....

I was recently invited to join the 12.12 Project by a Polaroid photographer I greatly admire, Penny Felts. Wow! was my initial reaction - then realization set in. Any creative person knows that being pushed out of your comfort zone is a good (albeit scary) thing. The project itself consists of 12 months, 12 themes and 12 photographers - all female. Our first subject was Surrealism....I had a few ideas, took several shots, then changed my mind almost at the last minute and had to take several more shots. It must have been fate because my last shot was the one that worked (I discovered snowglobes aren't easy to photograph!!) 
I'm so excited to be part of this project and to be working alongside these talented women from around the world. 

http://the1212project.wordpress.com/

Bits and pieces

I'm on holidays next week for a few days which I'm really looking forward to. In the meantime, here are a few mixed shots...

PX 680 film, semi developed

125i film, hazy lens

SX-70 blend film, foggy day

Fuji b&w film, inverted negative

669 film, expired

My Polaroid at Wollongong City Gallery

I've been quite busy of late - entering one of my Polaroids in the Wollongong City Gallery Photographic Portrait prize for 2013. I didn't win, but I've learned so much in the process of getting things ready. It's been nerve wracking but rewarding all at the same time! I've also been getting my submission ready for the MCA Zine Fair for this year. It's my first time making an actual zine so hopefully I will be getting a table to sell my wares. More about that later. I've included a few photos of opening night and my photo will be on display at Wollongong City Gallery until June 23rd if you'd like to have a look.

Mix It Up Monday

Since I've decided that this year I'm going to blog more regularly, I need to take more photos so I've picked up 3 of my different Polaroids and shot with various films etc with some interesting results. I found some really old peel apart 107 black and white film on ebay that has some serious grain. I was sure it was going to be dried out (expired in 1996) but I actually got some images...here is one of them

Early morning light.

(Colourpack 3 camera - 107 film)

and some others taken recently...

Actually Marcelo helped me with this one...my legs though

(Colourpack 3 camera - 125i film)

Down by the lake on a light filled afternoon

(SLR 680 camera - PX 680 Color Protection Film)

My niece Sophia

(180 Land Camera - 108 film)

My cat Napoleon during a rare serious moment of reflection...

(SLR 680 camera - PX 680 Color Protection Film)

My husband Marcelo - same as above...

(SLR 680 camera - PX 600 Silver Shade UV+ film)

Exhibition at Studio 19

I'm exhibiting a collection of my Polaroids at the moment at Studio 19 - Exposure Arts & Media in Wollongong. There are a bunch of other talented local photographers exhibiting as well so have a look if you are strolling around town. They will be on show until Saturday the 16th of February.