Hello 2017

This is just a short post to say that my blog is still alive and welcome to 2017. I will be back to post more updates soon with what I've been doing. In the meantime, I realised that I've been using instant film and cameras for 10 years! I still love this format of photography as much as the first time I opened my newly purchased SX-70 camera in 2007. One of the many things you learn when you shoot instant film is that you need to dispense with any ideals of perfection because it doesn't exist in this realm. While I've grappled with "getting things right" it's dawned on me that there is no such thing. In its place I've discovered something else, the magic to create little other worlds that exist in this medium, an alchemy in the film that creates beautiful imperfections that you can't predict. 

Upcoming Exhibition - Polaroid Android

I'm very excited to be involved in an upcoming exhibition this Saturday the 9th of July in Thirroul called Polaroid Android with 3 other talented ladies - Emma Burrows, Emma-Lee Crane and Nina Kourea - poster designed by the very talented Emma-Lee Crane. Love to see you there...

March Musings

I wanted to get a post in before the end of the month, so here it is. 
Like all instant pack film photographers I'm mourning the demise of yet another beautiful film - this time Fuji FP-100c. Already a campaign has begun in the hopes of saving this film or at least the machines that make the film to continue its production. The Save Packfilm site has a petition to sign here.

In the spirit of positive thinking I'm appreciating the latest batch of SX-70 from Impossible film. I've also purchased a new toy - a virtually unused SX-70 Model 2 with its original box and instructions.

I've also had my work published in the latest FND magazine (see pics below) and the lovely people at the Polaroid of the Day website invited me to feature some of my photos.

Experiments in Goop

So what is goop exactly? It's the Polaroid/Fuji film refuse - the stuff that gets disposed of. In the case of my experiments it was Fuji FP 3000b film negatives. I figure it's a travesty that this beautiful film is being discontinued so I wanted to honour it by keeping the positives and having some fun with the negatives. In fact I wish now that I'd saved every negative, but that's another matter. Flickr has a goop group if you'd like to check out what other photographers are doing here.

It's a fairly easy process, whereby you scan in the negative to photoshop and invert the image. Other photographers may do more manipulation in photoshop but I prefer to keep things simple.

Anyway, here are my versions. Thanks to my models, Marcelo, Chewie and Sophia.

Hello 2016

It's hard to believe we are here already - 2015 was an incredibly busy year for me photography wise, especially when I had to think of all of the things I'd been involved with. We had a tough start to the year with some personal losses - inspiration and motivation were hiding away for quite some time. Keeping busy and creative is always the best medicine, in this case being involved in 6 joint exhibitions. Three of my shots were exhibited in the first 
Film Never Die group show in April - Polaroid Resurrection, which travelled from Melbourne to Ballarat and Malaysia. 
I also had the wonderful opportunity to be involved in my first Artist in Residence at Parkes Shire Library in September. I did 5 instant film workshops with local schools in the area, an evening talk at Parkes Central library and a joint exhibition. 
At the end of the year I did manage a fun shoot with some really expired film. 

Winter Road Trip

I know, it's been ages since I last posted so moving right along...
Marcelo and I have recently returned from our winter road trip to Dubbo as he has work there - I get to tag along and frolic in the countryside. I do love getting away to clear my head from the more mundane aspects of daily life. Anyway, it was snowing in some parts. Yes I did say SNOWING. It was cold enough in Dubbo and surrounds but on our way back home it snowed as we drove through Orange, Bathurst and parts of the Blue Mountains. I already know I don't fare well in cold temperatures but being in snow is a whole different ballgame. I got some interesting photos, but I realised a few things, the cold makes you shake and I didn't have a tripod - or warm enough clothing. I also had some not so great film. Anyway...all of these were taken with my trusty Polaroid 180 camera and some expired (in 2000) 669 film. 

Upcoming Exhibition & Birthday Cake

Three of my photos have been chosen for the upcoming "Polaroid Resurrection" exhibition at Film Never Die in Melbourne next month. If you are in the Melbourne area during Easter weekend, opening night is April 3rd and the exhibition runs until the 22nd. Exciting!

On another note, my adorable Marcelo surprised me for my birthday with this beautiful Polaroid themed cake. It was made by his cousin Ossie Perez, who is extremely talented. Not only was the cake delicious, but it was all edible (even the little photos). 

Cute much?