Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Wrap-up! and Plans for 2010

Here's a mosaic of my best 16 portraits from 2009 - a tase of things to come via my Big Plans for 2010.

The creative agenda is for 2010 to be a year of portraits.

So hear ye, hear ye, friends, Romans, Country/Citypeople: step right up, get your portraits while they're hot! (and for a limited time, free). I've lined up a bunch of friends to model, (don't be shy, there's still room for more!!) and a loose collection of keen and like-minded photographers, and we're ready to start rolling early in the new year.

So Watch This Space...!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Afro Moses Concert Sydney Opera House

The multi-talented Brad Robinson of FIG also moonlights as the guitarist in the Afro-Moses Band. They recently had a series of gigs at the Sydney Opera House, playing back-to-back concerts to large groups of two, three, four and five - year-olds in a kind of African version of The Wiggles. They invited me to make pictures during some of their concerts. I lacked a really fast lens, so some shots are a bit fuzzier than I'd like, but the energy of the performers more than made up for it.

The Afro-Moses band members include:

Afro Moses Baidoo singer/ leader
Sibo Bangoura on percussion/ djembe drum
Wendy Anggerani on keyboards
Aicha Keita dancer Rebecca Bryen dancer/ singer
Victor “Worldwide” on drums
Junichi Shiomi on bass
Bradford Robinson guitar.





























Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Lightroom3 Beta

I'm trialling a beta version of Lightroom3 for processing RAW files... whack colours, hey?!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Wasps at Happy Earth

Today I went to an open-garden day at Happy Earth with Regina and David and Maia. As you can read on the Happy Earth website, this home and garden is "an adventure in urban sustainability" exploring how the owners Richard and Ally might be able to "retrofit a typical suburban house and lawn into a healthy, efficient home with an abundant food garden." For them, being sustainable is really about living happier, healthier lives and feeling good about doing things that are good for themselves, the planet and their community. "It’s about wholesome food and lower bills, meaning more time for family and friends, and less time working."

Richard and Ally's vision for Happy Earth is also about "sharing stories and providing practical, independent information about sustainable living in Wollongong..." - and to that end they host occasional open-garden visits where they generously share their stories, experience and expertise with other interested people. They have documented their journey on their website
where you can find abundant resources and information about their permaculture projects and philosophy-in-action.

Here are some macro shots of a wasp seen busily pollinating the fennel flowers.







Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Photoshoot with Drummer Andrew Dickeson

The Canopus drum company were keen to get some images of some of their top drummers to use on their next round of promo posters, so after the 505 gig, I offered to do a shoot under more poster-conducive lighting conditions than the wonderful atmospherics of a live Jazz venue allow. Here's some of the pics done with Sydney drummer Andrew Dickeson.







Monday, October 19, 2009

FIG at Hot Lips in Enmore

The return of music to small venues in Sydney has been a welcome development in cultural activity in the city. Along with the ban on smoking in pubs, clubs and restaurants, it makes the whole idea of getting out to hear some great live music again an absolute pleasure. Local Inner-West band FIG played at Hotlips Cafe in Enmore early in October 2009. The line-up included the multi-talented: Bradford Robinson on guitar, Gregg Telian on saxophone, Pumps Haller on Percussion, along with their this-time-absent but reputedly amazing bass-player Sean Parker. The whole gang will be performing again in 2010, when FIG will be playing at Hot Lips @ 200 Enmore Road in Enmore on Tuesday 2nd Feb 2010 at 7:30pm. They will be playing some of their original material and invite you all to come on down and have a drink and some Italian food while soaking in their tunes.





Tuesday, October 13, 2009

505 Speakeasy Jazz

Saturday night was a very special treat - I had the pleasure and privelege of photographing at a session with some of the best current international Jazz performers at a small gathering, hosted at by Cameron Undy (acoustic bass) at Studio 505 in Surry Hills.

The line-up included: Jerry Weldon (tenor saxophone) & Neal Cain (acoustic bass) from Harry Connick Jr's band, with Sydney's Andrew Dickeson (drums) & John Harkins (piano), plus special guest perfomances by New York drummer George Coleman Jr and two other musicians (on soprano saxophone and trombone) who's names escaped me.

Here's some great music to listen to, to get you in the mood!

George Coleman and the Rivington Project.














Sunday, October 4, 2009

All That Jazz...

The Dale Barlow / George Coleman Jr Quartet, Friday night at the Seymore Centre in Chippendale, Sydney: Dale Barlow (saxophone), George Coleman Jr (drums), Steve Barry (piano), Brendan Clark (bass).

Here's a link to a sample of George Coleman's music.