Artist's Statement:

I went to a writers soiree last Sunday organised by Beth Yahp of a reading by students and teachers of memoir and travel writing. After hearing some of the fascinating stories and motivations of the people I met there, I was inspired to pen an 'Artists Statement', defining some of what I do when I engage with photography

Beth also announced the launch of her latest Writer's Trekk to Nepal in October 2011. I'm very tempted to go, if it's not drawing too long a bow to say that I want to 'write stories with my camera'...

"When I practice photography, I am engaging in a creative space in much the same way as I might practice Yoga or meditation. It is an entry into a sublime space of contemplation. Which is not to say it is always quiet or retiring: sometimes it is fast and active, strident and joyful; and at other times it may be about hours of waiting, silently, observing the light. Or it might be all at once: playful, serious, determined, engaging, free. Outward and inward. It is an action that moves me through all states of mind, all states of being - and challenges me to transcend. In the moment that I make a photograph, I am not attempting to 'capture' anything. When I press the shutter, it is very often to express appreciation for something I have seen, or more often something I have felt: a connection; a presence; a moment of being. It is an applause for what IS. When I press the shutter, it is, for me, the sound of one hand clapping."

  

Buddha Belly Cafe and Garden Centre

The Buddha Belly is a delightful cafe and garden centre in the leafy northern suburbs of Terry Hills in Sydney. The restaurant looks out over Oriental gardens with a carp pond and bonsaied trees that flow through to several small out-buildings made from transported traditional Indonesian architecture, housing artisan home wares. The owners were very generous in allowing us to wander for hours, making photographs of their collection of plants and garden art. The Cafe serves great Chai and their traditional Nasai Goreng is delish!

Right next door is Mr Bamboo, if you happen to be looking for a rare variety of bamboo for your garden.

Temple Heart

Buddhist Photographers

Buddhist monks taking photographs of each other in front of the Sydney Opera House.

Buddhist Holiday Snaps

These lovely monks were visiting Sydney after attending a world Buddhist convention in Tasmania. They were relaxing and taking photos of each other in front of the opera house. I loved how their camera was the same deep maroon colour as their Buddhist trappings. We got chatting with Venerable Anurudha (pictured) and Venerable Kaset who told us about the Buddhist Centre near Sydney where Venerable Kaset lives and works.

Sacred: A Photography Exhibition - 18th April 2009

My friend Richard Alma is having a showing of his photographs at Gallery 41, which is at 41 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo, Sydney. The show opens at 2pm on Saturday, April 18th, 2009. All welcome, bring friends. These are stunning photographs, sacred and beautiful. The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday 1-6pm and the show runs until the 2nd May.

Click on the image below to see full size.

Artist Biography:

Richard Alma is a Sydney based photographer. He is largely self-taught, though has taken some short courses at the Australian College of Photography in Paddington, where several of his images were selected for both exhibitions and publication in the annual review.

His range of influences is vast, but he is particularly inspired by the work of Henri Cartier Bresson and Sebastiao Salgado.

His passion for photography has taken him to many corners of the globe on a quest to capture images that ignite the senses, shift perspectives and invite viewers to explore what they think and how they perceive.

Artist Statement:
For me, (Richard says) photography is about capturing that decisive moment that encompasses emotion, meaning and truth. Each photograph tells a story, a record of a moment that's in the past and has gone forever. My aim is to convey a sense of meaning and empathy through the imagery I share, and to unite myself, the image, and the viewer in an exploration of what it means to be human. It is my hope that through such exploration we can cultivate a deeper understanding of our place within the world.

Loving Laundry Day

There's a Buddhist practice that says that rather than wasting time getting bored with everyday chores, we could approach each action with an even heart and find joy in each small action. Below is a close-up of my laundry bag:

"Before Enlightenment,
chop Wood, fetch Water.

After Enlightenment,
chop Wood, fetch Water..."

Taking my clinic wash to the laundromat is a weekly ritual where I also have the opportunity to practice my (at the moment very basic) Vietnamese conversational skills with the lovely owners of the laundry.

"Xin Chao" - Hello!
and the Vietnamese expression of thanks - Cam On - which requires a little squeeze of the bottom of the diaphragm, to make the right sound: “Cam errrhn!”
It feels like a small massage of the heart each time I say it:

“Cam errrhn” - Thank you.