The Month That Was

As July comes to an end, I am reflecting on the month it has been. The lingering question I have is, do I need expensive counselling? It has been a big one.  My solo exhibition at the newly opened Saltwater Gallery has ended and we are now getting ready for my next show in September - "Art Is". This is collaborative exhibition during the Margaret River Region Open Studios. I have created so many new photographs this year and my wife thinks it has been some of my best work to date.  It’s incredible what you can achieve with the right motivation and a cattle prod.

On top of two exhibitions, we also have a new book coming out - Down South. It is work from my own backyard, the southwest of Western Australia.  Man, I am tired, that is a lot and we are only half way through the year.  The Open Studios event is on from 12th - 27th of September.  It is an amazing two weeks and I encourage everyone to come down for it.  I look forward to meeting you in the gallery if you get a chance to be in the area. I will be the guy, slumped in a chair, dribbling and looking like a worn out pair of Speedos. If I don't respond, I may already be dead.

Some of you might know that I am a bike rider.  Yes, that’s right, a mamil.  I’m not proud of wearing the attire that is obligatory for cyclists, but for the sake of speed, it must be done.  I guess, as I age, I will have to get used to the feeling of wearing padded pants!  Incontinence is just around the corner along with the other joys associated with being a on the other side of 60!  My next thing to worry about is a bike ride I am doing at the end of November.  It is called "The Hunt 1000” and it is one thousand kilometres from Canberra to Melbourne, through the Snowy Mountains.  The amount of vertical we will encounter is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest more than three times.  It will be unassisted so we have to carry all our food, water, tents, sleeping bags, clothes etc. It isn’t a trivial ride and frankly it has me a little concerned.  Luckily I am with five friends so I’m sure one of them will look out for me!  I have previously completed the Munda Biddi trail, which is also 1000 kilometres but with half the amount of vertical climbing of the Hunt.  Might be worth getting one of my prints now, they might double in price if I cark it!!!

I recently purchased some vintage Leica gear.  I am the proud owner of a M2 with an assortment of lenses.  Everything is the same age as me but it still works and is in amazing condition, unlike me.  So I have done the unthinkable, I have actually shot some film.  I have to say, it is fantastic to wind on the film and get a solid “clunk” as the shutter release is pushed.  There is something so satisfying with that analog sound.  I will soon have a new series of images fully shot on film and I hope this will become part of  a very special exhibition.  More on that later.

Included in this newsletter are a few images that are in my MRROS Art Is exhibition.  Hope you enjoy them and the little anecdotes.

There is this free camping spot called Grimwade.  It’s about 15kms inland from Balingup.  There is a small lake surrounded by trees.  It is actually quite nice.  The Black Cockatoos fly in every morning and evening for a dip and a swark.  It does have a bit of a grim vibe though, similar to a horror movie.  You know the sort.  Young attractive couple camp on the edge of the lake, all very romantic until the carnies turn up with their vans and bongo drums.  Before you know it they are eating humus and lentil patties cooked over a log fire.  The smell wafting through the forest ruining the flavour of your Coles meat tray.  Then out comes someone with a guitar playing Simon and Garfunkel.  At that point you kill yourself!

Namibia is my favourite country in Africa.  To be totally transparent, I have only been to two!  But this place is a photographers dream.  It is so remarkable.  It seems like one big desert, probably because it is, but I have never seen so much sand.  This abandoned town in Kolmanskop is full of buildings that are slowly being overtaken by the sand.  It is also extremely haunted!  Standing alone in these rooms was really creepy.  I'm sure some of the buildings were used as a hospital, so there was definitely a lot of dead people hanging out.  This picture isn't haunted BTW and would look super nice on your wall.

I have never owned a Holden ute.  My wife says we are not ute people.  I disagree, I am a total bogan when it comes to cars.  An old stock Holden ute is something to revere.  It is the pinnacle of motoring excellence.  The styling is unrivalled, the performance unlike anything else.  Able to go from 0-100 in under a minute, and steering not unlike a Coles shopping trolley.  Why wouldn't you want one!  Easy to load beer into, the odd dead roo and if you like, plenty of space for the kids.  They don't make them like they used to!

The abstract nature of white water is evident when viewed from above.  It looks like a delicate, lacy white veil spreading across the water.  The edges are soft and feathered with swirling patterns that constantly shift and fade only to be renewed by the next wave. Then a bloody great big shark enters the scene and ruins it!