Down N Dirty in Wickepin

Photo by Bob Garnant at The Countryman

I always say in my workshops that if you feel comfortable as you're taking a photograph, chances are, it's boring! Most of the people that come along have the same shooting technique - their arms are straight out, they peer into their LCD screen and awkwardly press a button. Then we see an eye level shot with the person like a dot on the horizon.

I enjoy the process of getting them down n dirty! On the ground, in a bush, bad backs and all, or running alongside me to catch me in action, or getting them to climb into a bay window for the best window light shot. And despite the oddness of it, they love it.

I love love love what I'm doing here in Wickepin! YES in the midst of it I LOVE IT. It's not a reflective memory moment, I am loving it here and now.

Community, friends, everyone going photo-nutso - like a whole town getting into something!

Here are my happiest bestest photographs so far:

 Old Conky who lives in Yealering told me "It was the only one in the shop"!

This girl was just hanging in the truck yard blowing bubbles. Absolutely perfect light streaming through the window through her bubbleness.

Then there was Pete, with the most talked about photo in town. He has an ageless sparkle in his eye! And anyone that simply enjoys the photographic process is a blessing. He didn't question my idea to put a saucepan on his head.

This shot I like because of the trio of colours and the boy's impression of where his future brother lives. As you collect photographs, you collect stories. So many words beyond the 1000 this might express.

You can't get more REAL than this. The friendliest garbo I've met with a chalkboard on his truck to write messages. This was his current issue of the day - the whole town is confused about what amalgamation means for them. But for Pete it will mean NO JOB as they pull contractors in from the bigger towns. I'd definitely vote NO. Independence is a beautiful thing.

And this is a delight on the experiential level. She really wanted to change her shocking red socks, but we convinced her not to hide them, but to show them in their full glory. And she made a love heart with them! She is totally showing us the LOVE in them. And her face makes me think she'll laugh about this moment for a while yet....

So many more I'd love to share, but you can just visit the Wickepin FaceMap Project website to explore character and qualities of a Western Australian wheatbelt town.

[current mood] Being cooked for by a School Principal & midnight birds tweeting

 

Comments

[mik]

Inspiring work + words Nat! Great to see you out there capturing real Aussie life!