Use Your Loaf (The Miss behind Les' Breads)

I love barter. The exchange of service and products. I learnt that in year 9 commerce. Back then I thought it was just a ye olde term for those egyptians that bartered a bag of grain for 36 pineapples.
We also spent a week learning to write a cheque. Man, year 9 commerce was excellent and so so useful.

So I learnt that I can barter my photography of a baker for bread.

Les Bartlett is an artisan baker based at Crystal Waters village near Maleny, Queensland. Les taught himself (later in life - around age 40) to bake! And is passionate about the bakery being the centre of a vibrant community. The warm beating heart of Crystal Waters! Every Friday he spends an entire day from dawn til dark baking a range of scrumptious sourdough loaves for the locals. I photographed all the beautiful doughy moments in exchange for as much bread as I could eat (which is about one loaf it turns out).

Dough!

And for extra fun, having seen a photo attached to the bakery door, I suggested we do an 'ode' to Les's favourite shot of a french baker.

This is the original shot:

And this is ours...

Complete with framing, caption and credit.

(Besides the loaf, Les also gave me some chocolate, so it worked out as a good barter exchange in the end.)

Go barter something people! It's the economy of the future (and of those folk in egypt back in roman numerally something, didn't study history sorry).

[current mood] Relentless Waves & Stealing Some Kid's Fries

People often ask me "What do you do?"

and I will respond according to mood.

"designer" = no further conversation please.

"artist" = I'm willing to risk the next question, "what kind of art do you do?"

Which I often reply something like "I'm a non producing artist, It's all in my head"...

Although sometimes I add "and I'm a photographer"...

"what kind of photos do you take?"

"creative ones, and sometimes portraits."

Here are some of those portraits...

Newly engaged and loved up in the recesses of Kings Park.

New puppy Gilbert with my stunning friend Narelle

The Whitlams, promo shoot after "A Day on The Green"

Sarah Tout, radio DJ

Alfredo Malabello - actor and musician

[current mood] Lamont cooking Lamont's food & John Lennon

My last days in Bali.

I walked into a restaurant to confidentally sit alone and enjoy a scoop of coconut ice cream.
Two American guys sitting at a nearby table get the waiter to call me over.
I said yes...

(Here opens up string theory debate)
Had I said no, perhaps another me is having an entirely different experience right now. But this me got to then go play pool, and get some cue tutoring which resulted in me winning against both of the lads - future me will no doubt be a pool shark!
Then the next day I was invited to visit an organic farm and walk through a very untouristy village where the people were super duper friendly (that's Bali friendly x 3!).

I took photographs of some people I met along the way.

And back at the farm house a large group of men where transporting a tree to replace an accidentally dug up tree. It took them hours to get the tree out and on the truck and then into the ground. Imagine doing this with NO machinery...
but besides this difference, there was a striking similarity to Australian workmen behaviour. One bloke down the hole, and the other ten standing around watching and smoking.

Goodbye for now Bali. xo

[current mood] Avo on Sourdough & Christmas songs that make you feel excited like you're 8 again.

I've started to shoot weddings 'officially'.

My style is very much real. Real moments creatively captured.
Those that want me to shoot their wedding say they want a more documentary style, not the cliched variety. So I'm working with minimal interference, mostly not asking people to pose.
It's hard work, but I really quite like it.

I'm striking a balance between the neccessary moments of typical wedding variety and something a bit more special.

Thanks to Lani and Dave for allowing me to share their images.

[current mood] Lynne's Blueberry Muffins & Christmas Music in November

Sun's about to set.
I see my camera in its bag and remember reading a photographer's bio that stated that he doesn't interfere with his subjects at all, just photographs things 'as they are'.

As a graphic designer it is all about interference, it's about designing things to look 'just so' but when you do this with photography it tends to kill the life in the image. I think?
I never know whether it's my knowledge of how I created the photograph that takes away the mystery and thus makes it look contrived (but others don't pick it up) OR is it just true that randomness breathes more life into a photo and you can just tell the image is real and 'found', not 'created'.

Although you always have to make choices (angles and crops) to create the most interesting image you can from what is just 'being there'.

I test this out.

Here are photographs of 'Things As They Are'.

A seedpody leafy thing I found and the golden glass beads I want to tie into my hair on my chopping board in the van.

My gold shoes squashed under a trio of sea coloured books and an inside-out blouse I bought second hand at the markets.

The towel I'd just dropped on the grass as I put my pants on. (Can you tell I live in a van yet?)

The way the backdoor curtain hangs in the van. I seem to be focused on colour combinations or striking colours in these photographs.

A despondent Oscar with a lineup of bottles left on the verandah.
It helps to find beautiful 'things as they are' when the woman that lives here is an artist!

Really working on a more original view of an already interesting thing...

I always think so much has been seen so you have to try to present it with more curiosity!
These are some Oscar ends.

[current mood] All things Vegan & The Sound of a Shovel picking up Horse Shit

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

Photo by Kelsea Batistic (Canadian backpacker)
Meat pie by Mrs Mac (I think she is a machine in a pie factory)
Context by Wickepin Newsagency

I'm in Wickepin.

and you say "Never heard of it?!"

and I say "It's 2 and a half hours South East. Wheatbelt. Just past Narrogin. Come visit!"

I'm doing it again folks. Living in a rural community teaching photography, sharing my vision for the wonders of things like rainbows and how the colours are in a line but they actually connect in a colour wheel (linking back together) spins me out. AND how much fun it is to capture morning light and silly moments and genuine expressions and how dirt can be good and so can wrinkles...

And of course people who look like their head is a TV is QUITE amusing.

My favourite time thus far has been how I knocked on my neighbour (Leanne)'s door at 6pm to get some kind of heating device and was given red wine (surprisingly practical) and then covered most personal topics within about the first hour, so moved on to the pub where we stayed til close and where I got many a great photo. I'm afraid though that in the light of sobriety such photos as this may be less appreciated!?

But people miss the fact that the joy provided by sharing these fun moments with the rest of the community is more important than how attractive they might look. It's a community service I say! Don't be afraid of looking silly because the repercussions are simply a good laugh and conversation for some time to come.

Singing with the scrubbing brush conversation that happened today over cheese scones revealed that people liked to sing with vacuum cleaners and other utensils. One person claimed that 'the whisk' was best as it was most like a microphone.

So I'm here til early next month. The shape of the project, is anyones guess. But I'll keep you informed.

I took my maiden voyage in 'Spritely' the van to get here.
On the way down it seemed omen-ish that the sky was delivering rainbows. MANY rainbows. All the way. I pulled over 3 times to take rainbow photos but most vanished as I pulled out the camera. Does that mean I should just enjoy the ride?

But I got this one with a sheep.

You can stay tuned here: Face Map Project

[current mood] 80's futuristic music & Honeydew Melon