When i was 16 i became obsessed with photography. My dad was kind enough to give me his old Agfa Silette that he received as a birthday gift for his 21st. This was one of the early images i took with it of my friend Julian. 

I wanted to try for something a little more abstract without the image losing it's ability to convey story. 

They have never built a bridge over the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry. So they run two ferries just a few minutes apart at either end of the town yet the distance between the two from the other side of the river would be about a 50 minute drive.

Each ferry takes about 3 minutes to cross the river and is a free service that runs 24 hours a day.

The above image was taken at 5.30 am. If you ever get to Sydney it is worth taking the hour or so drive out to Wiseman's Ferry. One of the most beautiful places you'll ever visit.

Australia Day 2012

My buddy Michael picked up a projector on Ebay last week so we pulled out a ton of slides and i came across this one. It was taken in 1982 when my mate Julian and myself took a road trip in a Datsun 1000 from Melbourne to Brisbane. K Mart were clearing out all  their stock of focal brand slide film so we took all 17 rolls as we were leaving. 

We left on the Saturday and hit Yass at midnight. The car had been running fine but Yass is considered the Bermuda Triangle of cars and as i checked the oil a stream of water came spraying up from the engine block. We finally got away from Yass after numerous attempts to fix the problem by 3pm Sunday. 

We arrived in Sydney that night a little later than the 12 hour drive we had originally planned and spent Monday in the city then after watching The Wrath of Khan at the movies that evening we hit the road again for the next 12 hour stretch. The above image was taken somewhere between Sydney and Queensland during a roadside break. 

Tuesday morning we were taking a nap on the beach at Surfers Paradise before heading off to visit friends. Wednesday we went to Dream World then started the trip home. 

Thursday night we met up with friends back in victoria at Lake Nillahcootie between Benalla and Mansfield. 

Saturday we drove into Melbourne  and met up with a bunch of the guys from the youth group Julian and I had been running for the previous couple of years at a volleyball tournament, after we hung around Melbourne finishing up the rest of the film. 

One of my favorite wedding photographers in the world is Sam Hassas. He has such a unique style and has a huge fan base amongst brides and photographers world wide. So i counted myself fortunate when he contacted me to see if i would second shoot with him on a wedding at Rosevears Estate in Launceston for Ian and Sam. Especially given the number of local shooters who would have given their right arm to have had the opportunity. 

Ian and Sam themselves were loads of fun, just a lovely couple, and if you check their images on Sam Hassas's site http://hassasphotography.blogspot.com/2011/08/wedding-in-tasmania-sam-ian.html you'll see why it was a golden investment to bring his over from L.A.  

Big thank you Sam for the awesome chance to shoot and hang out and to the beautiful Ian and Sam, it was an honor to there on your special day. 

I saw this guy in Melbourne stop while crossing the road to check out the girl who had just walked past him so I quickly ran the camera along a wall tile to get this. 

Named best child image in the world and best portrait in the world in 2007 to take the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Grand Award.

I was poking through a few of these snaps from a recent trip that i had not looked at until today. One of my favorite three cities in the world. 

She may look mean but she's a pussycat really. 

The great photographer herself, i snapped this while she took a break on one of her recent shoots.

Songs have been written, rehearsals have been had and the name is yet to be decided but these guys are just about ready to make a splash. Kristel is joined by her husband Glen, Martin and Peter. 

Was never going to be safe down in the woods, not from my paws. 

Taken in Füssen Germany. 

On January 10, 2011 Toowoomba experienced a flood described at the time as an inland tsunami. By the next day my friend Justin Michael had penned a song and with some fine tuning by several other artist within three days it was online generating sales to support flood relief. 

Justin is just a cool guy with a big heart but the other thing everyone associates with him is that everything he does is gold. Always professional and always a great experience whether that be working with him or just enjoying the fruit of his art. 

All involved  teamed up again to make a video of the song for Toowoomba's Easterfest music festival. The video features the talent of Paul Colman, Steve Grace, Henry Seeley, Roma Waterman, Justin and Jared from Compliments of Gus, The Kingdom, Tania G, Craig from Scat, Jud Field from Melbourne Gospel Choir, Ursualla Cettolin and the extraordinarily hard working producer, musician and vocalist, Gavin Chan. Forgive me if i have left anyone out. 

The video is the creative work of Peter David http://www.peterdavid.com.au/Welcome.html

If you would like to throw in your support the song is still available for purchase from:

 http://itunes.apple.com/​au/​album/​toowoomba-sun-feat-paul-colman/​id415667728  

Here are some shots of the  Melbourne crew during the video. 

And here is the video clip.

One of dad's recent paintings. It will be on display on the 23rd and 24th of April at the Rotary Club of Drysdale's 35th Annual Easter Art Show. The show will be held at the Leopold Indoor Neighborhood Centre on the corner of Bellarine Highway & Kensington Road in Leopold.  

More details on the show can be found on their web site at www.drysdalerotary.org.au

(The Final Frontier is not the actual title of the painting, that's just my inner trekkie coming out).

08

21

Jenny + Graham were married at Montsalvat, quite possibly the most stunning wedding venue on earth. We started off down at the Growling Frog golf course where Graham and the boys had gone to have a relaxing game in the morning. My assistant Michael thought he was James Bond driving around the course in a golf buggy for the first time. 

Here are a few pics from the day. 

I love the little things that are distinctive to a particular country or place and one of those things that screams England is the London Taxi.

I've had the iphone just over a year now. Here are a few images taken with it over that time, taken with the Hipstamatic App. You can check it out here.

I had the opportunity to help out on a Kids of Gold camp a couple of weekends ago run by my good friend Gary Parsons.

From their web site "The purpose of Kids Of Gold Inc. is to provide an opportunity for children from 9-12 years of age (or attending Grades 4-6) in Primary Schools, primarily in the Outer Eastern Melbourne area to participate in subsidised camps for the purpose of building their self esteem and confidence".

We had such a terrific group of children. I'll be adding more photos from the weekend over the next few days. Meanwhile you can get more information from the Kids of Gold website http://sites.google.com/site/kidsofgoldinc/home-page

The film is Disney's 50th animation and it combines elements of modern technique and story telling yet regains all the sense and emotion of those great Disney classics of old that many recent offering seem to have missed. 

The balance between humor and action adventure is perfect. You walk out of the cinema feeling satisfied and with a smile on your face. 

I'll confess, i've seen it 4 times in under two weeks. Though i fully expect to be paying $100 or so a ticket to see the theatre production within a few short years. 

How good is it? too good – in fact maybe the best Disney film ever made. 

SURPRISE VISITORS

The last thing I expected was these strangers at the door
"Is he here then?" they asked
Like I'd have a clue
As to who they were 
Or who on earth or under heaven
They would be looking for
So fine, finely dressed they was
But I was a bit miffed and in a huff ready for a tiff or fisticuff if they wanted rough stuff

my gruff demeanour was a bit of a bluff but it was late I was ready for sleep and I'd had enough of their interrupting stuff

"Be off with you!" I wanted to yell, 
But, well, strangers at the door of my fine hotel
And finely dressed these gentlemen seemed to be
And they didn't exactly say so, but there was an inkling of something
Kind of regal in their demeanor
Impolite of me to ask, but a clientele is built on hospitality
To my chagrin, mild consternation, bemusement but concern
Their enquiries were to the whereabouts of not the occupants of the presidential suite
But the ones in the, ahem, back seat of the bus, as it were
More like the stowaways in the luggage compartment of mine mansion-petit

So these monarchs from Eastern wherever-it-was accompanied me down the garden path
To the garden shed where the livestockery and potential dinnery were kept
And oh, how their eyes went wide
When they saw the HIM, I AM inside
Good gifts they lay down at his feet
And me, I nearly wept to see
The dollar-making opportunity evaporate with the night

What's going on? What king this? 
He didn't book in advance, didn't have a proper reservation
Never called ahead 
And how could he be a legitimate king
When his dam and sire not proper wed?
To my surprise, the evening's visitors took great delight
In bowing low and paying tribute to the humble child before my sight
It seems the evening’s bills are paid and maybe more is bought
If I can get my imagination around that thought

We just had the carols service at church this last weekend. It always blows me away how each year they put on an amazing show and continue to keep it fresh. Such an incredible team of hard working and creative people both up front and behind the scenes.

As we approach that time of year I trust your Christmas is a great one. Be happy and stay safe. 

I shot this from the hip as i was walking past, literally point and shoot. 

My brother Martin helping me work out a lighting pattern, my old friend and fellow photographer Vince at his studio and Adam doing his GQ pose at his ten year vow renwal. 

On the way from Christchurch to Auckland this is what i saw when i awoke. 

May have been more than 15 minutes. 

I went to New Zealand for a couple of weeks with my buddy Ashley. No surprise that it is listed in the top three countries to live in by the United Nations. The entire country looks like it was designed by a master landscape artist and impeccably maintained.

I did go to Hobbiton to see the Hobbit holes. Unfortunately i am not able to post images but if you are a Lord of the Rings fan it is definitely worth going. The last image is where they built the Kingdom of Rohan.

When i first saw Heather i thought of Audrey Hepburn only prettier. We had perfect light even if it was a little cold for this beautiful couple. 

Congratulations guys and thank you for the privilege of photographing your special day, you both looked amazing and were so wonderful to work with.