VIVID PHOTOGRAPHY

Here is a great example of why you should never travel with Ian Wilkinson. I know him well enough to never turn my back on him. Never. Ben Clark was not so prepared…

Oh man I forgot my man Andrew Kwintowski. Runner up Wedding Photographer of the Year. I just spent 4 days and nights with this man in an RV in the canyons of Nevada, Idaho, and Nebraska (see my recent posts), and he deserves this award. Well done Andrew! All my traveling companions, thank you. Here is another shot from the trip.

Without knowing all the results, we are excited to announce we have won another Gold Award this year at the annual AIPP State Awards. In addition, the boy wizard Tyler Alberti, in his first year entering as a full member of the AIPP, has won a Silver Distinction award with a fabulous B&W wedding image. The beginning of many awards I know for Tyler, and we look forward to him introducing his award winning image very soon on the blog.

My Gold award is one of my favourite images from my recent rip to NYC. We rarely analyse images on this blog but I am going to briefly here because many may wonder why I like it so much.

I love the composition. There is a centre line which splits the image in two equal parts, each with a separate flavour, the background the foreground are one. All distinct and complete with detail.  Every form and shape just fits, perfectly. Some images are special for unknown reasons. Mystery, deception, and a riddle.

I saw this mysteriously dated young man walking around the rooftop garden of this city. He was holding a red book. A diary? A notebook? The imagination runs wild… is he in a Greenaway film, or a Lynch TV series?? The shapes of the buildings, the immense detail, and the colour of the image straight from the camera, just says it all. But Adam Finch of Studio Impressions fame, put it best… he wanted to look at every part of the image and enjoy the look of it… every detail… every story. I agree. I love just looking at this print. I will have an original of this print in the studio very soon, and I invite you all to see a print I love.

Regarding the awards, I’m pleased to congratulate all the winners however I must congratulate a very great photographer, and a completely upstanding citizen in Todd Hunter McGaw, for his Wedding Album of the Year Award. Well done buddy. We must not forget Alyda, his powerhouse of a Mrs, for her Silver Distinction in the wedding category – very hard to obtain! Major congrats also go to Jonas Peterson for Qld Photographer of the Year. Peter Rossi, an inspirational photographic artist, won two categories, one I thought might have been unfamiliar to him… apparently not. Well done Pete, you continue to amaze. Finally, Lesley Downie for the Documentary category, an amazing photographer, and amazing ambassador for photography, and in particular for women working in this industry.

She is an absolute inspiration for Cath & Myself, and we have an immense amount of respect for her. I wonder how I could possibly match her achievements throughout her years. I’ve c0me to the conclusion… I can’t.

But I can learn. That’s what inspiration is I’m sure. Having someone you respect, admire, and aspire to be like creatively. For Cath & I, Leslie is it. Oh and Peter… and Charmaine… and Todd…

A great shot for the pool room…

I recently traveled to the US for the fourth year in a row to attend WPPI. Well what is WPPI?

About 16,000 photographers of all types, abilities, and from all over the world, converge to learn about the craft and business of wedding and portrait photography. The conference was great but this year I was inspired by the photographers I traveled with. We toured some of the US’s awesome national parks like Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Antelope Canyon. A shot of mine from Antelope is pictured here.

Watching the other guys shoot, how they approached the subject matter, and seeing the results, really floored me. If you want to see some of their stunning imagery, I’m sure they will have something online soon if not already. Check them out here:

Ian Wilkinson - http://ianwilkinson.com.au/blog/

Stephen Thomas – http://www.vellumstudios.com.au/blog/

Ben Clark – http://benclarkphotography.com.au/blog/

Andrew Kwintowski – http://www.kwintowski.com/

Me personally, I was searching for something different from my usual subject matter. Not so much the postcard shot, but something that I could really get excited about.

Looking through my images I don’t think I really found it until I got to New York. I found myself stalking the neighborhoods looking for a great stage on which to photograph interesting people as they passed by. It became a game of sorts, like a computer game for photographers, where I would try to have everything in the composition right where it needs to be to make the perfect image and then shoot!

Not 20 shots and pick the best, but one shot, and if I missed it I missed it.

I have been through about 50 of the 2,500 frames I took on the trip, and already I have fallen in love with one image. Unfortunately I might enter it in the awards this week so I can’t show you HOWEVER… this is my next favorite shot.

I just love body language. And dogs. If it gives you a smile… please leave a comment if you feel like it – Rich.

Insight, perception, awareness, understanding, vision, wisdom, prescience.

Nothing more needs to be said, except can this moment ever be repeated?

Professional photography seems to be a word applied to anyone who knows how to pick up a camera. Well I’m here to dispel that myth. If you are wondering why you should book a professional portrait photographer… read on:

Ask anyone what the most important thing in life is… and the answer will be two things:

Love and Family.

Every time.

How do we show that love, how do we value that love? Many ways, but in any real visible way? Any real tangible way? Photography is a tool so powerful with an ability to reveal to ourselves and others. How we feel, how we live, and how we love. A professional portrait on your wall in your home says:

I love my family
I love my life
I love you

It reinforces to us our love for those closest to us. It shows our children how much we love, value and cherish them in our lives.

But why book a professional photographer?

Insight, perception, awareness, understanding, vision, wisdom, prescience.

Everything invested in this image has little to do with the camera. It has everything to do with the words above. This is one of my favorite family portrait images by Cath. In years to come the McIntosh family will treasure this image, and relive this precious moment in their lives. For now I enjoy it as an artwork, an image which ticks all the boxes, thanks to the experience Cath has as a professional photographer.

What is a professional photographer?

Cath did not just pick up the camera and think I can do this. She invested her life in photography since the age of 16. A 3 year bachelor degree in photography, 25 years shooting professionally, and numerous awards = original and stunning images. She is one of the most experienced photographers in Queensland, and it shows.

As far as I’m concerned, you are not a professional photographer unless you have studied photography for 2-3 years with 2 years in the field, or worked as a full time professional for at least 3-5 years. Once achieved, a photographer will forget the camera and get a glimpse of these words:

Insight, perception, awareness, understanding, vision, wisdom, prescience.

But not truly understand them until they have shot hundreds of portraits, and experienced a good deal of life. Your family photographer should have these qualifications, or you are risking the insight required to create that amazing image which lets you see yourself, your family, and everything you love about your life.

Love & Family.

So pick up the phone and book a professional photographer now. If not us, at least another professional photographer with loads of experience and training, and see how life affirming the experience can be.

Cath really can shoot a great portrait…

I can’t believe it’s already a week since I got off that plane.

Three nights in an RV with four other photographers. Two nights in Vegas. Five nights in NYC. A few nights on planes as well. What a trip!

I was lucky enough to travel with four amazing photographers. Each with a different take on the awe-inspiring places we visited. The drive through Zion National Park will always remain a memorable experience, as will Antelope Canyon. In New York I found myself falling into a pattern of shooting street-scapes, like a stage with actors walking through. I think I got some really fabulous images so expect a second New York book sometime soon. Here’s one shot I like so far – Rich.