I went to work today.

It started with a dip in the Pacific Ocean. The water was crystal clear and between seasons. Perfect. I suggested the Groom takes a dip with the groomsmen for a photo opportunity… it’ll be fun. They fell for it. I caught two waves before they started to cotton on.

It got better from there. The Byron Bay Lighthouse Cottages…

Then we got to spend the afternoon on the beach…

Memo to diary… find a better job (if you can).

Leigh and Damien, welcome back to Australia.

10 years in the UK… awesome. 10 days on the East Coast of Australia… forever.

Top of my English class, that’s why!

I can write… oh and I have a lot to say.

So whilst I was not at Sarah & Adam’s wedding… I feel like I was. Cath & Tyler have created a set of images and an album design which are nothing short of spectacular. Personal, creative, and visually stunning.

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…

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.