Australia – the movie November 18, 2008

I am from a humble, sunburnt country.  Australia is the land of the Aussie battler (a working class person who tries to rise above their current circumstance while remaining true to their roots).  And as an expat (been away from home for 17 years now…) I still love my country’s sensibility and sense of humour.  And we just make the best movies!

Muriel’s Wedding.  How can you laugh so hard at people miming in Abba costumes, incorporate the best friend becoming paralysed and still call it a comedy that has true serious moments? 

Strictly Ballroom.  For all those who grew up in a small country town where there was only “one way” to do things, and that you were supposed to follow the crowd - remember that “A life lived in fear is a life half lived…”  Don’t get distracted by the razzle dazzle, do what feels right in your gut.

The Castle.  The ultimate Aussie battler story that makes you cringe at times… The son says, “The real estate agent said ‘location location location’ and we were right next to the airport!”  (They aren’t a travelling family.)  They simply believe their home is their castle… until the airport wants to buy it up to build another runway.  The battle begins for the essential right in life – to keep your home.  You laugh at them, and with them.  And love them anyway.

Moulin Rouge.  Okay so this isn’t set in Australia – but it was shot at a Sydney sound stage with Aussie, English and other actors in their native accents despite the fact it is set in Montmarte, France.  It is Spectacular, Spectacular – the first half hour reinvents fast paced editing, it is almost overwhelming.  And the way the movie weaves modern songs into a period movie in an over-the-top yet oh-so-logical way… From “the hills are alive with the sound of music…” to “here we are now, entertain us…”  A visceral experience.  Needless to say I have the soundtrack on my iPod.

And… soon soon… the movie Australia by Baz Luhrmann is set to release.  I am a sucker, I love Nicole Kidman (thank god that couch jumping Yankee is out of the way) and Baz, so of course I will see it.  I know it will be visually rich, have highs and lows… and perhaps leave me with something to think about.  Or not.  I’m just one of those silly fans who is excited to see the next Baz movie.

When I see Australia (in Canada) I will be proud to be an Australian. Go Baz!

Inspiration – from where? November 15, 2008

In art, we talk about inspiration.  That thing that gets you all jazzed, throws you into a new creative realm and unleashes your inner being (whatever that is).  I’ve been fiddle faddling around for the last few years with photography.  Many years ago I studied art photography at college.  I loved creating images.  Light and dark, negative space, give me a few glasses of wine and I can espouse for hours about the beauty of negative space.  A photo is a moment that can last a lifetime.  But how do we find inspiration as photographers? 

It isn’t like being a painter, where you can stare at your canvas and take hours to put the first stroke.  As a painter you can choose to make great art at 6am, midday, 6pm or midnight.  As a painter you are not held captive to outside influences.  I know, I used to paint oils.  I acknowledge there are exceptions - landscape painters who go out in the field and those who paint portraits from a live sitter.

The delight and the burden of photography on the other hand, is that if we want to photograph outside, we are at the mercy of day and night, seasons, rain, wind, sun and shade.  Of course if you go into a closed studio with no natural light you command complete control of your environment.  You could choose to have rain – but only if someone brought a rain machine inside! 

So as a photographer, I have found there are three stages to a great photo.  Sometimes all the stages coincide at once and you wander past, snap! and there is your magical photo.  I have a few of those photos over the years.  But while sometimes they were planned, often they were lucky.  To be consistent, to produce repeatable results – you need the three Ps.  Planning, Patience, and Practice.