loving the life aquatic

 

Hello! Long time no post, I know. This week things have finally slowed down a little so I’m taking the opportunity to check in before the next urgent, need-it-now job hurtles towards me.

As I review my work for various clients over the last six months, one almost constant theme is water.

Some of my favourite water moments have been poolside…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As much as I love pools – swimming in them and snapping them – the most mesmerising water experience was at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wall of water is totally wonderful but the most breathtaking water episode I’ve had recently was shooting way up high above the stuff at Brisbane Port, in a tiny cabin that moved so swiftly, I’m amazed any of these shots are in focus…

 

 

 

 

(Trying to stay upright and shoot was of course nothing compared to what the operator has to do – manipulate a tiny joystick to precisely pick up and move massive containers way down below, from ship to shore. For hours. On. End. The least I could do was not fall on top of the poor guy.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shooting back down on firm ground wasn’t nearly so dramatic but I do love a massive ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the things about shooting bodies of water is they look their best at daybreak. As much as I wince at the thought of waking up while it’s still dark, I love it when I do. No one’s around, the air is deliciously crisp and then suddenly, the light breaks over the horizon – it never stops feeling incredible…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As impressive as the sunrise is over the harbour foreshores, I had a recent OMG moment just a few minutes after I’d got off the M5 one early morning, near Liverpool. I thought I’d discovered a lot about the hidden gems of the western suburbs from the days of my first 52 Suburbs project, but this was news to me…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t just the beauty that blew me away, it was also the richness of river life, just spitting distance from the M5 and busy, urban Liverpool. The life aquatic in the suburbs…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The biggest buzz for me was meeting a gaggle of gorgeous kids, messing about on the edge of Chipping Norton Lake. They loved having their photos taken – “me, miss, take me!” – as did their parents, a group of Lebanese Muslims enjoying a peaceful day out. The whole debate about immigration and the recent ‘us and them’ bizarreness seemed like a million miles away…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two kids below are brother and sister. I wanted to snap them in the lovely late afternoon light but they weren’t sure how to stand. So I asked the older brother what he would do if he met his sister on the street. Without hesitation he hugged her tight. How beautiful is that?

 

 

 

 

So that’s just a little of what I’ve been up to. I’ll check in again soon – I always say it when I haven’t blogged for a while, but I really do miss it. (I probably should migrate to a new blog since clearly we’re no longer travelling around the world; I’ll add it to the To Do list.)

On other fronts, I’ve had a rush of blood to the head and reduced the price of my 52 Suburbs Around the World book to just $49.95. (If you’d like a copy, click here or head to the SHOP tab at the top of the page.) And I’m also offering family portraits at special Chrissy prices – I’ll post about that separately soon but in the meantime, please email me for the details (52suburbs@gmail.com) if you’re interested.

 

 

 

 

Last but not least, Coco says hi! Here she is with some of her friends, celebrating her 11th birthday – it was in July but her bad mother only got around to organising it recently. Wicked woman!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here endeth this mega post. As usual, the blog format is all very one-sided – I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to over the last six months. Either that or you know, anything really. How you feel about sunrises, Christmas, cats vs dogs. The more random the better in a way. Just would be lovely to hear your ‘voice’. (I’d better go, it’s getting weird.)