My main interests are:
Sketching; Watercolour; Line & Wash
Poetry/Writing; Oil Painting
Photography;Judging Photography
Public Speaking/Toastmasters
Member of Toastmasters International, Gledswood Toastmasters Club -
Distinguished Toastmaster
Other:Cacti & Succulents, Reading, Walking.
Member of:
Red Point Artists Association;
Cacti & Succulent Society of Australia
Macarthur Art Group;
Urban Sketchers Sydney
Co-owner of Finance4Growth-Mortgage Broker
Member of BNI Energy (Business Network International)
The title of this post is from one of my favourite Photographers.
There are quite literally millions of things to photograph and no photographer could rightly claim to have photographed everything there is, however we do not need to.
Hand Rail (outside McDonalds)
I often hear the comment, ‘there is nothing to photograph…” An amazing statement really… As I sit in my office I look out the window (in suburbia currently), I see many subjects and many ideas come to mind of what/how I could photograph them.
The problem isn’t the lack of subject matter. The problem is that we wander around blissfully unaware of our surroundings and we also get caught up in the world, rushing here rushing there.
STOP! Just for one moment wherever you are reading this! Look around.
Do you see a tree? Yes. Look at it as if it is not a tree, but an idea generator, branches as conduit bringing forth ideas (leaves) and photograph it accordingly…
Do you see a fence? Yes. Look at it as if it is not a fence, but a palette. A palette that has light dancing over it creating form and texture, lines and shapes.
Are you a glamour/nude photographer? View the body, not as a body but as a sculpture; view it as part of the landscape and photograph it accordingly…
Are you a flower photographer? View the flower, not as a flower but as a person with a personality…
A4 Visual Diary
It is not lack of subject matter, it’s a lack of ideas.
The continued challenge as a photographer is that we need to reinvent and apply new ideas to the subject matter or as Ernst Haas eloquently puts it…
“I am not interested in shooting new things – I am interested to see things new.” Ernst Haas
Today, what will you see? How will you communicate it?
As an Artist, (whether you are a painter, photographer, musician, speaker, sculptor or any kind of visual artist) you must continue to feed your mind, ask questions of the world and ponder. Your Art is your attempt to answer those questions and in doing so you can add your flavour to society.
So how do you feed your mind?
* Reading books and other literature
* Attending Exhibitions (not just the Art you like either)
* Watching movies, documentaries and other media
* Attending lectures and presentations
* Getting together with your peers or Artists outside your realm
* Go outside your comfort zone
* Attending workshops
* Spending time contemplating about your style, about your world
Experiencing that which is outside your realm of interest is important as well. This has the effect of stretching your world-view and opens your mind to other possibilities. Your feelings about this may reveal to you a new way of seeing ‘the old’ which then will translate into your Art.
Why do all this?
You are a product of your environment. You have been subjected to different influences (chosen or otherwise). You have beliefs and your own thoughts.
Like any endeavour, you will want to grow and evolve, communicate through expressions of your Art.
The world wants to see what and how you feel about things. The world wants to see your flavour, a flavour that can help grow the world into news ways of appreciation and seeing.
The world is waiting…just waiting for you to inspire us!
Last night, my wife, Susan & I attended the ‘Youth Solutions Winter Wonderland Charity Ball.’ Youth Solutions is a is a youth drug & alcohol prevention and health promotion charity, working with young people in Macarthur and Wingecarribee areas SW of Sydney, Australia.
As with any such event as this, there was entertainment, a Soloist and a ‘groovy’ Rock ’n’ Roll band and they took it in turns to serenade and have the ‘joint jumping.’
As the Entree was being served, youth & young adult dancers from a local dance studio, ‘De Hall Dance’ took to the floor and over the following 20 minutes or so championed the activity of Ballroom dancing and also danced to some more modern moves. (20 years ago I had attended two Beginner dancing programs at the studio and the dancers brought back some great memories).
As I sat and watched the dancers seemingly glide around the floor, thoughts came to my mind about Dad (who passed away in January this year, aged 85). Dad loved to dance and could dance well, particularly in his younger days. Mum loved to dance as well.
Indeed, Mum and Dad met at a dance hall in their early 20’s c1950. They (particularly Dad) had expressed to us all what fun the dance halls were back then. Stories of great times with friends, laughter and of course, lots of dancing.
I began to see a young Mum & Dad dancing on the floor last night, and as I imagined this, tears formed in my eyes (like is happening again now…).
We cannot feel what they felt as they danced together with love blooming all those years ago but it was enough to carry them through 63 years of Marriage, 5 children and 2 grand-children.
“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon.”
— Edward Lear
Communicating Creatively 