Tonight a friend of mine and poet Ghostboy invited me to come to one of his performance and to have dinner with his wonderful girlfriend and author Katherine Battersby along with some of the band members from Golden Virtues. How could I turn down such an offer. Camera in hand I rocked down to the Judith Wright Centre and enjoyed some lyrical genius and caught up with some familiar faces.
Last week two of my very good friends came up from Canberra for a little R&R; Rowdiness and Restlessness. Simone and Shanan are two of the most intelligent and down to earth people I know and I’m glad to call them both friends. Shanan’s initial reaction to a holiday wasn’t a great one, he was unsure and after Simone and I badgered him considerably, he folded and conformed to the idea of a small break in Brisbane. It had been over 9 Months since I saw Simone last which was part of a manic tour I did hopping 4 states in three days. Had I not been on this manic tour in the fashion I had, then I can honestly say I wouldn’t be as close to these two as a I am today. I’m stoked to have had them here and the experiences, stories and general feeling of my extended weekend was the most amazing thing I’ve managed to be involved in for some time.
Disclaimer: For those who know me well, I have a warped sense of humour and I get a great joy from embarrassing my friends and I feel it’s something about making them smile or blush uncontrollably which leads me to do the silly things I do. You will understand more as this trip continues.
Day One
Arriving at the airport I was 20 minutes early so I found a seat close to the terminal.
Imagine the looks on the faces of an airport which is full of travellers and then the look on Simone and Shanan’s faces when this was presented to them. So soon after the meet and greet it was off to my favourite spot, EURO CAFE for some Breakfast with Nicholas, Simone and Shanan. Happy Birthday Nicholas, I hope it reminded you of Europe.
We headed back to my place to unpack and to introduce some people who hadn’t yet met…
Introducing STORM, my beautiful Python. She’s pretty much the most affectionate snake I’ve come across and maybe I’m biased but hey!
Shanan and Simone quickly made friends with her, she loves everyone!
We head out and about and returned home to play a game of dress ups… We did a good job of it.
It was only 9:07pm when we hit bed, the 3:30am start for Simone and Shanan had taken it’s toll.
Day Two
A lazy start to the day saw us all being nerds and uploading photos online for our friends and family to see, though some of us were being weirdos and creeping over the office divider in my house
Before departing I snapped some quick photos outside of my lovely friends
We headed shortly over to the Shorncliffe Pier for a stroll along the water and to do the touristy thing
Shanan Strutting his stuff and working it for the runway cameras
We headed to Chermside shopping centre soon after to poke about and see what was happening!
A short trip home and it was time to start the fun as Simone wanted to learn to breath fire!
My breathing
Simone’s second breath ever
I was pretty impressed at her ability for a first timer. Soon after we headed to the Valley to show the two about with Nicholas. Nothing says “fun” like a photo in the car!
We may have coaxed Shanan into drinking a lot of shots and to get him a little drunk. Chartreuse, Jagerbombs x 2, Sambuca and a Blue Tongue.
Day Three
West End markets was the morning ritual for a comfortable Saturday morning in Brisbane, albeit overcast the day was pretty perfect. We all bought things like Lime Cordial, Lemonade, Pizza, Lollies and Strawberries
Straight back to my house to see the snakes and to act like fools.
That night, The Photobooth….
The rules are simple. What happens in the booth, stays in the booth…. Until the next morning when they’re put online for all attendee’s to see! A selection of images were added for comical value
We may have told Shanan that Tequila isn’t a heavy drink and that it’s a good way to party, you know… for the first time properly drinking… Sorry Shanan!
The Poster and how people were greeted in the airport.
Dressed down a bit as sitting out in the cold took its toll on my lack of clothing from earlier on.
Shanan ended up a little unwell and we may have drawn on him and posed with him whilst he was “sleeping”.
Instead, I offer you a photo of Shanan proclaiming his sobriety with a photo.
Day Four
A slow start to the morning was good for all and a sleep in was well earned before a trip to Kelvin Grove KFC to help Shanan’s unwell stomach
Whilst he ate, some of us posed it up for photos. Next on the agenda was a tour of South Bank on Sunset followed by a trip to my favourite evening spot…
MAX BRENNER!
Waffles and a White drinking chocolate later, I was a happy man.
Now, I have a Sunday tradition I’m not one to pass up for anything and that is going for a ride. We met up with the boys for a while and took a spin around a car park doing tricks on our bikes and teach tourists how to ride a fixie
Next cab off the rank was to head to Mt Coot-tha to see the lookout and show the views from Brisbane’s best tourist spot.
Next thing you know it’s 1am and we all need sleep!
Day Five
The last day of guests was the hardest for me, I’m a a bit of a softy when it comes to good-byes. Fitting in with our busy week we headed to Queen St Mall to shop, scout and visit places.
DFO got the final port of call before we headed to the airport.
I was a little sad to see my friends off but you know what, friends don’t have to live close to be friends.
To sum up my week in one word? AWESOME.
Thank you very much to my two beautiful Friends Shanan and Simone. I cannot thank you enough for coming to visit, partying, having fun and being guests in my house and giving me an excuse to relax for a few days without thinking too much about work. I look forward to seeing you both again soon!
When my friend Tracey phoned me and told me she needed a wedding photographer for her sister’s wedding, I was a little bit excited as I hadn’t been out on my own shooting a wedding in a while. I second shoot for Studio Sixty some weekends and love every moment of it, so you can only imagine the delight when someone said the words “full creative control”. Matt and Sara were probably one of the most fun, open and loving couples I’ve seen to date. Thank you for allowing me to capture your day and THANK you very much for the BIG lollypop! Enough words though; The photos can talk.
The Boys
The Girls
The fabled and AMAZING Lollypop!
Thank you for letting me be a part of your day, I had a blast! 
Not all photographers have an amazing story and not all of them have something inspiring to tell you, I guess you could say that I’m one of those people. Sure I’ve had some fun times and gone some funky places. I’ve hung out the side of helicopters and crawled beneath the cities we live in, I’ve been around Australia and I’ve been paid to do it, though among all of it I’ve come from somewhere humble and I did it on my own with the help of a few people who saw something in my photography. For that, I thank you all.
2006 was an odd journey; It was a year of good times, great times, sad times and terrible times. I learned and I grew and most of all I got to experience life on my own. I was living for myself and not conforming to what my father often wanted me to do which was to get a “real job” as a tradie. I’m glad I stuck to my guns and went with it, I really feel like I made a wise choice.
May 5th saw the purchase of my first Digital SLR, a Canon 20D along with a 24-85 USM. 6 days later I decided to fess up and I bought a 10-22USM Lens and from there my love developed and accelerated at a pace even I couldn’t even comprehend, I had become an addict to the shutter. This post will detail some intimate parts of my life and a part of my journey and the images posted are my experiences and my personal development, they are also my memories. Not all the shots are quality nor are they posted for photographic merit, they are posted because they meant something to me; whether it an important memory, a story or just something I enjoyed doing. From going back and looking through my 2006 catalogue of images I’m teaching myself a valuable lesson, “Never forget your roots”; I’m not sure what it is but looking back has reminded me of how much I used to shoot for fun… This is personal food for thought.
May – The honeymoon period of owning a camera, I shot a photo every day without fail, some good, some bad, it was fun
My first night shooting with my camera, for some reason we hit a graveyard. Out of focus and badly composed…
June – The month of learning
A 70-200 Lens and a 580ex and here we were at Nashville High School photographing Aaron Winters at a gig.
My first solo session in a drain, my first time experimenting with light painting on a serious level
July – The first job
My first job, nothing can sum up the meaning this image has looking back, my first job, my first bit of coin as a photographer.
August – The move
A convention in Sydney and a lot of diecast model cars
Train yards and light painting. The very next night, I was living in Melbourne…
September – The month of what would shape my future
My first bout of Melbourne drain craziness!
October – A generic month of fun, no sleep and urban exploration
Two points if someone can identify this species of fish. Bonus points if you can tell me the sex of the fish too.
The day I got a lip ring, Mum, Dad and my brother all said don’t do it. I believe Dad even threatened to disown me if I did… Needless to say teenagers rebel good.
November – The month which shaped 2007
The 1984 ST-141 Corona, the car which clocked 1900km in 2 days with only one blown heater return hose.
Arriving back in Brisbane I surprised my friend by turning up on her doorstep the day of her formal
The first time I laid eyes on the girl I would spend the next 13 months of my life with
December – Experimentation and memories
2006, I gave you hell and you gave me life love.
Looking back, I experimented more with my photography. These days I know what I want and I walk in with something in my mind and so far this has done me well. My goal for the next year is to go back to my roots and play more, challenge myself and take more happy snaps.
The following photos are snippets of my life from 2005, parts of me I miss, parts of my life I miss, but most importantly things I won’t forget because I have the memory of a photograph. Take what you want from this post but this is 2005. The year I took a step into what I love doing, Photography.
Self portraiture on a hand-me-down “3″ Branded phone was hip. I even sported a turtleneck styled jumper. Talk about Classy.
My fabled ‘Cyphotilapia Gibberosa “Ikola”‘ or in layman terms, Ikola Frontosa, alongside my beautiful clown loaches ‘Chromobotia Macracanthus’. Above a ‘Dimidiochromis Strigatus’ female (possible hybrid/cross)
Potential Alpha Ikola Frontosa
My Gibbiceps catfish as a baby, with my nasty male Cobalt Blue Zebra ‘Metraclima Callainos’
Bloodworm feeding time with the whole colony in sight. 4 Ikola Frontosa, 10 Electric Yellows, 3 Cobalt Blue Zebras, 2 Gibbiceps Catfish, 4 Clown Loaches, 3 Dimidiochromis Strigatus and hidden in there would be around 4 or 5 Peppermint Catfish.
An overview of my basic setup
Cricket photos in Melbourne on a 1D2N with Andrew Murdoch (Melbourne Photographer). My first real go on a Canon SLR, if it weren’t for that trip I dare say I wouldn’t have pursued photography.
Working hard at the Brisbane office of Hallam OzConnect.
Redcliffe Jetty
Seb, my best mate and his mother at his year 12 formal.
Seb again.
Last but not least, my favourite shot of 2005, my Breeding male Bristlenose Catfish shot on a Fuji Finepix S700.
My advice, take more photos. You never know when you might want to look back down memory lane.
Something I really pride myself on is the fact I donate Blood. Today the staff at the Red Cross were happy to let me photograph my donation so I could share it with you.
It’s not every day you can donate blood, not everyone has the ability and not everyone ticks the correct boxes to pass the tests. I can say I’m able to donate and have done so for a while now.
My blood type is B Negative (B-) which takes up approximately 2% of Australian Blood types. Being that it’s such a rare type, I think it’s imperative that I do what I can to help people in my blood type as we’re such a small group; Albeit not the smallest we only take up a VERY small portion of the blood types when compared to the other groups. Who knows some day I may find myself in need of blood. Whilst some people have a fear of needles, I’m quite the opposite; I’m fascinated by them. Not sure what has driven me to become fascinated by the little blighters but something about them intrigues me so thoroughly. I have asked multiple times if I can learn to but the catheter in myself but they’ve declined every time… One day I say, one day.
I was asked by the staff to not photograph them and some certain elements of the donation however they were happy to let me photograph what I’m presenting to you here.
The process begins pretty easily! You get to sit outside the donor van and enjoy a cup of cordial and a chat with the assistant who is outside. Today has been windy and wet so I think it scared people off coming down.
The first step! Answer some simple questions! I’ve been a good boy so I’m allowed to proceed after this point!
Once you’re done with the questions, they take you into the donor van and ask you some more serious questions, check your blood pressure, spike your finger and test your blood quickly. Next is to walk down onto the nice little bed, lay down and let them work their magic. You are asked to squeeze a stress ball to lift your veins/arteries to make it easier to tap into your stream of blood. Guess work isn’t something you want with a large gauge needle.
Once the veins have lifted they prep the catheter and let you know you’re about to feel a bit of a sting
The next part is the “bee sting” which is the catheter piercing your skin and entering your vein or capillary; I’m not sure which they tap into. The feeling isn’t a bad one at all, a lot of people claim it to be quite painful though I find it a simple and quite painless process.
As the needle slips in, a drop of blood surfaces from time to time
The first bag to fill is the tiny one you see here, they take 3 vials from it and place them in the kidney shaped little container you see down by my legs.
After the process is done, the self retracting catheter is taken out.
The collected blood – 600mL of DNA rich MattL juice is presented and bar-coded. My number today is #8555822; A very personalised experience hehe.
After applying pressure to the spot the catheter is removed from, you are taped and bandaged to stop you from leaking.
Now for the best part… THE TREATS!
I hope this has given you some insight into Blood donning. I cant suggest enough that you all give blood where possible! If you want to become a blood donor, please read more here. Please consider, because the life you save tomorrow could be that of a friend or family member.
I hope you’re still conscious by the time you get to this text!!
Recently I had the sheer joy of photographing two of my close friends, Nick and Sarah. Sarah is jumping on a very big jet plane soon and departing for just over a year in the UK for work; Nick however will be remaining in Australia whilst Sarah is gone.
I was thrilled at the idea of taking some photos of the cute couple together as something for them to have as reminder of each whilst they’re a world apart. Quite often I walk into a portrait session with all my ideas in mind and for no particular reason on this day I was very open, unplanned and open to ideas. We literally jumped into a car and drove wherever the road took us and we ended up in a few great locations. I’m so glad they opened up to me and allowed me to capture them as they are.
Best of Luck Sarah! I look forward to hearing about your trip! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
Today a friend asked me what my favourite image is. I had to really think about it and it was hard for so many reasons. I had not really thought about it as much as I probably should have. I will share my images with you however I will expand on this.
A great images isn’t always about telling a story, it’s not always about getting a point across or proving something, it’s much more than that. For me a great image is something that excites me when I capture it and compels me to keep shooting. It doesn’t have to have amazing composition or be sharp as a tac but it has to be powerful and controlled.
This year I judged at the 2010 Australian Institute of Professional Photography, Australian Professional Photography Awards. It was my first year judging and over the course of the 3 days of judging I heard someone say the words “I’ve seen this 100 times over and it looks bland and uninspiring.”, or something to that effect. It made me think about my works and how I find a unique concept and subject and try and create something from that. When I think about others works and judging I like to think that even if a subject that’s been photographed hundreds of times over is shot very well, it should always grab my attention, as someone has seen something an created a powerful image from it. I might add, one final thing which I find an important key is finding some inspiration and channelling it into creating something unique and new for yourself. Be inspired by those around you and try not to limit yourself and your mindset on how to shoot something.
Here is one of my all time favourite images that I photographed.
My First Urban shot. Shot on the 28/06/06 – My 3rd frame of the scene, my first exposed frame (shot 2 blanks before because I made a mistake)
For me, this image is the start of my career, the start of my passion, the first time I photographed my urban work. I had no idea what I was doing, I was young, didn’t understand my camera and was playing. This image helped define me to pursue my urban work and create some great images. I just walked in with no expectations, no real consideration on how to shoot this style of subject. I just guessed. I find these days I analyse more of what I shoot and plan out my works so I can better craft and control my images and make a more detailed and powerful image… From this basis the next image fell into place, however I guessed with it too… I just knew what I wanted to do and had no idea how to do it. The first time I shot here I was excited, thrilled and when the LCD popped up with the result of my image I was excited my blood was pumping, I was seriously anxious. I was so excited I had create this using light painting, something I didn’t understand or comprehend, all I knew is that it worked.
“Deathstars” – 2008 AIPP APPA’s “Gold Distinction Award” – Shot April 2007
This was another time I got anxious and excited when it popped up. For me, I think this is the realisation you’ve done something great for yourself, something you love and like.
So I put it to you, What makes a good image in your eyes?
I’d love to hear some thoughts on this, and I would love to see your favourite images too.
Ps; Keep posted, I will be doing a small tutorial on light painting in the coming weeks.
Fashion Shoot with Matt Leasegang from Event Photos on Vimeo.
Thanks to Pat Brunet from EventPhotos.com.au for assisting on the day and providing the Video.
