So my k2Bug (aka camera) is well and truly dead. I'll be sending it for repairs and hopefully a diagnosis of what went wrong.
~tiffchin (I owe you drink of choice in aug!) loaned me her camera for the day, and hooray everyone survived.
So now it's holidays and resting and sleeping.

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So a couple days ago in an attempt to avoid studying for ethics, I met up with some lovely photographers who were there to scout locations. They not only let me play with lenses but also fed me lunch (which is always very much appreciated given the state of my student diet). Anyways, upon returning I read on an online forum about a photographer who found a beautiful lush garden with gorgeous colorful flowers and was wondering how to style models (his choice being jeans and a cowboy hat) so that got me thinking about location shoots.

Locations and me are a love-hate relationship. To the photographer without a studio, locations can be a terrific and vividly interesting and provides a ready made backdrop for your concept and model. I'm rather envious of photographers who do great location shots because I think it takes so much skill to manipulate the appropriate light and the appropriate scene from a location whereas I love the bareness of a studio (due to my control complex issue- ask Jeff who spent about 3 hours attempting to find my lamp scene which conclusively only existed in my head and it would've been so much easier just to build the dratted thing). So anyways, here are some (potentially useful) tips for new photographers interested in location shoots.

Finding a location

Legwork! Having a car also helps but usually you'll be surprised by what you can find by walking around, no matter where you live. Alleyways, abandoned houses, parks, lakes, beaches, off-site roads, ditches; the list goes on! Keep your eye opened, don't be afraid to go peek at something interesting and make a note of it.

Locations can be complex

May take a little squeezing and stumbling and walking long ways, or coming up with the right idea but it'll be worth it.

Locations can be simple

And right around the corner. Use a little creativity, there's so much that can done even with a crumbly wall or a creaking gate or a browning hill or a fading tide.

Locations can be difficult to get to

Don't forget to keep models safe wherever the location is.

Locations to be hired

Occasionally you'll have to hire a location or ask for permission or network with people who have access to interesting places.

All images above belong to their respective artists.
So be curious, be creative and get shooting!
Stay tuned for Locations: Part Deux; Making the best of what you have.

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The Saturday Procrastination


I've decided I needed to get away from the suspicious smell in my apt so went along to a meetup with Gary, Jeff and Tony. If you ever see me in a photography group, I'm the tiny geeky looking girl in black, usually pushing up my glasses and tottering about trying not to fall.


During lunch, evidently amusing myself (and avoiding conversation like the shy shy person that I am), and delighting over Gary's collection of photography toys. So I now have a christmas list


Tony with gnocchi. The rest of us had wannabe-minestrone soup and lovely bread.


Twas an interesting experiment in manual focusing and getting Jeff to stay still. I have decided to title this The Jeffcapades because Jeff does have an awesome arsenal of expressions that would put models to shame.


Ah, Gary succeeds. This is Jeff in Contemplation.

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I'm flying off to Kuala Lumpur and Bali in July. If anyone would like to work with me do send a note.
And for Melbournians I'm back again in August. I usually plan shoots weeks in advance so if you're a model, makeup/hair/wardrobe stylist or photographer, get in touch early!