When I first got to Melbourne I assisted In-Public photographer Jesse Marlow on a shoot which involved taking portraits of a country singer called Neil Murray for his album artwork. We went to Ballarat and took the shots in various locations, including train tracks, and in a train station. Jesse was great to work with. He's a really interesting guy and I was hoping we would be able to work together again but unfortunately it never happened.
I haven't been completely terrible. While I was in Melbourne I exhibited a few images of the Ferndale Wind Farm (below) in an Oxfam exhibition "Land is Life" with Australian photographer Rodney Dekker. His work is very professional and moving so it meant a lot to me that I was able to exhibit with him. Well, that was until someone stole my photos! (I took it as a compliment).
Here is the first video of the Land is Life multimedia series. I suggest you make the time to look at the rest of his work.
Rodney Dekker
Rodney was kind enough to invite me out for drinks where I met some of his photographer friends. I met Jesse Boylan, Katrin Koenning and Wren Steiner. I recommend taking a look at their work as well.
I also exhibited some work at The Brunswick Street Gallery, volunteered regularly at the Centre for Contemporary Photography, and volunteered as a Photographer and on the picture desk of Oxfam Australia. Check out CCP's website for some excellent photography.
The Indigenous Aesthetic- Glenn Pilkington
I'll post my thoughts up on it when I've spent some more time analyzing it.
Auckland
I moved over to Auckland in November and I started an internship with Oxfam New Zealand, with thanks to the contacts I made at OAU. My job role is to reorganize their mess of a picture library. It's taking time as I only have time to go in once or twice a week. I'm determined to get it sorted though!
Before leaving Melbourne I contacted a number of galleries asking for job/internship opportunities. The majority of them said no or didn't bother to reply. But luckily one said yes. I was to start an internship doing just one day a week helping with organizing an exhibition in Hong Kong of a local artist called Sean Chenn. The week before I was going to start at the gallery the Art Director emailed me saying that there was currently a full time position available if I was interested. I was, so I went in for an interview and she offered me the position. I couldn't believe my luck. The timing was ideal as I was truly beginning to despise my barista job.
I am now working full time in Flagstaff Gallery for Contemporary New Zealand Fine Art and I am loving it. Admittedly Fine art isn't my strongest interest, but NZ has some excellent artists and it's great being able to work with them. Being constantly involved with art has made me think about my photography a lot more seriously. I have begun making contacts and figuring out where I want to go and what I want to do. I've even bought myself a sketch book to get some proper research done. I'm determined to make a proper go of being a photographer. I'll keep you posted how that goes.
Mychael Barratt
Mark Compton
Philippa Blair
Penny Stotter
Para Matchitt
Peter Mesley
I recently met a local photographer called Peter Evans. Rodney Dekker gave me his contact details so I gave him an email. I seem to be lucky with meeting excellent photographers.
