Archive for the ‘Australia’ Category
Been busy – starting a gallery
Wow, over 4 months since my last post. Yes I’ve probably been a little lazy, but since last year it’s been quite difficult to find the time.
The main reason is because I have stated running an art gallery in Glebe, Sydney called Salerno Gallery. This has taken up pretty much every single second of my free time over the last 4-5 months but has been very rewarding.
I run the gallery myself but have 2 others I consult with when deciding on exhibition proposals and looking out for new artists. It has been an enjoyable experience so far, and I’m looking forward to expanding the profile of the gallery and in turn the artists we represent into the future.
We seek out art work in all mediums, whether it be oil painting or video installation, but primarily try to maintain a focus on work that responds to a figurative element.
If you’re every in Sydney, be sure to drop by. I have included links to our website and facebook group which will keep you up to date with future exhibitions, classes, and special events. We are still only small but have had a very positive start selling out our first show, and look to continue to develop as time moves on.
If you have work that you think may be suited to our gallery or know anyone else that does, feel free to get in touch.
www.salernogallery.com
www.facebook.com/SalernoGallery
Dollar Portraits
Several months ago, a friend of mine started work on a photographic project based around a simple premise – “For each portrait I take, I donate one dollar to a charity”.
The basic idea itself has been done before, and donating to charity is nothing new, but mixing a passion that is quite often a self centred pursuit and using it to give back to the community is really great in my opinion, and like anyone contributing to a charity/community should be supported.
Armed with a medium format camera, and his newly acquired Letter of Authority from the Cancer Council (his chosen charity), George now roams the streets looking for people willing to contribute to his project. So if you see him hunting around with his Bronica asking for a portrait, don’t knock him back, let him take it, and consider atleast matching his donation.
You can read more about the project and the man behind it on his website : dollar portraits.
I know have my own goal, and that is to get a portrait of George. He’s not a fan of being in front of the camera. Watch out… 
Circular Quay
I love my little 1 cent Olympus Trip!
I just got some photos back today that i took over the weekend, and im quite happy with them. One thing im not happy about though is my scanning of them, its quite poor, so i’m thinking of investing in a dedicated scanner or atleast getting the lab to do it.
Anyway, these were taken in and around Circular Quay on an extremely sunny day. The glare was insane, and i was pretty worried about how the photos would come out. Luckily they came out pretty good in most cases (better than the digital scan shows also), but i’d like to go back on a day that has some better light for photography.
Anyway, here are some that i’ve scanned so far (still have half a roll to go).
A Mobile View of Sydney Harbour
Whilst i’m waiting for film to be developed from a new photo lab, i’ll post up some pictures i took with my mobile phone yesterday.
No, mobile phone pics are scraping the barrel when it comes to photography. Its a legitimate photographic tool just like any other device in my opinion.
The thing is, my mobile phone camera isnt the latest and greatest. Its a W660i with a 2 mega-pixel cameras i picked up traveling through Hong Kong last year. I like the Sony Ericsson’s after changing over from Nokia originally. I’ve had two Sony’s now, and prefer their menu system,m and above all their battery life. I like not having to charge my phone for almost a week! (My old Sony lasted 10 days without a charge when i was in Canada once).
Anyway, yesterday i caught a ferry into the city (theres a ferry stop near my house). Its amazing how you can effectively get a tour of the greatest harbour in the world for less than $3. Anywhere else you’d be paying atleast 10 times that. The weather was perfect (mid to high 20′s), and the harbour looked terrific. I’ve been to many harbour’s around the world, but Sydney is still by far the most beautiful. The idea was to walk around get some lunch and take some photos with my little Olympus trip. We went for a walk along Circular Quay after getting off the ferry, then walked around the rocks, got some lunch and listened to generic live music which was pretty average. We (my girlfriend and brother) then decided to walk up one of the pylons of the Sydney Harbour bridge. We felt so much like tourists but it was well worth it. From there we could see most of the CDB and North Sydney, aswell as Sydney Harbour. Took some pictures with my Olympus then took a few with the mobile. The Opera house was particularly prominent. Its white surface stood out amongst the deep blue water. The harbour was pretty active that day also. Everyone was out and about as it was part of the Australia Day long weekend.Well here are some photos from the Harbour Bridge, and one from the ferry.
It’s easy to see how much fine detail is lacking from the mobile phone pictures. The camera seems to of over sharpened them also. But the colours can be surprisingly accurate, and im kind of impressed how it can pick up certain faint detail like the clouds in #3 and #4. These were very faint to the naked eye, so im curious as to why it picked up these but not other details that would seem more obvious. Oh well, its just crappy camera phone after all!
Sydney Uni Art Installation
Well this might be a little different.
My dad has just started a Masters of Studio Art degree at Sydney Uni and this is his mid year instalaltion (not final work)..
My dad’s work up until now has all had a classical style. He does bronze sculptures, and is a fantastic painter and illustrator (it pisses me off sometime.. Why didnt i get those skills!! haha)
Alot of people are probably not interested in stuff like this, but beleive me when i tell you its not just a case of whacking up a few object here and there. Theres a hell of alot of thought put into it.
I had never shot shot anything like this before, so it was bit of a learning experience. No effects have been applied to these photos, but it think i will later on out of interest.
cheers 
