Todays thought...

Life doesn't require that we be the best, only that we try our best. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
-- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

What an incredible week I have just had, and it is rich with experiences, bucket loads of joy and quite a bit of sleep deprivation. Tonight though I have started putting equipment, clothes, bags and cables all away that have been growing like a cancer on my desk and floor over the last week. I can actually see my desk as I write this - mainly because I literally shoveled everything on the floor and I will then start sorting through everything! I am reflecting on all that I have done and been a small part of and am very grateful. If it wasn't all happening to me I wouldn't believe that I could fit all that into a week, be so drained and exhausted and so elated and recharged at the same time!

Limited Edition pics

A company based in Sydney called Icons of Sport, have undertaken to create and sell limited edition autographed prints of local and international music artists to generate an income and revenue stream that was not previously exploited.

With this in mind, the first musical print they tried was the Angels image you see below. It was created by another photographer, whom Icons has not been able to identify when I checked with them for credit purposes a week ago.



Icons have approached me, to gage my level of interest, in creating limited edition artworks from images that I photograph and design. The words "Hell Yes" escaped my lips somewhere in that proposal!

The first project that I did with them was the Brewster Brothers. These two gentlemen on the left and right hand side are both brothers, who, apart from being the songwriters with Doc from the Angels, also play in the band.

Couple that with the fact they are also members of their own group where the third man you see, Paul is their drummer, percussion, string accompaniest and singer. As if that isn't enough, they also have a third band called the Moonshine Jug and String Band. They are great through a series of photographic encounters and meetings this opportunity came up for me.

This picture below is what I created. There are only 100 images signed and autographed and are selling thru Icons of Sport for $199 each. I am receiving number 100 of 100! I wanted the last of that print.



Working with Icons, with the Brewsters and the Angels has spawned other work including Ganggajang, which has the drummer from the Angels, Buzz Bidstrup and Chris Bailey the bass player in their line up as well who have requested me to create images for them. I spent three nights this last weekend Fri-Sun covering their live Gigs around Sydney and the central coast, and have come to know and respect the band on a number of levels.

They presented me with an autographed CD / DVD and poster as a gesture of thanks, and my feeling and theirs was said best by Geoff the Keyboard player, "you just "clicked" with us, and that stuff doesn't happen often. Especially with 5 guys who have different creative leanings".

It is exciting and humbling as I look at the growing body of work and the people whom now know me. I am finding that once accepted into the semi insular families of the artists and celebrities, that it opens up other opportunities for us all.

Large trees certainly do grow from small seeds. I am very grateful I have a voice and medium to express myself and come to meet and know the people I do. Ganggajang pics and clips will be a post for a coming day.

A day in the park

Here are some pictures I took of a family I know recently. They are Maori (indiginous New Zealanders - like myself) and wanted a "flavour" etched through the images highlighting a connection to nature, as well as heritage and looking creative, thank goodness that is not a tall order!! I did it a few weeks ago and whilst I gave the images to them already, It was only this morning when I had to check some of the files for them in follow up when the beauty and simple dignity of the images struck me.

QANTAS A380 has arrived

Hmmm, I got the picture and prices in my inbox this morning and was afflicted with another bout of wanderlust. 'Tis not to be at present, but would love to be jetting off somewhere to photograph. Maybe soon....

A thought for the Homeless

This picture above I took a couple of weeks ago and in the 3-4 times I have returned to the city since taking this picture, the homeless resident has been moved on. I wonder where he went, I wondered about his life and I wondered what, if any, were his lifes hopes and dreams. I often think that distance between the homeless and me is a thin line. I have never esteemed myself to be better than them, certainly more fortunate, but never better.

As I traversed the city yesterday, I saw a couple of other people with no fixed abode. One was walking down the footpath with an abandoned shopping trolley with his lifes possessions in it's wirey frame and he was cantankerous and talking out loud. I just smiled and allowed him to pass freely. I marvel at the resilience of these people. They are toughened and hardened, largely because they have to be to survive, but I feel for them.

Whilst I was a missionary in the Philippines in '84-86 I often would buy the "forgotten ones" food when they came begging for money. Most only wanted money for booze and crap like that which I would not assist in, but when they were hungry they sought me out. I would buy them bread or buns and a drink, they always said thank you, and I knew they appreciated it. When I was, and still am in a position to help others, I always feel good.

My heart has room enough for people who may have less than me. Someone once said to me that he "knew" I doubt that but will continue, a homeless man who was a millionaire, so we shouldn't help them because they probably have more money than you do.

I don't know that, but I care about people who struggle, I know what that is like having been raised by a mother subsisting on a widows pension. I know the hurt that stays in the heart when you have nothing. I know the tears of despair that encircle you like vultures waiting for you to die. I know the excuses and lies you create to tell others why you can't attend the school excursion, or the party or even why you are unable to take a friend out to the movies. I know the pain of condescending eyes who gaze upon you in dismissive judgement, I know it, and pray I will never look upon another with that same pompous arrogance.

That is why I loved living in a third world country for two years. I learned to be grateful in more ways than I had ever imagined. I think it helped erode the "chips" that I had on both shoulders.

That is why every day I am grateful to God for allowing me to enjoy the life I do. I am grateful for the little things, and rarely let anything go unnoticed.

On the road again

The last week has seen me start walking again vigorously every day. I did it for several months before winter and then getting a cold and through a series of just being super busy with photo assignments and the like, I lapsed walking every day. It became a once a week or once a fortnight walk.

But I have recommitted myself to doing it and feel very excited about once again.

One of the Brewster Brothers songs, my favourite of theirs is "No place like Home" and in the song there is a verse that says "You have to move to feed your head!" and it is true. I find myself thinking more clearly, less reactive and enjoy puffing and panting as I ascend the hills and descend the vales. We had a spell of 30+ degree days (celcius) for the US visitors and then it has gone back to really cold over the last couple of days. I love the changes in seasons and whilst we are in spring about to head to summer, being skinnier than previously really makes a difference on those humid hot days. I used to sweat so bad when I was larger, but now find life much better.

At my biggest I was wearing pants at 127cm around the waist and now am at 112-117cm depending on the cut and make of the trousers / jeans. The difference that waist measurement has had on my breathing, on my recovery from exertion and from sweating is HUGE. I share this not to boast, but more as a guide for me personally to state where I am and where I want to chart my course. I have a vision of where I want to be, and what I want to be surrounded by and I feel it is blossoming.

Life is great and irrespective of the bumps and difficulties, I won't be asking God for a refund. Like cranky Franky once said, "regrets, I've had a few, but then again to few to mention."

I am loving life.

A quote I have always loved by a wise cleric of yesteryear is:-

"that which we persist in doing becomes easy, Not that the nature of the thing has changed, but our ability to do, has increased."

It's a great day. Choose to be happy, it so much better than the alternative!

The Brewster Brothers at the basement

A wonderful opportunity arose on Saturday night when the Brewster Brothers played the Basement in Sydney and invited me along again. They were great. The music for me never becomes stale or "old" I cannot count how many times I have heard the songs but I really love the music.

The boys had a special guest Grace Knight from the former band of the 80's the Eurogliders, I have included their biggest hit, Heaven for those who wish to see also. The violinists name I never got, but she was excellent. The vibe of the audience was tremendous and for an encore they left their mics on stage and went into the tightly compacted audience and played some tunes as well, to the absolute delight of the audience. They are very talented and much loved by all in attendance. I thank them for the invite, for the opportunities they have presented me and also their friendship.

I am tossing up about getting another camera body and the new Canon 5D Mark II looks very inviting. Though Nikon have been courting me to swap over to them and they loaned me a D3 worth about 6K which I had never previously used. I really liked the low light performance, the clarity and noiseless results. these images were shot on that Nikon D3. They are lending it to me again this coming weekend for 3 more concerts.

I am really hoping to get Stevie Wonder, but am doubtful. I would like to shoot (photographically) Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks who are also visiting. Anyway. it's all good.

Rudi

I was asked by a good friend the other day to take some head shots for him. He is an actor and needs the head shots as part of his modeling portfolio and needs to have the images updated in the actors materials and so forth. I enjoyed it and found the exercise fun. I will include only 3 here that I like of the 200 odd images I shot.

I am also including a shot of Rudi with his beautiful daughter Ocea as in Ocean without the N! and one with his lovely wife Brooke.

We don't know if the acting agent will actually use them as he wanted Rudi to go to his "preferred" photographer, and the last time he did that the shots were average. So we'll wait and see.






Post Script 24/9/08...................

Rudi reported to me yesterday that his agent who is very particular about the photographers and the like has seen and loves the images I took. Rudi's brother Tristan couldn't believe it was just taken against a white wall next to Myrtle the Turtle's tank!
I did use a two light set up with a pink fluro as an offset third light. The reason that excites me is that there are people way beyond my circle of friends with industry knowledge and experience who recognise that I have something that stands out from the crowd and that excites me!!

What more can I say?

This picture and action of the penguin are positively heart wrenching for me. The image and caption was posted on the ninemesn.com.au website showing a recent picture of the emperor penguins in Antarctica and well might the penguin be asking where is the ice? Like one of the astronauts said in the You Tube clip I posted yesterday, the earth looks so fragile....and it is. What will we leave for those that follow?

Tomorrow and beyond

I had dinner the other night with a man who is a direct descendant of the founder of the faith I follow. He is visiting from the US and it was a great chance to renew our acquaintance from three years ago. He indicated to me that in the US government these days and in the school system generally there is a distinct push away from the use of the term or word or even reference to, God.
Christmas is now more abundantly replaced with the Holidays, Happy Holidays, Nativity scenes are being eroded and vanished and I have noticed a slow movement in that direction here as well.

A lady I know who is herself a mother, mentioned yesterday to me that when she was asking this year about the schools Easter hat / bonnet parade she was told in clear and distinct terms that the school has adopted a policy of tolerance and is not willing to offend minority ethnic groups who do not celebrate the christian God.

Am I missing something here?

I don't think the slow and subtle removal of God from our vernacular and by dismissing his grace and goodness upon us as people or nations benefits us in anyway. I do not believe that if people migrate to, or live within this or any other country have the right to form a minority that has the right to cease the general observances that many held or still hold dear.

One of the things I love about the west, apart from the general freedoms we enjoy, is the right to celebrate, and to worship how, where or what we may.

For the most part I think nations of the west were in fact formed around a belief structure and system that included the acknowledgement of God. Regular visitors to this blog will know of my lengths to not make the comments here political or overtly religious, but I feel saddened and strongly about taking the "Christ" out of Christmas and taking any reference to a higher power out of our lives. I am a Christian, who humbly espouses and believes in God, and in his son and believe that we will one day see with our natural eyes that we have been a part of something too wonderful for our current comprehension.

I believe also however, that on the course we, as people generally have embarked upon, that we will in a coming day see the errors of such a migration and outright disposal of God.

Being that I have now clearly stated my belief in God here on the blog, I am at great pains to assert that I in no way denigrate, or demean or dismiss the beliefs of others in things that are foreign to me. I truly do appreciate that we ALL have the right to worship how, where or what we may. For those who wish to worship nothing or who are atheists, I can respect and without reservation accept their right to have that freedom.

My objection stems around the erosion of some people's religious persuasion and civil liberties, because of the anger and unhappiness of a few.

I imagine it to be similar to the smoking issue. Currently smokers, who are rapidly becoming a minority, when they wish to smoke generally have to leave the workplace, office or restaurant and club to do so.

Then all of a sudden have the smokers lobby gain a political voice strong enough to change the perception of governments and organistaions to appear as though they are being victimised and hurt by having to remove themselves from those aforementioned arenas, and then have legislation to state that if they want to light up and smoke and other people take offence they, the non smoker(s), have to go outside so as not to offend the smokers right to smoke.

Does this seem all wrong or is it me?

If any of you doubt this, or think my example is extreme and ridiculous, start googling the state of Massachusetts concerning the Gay marriage debate raging at present. Again, for clarity, let me state that I have no desire to condemn gays of any persuasion, I don't adopt, appreciate or promote the practice, but recognise their right to exist and express themselves as it is mine, however the results of what is being proposed is, that in that state any reference to God publicly, could result in civil action and prosecution. Out of a desire to assert their rights and avoid being victimised, it would appear to me that they have now started to squash and elimnate the rights of any and all who even remotely believe differently.

I accept that in this post I am summarising the issues and there is much more to them than my synopsis provides, but the result is the particular part that interests me.

Where is it all leading to I ask?

What will the result be for us as individuals or as nations and people?

Let me share a private belief that anything to do with my photography comes not from me, true I take the images, but there are and have been many times when I am in a situation where my camera "dies" or I am asked to take an image in a way I have no idea how to create, and when i have a silent prayer for help and guidance, it always comes.

People have tried to tell me that it is just that you are connecting to a deeper part of your subconscious, yadda yadda....rubbish.

It is my belief that I try to be the best I can be, and I try to place myself in situations where I am more able to have the things happen to me that I seek, but personally, all I am and hope to be is a combination of my faith, my belief and my upbringing that has taught me that I am a child of God and with his influence I can do anything...and so I try, very hard I might add.

I was also watching a brilliant documentary made by Ron Howard this week called in the Shadow of the Moon. Essentially the only people who feature are men who are astronauts who allowed themselves and their recollections to be filmed, sadly Neil Armstrong chose not to be.

What struck me apart from the data, the facts and the feelings, was that there were a few of them who said words to the effect that with so much order and presence that they witnessed from outside earths orbit, was that they knew or felt that there is a God, or higher presence that gave order. They indicated a rare understanding that I cannot fathom. Only 24 men have ever observed the earth from outside it. That makes them very rare and unique. Yet, one of the astronauts said that when he read versus from the bible in a broadcast from space back to the earth, he felt a connection to what he read, and made the observation that he was threatened with a law suit when he returned to earth for offending a group of atheists.

I love the sentiments expressed in this clip below. They seem to encapsulate much of my feeling and hopes. I hope you "feel' a connection to it as I do.



I commend the documentary to you and give it 5 out of 5. The following is the trailer.

These Little Wonders

Thank you V2T for both links and the sentiments behind them.



let it go,
let it roll right off your shoulder
don't you know
the hardest part is over
let it in,
let your clarity define you
in the end
we will only just remember how it feels

our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain

let it slide,
let your troubles fall behind you
let it shine
until you feel it all around you
and i don't mind
if it's me you need to turn to
we?ll get by,
it's the heart that really matters in the end

our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain

all of my regret
will wash away some how
but i can not forget
the way i feel right now

in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away but these small hours
these small hours, still remain,
still remain
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away
but these small hours
these little wonders still remain

Happy Homecoming!

I was able to see the Australian Olympians return from the Beijing Olympics on Monday as they began a capitol city tour thru Australia and Monday was Sydney's turn to welcome the team home. It was good to see the tourists and locals flock to the city centre and cheer home our athletes. The Australia Post motorcycle riders were handing out free flags and boxing kangaroo flags to the people lining the streets and the atmosphere was great. I was proud to witness this event. Seeing George Street without traffic is a rare sight in itself and is very interesting. I am quite proud of the accomplishments of this little nation, we excel in many ways. I think we ranked 6th highest in the medal tally, which is no small accomplishment by comparison to the bigger nations who had much bigger teams and funding. Thought I would share a few pics. The silver car you see with the police escort contains the NSW state governor Mary Bashir, a very kind and gracious lady who married a former Rugby union player.

Enjoy!

Somewhere out there....

It has been a very growing period for me of late. I am saddened, happy and confused about certain aspects of life. I have been pondering somewhat about the choices and decisions we make or take and the possible consequences of those actions. I am confident there will be people who comment here who will no doubt condemn me for choices and decisions I have made in the past, and perhaps those I will make in the future.

It is hard to eloquently and cohesively put into words what I am thinking and feeling of late. I have had communications from a family member who chooses the anonymous button to criticise me for comments I have made in the past and for expressing how I feel. I am also confident that there will be many who will agree. But my sadness on this matter comes from the place where the people reading the specific post have missed totally the feeling and frustration I felt at the time. It is a feeling I cannot describe.

How is it that people or a person take a small aspect of what I say or write and distort everything else I wrote in the same article, as if nothing else were contained therein. Even the parts that were complimentary and worthy of praise. I have been accused of not asking the said person about WHY she didn't in a two week period make a single phone call contact with me, and therefore is accusatory of the mode or method I took to air my frustration. Point taken and understood and I am not in disagreement on what the anonymous person said.

Take your understanding to a place that I have been adopted, and then understand this is from a place where I struggle to "find" where I fit in, or even IF I fit in with regards to a family setting. Then extrapolate it to include that whenever I make contact with one side of the family of people whom I love, only ONE has ever responded. I am accused of not asking the aforementioned person the reasons why she never made contact or why my emails went unheeded before the big whammy email I sent, I am criticised for not respecting elders, and yet, previously I NEVER had answers to contacts by phone or email I had endeavoured to make. So would my questions have been answered? My experience to date would have suggested that No would be a valid response.

As the original post indicated, I have family on the other side who said to me, Why bother trying to make contact with that side if they seem to ignore you? Just give up.

Here is something that EVERYONE seems to miss. I YEARNED for their communication and love.

It would appear that I went about that in the wrong way, but isn't interesting that I do get an anonymous response to say remove the whole post and then we would be done with the whole thing. I think that really means, Craig remove the pictures and everything you felt about me and this side of the family as if it is not real, and I will go back to never making contact with you again. And you will be no better off than before as to knowing anything about this part of the family. We will disown you.

Well, whammo! - I already feel that!

To the anonymous relative, you know my email address, if you have the courtesy to approach me through that medium where your identity will be made visible, I assure you any communication will be treated respectfully and not published on the blog, but I will not undertake any adjustments until I know WHO is asking it of me and why you think your comments are more valid than mine.

I will make no further reference to this again on my blog at anytime.

There was no vitriol in my expression, though there was certainly great sadness and frustration in the email I sent to a few, but still today, no-one has written back or responded to that email. I am big enough and ugly enough to cop a verbal beating from family on that. Perhaps I thought it may even open lines of communication. A foolish notion I grant you.

You know I have been accused of many things in my life, and some may be valid, but you know, I live life to the full. I may upset a few people on the way, but how I feel or felt is how I feel. I make no excuses or apologies.

Those feelings are real to me. I recognise and accept that MY view and understanding is not always correct, but to date no-one else has offered me a single response to prove me otherwise. As for the request that suggests why I don't publish your comment, it is because from sad experience I will cop a barrage of other comments I have to wade through from some who are not known or connected to me that will undoubtedly wish to join the bandwagon and condemn me as well. If, as you suggest, you wish to publish disparaging things about me on your blog, that will be your prerogative but I will not return volleys of disappointment. For me the post that concerns you is a warm and heartfelt expression of yearning and loss that highlighted the sadness of familial unrequited love. Despite what you may feel or believe, I meant no offence. I felt so totally alone and unwanted during that period, and you may note that the things I said in the email did not make it into the blog.

Here endeth this chapter for me.

Yikes, it's IKE

My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Texas. Goldenrod lives there and a young lady I met who was an exchange student here in Australia, Rochelle. I wonder how they have faired.

More pictures can be seen at this link below. All images are from the ninemsn.com.au and National nine news.

Farewell and Flowers

One of my colleagues is leaving the state and returning to Western Australia where she originally hailed from. She wanted to have a few pictures made for her boyfriend before she leaves on Friday. So, late yesterday, I shot off a few frames and captured what I think are some lovely images of her. She is a great person and I am glad to have worked with her.






I have also been very busy with the floral art association of NSW covering a major event for them, and I also received the limited edition, expensive and exclusive catalogue for International Floral Art 08/09 printed and posted from Switzerland. I have two images contained therein which were selected from thousands of submissions. That is a big thing for the floral artists, but also a big thing for me. My name is published in there and also spelled correctly! It is a thrill to be a small part of this. I have been asked to photograph another submission in December. I love this new avenue that has opened up to me. I am including one of the pictures that was chosen and also the cover of the book. I have saved the other picture on one of my hard drives, I just have to find it! then I will include it here! The arrangement of floral art you see pictured that I shot was created by Gwen Hartley, and the page open showing the image on the left hand side was created by the Internationally renowned Floral artist and former scientist Gail Anderson. Hers is the image I have to find. The world of floral art has really turned my perception of floristry on it's head. I love the elements and variety. It is also a great thing to be a part of such an auspicious entity.