Canberra is wonderful. There, I said it. It has a serious lack of streetlights, weirdly flamboyant birds, and only two martini bars…...
Canberra is wonderful. There, I said it. It has a serious lack of streetlights, weirdly flamboyant birds, and only two martini bars…but it has the glorious Holly Ringland, and I couldn’t ask for more. I flew up to spend the Easter weekend with this magnificent woman, after she’d flown down twice to stay with me in Melbourne. There aren’t many people I’d leave out a key to my flat for, without ever having met, but when I strode up my street and saw balloons spilling out my window along with Holly’s laughter, I knew the fun had begun. This time, Canberra was ours, and we explored it with high spirits and tender livers. / Holly’s one of the most talented and dedicated writers on RB, an opinion shared by many (hush Holly, hush), so being able to see her cosy writing room where she casts her spells was wonderful. Her home tells her tales beautifully, from the abundance of butterflies to the rich fragrance of peppermint oil, and it was an honour to share it with her….after she had to break in after locking her keys inside, that is. So….......there were freaky birds to wake us and vanilla coffee to perk us up; walking through the rich copper and russet autumnal leaves reading to each other from our purchases from the secondhand bookstore (Colette for me, Plath for her); dancing to Big Mama Thornton as we tied on our stilettos and slicked on the red lip gloss; amazing Thai food washed down by vodka poured with coconut juice, the slick chunks of coconut flesh picked out with our fingers. There was a ‘sex and the city’ marathon on her bed with almonds and apples and ridiculously intrusive birds, til we were on our sides with laughter that almost cracked ribs. There were ruby red cocktails in a Russian bar where I met her fabulous boys, and the talk was vibrant, the laughter dirty, and the night flew by as rain pounded the roof. And coming home early on Easter Sunday, there was black cherry vanilla vodka and some dress ups. There was a wonderful Sunday market with butterfly necklaces, Art Nouveau prints and divine Turkish delight fudge eaten between sticky fingers, where I got to gaze at this as we traded stories: I mean, really, the woman is so amazingly photogenic that I’m astounded my camera could take it….even buying batteries she managed to look as glamorous as a fifties starlet. There was culture too; although watching her dance with Matty to 90’s classics in a crowded bar while I kicked back with a tequila coffee martini could be construed as cultural…right? We drove past Parliament House and did a roadside tour of Lake Burley Griffin, and were silenced by the majesty of the War Monument, where Holly made the perfect tour guide. And now I’m back home in Melbourne as we already plot her next trip here, and we talk about hitting Berlin together next year. Who would have thought that an internet community could bring such amazing, wondrous people into your life; friends that you just can’t imagine being without. Friends that you’d even go to Canberra for. Now that’s love! Some quotes in my little red book to finish off….. / Who’s going to ride the cockroaches now? me / Honey, I drove a troop carrier in the territory for two years Holly / That’s beautiful darling….but seriously, where are all the street lights? me / We don’t do fear Holly / I’m not trotting….but I may prowl me / Where did the dead people sex come into it? Matty / Let’s do it tomollow Holly / They’re fuckwits with anchovies on top Holly / I wear many hats me / That wasn’t my drunk fault! Holly
I received some great news this afternoon! My work Assorted Toppings...
I received some great news this afternoon! My work Assorted Toppings has been selected as a finalist in the 2008 National Photographic Portrait Prize. The exhibition will open at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, on 20 March, where it will be displayed until 24 May, 2009. It will then subsequently tour to numerous Australian capital cities and regional centres. This is very exciting stuff!!
Just wanted to share some exciting news! I entered my first photography competion recently, a small local competition for the local ener…
Just wanted to share some exciting news! I entered my first photography competion recently, a small local competition for the local energy company for their 2010 calendar. I was notified on Friday that my photo stormy memorial was chosen as one of the 12 winners!!! I am just a little bit excited right now and feeling just a little bit proud of myself!!
When I joined Red Bubble just over a year ago now, the first person on my watchlist was a writer who called herself Bellmusker...
When I joined Red Bubble just over a year ago now, the first person on my watchlist was a writer who called herself Bellmusker and went by an avatar of red and black swirls. As anyone who has read Bell’s work knows, after stumbling in raptures through a few lines of her prose, her word hooks were well and truly under my skin and I was completely helpless to anything but succumbing to the wordy whims of her magnificent storytelling and ink-spilling magic. I told her this story over a glass of merlot on Friday night, in my bewilderment that only a year later, she was sitting in my writing room, cackling with me over the threads and words of our lives. I think I’ve celebrated what Red Bubble has brought into my life over and again in the last couple of months. I’ve flown to Melbourne twice: once for a writer’s meet and then for a weekend writer’s retreat... and now, I’ve had the enormous pleasure of showing Bell around Canberra for a weekend, chortling in glee at her ’...and Holls, I looked at it from the air and said, is that the whole thing?’ response to her new home for the next 50 hours or so. I should point out here that I am not a native Canberran. It was a bit of a blunder and mistake initially… I came here on the coattails of a brave whim and pumpkin ride, only to most delightfully uncover all the silver coach trails Canberra has had to offer this little Cinderella. I’ve been here for the last year or so but will soon be packing up and leaving my life in the capital behind… for the most incredible adventure of my life… that Bell is also in part responsible for… but that’s an entirely separate journal post. So. Back to this Easter weekend and the warm and magical medusa leaving behind the tantalising tendrils and charms of Melbourne to immerse herself in the world that is, as we (ahem) locals call it affectionately, the Berra. If you haven’t found her glowing review on her short love affair with the home hunting ground of K-Rudd (that’s Kevin Rudd, our prime minister), you can find it here. Good Friday was a quiet affair… I made Bell my famous broccoli soup and took her trotting down the streetlight-less Canberra lanes to a tiny little gallery cafe artspace for a few glasses of merlot. Saturday was filled with feasts and words… traipsing through the “city” and the sprinkling of vintage clothes stores and bric-a-brac shops that I pretty much live for here. I have spent the last six months driving past Pink Inc with a giggle growling in my belly at how repulsed Bell would be by it… so you can imagine my squirming delight when I bargained with her on the street for a happy-snap. She tried her hardest, bless her. Saturday afternoon was also responsible for our discovery of Dutch black cherry and vanilla vodka that I think it’s safe to say, we both pretty much peed our pants over with excitement. I’m not above reporting that the bottle was opened and sniffed and sampled before we drove home… in completely classy fashion of course. However, I think all class went out the window when the Easter bunny ears came out… / And then, as anyone who knows her will understand, the unthinkable happened and I managed to get Bell in the ears. Brigit’s scowl and growl was firmly in place, in absolute and utter disgust… but it wasn’t long before I got a smile. / / Saturday night I was most excited, for we word wenches got to frock up with the help of Sharon Jones and Big Mama Thornton and head out for dinner and cocktails. I know that in the rest of the world things do generally wind down over Easter but in Canberra, tumbleweed was seriously blowing down the street – so the prospect of words, food, laughter and martinis was almost too exciting to bear (after living in remote Australia for four years, the novelty of going out for dinner and cocktails with options still hasn’t worn off). We ate at my favourite little restaurant and I created a vodka and coconut juice drink on the spot that confused even our little waitress – but bliss, it was sheer bliss. Our bellies filled with meals so good our words were silenced, we headed to the two cocktail bars in town for red-walled laughter, mouthwatering martinis called red canary and chaise lounges laced with bad 90s music for a sublime time with my Melbourne/Canberra worlds harmoniously colliding. / / / / Of course anywhere a Bell goes, so too does her little red notebook that quietly watches and pins you in ink when you least expect it… no matter the hour of the day or the local law enforcement presence. Sunday morning, fresh as daisies, armed with our notebooks, words and a heightened curiosity of advertisements claiming the Portobello Road markets were being recreated at Canberra’s ‘famous’ old bus depot markets, we went foraging. We came away with books, sensational coffee, a vintage butterfly pendant that left me speechless, art nouveau coasters and inspiration for workshopping and writing on Sunday afternoon. / It was such sheer delight that in the most random moments, like buying camera batteries from Ted’s, the two of us would launch into an intense discussion about a narrative thread we’re unravelling, or an idea we’re hunting down, or a moment we were fleshing out in words. And now, as the rain pours down outside, I sit back in awe at what belonging to Red Bubble has brought to my life. I think the most poignant thing about this weekend was how powerful belonging to a creative group is for one’s self-confidence, courage, motivation and inspiration. I thank each of you who has shared your work with me and rendered my heart… and who has supported me on my little piece of Red Bubble grass here, so that my words have come into bloom. And to Bell, the growling goddess who has lured forth my strutting and straight-black cherry-vodka-swilling muse… what can I say beautiful woman? Thank you. Oh, and just two more little quotes you missed from your red notebook sweetheart, that translate to happiness for me: Holly: Ohhhh, dinner was so good. / Bell: Ohhhh, we ate so many animals. and Bell: There will be NO snorting without me.
I don’t know all the details yet, but I’m a bit excited so I’m writing about it anyway. Two of my pinholes, “Lanes around Wellington St”...
I don’t know all the details yet, but I’m a bit excited so I’m writing about it anyway. Two of my pinholes, Lanes around Wellington St and Half Moon Bay, have been accepted into the AIPP Pinhole Australia exhibition that’s part of the VIVID National Photography Festival program. They will be hanging in Parliament House in Canberra. Blah de blah, that’s all for now. I am going to go high five a cushion or something… Also I will put on some socks.
I am also doing demonstration seminars at the PMA’s Sydney Exhibition center Darling Harbor on Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th…
I am also doing demonstration seminars at the PMA’s Sydney Exhibition center Darling Harbor on Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th. /
Hi Everyone, Am thinking of running my first Canberra workshop on the night of August 3. In Melbourne I run these workshops regularly …
Hi Everyone, Am thinking of running my first Canberra workshop on the night of August 3. In Melbourne I run these workshops regularly and they are very passionate, casual and enjoyable events. For those interested please visit my personal website www.leapoffaith.com.au where you will find some of the testimonials from previous attending photographers. My main objective with the workshops is to help people to be more open in their willingness and skill to connect with and direct the model. We will still cover technical aspects and you will still get ample opportunity to take your own photographs. However these days have always been intended primarily as a means to learn and hone skills. To be an inspiration where people go away with an enhanced joy for photography. Cost for the day will be $100. Please note that these days are open to all levels of experience. The workshop environment is very relaxed and supportive. Please feel free to bubblemail me with any questions. Best Wishes Tony. Empowered Beauty
Hullo! Just letting you know about an upcoming photography event that should be ace… _This July, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra w…
Hullo! Just letting you know about an upcoming photography event that should be ace… This July, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra will screen the finalists of Projections 08 – an annual competition that is rapidly becoming a major talent-spotting event for the next generation of top photographers. Photographers with less than 3 years’ professional experience have submitted a series of works and are vying for one of five titles: Best Editorial Photographer; Best Commercial Photographer; Best Art Photographer; People’s Choice Award; and the grand prize, Best Overall Photographer. To best display the finalists’ work , it will be shown in a full cinematic experience (with matching soundtracks) at the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney on Tuesday 1 th July and at ACMI in Melbourne on Thursday 24th July. Canberra will host a screening at M16 on Friday 18th July as part of the Vivid Photographic Festival. Go to the Projections 08 website to see full details of the competition, buy tickets (selling fast), see a teaser of the work etc. My entry was Highly Commended so apparently some of my work will be screened at the after parties, woo! xx
Thanks to 1:1 macro photography group for featuring my image autumn seed...
Thanks to 1:1 macro photography group for featuring my image autumn seed Very much appreciated, Thank you.
Autumn is an ideal time to travel leisurely by car in eastern Australia with temperatures being mild and the days generally calm. Rece…
Autumn is an ideal time to travel leisurely by car in eastern Australia with temperatures being mild and the days generally calm. Recently had the pleasure of a 2300 kilometre road trip to capture autumn images in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Having never embarked on a specific autumn photographic journey before, it was an experience that I’d like to highly recommend to Australians and visitors to Australia. Most visitors to Australia follow the well-worn coastal routes, but to see the best of autumn in Australia, you generally need to travel inland for the amazing colours, scenery and magical light that exists during April/May. Trust you enjoy this small sample of autumn images taken in Australia during late April and early May 2008. All autumn images for sale at Redbubble Cheers folks. / Bright – Victoria / Mount Buffalo – Victoria / National Carillon – Canberra, Australian Capital Territory / Bega – New South Wales / Cann River Church – Victoria
Well, after pulling up nicely from the Puffing Billy race a week ago, I thought I’d line up for the Mother’s Day Fun Run in Canberra on S…
Well, after pulling up nicely from the Puffing Billy race a week ago, I thought I’d line up for the Mother’s Day Fun Run in Canberra on Sunday. This particular Fun Run raises money for breast cancer research. I am happy to contribute to this cause, as breasts are WELL worth saving, in my humble opinion… Turning up an hour early to register, I discovered that there is but one word to describe this fun run. Pink. Pink ribbons. Pink outfits. Pink capes. Pink showbags. Even a pink completion medal… After a few mix-ups, my directionally challenged housemate arrived. He had originally suggested doing this run, which would be his first ever fun run, but now he was getting cold feet. I told him to put his shoes on. Bit frosty, these Canberra mornings… He wanted to chicken out of the ten kilometer run and opt for the five. I brought the big guns out early. Nothing like calling a twenty-three year old, six-foot three guy a girlie wuss to get ‘im fired up… Being blokey kinda men, we eschewed the 10 minute aerobic workout on offer, preferring a little manly stretching and macho talk. What is ‘manly stretching’? I have no idea. I guess it involves talking about football and not looking at anyone’s privates… We even resisted enthusiastic encouragement to have our faces painted in the face-painting tent. Doesn’t EVERY fun run have a face painting tent…?? We assembled around the start line in a clump of friendly, talkative runners and did the customary Packed Footpath Shuffle when the gun went off. About three minutes later my housemate said “Jesus you run fast…” and dropped off the back. Now, at this point I feel I must explain. My housemate is eighteen years younger than I am. He is three inches taller. He has teeth so bright he has been banned from smiling within five kilometers of Sydney airport to avoid distracting pilots of landing planes. He has a six-pack that is NOT hiding inside a blubber-based esky (which is where I keep mine – for safety, of course). In deference to his perfect looks, we shall call him Ken and hope that one day he finds his Barbie… So, to have this guy admit to being unable to keep up with a forty-something year old decrepit a mere three minutes into a fifty minute run. Well. Nice… Showing exceptional restraint, tact and diplomacy I replied “Shit mate, I’m only warming up!” and skipped off into the distance, singing Eye Of The Tiger to myself… The race is over two laps of a course. Half way through the second lap the field had spread out far enough that if I wanted to pass someone, I had to really earn it. I sidled up next to a guy a little older, leaner and harder-looking than myself. We paced each other for a kilometer or so – neither able to blow the other away. Some uber-fit girlie went streaming past us at one point. He looked at me and said “God, we’re just two snails slidin’ down a piece ‘a glass, aren’t we?” / “Yeah. Hand me my walking frame will ya?” / We had a chuckle. Not much of one, mind. We were both knackered from trying to beat each other. We both strode past the nine kilometer sign and I’d had enough. Giving him a cheerful wave I bolted, hoping like hell I could hang on for just five more minutes. I was glad he could not see my face. The wave might have been cheerful but my face looked like a badly deformed, overripe tomato… I crossed the line in fifty minutes – a little better than I’d hoped. Nice. I warmed down, had a stretch (manly, of course) and wandered back along the path to wait for Ken. A bright glow through the trees some twenty minutes later indicated to me that Ken was coming and that he was smiling. Or baring his teeth anyway. I popped the sunnies on and called encouragement as the polar-white grimace jogged past. When he had finished, we went and collected our pink showbags. Ken proudly wore his first ever completion medal for the rest of the day. He didn’t even care that it was pink and covered in flowers. He was a happy chappy. It was another great run. May I never have to stop.
/ Featured in ”...
/ Featured in Queensland Group / Featured in Olympus four thirds Group / Featured in Contemporary Pastel Painters / and / Talented Creative and Unknown / Featured in The Gold Coast Group Thanks heaps to moderators
Been a pleasure to photograph autumn in various parts of Australia in recent weeks, and I’ve put together a short slideshow on Flickr to …
Been a pleasure to photograph autumn in various parts of Australia in recent weeks, and I’ve put together a short slideshow on Flickr to assist with ease of viewing. Autumn Slideshow All autumn images are displayed in my gallery at Redbubble and are for sale in various forms. Click on each image to view larger preview size. All autumn images for sale at Redbubble For bulk orders of 10 or more framed prints, contact Darren by email now for pricing. Cheers. / Bright / Bright / Bright / Mount Beauty / Mount Beauty / Canberra / National Carillon / Mount Buffalo
Some of my pinhole ‘scapes are going on a road trip to NSW for a group exhibition… SCAPES / The Artists’ Shed / 14 Foster St, Quea…
Some of my pinhole ‘scapes are going on a road trip to NSW for a group exhibition… SCAPES / The Artists’ Shed / 14 Foster St, Queanbeyan, NSW 10am-6pm, April 30 – May 24, 2009 / Opening: 7pm, Thursday April 30
My most viewed image on redbubble “Lake Eucumbene” has been published in issue 31 of Australian Traveller magazine http://www.australiant…
My most viewed image on redbubble “Lake Eucumbene” has been published in issue 31 of Australian Traveller magazine http://www.australiantraveller.com/component/content/article/4421 I would like to send a special thank you to Darren Stones, founder and host of Australian Travel Photography and Writing redbubble group for the opportunity to contribute and Greg Barton, patron of the group and editor of Australian Traveller magazine. Thank you to everyone who has commented on this entry
I am excited about my first solo show coming up in just under 2 weeks! If any of you are in Canberra i would love to see you there! / ...
I am excited about my first solo show coming up in just under 2 weeks! If any of you are in Canberra i would love to see you there!
Ealier this week I arrived home after yet another trying day at work, and all I had in mind was my chair, the TV, and just relaxing. Or s…
Ealier this week I arrived home after yet another trying day at work, and all I had in mind was my chair, the TV, and just relaxing. Or so I thought. I found myself suddenly being propelled into a mood of excitment by just one simple sentence from my wife: “Did you see the email from John?” Email? John? I racked my brains. What email I ask her, and her reply was “about the Canberra.” Excitment suddenly flooded through me as I raced out to the computer. John was John Lawler, the head of VARS, or the Victorian Artifical Reef Society, the group behind the bringing of the ex-HMAS Canberra to Geelong to be sunk as a dive wreck. I eagerly opened the message. He tells me that he may be able to get me on a boat out to the sink site on sink day, and to keep the pressure on him to do so. This is good news, as I’ve been trying to arrange a boat from my end for months now with no luck. The price? A copy of all images taken! He now has quite a collection of my Canberra images. Then what I read next had me even more excited. Fiona from Dive Victoria Group had seen some of my images through John. She was wondering he wrote in his email, if she could print some of these images for display in their dive shop and accommodation spaces that they have at Queenscliff. Dive shop? Accommodation spaces? Of course! Her number was in the email so I contacted her as soon as I could. She was delighted that I was letting her use the images, with all acknowledgements going to me. So even though it’s not technically a sale, images of mine are going to be on display in a public place! I felt a mixed sense of delight and pride as I thought about it. I can only hope that this will lead to a future sale, who knows? But for now, I’ll bask in my delighted space that someone, somewhere has seen my work and seen fit to put it on their wall, even if it was for free.
im stoked the govt is putting me up in the canberra intercontinental, im jst happy to be hung and get a feed u cant ask 4 anyfin else, oh…
im stoked the govt is putting me up in the canberra intercontinental, im jst happy to be hung and get a feed u cant ask 4 anyfin else, oh yeah a cash prize would be a bonus ….truly! / also i spent the day with legendary sculpture Tom Bass, he is 91 and still very sharp / and a hard task master!! and im glad ive got to meet him and study under him also. / i will be working on my sculpture again with him 2morro, and i hope to get sum more sessions in the not to distant future. he is very knowledgable with all the arts. / so im hvin a mighty fine week!!! win loose or draw!
Hey people! I just decided to chuck a photo up for sale. I put up the photo I took at Lake Burley Griffin...
Hey people! I just decided to chuck a photo up for sale. I put up the photo I took at Lake Burley Griffin because it’s the image that has had the most views and comments and favourites and all that jazz. I don’t really expect any sales to actually happen but I’m not paying for them to be sold and it’s not as if I’m losing anything. so why not? I’ll upload some more later. Just though I should let everyone know because who knows maybe someone will buy something.. and I hope so too :)
Thank you to everyone who commented on and favorited “Walkway” which was recently included on the redbubble homepage. !http://ih1.redb…
Thank you to everyone who commented on and favorited “Walkway” which was recently included on the redbubble homepage.
NEW Calendar: |!http://images-3.redbubble.net/img/calendars/page:0/product:calendar/size:medium/view:preview/3881451-1-reflections-a…
NEW Calendar: Click to BUY / Click to BUY . / My Images Do Not Belong To The Public Domain. All images are copyright © Werner Padarin. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
Projections 09 showcases some of the best emerging photographers across 3 categories: art, commercial and journalism. The competition req…
Projections 09 showcases some of the best emerging photographers across 3 categories: art, commercial and journalism. The competition requirement that sets it apart from others is that all entries must be presented as a series rather than a collection of single images. Tix through Moshtix are $25 and include pre & post-show drinks & canapes (Melbourne & Sydney only). Screening runs about 1 hour from 7.30pm. An after party at nearby venue is also arranged! Check out the teaser clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDlIj8bWHHc For full details go to http://www.theprojections.com/ Melbourne / Tuesday: 26th may / 6.30pm: Doors Open / 7.30pm: Screening Commences / Astor Cinema, / 1 Chapel Street, St Kilda, / Melbourne. / / Sydney / Thursday, 28th May / 6.30pm: Doors Open / 7.30pm: Screening Commences / Chauvel Cinema, Cnr Oxford St & Oatley Road, Paddington / / Canberra / Friday, 5th June / 6pm: Doors open / M16 Artspace / 16 Mildura Street, Fyshwick, ACT 2609 / Exhibition runs until Sunday, 7th June / / Brisbane / Saturday, 6th June / 6pm: Doors open / Corner of Cordelia and Russell Streets / South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
A huge thank you to “Australian Travel Photography and Writing” group for featuring my first piece of writing...
A huge thank you to “Australian Travel Photography and Writing” group for featuring my first piece of writing submitted to RB!
Just updated my Big Sky pic with one that has had a bit more thought put in to the post processing….now with less blown highlights. ...
Just updated my Big Sky pic with one that has had a bit more thought put in to the post processing….now with less blown highlights. It’s also a bit of a wider format now… roughly 4:1 rather than 3:1.
RedBubble is a great place to find art, design, photos and writing from over 80,000 talented people.
On stunning greeting cards, awesome t-shirts or beautiful prints to hang on your walls.
It’s really simple. If you’re not happy with your purchase for any reason, we’ll fix it.
Since February 2007 we’ve shipped over 371,800 items to more than 70 countries around the world.
Sign up for your free account, upload your work, join some groups and share your creative genius with the world.