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New Work in Progress This is a glimpse of a new series I’m working on, where I’m using my night-lighting techniques. The working title of the series is, ‘Aimee is on Facebook’ and it looks at the mesmerising nature of social networking, set in primitive landscapes.  The last of this season's Moonwalks (in which I participate as the night photographic guide and light master) was rather cool. What better way to warm up that an "Illumo Bonfire' on the rocks at Curracurrang Cove. No wood, smoke or other environmental damage - just a lot of imagination - to keep the spirits warm. Check out more of my night work on my dedicated illuminated landscape website www.illuminated-landscape.com (link on the home page)  An inflatable tunnel called Mirazozo was set up in January 2011 on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House as a part of this year's Sydney Festival. My three-year old son got a Superman outfit from Santa this Christmas so it seemed a natural space for him to suit up and explore the magic.  I was commissioned to capture the character of acclaimed Australian writer Tom Keneally in his library which was on the northern beaches of Sydney. (he has since moved) It was basically a billiard room in a suburban house so it lacked a certain architectural grandeur. So I ended up doing a 360 degree panorama using my computer’s Photoshop stitching technique. Although not perfect, it really did help to create an interesting visual.  I have had the privilege of traveling to Cape York each August for the past three years, to photograph the elite crocodile research team at Australia Zoo, as they spend an arduous month camping in the bush near the Wenlock River. They capture, tag and release Saltwater Crocs, to learn more about this ancient dinosaur. In between crocodile catches, Terri Irwin and her daughter Bindi and son Robert spend time getting to explore the local bushland and wildlife.  ‘Winning Image of Plein Air Prize 2010’ This image, entitled ‘Mangrove Forest #2, Hawkesbury River 2010’ was the winner of the $10,000. inaugural NSW Parliamentary Plein Air Photographic Prize announced at Parliament House on September 9th. Creating this picture involved one of my more ambitious excursions. There was a 5 kilometre solo kayak up the Hawkesbury River, then camping in a mossie-infested mangrove in the high-tide zone, not to mention working in mud up to my knees until 1am in the morning. It’s all been a part of my search for primeval landscapes in the Sydney Basin area. I love the graphic shapes of the trees and the bright blues, whites and muddy blacks. This image, along with four others from the Illuminated Landscape series were also included in a group exhibition called, The Challenged Landscape’, April 20th to May 20th 2010 at the UTS Gallery, Sydney. The exhibition was curated by Sandy Edwards and featured the works of artists: Nici Cumpston, Ruby Davies, Bonita Ely, Michael Hall and Stephanie Valentin.  The Centennial Park Collection This image titled ‘Winter Garden, 2010’ is part of a portfolio of work on Centennial Park, called ‘The Centennial Park Collection’. They are available for sale as signed limited-edition fine art archival inkjet prints printed by the artist in editions of 15 in three different sizes, A2 (60x40cm), A1 (90x60cm) and A0 (120x80cm). Fourteen images from the editions have sold so far. Framed samples can be viewed at the park’s café and restaurant. Prices will increase as editions begin to sell out. Contact me via the contacts page for further information. You can see the full selection of my new works on a website dedicated to my night photography at www.illuminated-landscape.com There is a link on the home page.  ‘Shoot for 350.org Project, October 2009’ This image was taken as a part of the 350.org ‘International Day of Climate Action’ event, which was a global action to highlight the importance of keeping the world’s carbon emissions content down to 350 parts per million as being the scientific ‘plimsol line’ – beyond which the globe is traveling through troubled waters. A friend Barbara Schaffer organized around 200 people to gather on the shores of Clovelly on the night of 24th October to create this one-off event. I was asked to be the official photographer due to my nocturnal obsessions. I selected a long exposure and via megaphone got the mass of people to walk around a chalk line of numbers to get the resultant energetic effect of light traveling through space. It was a great night of community action. The final application of the image for the 350 org site can be viewed at http://www.350.org/home?page=8 The bikini-clad girls in the foreground were a last minute inspiration. As this was a global shoot and I had no obvious ‘iconic’ landmark to work with these girls were casual spectators so I asked them to position themselves on the rock in the foreground. They remind me of the famous sculptured mermaids on the rock off Ben Buckler at Bondi Beach, which were very much a part of my childhood growing up in Bondi in the 1960’s. They have since gone. Anyway a friend, Chris Gleisner did fantastic torch work to light them.  The November 2008 issue of the Australian Women’s Weekly profiled the newly appointed Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce, undertaking the first leg of her inaugural trip, which was into Australia’s rural heart. Her first port of call was Bourke, a town struggling to stay viable under the adverse conditions now affecting the Murray-Darling Basin System. It was a case of finding an archetypal location to tell the story and I found it on the edge of town at the old wharf overlooking the Darling River. It was an honour to meet her. She brings a whole new style to the office, with a great compassion for children’s welfare. I had five minutes to weave my magic and get the shot. She is a very elegant and thin and the way she poised herself resembled the elegance of the limbs of the gum trees behind her. I made mention of that, which made her smile and relax into a comfortable pose – just what I was wanting. Needless to say I blazed away on the Nikon D3, and quickly got the shot I was looking for.  Terri Irwin Portrait– October 2008 The October 2008 issue of the Australian Women’s Weekly profiled Terri Irwin, the 47-year-old widow of famed crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin. I traveled to the remote Wenlock River near the tip of Cape York to photograph Terri ‘in action’ catching saltwater crocodiles in the wild. Like most assignments things never go according to plan. Her team of experts were catching a crocodile a day for the past four weeks - but on our arrival things went quiet. The lack of crocs became a positive thing in a way. It challenged me to plan a portrait that could stand on its own. I suggested we needed something ‘Amazonian’. Fortunately Terri was happy to oblige. So we found lots of mud and waist deep water. The rest came down to Terri’s great sense of purpose and strength, which gave the portrait the required gravity, and hence a successful shot.  credits | photos | cont@ct | current projects | illuminated landscape | curriculum vitae | home |