Daily photos continues...

So, I am trying to continue with my daily photos.  There have been a couple of days missed, some days I have made up for them, and sometimes, they have just been swept under the mat.  And then, other days, I have just taken a photo for the art of it.  I'm still enjoying it, and today I made more of an effort to find something different, rather than just looking around a 5 metre area from where I am standing. This week (or so) I have been 'told' to photograph...

food . fruit . texture . my backyard . life . old .

Hope you enjoy them!

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Daily pics...

This week I  had some fun, taking a few minutes (literally) each day to pull a theme out of my lucky dip pot, and photograph.  Here are some of the images that I have taken... The themes this week were

- looking down

- ground

- red

- ugly

- glass

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Working my creativity

For the last six weeks I have been doing a creativity course at WEA in Adelaide.  A course that works on getting everyone, as artists, unblocked.  Through the course I have decided (after procrastinating for months) to attempt taking a photo every day.  So as not to take the easy road out, I wrote down on bits of paper, and put in a box, lots of descriptions - things, emotions, textures, movement, colour.  Each day I lucky dip a theme to photograph, and photograph that with whatever camera comes to hand. Along with writing a (near) daily journal, meditating and reading and writing affirmations and gratitudes, I've found it very helpful.  It has lifted a heavy cloud off me, a cloud that had been lingering on my creative juices and passion.

Whether the photos are good or bad, it doesn't matter.  It's more about the process of taking a photo, and thinking through different ways of getting to the theme.

This set of photos is brought from randomly taking pics of wherever I am, and the themes 'packaged food' and 'light'.  By no means am I trying to say that Tiny Teddies are making us fat, it's just what I had!  The article does go on to say though, that the amount of packaged food that we eat is one (of many) cause leading to our obesity crisis we have in Australia.  Can you believe that our Aussie kids are fatter than the American kids now?!?!?

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been there done that

I've just stumbled across a great little book for travellers, and people that like to have goals and plans for the coming year.  It's a fab book called 'been there done that' -  a small book where you can tick off everywhere that you have been, and write where you want to go.  Note down where you want to go, what you want to see, what you want to do - and tick it off as you achieve it.  And, with a spot for holding your passport, it's never going to be too far away.  Check it out at http://www.haveyoubeentheredonethat.travel/en/index.html .

Vision Boards and Bucket Lists

Late 2010 I had a weekend away with a friend of mine, where we worked on what we want in life.  One of the most fun activities we did was thinking about our 'dream' life, making a bucket list and a vision board. My bucket list included lots of things, ranging from seeing a real life shark then cage diving with them (I have to see them first to make sure I'd want to actually hop in the water with them, even if there is a cage between us) to cruising tropical islands on a personally chartered yacht.  I even have some way out things on there, like meeting Richard Branson - you never know!  And then I've got simple things, like having a lush dinner party, going on a weekend spa retreat, learning to meditate... There's no end, so whenever I think of something else, I add it to the list.  And then, each year, I am going to attempt to cross off at least three things.

My vision board is similar to my bucket list, but is my ideal life.  The type of house I want to live in, the life I want to have, the things I want to do, the places I want to go.  There's a lot of travel and adventure inspired pictures on my board - where as I'm sure, many would have the luxury car and mansion on theirs.  It's just not something that jumps to mind with me - sure I'd like a nice car, but have none in mind that I really want.

I put these in my office, so I can see them every time I go in, to really make my mind believe they can happen.  Plant the seed...

Have you done yours bucket list and vision board?[gallery link="file"]

The Power to Help

I now donate a percentage of all my paid invoices to CARE, a fantastic organisation that helps women and children in third world countries.  I've also recently donated photography to Bali Kids and The Leukaemia Foundation.  I think it's important that we give back, to those who are far less fortunate than us.  Sometimes I wonder, how it has become, that we can drive around in our new shiny cars, build dream homes, and buy all the new mod cons while there are others in our world that are struggling to survive through lack of basic necessities like food, water and shelter.  We have the option of sending our children to private schools, where some families don't even have the option of sending their children to A school.  Instead, children have to stay home and earn money for the family.  And what about the children that are sick, and have no access to medical supplies or doctors to help them. I recently read an article on photographer, who worked on a project that helped raise awareness of the poverty on the land in the USA, and one of her photographs struck me to tears.  It was an image of two children, walking down a dirt road hand in hand, their hut in the background, the little child's legs bowed by disease.  Having a daughter myself, I could not imagine not being able to afford treatment or help, to improve her life.  I could not ever imagine having lost her to illness, or at childbirth, as happens many times in the developing world.

We all need to step back and see what's important, and feel what's important for us.  If we could all donate a little extra to help these people (and forgoe the updated car/entertainment system/lavish holiday), it would be of so much benefit to the people that really need it.  Time or money can help.  'Voluntourism' is on the rise, where people volunteer their time to help in a community for anwhere from a week upwards.  We can donate to a number of charities (and some great ones I've donated to include CARE and Bali Kids) and we can also buy 'gifts' to give to people, where your money goes to real aid in someone else's life.  No more duplicate toasters, socks and jocks, and other unwanted items that inevitably end up lost in landfill or in the dark of the back of the cupboard.

Vegan Desserts

Over the last eight weeks, every Wednesday, I've been heading up to Summertown to goggle over, and photograph, yummy vegan desserts.  Some of the delicious desserts that Lisa Fabry has been making are seriously good.  I've loved photographing this book, and look forward to it's release through Wakefield Press.  Definately will have to be trying to make some of the recipes - especially a chocolate mousse that I tried this week, that is made out of avocado!  I normally don't like mousse, but this was nothing like I have tried before.  Rich, dark, smooth and velvety, and very chocolatey.  Not the airy, puffy mousse that I have previously tried in my lifetime. Keep an eye out for it in the bookshops, or head into Wakefield (when it's released).[gallery link="file"]

Charity work

I recently returned from a trip over to Bali, where I photographed orphans at Bali Kids.  I contacted them before I left, hoping they would allow me to come in, photograph the kids, and help them out with promotional images.  I asked at the right time.  They were in need of some images for a calendar, and needed them urgently.  I took my lappie, worked on the images and gave them straight back to Bali Kids. I learnt a lot from photographing the orphans.  How the orphanage works, how sponsors help so much, how the kids live, how they came about to be in Bali Kids care, how the organisation helps sponsored children study in Australia... and realised how very lucky I am to live in a country with so much available.  To live in a country where I can bring up my daughter, family, quality care, schooling and medical services so close.

If you are heading over to Bali (or some other Asian countries) please Carry for Kids.  We all head over with an empty suitcase, so why not fill it with something useful, that is needed so much.  Medical supplies, clothes, school supplies, toys, nappies, books - whatever.  You can get more information at www.carryforkids.org .

Here are some of my pics that I took over the two days of photography...[gallery]

Diversity in work

I love being a Photographer.  Monday I get to photograph gourmet food, Tuesday I'm photographing beautiful people wrapped in stunning fabrics, then Wednesday, yet another day of adventure photographing the landscape, people and activity of an area.  Thursday I may be in the office editing, and then back out on Friday for some more fun.  I couldn't think of any other job better than this.  I'm not saying every week is as glowing and fruitful as this, however every week has it's potential.  And that's the exciting part, you never know what you are going to get the following week.

And to think, I nearly didn't make it here.  On return from London, where I had been hearing stories of fashion shoots from a photographer, who visited for an after work wind down every now and then, I decided that THAT is what I want to do.  I'd always wanted to be a photographer, well, after realising that my first dream, of being an actress, would be a far too difficult career to succeed in (I now know better, that I can do whatever I want, if I want it bad enough).  But then, I did nothing about it.  Until my return from London.  And even then, I was nearly summoned to the Travel Representative role.  It was a hard decision I needed to make - risk everything and go for my dream making my career as a photographer, or get a reasonably well paid job talking about travel all day.  I loved both ideas, as travel is one major passion also.  I had a trial day at the travel agents and did a damn fine job, booking a couple on a trip to Queensland, but in the end my heart ruled over.  And so, heidi who? photos began.

Courses, assistant work, school photos, weddings, camera store, lab assistant, newspapers - I did the lot.  All while building up my business to become full time.  It's hard work, but so very rewarding.  I am grateful to everyone that has helped me get to where I am today, and the people that are helping me get to where I'm going tomorrow.

Hello world!

My first entry into the world of blogging - proper.  An easy way of telling unassuming people my life, what I'm up to, and showing off my images.  That is, if you to listen.  I'll try to make it interesting!  From now on, a  goal of mine is to update you on my latest photographic assignments, personal photography, thoughts, upcoming or just completed journeys and anything else that takes my fancy on any particular day.  I hope you enjoy a look into heidi who? photos.