I have moved my Blog

Hi and thanks for visiting.

I have moved my blog to this address

http://www.gavinblue.com/blog

I hope you come and visit soon.

Thanks

Gavin Blue

ACOCP featured in magazine article

 

The ACOCP feature in Sunny Days Magazine

 

There has been a beautiful article written about the work the ACOCP (The Australian Community of Child Photographers) by Jane Kearney from Sunny Days Magazine in the Hunter Valley. 

The article interviews parents who have benfited from this special service as well as some of the photographers who quietly offer the skills to make a difference for these families who have suffered an unimaginable tragedy.  I am the victorian representative for this association of committed photographers.

You can view the article here

The Best of Australia’s Emerging Photographers

I invite you all to come along to events across the eastern capitals that celebrates the best of new photography in the country. ACMP Projections 2009 in association with Sony is showcasing a series of new works from 15 of Australia’s top emerging photographers in a dazzling high definition multimedia presentation on 30 foot high screens this May. This is some of the best and most dynamic visual imagery you’ll see this year. See below for details.

ACMP in association with a presents Projections 09
Melbourne Screening
Tuesday 26th May 2009
6:30pm drinks, 7:30pm screening
Astor Theatre – 1 Chapel Street
St Kilda, Vic 3182

Sydney Wednesday 28th May
6:30pm drinks, 7:30pm screening starts
Chauvel Cinema
Cnr Oxford St & Oatley Rd
Paddington NSW
TICKETS VIA MOSHTIX

Canberra Friday 5th June
6pm: Doors open
M16 Artspace
16 Mildura Street, Fyshwick, ACT 2609
Exhibition runs until Sunday, 7th June
FREE EVENT

Brisbane Saturday 6th June
6pm: Doors open
Corner of Cordelia and Russell Streets
South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
FREE EVENT

Tickets and information are available via this link or at the door.

To see the Projections 09 teaser go to this link

Main Projections website: www.theprojections.com

Ever wondered what is in Pro’s kit?

As mentioned on a previous post, after being hit with a $1700 excess luggage bill a few years back on a London-Melbourne Flight for my broncolor mobil kit and extras. I downsized to a minimal kit of  consisting of speedlights (that at first I had to get over how amateur  I thought it was to use these flashes on jobs). They are incredibly versatile and I use them for almost everything.

I have them all in my old filter and light/colour meter case that is covered in the signatures from the people I have photographed over the years.

 

My old filter and lightmeter case

 

How it all packs up

 

The lighting kit I use for 99% of my jobs

The kit list is 4 x SB800, 1 x SB900

2 x Honl light cutters, 2 x snoots, 4 x velcro grips and 2 x speed grids

A custom made softbox bracket able to take 3 speedlights(great for high speed sync work in daylight)

SU800 with extension lead

Leatherman / Filters / Rechargeable Batteries / 2 x High Performance Battery Pack SD-9 

Speedlight stands / Combination padlocks

Australia’s Top Photographer Awards 2009

Just recently I was very happy to be one of 3 finalists in 2009 Australia’s Top Photographer awards in the “Industrial Corporate” category. I am sure I was just pipped at the post by the very deserving winner Tim Bauer. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners.

 

Client: Mack Trucks

A Quick Shoot of an Up & Coming Chef

There is nothing more I love than having job where I am asked to go to a new location, meet someone I have never met before, work with the environment and the personality, and come away with a great shot. Matthew McKenzie worked with Tobie Puttock at the 15 restaurant, and has worked at numerous leading restaurants since and is destined for celebrity chef status.

All shot with the Nikon D3 and speedlights in 45minutes.

Matthew McKenzie aka "Outback Matty"

Fundraising Portrait Sessions on May 2

One of the the charities I support is the Australian Community of Child Photographers (www.acocp.org.au)

“The Australian Community Of Child Photographers is a volunteer organisation of photographers from all over Australia who have come together to form an organisation dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature and ill infants and children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of their local hospitals, as well as children with serious and terminal illnesses.”

The service we provide is free and funded only by its members. To support our work, I am having a day of charity portrait sessions at my studio in South Yarra on Saturday 2 May.

Each session costs $150 and includes an 8×10 print, it can be family, individual or baby portraits.

All money raised will be going to support our ongoing work with the charity.

I invite you to come down and have your portrait taken and support the invaluable work of our charity. (Mothers Day is coming up!)

The Facts
Date: May 2 8-4pm (45minute sessions)
Cost: $150
Where: 7-11 Phoenix Street, South Yarra
Bookings: Book early (9 sessions only)

Thanks for your support

Speedlights On Location

I use speedlights for 99% of my shoots now, and am constantly surprised by how versatile they are. Here are two of my recent favorites.

Students on Rogaine, Glengarry

This first photo was for Scots College in Sydney, part of a series featured in a book celebrating 20 years of their Glengarry Campus. Glengarry is 2 1/2 hours south of Sydney in the Kangaroo Valley where the year 9 students spend 6 months of the year. This shot was taken around 3pm in the shade with full sunlight behind me.

Mercedes Actros

The second was for Mercedes Trucks featuring the off road capabilities of their vehicles. In true Brisbane style, a dramatic storm came through with spectacular skies. 5 minutes after this shot and 1 minute after I had finished packing up and was safely in a car, wild wind and torrential rain hit the track.

MobileMe Lifesaver

I am shooting in Queensland all this week and Internet connections at the hotel and locations have been very patchy.
A client called desperate for a file. I thought I would have to go find a broadband connection when I returned to the hotel(which had crap access) that night. I have a MobileMe account with Apple and I always beleived it needed a fast connection to access other computers via sharescreen. I was very surprised and relieved to be able to access my office computer, and on that machine launch lightroom, colour correct, export and upload via FTP. All over a connection that was slower than sketchy dialup.
Nice!

Christmas Gifts

Every year I give my clients a christmas present to thank them for their support throughout the year. In years past I have give framed prints, wine bottles with customized labels, hats, home baked fruit loaf to name a few.
Last year, I printed a very short run of books with my favourite portraits from the last 12 months. The subjects ranged from celebrities to chefs, truck drivers to actors, comedians to musicians and football players to breeders of very expensive goats.

One of my favorite clients loved the look of the book so much they asked me to make one for them by shooting a series of all the nomiees for their Apprentice of the Year Awards in any style I like. I love a brief like that, and I love having clients that trust me with wide open briefs.

I chose to use a 24mm shift lens, here is one of the shots.

Thomas, Mechanical Engineering