Raewyn Hillier on Latitude cover Winter 2010

Another cover on Latitude mag: over the last couple of months I’ve had fun photographing Raewyn Hillier.  She is a very interesting woman, recently seen with husband John on a  ‘Country Calendar’  episode featuring their high country hunting / guiding business.  I also photographed her working with Erewhon’s clydesdale horse team, riding her Harley and working at her day job as a flooring consultant in Christchurch.  It’s worth buying the mag just to read this article and see my photos of her!

Nancy Tichborne, artist and gardener

If you have any interest in expansive gardens find a copy of this month’s Latitude mag. I photographed 3 of the gardens featured, including the cover shot of Nancy. It was a bit of an eye opener for me seeing just how creative (and maybe a little obsessed!) gardeners can become, I suppose it is just like any other creative outlet you become passionate about.

Last week I had an brilliant day photographing two ‘Gardens of Significance’ on Banks Peninsula.  One was artist Nancy Tichbornes at French Farm, the other Jill and Richard Simpsons at Fisherman’s Bay. The images were commissioned for the next issue of Latitude, due out in early March.

While the gardens were different from each other the scale of work involved developing and maintaining them is amazing.  The creativity involved was a pleasure to capture.

The latest Latitude magazine is out now. Each issue I have a double page spread of one of my images, with a few words about what was going on in my head at the time.  Often it is not easy to articulate why I like something, it just seems right, so I find it an interesting exercise having to put pen to paper (actually finger to keyboard).  Here is this issues image, click it and you will go to a full 1600×1200 pixel version which you are welcome to ‘borrow’ if you need a new spring themed desktop.  Oh, and here was my ‘insight’ about the image:

“As a full time photographer much of my time is spent aiming for not only a creative composition but also technical perfection, coaxing the maximum detail from every pixel.  Now and then I enjoy stripping the composition right back to the basics, sometimes less detail works better to convey the mood I’m trying to capture. Too much detail can distract. There are still some people around who feel that photography should always be a literal representation of reality, but everyone’s own reality is very different.  The camera is just a tool to help show my particular view of the world.”

Issue 7 of Latitude magazine is out soon.  A few issues ago they offered me a regular spot, a double-page spread with a few words about the particular image and what was going through my mind when I made it. This is the spread in the current issue, it will be much easier to see if you go out any buy the magazine!

It is interesting to have to crystallise thoughts around why I like a particular image.  When I’m out there photographing there is not much of a conscious thought pattern, certain compositions just look or feel right.

Today I talked to a great class of young children at Methven Primary and learnt quite a bit about myself when I had to sit down and describe why I liked certain images. It was very interesting – their questions made me think, and hopefully my answers gave them a little insight.

Insight with Bill Irwin, Issue 7, Latitude magazine

Austen Deans

Race on down to your nearest bookstore and buy the latest issue of Latitude magazine (no.6, Summer 2008).  It is one magazine that actually has substance rather than being just a vehicle to sell adverts.  I thoroughly enjoyed spending a couple of days with Austen Deans photographing him for an article including the cover shot.  He is a real inspiration, still following his passion and remaining full of life at 93. 

Also in this issue is my regular ‘Insight’ spot where I have one of my current favourite images.  This issue it is from my series of photos around woolsheds, have a look at the Projects page on my website to see more.