Methven beat Southern, 2010 Watters Cup rugby

Whenever there is something interesting going on in Methven, if I go I usually can’t help but take a camera and do some visual push-ups.  I just enjoy photographing nearly everything (except weddings). These photos don’t usually have any apparent use – so I’m thinking about making a home for them on my website, sort of a visual diary of local life.  The page is not officially part of my website yet but can be found here for now.  The initial photos are from yesterdays Watters Cup rugby final where Methven had a good win over Southern.

Today Bruce Redmond proved he is the best ploughman in the world with a big win in the 2-day World Ploughing Competition held in Methven. It has been a huge event for Methven with competitors from all over the world converging here. Bruce thoroughly deserved the win. I spent the last hour of the competition fixed in a prime spot photographing only him and was surprised that maistream media were busy elsewhere – so I’m confident I have the best photographic record of New Zealand’s latest World Champion!

Bruce Redmond ploughing champion, Methven

The best ploughman in the world at work

Bruce Redmond, World Champion, with the trophy to prove it

I spent last weekend in Wellington at the annual NZIPP (NZ Institute of Professional Photographers) conference.  As well as a series of interesting speakers, trade displays and catching up with other photographers from around the country there were the Iris Awards. Full time photographers can submit work to be judged.

I’m ambivalent about entering awards because I firmly believe the only opinions that matter are those of the photographer (and client if a commercial job).  While there are some obvious elements of technical skill and innovation in some work, the emotional response of  like or dislike from any images is rather subjective.  In short, I make photographs that please me – if other people like them, that is a bonus. But the process of entering awards not only involves much valuable self-criticism but also gives the opportunity to analyse what everyone else is up to.

My entries in the Landscape and People categories picked up bronze awards which I was happy with as the judging seemed to be particularly tough this year.  Out of over 1200 entries only around 20 made gold standard.

The most enjoyable part for me was seeing what everyone else is doing in the people category.  While I have leant more towards landscapes in the past I’m hatching plans to photograph people more.  One at a time though, not family groups, weddings etc.  What I enjoy most and am best at is working with people one on one, coming up with images that are beyond your average portrait, unique to the individual. Often more art than portrait. Such as the one below, one of my award winners last weekend.

Blues at the Blue

Wayne Pannett and the Back Road Blues band played to a packed house at the Blue Pub last night – I put a few images on my ‘Projects’ page here.

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.

For a while I have been quietly enjoying photographing people.  Although I am an NZIPP Qualified Portrait photographer, which involved submitting a portfolio to our professional body for judging, portraits have not been a big part of what I do. But now and then people have approached me with an idea and it has been a lot of fun working with them to come up with something beyond a regular portrait.

What I enjoy most – and therefore I think is a strength of mine – is working one on one with people rather than groups.  I would rather leave weddings and family group portraits to the photographers who specialise in those.  What I’m talking about is making an artistic image that involves the person, and hopefully means something special to them.  

It starts with making interesting photographs, in the studio or outside somewhere.  I have photographed people at work, at play, pregnant, old and young.  Each image is a unique slice of life.  After selecting the best frames the fun begins with the post-production.  Sometimes it is subtle tweaking of the image, other times the final image bears no relation to the original.

The final stage is making a print.  By having my own 44″ digital pigment printer I can complete the whole process by printing on to a range of fine art photographic papers, or canvas, from small to huge.  Right now I’m in the middle of making a 1 x 1.5m print on canvas for a customer.

I’m finally trying to distill some pricing options to give people a guide of what to expect, and have put together a PDF guide.  In my next website update I’ll expand the People section to reflect this new emphasis, meanwhile send me an email and I’ll send you the information.

The only limit is our joint creativity.