Good News Week

The Dubai people came back with an offer. Thankfully they made it easy to turn down. A good week in the land of Minas Aroney photographic made it that much easier. A few well paid days assisting with a very well credentialed photo journalist ((Michael Amendolia) and a page three print in the Sydney Morning Herald made this easily the best week of my photographic career to date. Being a broadsheet, the Sydney Morning Herald tends to be a more high-brow publisher of photographic content. Not your typical tabloid paparazzi stuff, more quality stuff. Aside from the cover which is usually reserved for boring politicians, page three is the photographer's page as it is where they run the best picture...and that's where they ran mine. I didn't sleep for fear of someone declaring war and bumping my pic from the paper.

Friday and Saturday nights were both spent watching my preferred teams lose ther NRL quarter finals. Rugby is just too confusing so i couldn't give a toss what happened there.

Sunday was our last photojournalism class. If i was the crying type, tears would have flowed. But i'm not, so they didn't. Contact details did instead. This Wednesday night is the gala opening of the student exhibition for anyone passing through. Considering you probably won't be, here's my print (taken at a wrestling audition event in Martin Place)

The Lovely Samantha, Bodhi and I are off to Perth this week for a Docherty family get together before i then join in the driving of a support car for a guy who is cycling across Australia for charity...and i get to take pics. Woo hoo!

see ya,
Minas.

Wastelands

Looking out each morning over the barren wasteland of paid photographic work in front of me, i'd been re-evaluating that short term IT contract in the middle east. On Friday I spent the best part of a 90 minute skype conversation being dragged over the coals by a ridiculously pedantic tech head who had the most confrontational interview technique i'd ever witnessed. Personally, i wouldn't have hired me following that "interview", but the Director (who was also on the call) left me an apologetic voicemail with the promise of a more civil "cultural fit" interview this week. The current thinking would be to take a short term gig to help boost the coffers for a more prolonged run at the photography dream. Pizzas and finals football helped calm the nerves.

Saturday was mainly spent hangin with Bodhi and The Lovely Samantha before heading over to the neighbours for an early evening BBQ. Finals footy again, this time at the pub, although, i must say my sleep avoidance stamina is no better at the pub than it is on the couch. My companion caught me several times doing the sleepy eye'd head nod before the final whistle.

Sunday was our second last photojournalism class. My photo essay and topical news shots have been getting rave reviews and I'm happy with the progress that's been made. It'll be kinda sad to finish next week but at least i'll get my Sunday mornings back. A short trip down to Bondi beach to take shots of the Festival of the the Winds (Kite's) before cycling home for BBQ dinner with friends.

see ya,
Minas.

Finals Footy Here We Come.

It was the final week of the regular NRL season so what better way to celebrate than focusing my undivided attention on the T.V. for each and every minute of football available on free to air. With a few positions up for grabs, it did not disapoint.

Saturday was a really stupendous day. The glorious weather was enjoyed in full on the decks of the Manly skiff club. The food was average but the drinks and company made up for it.
Dinner involved a Greek family catch up to farewell my cousin before embarking a two week journey to Kilamanjaro and back. It's been interesting comparing how much she's packed compared to me when traveling. Mind you, i often find myself freezing my tits off with altitude sickness in some remote peak when traveling, which i can appreciate is not everyone's cup of tea.

On Sunday morning i was showered with breakfast in bed and a home made father's day card before heading off to photo class. I'd shot a topical event during the week (the remembrance service for the Battle of Australia) which was well received in class and some of the shots will go into the portfolio. A late father's day lunch with the Italian side of the family before heading home to more footy and cheese n bikkies for dinner.

see ya,
Minas.

Hey Gang;

Last week i did quite possibly the most demeaning work of my entire life volunteering (exploited) at a photo studio. Apart from sweeping the floors and painting the studio i was allowed to clean the toilets and mop up tomatoes which had been squashed into the floor for a shoot. Needless to say, i shall not be returning.

Friday night involved....wait for it...football and pizza.

Saturday was my final day at the studio and because i'd done such a good job during the week i was allowed to refill the toilet paper rolls and get coffee for the "Photographer in Chief". Thankfully they weren't doing interesting work there else i'd have been tempted to continue the humiliation in the hope of learning something.

In Sunday's photojournalism class a real photojournalist, Paul Blackmore winner of several World Press awards (equivalent of the Oscars for news photography), came in as a guest lecturer. What makes them forgo stablility, family and normalcy in favour of wars, famine and desperation is beyond me but damn they take some cracking shots.

On Monday i was paid to assist on a house shoot for Better Homes & Gardens (or some equivalent) magazine.

Day #95 of my water series

seee ya,
Minas.