An Eventful Week...

Hi Everyone,

This week certainly was a eventful one with both Australia Day (26th January) and the Bankstown Lunar New Year Festival of 2011 being the highlights.

On Wednesday was Australia Day (26th January) I headed down to Garrison Point, Georges Hall and attended the Bankstown Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony which started at 8am. Bankstown Council ran the event and it was done very well as it was fully catered, great for all the hungry new Australians that attended.
 I of course photographed the event all while the local media (Canterbury-Bankstown Express and The Torch Newspapers) were also photographing it. I used my new Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L Lens to stand back and get some images while the media was up close and personal with their wide angle lenses and flash units.
I loved it I went armed with my 10-22mm Canon Wide Angle as well as a notepad, a pen and business cards.
My reason for the notepad and business cards????  Well I had rang the local papers earlier in the week and asked what their requirements were for me to submit images....  I was told 1MB image, high resolution, Name, Suburb of person I photograph.
Well while I stood back photographing from a distance after a while I was approached with the question from a lady asking me where am I from???  I of course answered with the name of my suburb....... as you would....
"I am just a local photographer just getting some shots" which I didnt think much of it until she introduced herself as a contact from the local council!!!!  OMG!!!   was what I was thinking! I gave her one of my business cards as well.......  Well I spoke to her for a while and it eventuated in me being nearly onstage! I was able to get nice and close right next to the people from the local papers.
I have now sent 5 images from the day to the local paper with the hope of at least one being published.......


Just Yesterday (Saturday 29th Jan) I headed to the Bankstown Lunar New Year Festival and that was yet another great morning this time I photographed the festival as much as I could......
Again I was approached while I was shooting images this time by a local giving me their email address on the back of a scap piece of paper..... Saying to me "If you get some good images send them to me" amongst the noise of firecrackers going of I couldnt quite hear her but again she worked for a society I think but I dont know which one.....  I have sent images to her (copyrighted of course).
Then just as I was walking back to my car I saw a lady I wanted to photograph her name was Thi from
Bankstown I approached her as she looked through some books at a local bookstall and asked her "Excuse me would I be able to get a photo of you?"  which she was ok with so I asked her her name, suburb and her email address so I could send her the photo which she was more than happy to give me.   I have now sent the image on which can be seen below.  
Anyway thats it for this week!!!  Tomorrow is enrol in TAFE day!!! 

See Ya!! 

Thi From Bankstown

The Greats (Portrait Photographer) Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz

Another week, another great. This week its Annie Leibovitz, born October 2nd 1949 in Westbury - Connecticut she was one of six children.
She enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1967 where she originally studied painting, she developed a love of photography.
In 1970 she applied for a job with Rolling Stone Magazine impressed with her portfolio the editor offered her a job as staff photographer. Within 2 years of being employed she was promoted to Chief Photographer, which she held for 10 years.
She became portrait photographer to the stars, she photographed, John Lennon with his wife Yoko Ono (seen here).
In 1983 Annie left the Rolling Stone Magazine and started working for Vanity Fair and since she started working for them she has shot many celebrity portraits including a controversial image of Demi Moore (seen here) when she was 7 months pregnant with her daughter,
Whoopi Goldberg submerged in a bathtub of milk (here).

At the moment you can see Annie's work at a current exhibition in Sydney at the MCA (Museum Of Contemporary Art) which ends on the 27th March 2011 - Details Are Here

Passion

Passion!!

Where does it lay in the field?

This is the question which often plagues my mind..............

Specialisation?  Can I focus on one?

These are the questions going through my mind as I photograph the world around me.

My interest is so broad, I like all forms of photography..........

I like all genres for different reasons.

1) Portraits - Showing the subjects inner self, capturing emotion, showing the beauty of the person in the

    frame.

2) Landscape - Showing nature at its best, the emotion felt and capturing that in the image.

    Making sure to portray that to your audience.

3) Photojournalism - Documenting what is happening and portraying a story through the power of the

    image.

So, Where to from here?

That is the question.......

So, I put it to YOU

What do you think my best genre is?

How do you suggest I find it?

Please comment below after looking through my images.

or send me a email at:  gordon.gallacher0@gmail.com   with your comment.

Your help with be greatly appreciated.      

The Greats: James Nachtwey (Photojournalist)

This week on "The Greats" I tell you the story of legendary photojournalist James Nachtwey.
James was one of the many photographers who photographed the September 11 tragedy, with James you truly see the story through his lens.
He studied art history and political science at Dartmouth College in Massachusetts.
Images from the Vietnam War had a strong impact on him which is the reason he started in photography.

In 1976 he started working as a newspaper photographer in New Mexico and in 1980 he moved to New York where he began a career as a freelance magazine photographer.

He has now worked with Time Magazine since 1984, and has travelled to many countries covering war and political stories.

James Nachtwey a truly moving Photographer!

Check Out James Nachtwey in a Documentary called "War Photographer"

Happy New Year!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year as I have only recently got back from Nowra on the South Coast of NSW.

My Thoughts go out to the people in Queensland and Country NSW who have been affected by the recent devastating floods.
24 Towns have been flooded affecting 200,000 people with a estimated damage bill at the time of posting $5 billion.

Donations can be made here.