Nikon D800E

Excited but apprehensive about the potential of this camera. It will be a game changer.

My order is placed. My Phase back is getting nervous.

Toyota- What a Feeling brochure

The weather smiled upon us briefly, but remianed erratic. Sorry to talk weather but these things matter alot in the days leading up with multiple paid forecasts. Sadly a wallaby was struck by the camera car and contrbuted to the roadkill on West Head road.  The effort to save costs by excluding MUA let the results down a bit methinks, but they(client and agency) were chuffed with the images, and extended the usage, I can't complain about that. Enjoyed working with Niccola Philips at Mercer Bell.

Movember

Photographically, I've always enjoyed the portraiture of the era between wars. Subjects seem more self aware and early photography made the notion of having one's picture taken a glamourous status symbol if done to a professional standard. DIY photography was in its infancy of course.

In contrast to this I found some haunting images from the National Archive taken from plate glass negatives captured purely for the purpose of record by the record keepers at Long Bay Gaol.

I was inspired by these beautiful portraits of the inmates from all levels of criminal practices, shot seemingly informally but carrying undeniable gravity.

With that as the base inspiration, the whole Movember thing got me noticing how many twentysomethings actually committed to their facial hair growth art with conviction far beyond the hype that comes round every November.

Considering that Movember is also known as contraception month because the significant partners do not always embrace the facial sprouting with the same enthusiasm, I was impressed that there are gentlemen young enough to not even be sporting a wrinkle, that wholeheartedly subscribe to the moustachioed and bearded code.

This got me onto a concept which I'll revisit later, but as these things go, the plan evolved. I went on to discover some gents from a Newtown barber Hawleywood's that go beyond a few period styling cues and live the look and lifestyle as much as modern times allow. No effort is spared in the details and these blokes don't just live the lifestyle, they carry it off with style.

By the way, only one of the subjects in these portraits is styled to the era, the others are wearing what they arrived in. They live the look full time.

You gotta admire the conviction and the effort in that.

So, after an initial false start due to our talent dudes cancelled on the morning of the shoot (in their defence they work 6 days a week and didn't fancy spending a seventh in a stuffy studio) ...deep breath, exhale...I got my shots of the dudes from Hawleywoods.

Much obliged and grateful to the stylist (Jan Edwards) and MUA (Hilary Ho) for their time, and of course the unique Gentlemen from Hawleywoods who gave their time.