Meet Jurrah, my latest model and participant in the 52 suburbs project. Jurrah is badass angel if there is such a thing. Judging from tattoos covering her body I assumed she’s as mean as my uncle, but once I met her in person (ok, actually as soon as I started to discuss the shoot details) it was clear that she’s anything but my uncle.
Jurrah loves to laugh and nibble so it was really hard to get a moment when she’s not doing at least one of those, but in the end we did get couple of the serious ones as well. We were shooting in her ‘office’, well more like uber-cool pad where people come together to co-create and have fun, play ping pong, sleep in hammocks, drive around bicycles and other random things, not your typical cubicle space. Thanks Jurrah for waking up nice and early on Sunday morning and keep rocking.
Archive for the 'Life' Category
Jurrah @ Redfern
Published February 16, 2012 Life , Photography 1 CommentTags: 52 suburbs, Jurrah, photo project, sydney
Will Samoa be the One?
Published February 8, 2012 Life , Travel Leave a CommentTags: 100 countries, last one, samoa
I still have few months to go till my 28th July 2012 deadline for the 100 countries, but given that my next trip in march will take me to 99, I only have one country/trip left to plan. So far pacific island archipelago of Samoa seems to be the one with most brownie points.
It is independent country and member of United Nations (unlike New Caledonia, Cook Islands and other pacific bad boys); it has direct flights from Sydney that take 6h each way (do not need to take lots of holidays) and do not cost a fortune (600d return), plus it actually seems like a pretty interesting destination, both culturally (Samoans are curious bunch) as well as geographically (i.e. beautiful beaches).
I’ve spent quite a few hours researching the most exiting destination for the final country, but so far nothing beats Samoa. My ideal destination for the 100th country would have been one of the many special spots I’ve not seen yet, such as hiking in Nepal, playing with Gorillas in Rwanda or getting lost in Canadian wilderness, but those all are big trips that deserve special planning and attention, not something that is worth compromising for over few holidays left before July. Have a look at my country list, and may be you have better ideas, any suggestions welcome. Over and out.
Is there such a thing as too much kangaroo?
Published February 1, 2012 Life Leave a CommentTags: away, kangaroo, skippy, valley, weekend
No there is no dancing kangaroo pic, but i did spend last weekend in Kangaroo Valley, eating kangaroo sausages, and seeing those lazy buggers on the sides of the road. Ok, I only really saw one live, 3 ‘watch out’ signs and couple of road kills, but I was told there are plenty of them around in the valley.
The waterfall in picture above was pretty spectacular, but my highlight of the weekend away definitely was mega carp I caught with rod by the dam, it was at least 5kg. My rod could only handle 2-4kg so I was very surprised that my mega fish was calm enough to stay on the hook, go figure. Thanks to team effort from Tasha, Ben and CJ, we managed to pull it off shore and even take some snaps, will upload the evidence soon. Ough what a day during weekend away.
If the road is not challenging, it’s not worth going
Published January 24, 2012 Life , Travel 4 CommentsTags: 100 countries, big trip, challange, middle east, Travel
I’m preparing for my last big trip of 100 country challenge coming up in March, a trip that will cover 7 countries and take me to the total of 99, I can smell the finish line, but I’m not there yet.
I knew it will not be easy or cheap when approaching the end, what I did not know was that I’ll be living in Australia, upss.
In march I plan to go to Sri Lanka, several Middle East countries, such as Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and on the way back finish up in Maldives. This trip will be by far the most expensive short term (less than a month) trip I’ve ever taken, not only flights are ridiculously expensive, I have no close by countries left, and those who are left are not only far but also require visas, which unfortunately are needed for Latvians in most Middle Eastern countries, even UAE (Dubai). There was a point when I regretted not getting UK citizenship and staying proud Latvian, after having that opportunity living 5 years in London. But that weakness is over, you’ve got work with what you got.
So now my focus for next month is to get 4 tourist visas via quite complex requirements to ensure the trip runs smoothly. Wish me luck, I will definitely need it. Will keep you posted how my preparation goes. And keep traveling, world is such a beautiful place.
Can you close that tap off for God’s sake
Published November 18, 2011 Life 1 CommentTags: art exhibit, free, living in Sydney, sculptures by the sea, sydney
It’s not that easy, you see this tap is a big bugger. That’s just one of the amazing artworks exhibited as part of annual hoopla in Bondi – Sculptures by the Sea.
Went there last friday, actually this post should have gone up a week ago, but as I was writing it, I dozed off. Waking up later that night I forgot that I was mid way before shutting down and happily thought that it’s been posted, only realized it now its been sitting in the drafts for a week. And week is a long time in this real time update world of ours. Nevertheless, the sculptures are still there this week, if Sydney local go see them while you can, if far away, just look at the cute pic and have a warm feeling in the left upper arm, at least I do when I see something l like. Have a great weekend.
Why I hate lock-in contracts?
Published September 13, 2011 Life Leave a CommentTags: contracts, de-clutter, evil, freedom, Life, lock-in
Because they’re evil. Be it 12 month gym membership, 24 month mobile phone ‘deals’ or 40 year mortgage. They play on the most basic human nature of being over-optimistic in short term, and over-pessimistic in the longer term. What it means in practical terms is that, we overestimate how often we’ll go to gym at the beginning of the year, the truth is that you will lose 6-8 weeks of gym time just due to holidays/away days or sickness, here’s your savings gone. Not even talking about giving up in three months as you’ve decided to run or swim instead. The same goes for mobile phones and other tech deals, companies want to lock you in for 24 months because they know that 3 or 6 months down the line there will be way cooler stuff on the market, and there’s no way you’d buy that phone or gadget again. It’s a great deal, but for them, not you.
I choose not to choose contracts, I choose something else. I’m never further than 30 days away for showing them (any service/product I use on a regular basis) a finger if they don’t deliver, and they can show me one as well, it’s a fair game.
You should hate them contracts, too. Not just hate them, but actually act on that, and refuse to sign another lock-in contract, ever. You say, there is no alternative, I say there’s always an alternative. There are plenty of monthly mobile or gym contracts in the market, big companies just don’t want you to know about them (e.g. have you heard about Amaysim), and that mortgage, well if it takes 40 years to pay for the house/flat, you probably can not afford it and should not get it in the first place. Buu, I’m such a party pooper.
P.S. Full disclosure – I was just reminded that another way of avoiding contracts, is to have awesome friends, who give you stuff for free, like an IPhone, you know who you are, thank you very much indeed!
Tammy @ Punchbowl
Published September 7, 2011 Life , Photography Leave a CommentTags: 52 suburbs, photo project, punchbowl, sydney, tammy
There is nothing in Punchbowl, no places of interest, nada, just a line of chicken shops near the station, now I know. But the people are lovely, area is so much more diverse than some of the inner city burbs.
This weekend shoot was with Tammy, from New Zealand but growing up in Australia, with Bengali ethnic background, how cool is that. The main struggle was finding something to shoot against in Punchbowl, as it really is just a residential area. We ended up raiding local tennis court, construction site and a random building, to get clean background tones. Tammy does some Bollywood and hip hop dancing so I got her to rock some moves, there’s nothing like a silent disco.
In between we stopped by her place, where her mother greeted me with the cold stare and 60kg Rottweiler was very keen to play with me, life is good, love all this random stuff.
Here are more pics from the day.
Fail
Published August 9, 2011 Life Leave a CommentTags: Life, london, London riots, London's most stupid looter, riots, stealing a bag of rice
Is this what Darwin had in mind when talking about human evolution? I doubt it. My hometown of 6 years and city very special to me is being violated live on TV screens across globe.
Much has been said already about the mindless violence and level of stupidity that has been showed by small minority of the lovely city. Sitting here in Sydney I feel helpless, Brixton, Camberwell, Croydon, all the areas where I used to live have been affected. I only hope that friends back home will act and respond with calm, but firmly.
London is one of the most multi-cultural, open and welcoming cities in the world, where every minority is welcome and everyone has a chance, I’d dare to say people have even better chance that New York of realizing their dreams. Yobs with ‘no future’ have ample opportunities realizing their potential, if they chose to do so and work hard. If only they had to experience life for one day in Syria, China, Sudan, Nigeria or pretty much most of the world, they’d come to appreciate what they have back in UK and cherish it. Unfortunately, they are very unlikely to watch foreign news bulletins or would have travelled to any of these countries. They’d rather steal a bag of rice and show a face to the world doing so, hope he gets caught and publicly ridiculed. Peace.
Me talk long time
Published August 1, 2011 Life , Travel 2 CommentsTags: 100 countries, 2, birthday, second, Travel, two, years
2 years and counting, my blog just had a 2nd birthday, it was a quiet one, slowly chucking away, one step a time, no big announcements to make, but plenty of little actions on the list. I’m getting around 1000 monthly views, up from 6-7 hundred last year, which is not bad.
After 3 months not leaving a country (very unusual for me), I’ve finally booked in some trips, heading to Vanuatu in Pacific for a long weekend, and then hitting Europe in Oct, via South Korea, visiting Armenia and Georgia on the way, so exited. So I should be at 92 countries by end of this year. Will take plenty of snaps to keep you entertained. The coveted 100 is now in sight.
With Sydney’s winter at its best, lingering above 20C, I’m very exited doing more local shoots as well. I’ve had plenty of cancellations lately, but keeping the spirits high, in the long term it will all work out.
On the third point on my list, exploring and getting to know Sydney, I’m doing much better, in last week alone I’ve been to several cool bars had some amazing sushi, couple of great parties, visited Manly beach, Cronulla and Bundeena, sweet.
52 suburbs
Published July 10, 2011 Life , Photography 1 CommentTags: 52 suburbs, fishing, harbour, new project, sydney
I have a new project, and, before you ask, its not professional fishing in Sydney harbour, although it appears I’m getting quite good at it, just look at this weekend’s catch in the pic above, a sinkful.
The new project is called 52 suburbs, it starts now (well, new pics next week) and will run for a year. Inspired by Louise Hawson, a Sydney photographer, who explored Sydney’s suburbs for a year, every week a different one, talking to people, getting to know the neighbourhood and taking amazing pictures along the way. There is no point doing exactly the same thing over again, but I am very keen to explore city beyond Bondi beach or CBD, so what I’ve come up with is interpretation of 52 suburbs, but instead each week shooting with one new model, in his/her neighbourhood, using whatever local backdrops there are in the area, it would be candid mixed with posed portraiture, inspired by 52 suburbs. One model, one new suburb, every weekend, if I miss it, next week will do two, it’s that simple. And it will be called, drums please, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, no, just kidding, it will be called 52 suburbs, of course.
