Summer of Love

So, I guess I should have known that $5 shoes, that have a wooden heel, and are basically a plastic upper, would be like death to feet. Probably. Any normal human would know that, right. But sheer vanity and photographic willpower made me wear them on Sunday and I traipsed from one end of Melbourne to the other and back again in them, all in the name of awesome photos. (I just googled it, it's a 5km round trip.)

So the reason I did this insane amount of walking in ridiculously cheap and uncomfortable shoes? Some time ago, this awesome chick and I used to do some 2nd shooting for another photog. Hannah has her own photography business and resides in Sydney, so since we stopped working together on a semi-regular basis we don't get to see each other anymore. So when she came down for a little visit and asked if I could take some new profile photos for her I was thrilled and jumped at the chance. And then she offered to reciprocate, and I was thrilled and I jumped at the chance lol.

We each had our own ideas of what we wanted, and we worked really well together to find locations, get the shot, and find some time for gasbagging and a catch up as well. All in all I certainly had a most fab day.

So even though my feet felt like worn down stumps by 7pm when we called it a day, it was worth every single second, to hang out with this gorgeous lady, and photograph her and be photographed by her.

You know how when you have kids/dogs/bikes/responsibilities and you go away somewhere it always seems really hard work? For us, even a day trip involves a packed car.

Today was a good day. The postie brought me a parcel. And that made me squeak with joy. It was my sweet sweet new camera bag, a partial Christmas/birthday present from my Mumma and my sis (and also myself lol). I've been using my other one that I love and will still use for almost 2 years... it was handmade for me by Tanya Tindale and I think it's wonderful and she's so clever, but my gear just didn't fit anymore. Which is kinda a good thing because it means I have more gear ;-)

So anyway, my new (not so) little baby is a gorgeous Kelly Moore bag and it's a freaking tardis and I LOVE IT x a gazillion. It's huge. There's enough room for lots and lots of gear. And I love it. Oh yeah, I said that already.

So after I squeaked and squawked about my new bag to the postie (didn't get it), my kids (didn't care), my husbo (wondered if I was strong enough to carry it) I kinda realised that as a work-from-home-parent I don't have colleagues to bounce things off to. So I squawked to facebook.... And all my photographer friends DID get it (as well as my sisters - they always get me).
(I really must post a photo that shows it's actual size - another day. It's way huger than it looks.)

Today's blessing has absolutely nothing to do with a camera bag or facebook or posties or even my kids. Just a little something to remind you that (almost) every cloud has that elusive silver lining....

Chemotherapy sucks. Badly.
But on the plus side you don't have to shave your legs for months at a time. Or other parts I'm assuming, I didn't ask.

Edit> I've just been reminded that also mosquitoes don't like chemo blood. Win! Especially when you go camping on the Murray during peak flood water and there are a million of them around. (Thanks Brooke!)

 

Riot Photography, my other photography business with Sharon, was at the Eltham market yesterday. There are many things I love about markets... the colour, the gorgeous hand made stuff, the people, the dogs!! I had a nice day and photographed some bits and pieces in between chatting to potential clients.

The Eltham market is not as out there as some, it's mostly a craft and handmade goods market. So a lot of the things I also hate about markets is eliminated... the gross 2nd hand crap that no-one wants, the bargaining, the cheap and nasty and easily broken knick-knacks, etc.

Enjoy the photographic feast.

I can now say I'm an award winning photographer. It's just camera club, but it's a start right?