Portrait of Curiosities

Leaving home

2012-01-15T06:05:00.000-08:00

And I am off again on another adventure... with a lovely friend of mine that arrives from Australia this Wednesday... Can not believe it has been 6 months since I left my home in Australia...

We are off to Paris next week, and after our return we will drive around the south coast of England and the West Country. Then Leeds and Wales. But this trip is not just for pleasure, there is another intention behind this... which I shall reveal soon.

Now I must admit, I am one for leaving things to the last minute... so perhaps I shall start of the essential to pack for all the trips ahead...

Guitar, novel, my lyric book, boots (for those muddy walks in the woods), warm coat, fluffy hat, gloves, camera... well maybe two or three... which ones to choose? The digital will be needed for the two commercial shoots I have in Paris. But of course a few analogue... diana and perhaps a polaroid?

Hope your all enjoying the weather... The Uk is particularly lovely right now, cool crisp days with clear sunny skies, delightful.

Oh you may remember some pictures similar to this one... I posted them here when I first arrived in Europe 6 months ago.

all the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey

2012-01-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

Today, my parents flew back to Australia... I am very sad. Thankfully I have a beautiful friend from Australia staying with me for the next week... providing me with plenty of distraction...

It is cold, wet, windy, gloomy and dark here on the motherland... However, nothing beats Englands charm ... in winter this country is simply stunning.

December in Pictures - Instagram

2012-01-05T05:06:00.000-08:00

I am an analogue girl when it comes to my cameras... so I never imagined that I would get into instagram... Having finally got myself an iphone a couple of months back... I must admit I am a little bit in love... More and more recently I have begun to appreciated and embrace the digital wonders that our contemporary society is presenting to us... And although I would have hated to admit this 6 months ago... I can proudly say that my lovely EOS has become a best friend to me recently with my commercial work.

Solitude Stands By the Doorway

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Listening to Suzanne Vega and contemplating the future...
Alot of planning, thinking, dreaming... Much is about to change and although it may seem a little scary, I am most excited to see what will happen.
The Festive Season has been wonderful, so many family get-togethers, laughter, love, delicious food, mulled wine, games, discussions... brilliant! A magical English Christmas. But now it is over... the calm has allowed for space, both psychically, and mentally. Time to sit and appreciate what I have achieved this past year... and time now to contemplate what the new year will bring.

Alot of traveling ahead!
I hope you all had a wonderful christmas and new year.

Paris on Film

2011-12-05T05:23:00.000-08:00

Its all falling into place… I have a job that I love and somewhere to live that I can finally call my own, no more sleeping on couches and fold out beds… apart from the night here and there at some friends places after a big night out! I now call Camden Town home! The next few months are going to be crazy… crazy fun! My mum and Dad arrive for a trip from Australia on Sunday and then a lovely friend of mine is arriving from Australia to come and stay early Jan and then another friend mid Jan!!! Then Paris to see the Black Keys and then a trip around the England, Scotland, Ireland and Whales!!! WOW!

I have also managed to get a few little things lined up here and there in Paris and the UK so it is rather exciting… all falling into place… will update you more soon.

I finally have my scanner set up in my new place too... wooo finally... I have been scanning away happily in between working and discovering london, so I will leave you here to today with a few images taken in Paris a few months ago of a photographer friend of mine that I made whilst there in July… We wend out on a couple of shoots together… photographers photographing photographers… rather fun actually!!!

X U

Tempting Seduction

2011-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

Ellen Rogers is one of the most talented photographers of our time. A master of old photographic processes, Rogers experimental approach to image making is divine. She creates dream like works which tempt and lure us deeply into a world of dark seduction.

I am so proud to now be living in the place she calls her home.

Please visit her website here to view more of her wonderful work.

Fragments

2011-11-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

All I have are fragments, memories of times now past. Fleeting moments, which linger in my mind, wrestle inside me, isolate me, yet complete me. I did not and will not try to name you, though you will not let me be… There will come a time when you will disappear, and despite my better judgment, consumed with the need of your torment, I will go on searching for another you.

I am friends with creative people part 1

2011-10-23T03:55:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to write about the talented people in my life for some time now and today seemed like the fitting day to do so. I am off to Bricklane Market with a very talented friend of mine... the director of this film... Adam El-Sharawy. He and his creative partner Alex Frois are Filmmaker at Large. An amazingly talented, creative duo who are the names behind the new feature film Evidence of Existance, due for release in January 2012... the direction is brilliant, the cinematography stunning, do keep your eyes open for these guys... they are set to be massive.

A visit to Richter

2011-10-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

Ema (Nude on a Staircase) Ema (Akt auf einer Treppel) 1966

Last week I visited the Tate Modern… I was having one of those days when things just don’t feel right… and when things don’t feel good, I find the best thing to do is to go to a gallery and visit your friends… Degas, Pollock, Picasso and on this particular day… Richter.

Gerhard Richter is an amazing artist, compelling, distinct and at times beautifully contradictory. His diversity as an artist is almost incomparable to that of his contemporaries. He has the ability to produce works, which are gestural yet mechanic, ordered yet expressive. He is an artist that can place multicoloured abstraction alongside monochrome figurative work. He explores perspective and tests the capacity of vision.

My favourites are Richter’s photo paintings. In the 1960’s Richter began to emphasise the materiality of paint by dragging a squeegee or brush across a freshly painted surface to blur the figuration into semi abstraction. By doing this he was also highlighting a photographs ability to capture movement.

Gerhard Richter Panorama is on at the Tate Modern from the 6^th Oct 2011 – 8^th Jan 2012 – Do check it out, absolutely stunning.

From a window... I can see the light!

2011-10-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

It is very easy as an artist to feel as though the end of the tunnel is really far, and although in many ways I know I still have so much further to go, it is always nice when you get a little surprise reminding you that you are on the art radar!!!

I have had a lot of publicity recently as mentioned here, here and here... but one other little surprise came my way last week.

One of my assignments at Univeristy this semester required me to look into ways I may fund a certain project I have in the works... (more on the project later)... and to my surprise I was extremely honoured to find that the Helpmann Academy have listed me on their "Artists you should know about" page... Thanks guys I am very happy to be thought of!!! Don't worry ... I will not disappoint you =)

Hope you all had a flipping great weekend!!!

What a coincidence

2011-10-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Within the space of a few months I have been featured in two publications both titled Coffee and Cigarettes, what a coincidence... you may remember the other one from my previous post.

Check out the second here, by Ensemble Magazine.

Carpaccio Magazine

2011-10-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Just a little post to let you know about a very nice little publication know as Carpaccio Magazine.
I am lucky enough to be one of the photographers featured in issue #27 of the mag.
You can pick up a copy of the Carpaccio Guide to emerging illustrators, photographers & artists Vol. 6, here from Atem Books.

The guide is a summary of the works of 90 different collaborators featured in issues #27, #28 and #29.
Click here for the link to issue #27 and here to flick through the magazine
I must really get myself one too!!!

Image was taken form the website here

Just a little self promotion... en français

2011-10-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a little article written about my show in France... Lovely word! There have been talks of another newspaper being interested in interviewing me about my work too... I will keep you posted :)

Parlez-vous français

2011-10-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the opening of my first solo show in Europe. It is being held in the city of Rouen at Le Rêve de l’escalier for the month of October… so if you are in the area please do pop past to say bonjour Michel (the lovely owner) and have a look at the show.

On Saturday Michel informed me that the Paris Normandy Newspaper had heard about my exhibition and was requesting to interview me for the paper. I ofcourse said yes, what an honour. Michel later informed me that Philippe (the journalist) did not speak English… Uh oh… with no translator available aka ma soeur, I went along today with the hope of explaining my artistic practice with my rather basic French vocabulary.

Luckily it turned out that Philippe could speak English so we managed to understand one another very well. He was very impressed with my French… and he said so too, in-between a few chuckles here and there. We had a coffee, (moi un café au lange et il un cafe grandes crème) and talked about photographers, influences, shows, cameras, photographs etc. We then headed back to the space to have another look at the show and so Philippe could take my photograph for the paper eeek!

What a wonderful day!

Now… I'll ask again, parlez-vous français???

Here is my artist statement en français… but if you cheat and use google translate it will ofcourse make no sense… goodluck!

J’ai toujours eu le désir de revenir en arrière, aux grandes époques du passé que me semblent mieux correspondre à ma personnalité et ma mentalité. Depuis mon enfance, le romantisme de ces époques a toujours occupé mon imaginaire. Ma pratique de la photographie me permet de visualiser et d'explorer les sentiments associés au désir, la perte, l’isolation (physique et temporelle) et la mélancolie. Mes travaux sont des métaphores symboliques et des narrations romantiques qui communiquent la beauté, la douleur, le silence et l’immobilité des souvenirs. Ma recherche sur les procédés alternatifs de la photographie, comme les techniques utilisées au 19eme siècle ou le Polaroid, renforce l’influence du passé sur mes œuvres et je l'utilise comme un véhicule pour explorer les rapports sujet/photographe. Il s'agit pour moi d'une relation d’égalité, je vois le sujet au lieu de le regarder comme un objet; je cherche à m’identifier à lui, à le comprendre, le mettre à l’aise. Cela me permet de capturer intuitivement des moments éphémères ou une beauté qui autrement resteraient cachés. Mes œuvres sont des miroirs, des réflexions de la mémoire, des façons de voir.

horses. buttercups. crabapples

2011-09-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

This is a long overdue post… just a few images from a lovely little stroll I did through the English countryside a couple of weeks ago… I got a little lost, but found my way again just before the sun went down… These images are especially for you A and E.

New Frame

2011-09-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to share something new.

I would have to say one of the hardest things I have found so far about moving to the other side of the world would have to be, not having all of my photography equipment with me. I must say thank you to all the lovely people out there helping me find places I may buy film from and get rolls processed. I am especially lucky to know a lovely man allowing me to borrow his scanner whilst I wait of a box of my photographic goodies to be sent over from Australia... scanner included (sigh)!

Here is a frame from a body of work I have been working on... I do love the results I am getting, I really feel as though my work is evolving, I am very pleased with the direction it is going in.

Here is a frame from a recent photoshoot conducted in Paris last month - Please excuse the dust marks.

Flat hunting. tea. blackberry bush.

2011-09-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stared at a computer screen for a long time? I mean a really long time? To the point when you realise your face has taken the shape of something resembling a slightly scared and confused character from the Muppets… or perhaps Bert from Sesame street… you know the face he pulls when he gets really angry with Ernie! This is what hours of flat hunting on the internet can do to you… you may literally end up looking like Animal‘s twin. I advise that when seated at a computer for long periods of time, be situated away from mirrors and reflective surfaces, as you may have quite a scare if you spot your reflection. – Trust me I did!

It was at this point I decided to jump up… well push myself off the couch, there was no energetic force behind that movement at all. From the hours spent sitting on the couch this morning, my ass had gone numb! I must admit I was a little disappointed to find no groove in the couch from where my butt had been positioned all morning… Homer Simpson gets one!

My hands were cold from the endless typing, so I put the kettle on for a nice cuppa tea! I made my way into the lounge room, warming my hands on the china cup, sipping away merrily at its contents. I took a seat in on the arm chair and found myself watching my uncle who had fallen asleep whilst reading on the couch… That probably sounded a little creepy… but I’m fascinated by the positions people can manage to fall asleep in… c’mon he was almost completely upright… he may as well have been standing! Jeez that mans got talent.

Such a lovely day out, I decided to go for a walk… stretch my legs and take some photographs in the wheat fields close by. This merry walk turned into a battle through stinging nettles and scratchy blackberry bushes… all for the perfect shot… that is dedication right there…

What a productive day :)

New Website

2011-09-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

I have finally updated my website, check it out here

www.ulablocksage.com

Terribly British

2011-08-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

To start again in a different country, put simply is exhausting… Just moving house is hard enough... I should know... having already lived in over 20 houses... it is very complex and takes time … however, lets not forget that above everything it is fun, and extremly exciting. The experiences, I have had, and the inspiration I have gained having only touched down in Europe 7 weeks ago have been amazing to say the least.

A little catch up on what I got up too in Paris is definitely in order… I promise I will write more soon, however, today I will fill you in on England.

I have been in the UK for over a week now and I love it… riding on trains through the English country side, with a good book in hand and Laura Marling in my ears… I am feeling terribly English.

It is strange, although I have not lived properly in the UK for 13 years, whenever I return I feel as though I am home, as though I had never been away from my homeland. England just feels right.

-----------------

On Sunday the 21st we woke up at 3am to catch the 5am Ferry from France to the UK. It was wonderful, watching the sunrise over European waters was quite amazing... listening to the mix of French and British chatter on board, put a huge smile on my face as I tried to sneak in a couple of winks between coffee and croissants on the 3 and a half hour journey.

The afternoon was spent with my Grandmother in Eastbourne. We had a lovely lunch in a beautiful, old English pub, and then took a short ride around the country side.

The next few days I spent with my sisters, niece and nephew in Hastings, it was wonderful…

I also caught up with some old friends, drank cider, walked along the beach, along the west hill, took photographs and came across something rather unexpected…

in 1996 when I was 7 years old, I carved my name into the Hastings cliffs… a kind of tradition that has taken place for as long as I can remember… basically… if you visit the cliffs you carve your name into the stone…

I tried looking for my name amongst the thousands of entries when I visited Hastings 3 years ago… I spent hours roaming the cliffs trying to remember where on earth I was that Saturday afternoon when I sat in my gold and black skating outfit carving my name into the cliff face… I could not believe my eyes when I found it by chance last week… wow carved into the cliffs 17 years ago… Oh My!!!

The past 4 days have been spent at my aunty and uncles house in Milton Keynes… they live in an old pub / blacksmiths / converted barn that was built in the 1500’s it is beautiful. As I write this I sit in their library which used to be the barn / stables. I am surrounded by books, and am sitting in a beautiful old armchair in the patch of run currently streaming through the window… sigh! The perfect environment to be getting a head start on things to come…

Amongst looking at possible flat shares and artist studios, there has been a lot of baking and cooking delicious goodies.

Some lovely delights from the local farmer...

Yesterday my uncle and I took a stroll down the lane to a beautiful field, which was surrounded by blackberry bushes… we picked half a bowl each and headed back to begin baking an apple and blackberry crumble…. Mmmmmmmmhmmmmm it was fabulous.

The apples were Bramley… funnily enough these lovely British icons were grown in France… picked from my aunty and uncles garden in the South… and brought back to their homeland to be baked and consumed… by hungry British folk. Delightful!

The crumble was not complete ofcourse without custard. Yum!

- Ula

hold my hand, forever in the cold

2011-08-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

A few digital frames taken as tests for a shoot I conducted just before I left Australia... looking forward to getting the rolls processed. I think it was the freezing cold weather that caused us to act a little silly... What a funny afternoon...

Thankyou to my brave model... it was absolutely freezing that late afternoon in winter!

Oh my do I have alot to fill you in on... much has happened these past few weeks in Paris, what a wonderful city. Will write about my adventure soon...

Ma famille française

2011-07-21T02:26:00.000-07:00

Late night walk to get dessert with Ma famille française... photos by K and V... apart from the first image

Hiding from the paparazzi

Never a dull moment when I am out with these two beautiful people aka V and K

James Dean - An Artist

2011-07-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

Beautiful work by James Dean, the artist, not the actor... do check out his website here

Bows

Lovers

Sprinkler

I love the idea of translating the circular format into my photographic work... or bringing back the oval style portrait... somethings are just not meant to be placed within a box.

café et gâteaux

2011-07-19T03:11:00.000-07:00

Today was delightful… I met a friend of K’s, an actress, who was absolutely lovely… It was raining so with umbrellas in hand, we walked through the crowds of people huddling under the sheltered side walks and through the rain to a wonderful… or should I say really rather posh restaurant to have café et gateaux.

The Restaurant is called Angelina… have a look here.

x Ula

Coffee. Vintage. Chocolate.

2011-07-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Sundays are very quiet in France… Paris unless you are in a touristy area can feel like a ghost town… very strange. K and V live right next door to Montmatre so although it is very quite when you step outside their courtyard, you need only take the second left and the streets are buzzing… We headed to Coquelicot for breakfast, check out their site here… it was amazing. In French culture, when one orders a baguette, a pain au chocolate, brioche or a Madeleine, or in mine and K’s case all of the above… one dips them into ones coffee when eating breakfast… Again flippin amazing. Coquelicot also does delicious freshly squeezed orange juice and serves you your coffee in a large bowl!!! Who doesn’t want a big bowl of coffee in the morning =).

Later that day we went on a vintage / second hand store trail… I picked up an awesome jumper for 5 Euros. K was extremely lucky, she got a dress, a top and a skirt all for one Euro each… seriously shopping in France is amazing… the vintage stores are great.

Oh for those who do not know my family... K is a bit of a chocolate head… look at the dessert she made that evening… UMMMMM DELICIEUX

The Most Beautiful Thing

2011-07-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

American Beauty is one of my favourite films, this scene in particular is wonderful. I think it is the quietness... so much is being said beneath the silence, and although every object within the frame of his film is moving, there is a stillness.

I have often talked about developing a short silent film and I think now may just be the right time...

Mojitos made with rocket... c'est bizarre

2011-07-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

So here I sit, in a beautiful, light filled room, on a sunny afternoon in Paris. What a wonderful past few days.

Thursday was lovely. In France it was the ‘Fete Nationale’, which translates to ‘party national’, a day of celebration much like Australia Day, in that many people have the day off work, spend it outdoors in the sun, do things with their families and in our specific case get up early and go and see the final Harry Potter. However, this was no ordinary movie experience… there was no pop corn, nor was there any soft drink… these ordinary movie snacks were replaced with three pain au chocolate, two speculous and strawberry eclaires, and one tarte aux fraise (all to share of course), bought moments before the film started at a cute patisserie just around the corner… bloody fantastic. After the film we walked home… this was no short stroll around the corner, this walk was epic!!! We walked from the 10e to the 18e… which is about half the length of Paris.

Later that day we decided to check out the fabric shop around the corner from K’s house… one of the reasons for going was for the usual reason one heads to a fabric store… the other was to see the view from the top floor… not many fabric shops have a view like this one….

Yup… that is Sacre Coeur.

Whilst on our stroll through Montmatre we came across the boulangerie, which won the 2011 award for the best baguette in Paris. We bought two and in true Parisian style we each bit into the end of the baguette whilst we walked home. Later that evening we headed to La Tour Eiffel to watch the fireworks, eat cheese, baguette, olives, tomatoes and drink beer. =)

What a day….9km of walking, extremely sore legs, beautiful sights, and wonderful company.

Friday was a delightful day spent with ma belle soeur. We met at the Hotel De Ville, got banana and Nutella crepes (Nutella is huge in France), and ate sorbet whilst we sat in the sun and I learnt all the days of the week in French.

We walked along the ‘Pont Des Rarts’ which translates to The Heart Bridge or The Bridge of the Hearts…

it was beautiful to see people from all over the world placing padlocks with the names of their loves written / inscribed on the lock, along the bridge…

Later that evening K and I had our first ever beer together, which is totally bizarre, you would think that after having grown up with each other in Australia we would have drunk a beer together… at least once… but no… not until we were in our twenties and living in Paris. What a fantastic night it was… we ended up making friends with the bar tenders and the chef and for the rest of the night the drinks were on the house… Cucumber cocktails, champagne and mojitos made with rocket … c’est bizarre. The bar closed and we all moved out the back and continued to chat and laugh into the night… I was really surprised with myself, I spoke French, and was following along with some of the conversations. Talking long into the night… we got home just before the sun began to rise.

I had forgotten how lovely it is to just laze around with K… it was like old times again; us in our pokey apartment in Norwood drinking cups of tea, taking photographs and telling each other stories. I don’t think I have mentioned that K and V’s apartment was originally an artist-printing studio, full of light, and amazing windows, I am looking forward to doing a few photo shoots soon.

Oh lastly I have some exciting news about some possible exhibitions in France, I will hopefully have confirmation in the next few days, so stay tuned =)

X Ula

Paris je t'aime

2011-07-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Paris a few days ago, and although I have visited the city of love a few times before, I must say it seems more beautiful than ever. I think it probably has something to do with the fact that it is currently Summer. What a luck lady I am to have a sister like mine… K lives in the 18^earrondissement right next door to Montmartre. Her apartment is amazing… I will post pictures soon.

Tuesday was my first day in Paris, after two exhausting flights and a stop over in KL I arrived at Charles De Gualle airport at 6.30am Parisian time. After about half an hour of trying to locate the oversize baggage area so I could collect my guitar I walked straight through immigration and into the arms of my lovely sister… Although it had been a year and 5 months since I had seen her (other than on skype) it seemed as though it had only been a couple of days. After a few tears, but with huge grins on our faces we left my bagged trolley behind and attempted to carry or rather drag my extremely heavy bags (my camera’s are to blame) to the airport shuttle, then on to the train, and then through the streets back to K’s place. The trip to K’s apartment took longer than expected as you can imagine with my three bags and guitar in toe we were slowed down quite a lot… We decided to stop for a snack… yes… we order deux pain au chocolate.

After walking a little further we stopped on a bridge and ate our chocolate croissants, watching the trains pass beneath our feet. Slowly but surely we arrived at K’s… I was given the grand tour and shown my bedroom, and waiting for me on my bed was a little present… oh yes a Lomography fisheye camera… gosh my sister and V known me well.

The afternoon was a bit of a lazy one, whilst K was out at a casting and giving a French lesson, I had a rest, drank loads of tea, skyped a few people and unpacked.. before I knew it V came through the door with a beautiful bunch of pink and white roses especially for me… that man is a real French charmer.
We linked arms and headed to the station to meet K for a bit of shopping and Pizza ... soon as my head hit the pillow that night... I was out!

The next morning K and I headed out for breakfast. We stopped at a boulangerie, picked up two crossiants and one strawberry delicious amazing thing I can not remember the name of, to share. We then went to one of K’s favourite place’s in Paris called la fourmi (which translates to ‘the ant’ in English). They played Tom Waits whilst we dunked our warm croissants in our delicious hot coffees served to us by a man who looked like a pirate… what a surreal but lovely start to the day.

After a French lesson on different tenses we headed to the market around the corner from K’s apartment. We bought all kind of deliciousness, olives, nectarines, plums, fresh mint, garlic, mushrooms, capsicum, white zucchini, bananas (for those of you in Australia you will not believe…. they were .80c a kilo… holy moly) apples, chilli, shallots, oh my!!! the list goes on. What an experience that was, being called out to in French and Arabic to try all kinds of samples of fruit, sooooo many samples =)

Later that evening I cooked us all dinner and K made us all an amazing banana split each… we decided earlier that day that we would go and watch the final Harry Potter at the cinema Thursday morning, so at midnight we put on part one of the finale and of course after 20minutes my jetlag kicked in again and I was out like a light…

For those of you who do not know... I have moved to Europe indefinitely... I do not know how long my stay in Paris will be, but I will be sure to keep you updated on my adventures as they progress =) After Paris I am off to London, and after that who knows where my imagination will take me!!!

Melancholic Haze

2011-07-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

Feeling rather melancholic today perhaps it is simply because I have just arrived in Paris… maybe it is the jetlag, or maybe it is the light in the images we took last Thursday?

Goodbye Australia

2011-07-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

My fourth to last full day in Australia was spent with the lovely man. We packed an amazing picnic and drove around in his little car to the waterfall near Normanville, it was rather muddy hence the lovely cowboy boots! We then jumped back in his car and drove all the way to Kuitpo Forest for one last photo shoot….

The images taken in Kuitpo were mostly on film, so I will publish these on my website here once I get the rolls processed.

I will miss Australia, and this man very much!

Oh he and I have a collaborative project lined up... it is very exciting, will update you on this soon.

Ula

Beautiful Light

2011-07-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

David Hamilton is a photographer who was recommend to me recently by one of my assessors at University. Although I was already familiar with his work it was nice to be reminded to go back and have a look. He captures the female experience so beautifully and the way he uses light is gorgeous... there is something quiet and undemanding about his imagery.

I leave for Paris in 5 days and I think I will have to plan a few shoots with my sister in the European light... I am thinking woods... or a lake maybe???

Visit the Hamilton Archives here

Exposed

2011-06-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note, my work has been featured in the current Adelaide Review in an article called Exposed, do check it out if you can. There are copies floating around Adelaide Town, or alternatively you can read the article on the website here.

A very good friend of mine is also featured in the article, she has a blog too, have a look here.

X Ula

Goodbye Melbourne

2011-06-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday the 15^th of June I headed off to Melbourne with a very lovely man to see an exhibition called ‘The Art of The Brick’ at Federation Square and to generally say goodbye to my favourite place in Australia.

We were worried that we might not get off the ground due to the ash clouds that have been passing over the Southern part of Australia. We were delayed a couple of hours but sure enough we got there.

We has initially planned to stay only one night, but a second ash cloud made its way in our direction and we were stranded in Melbourne for another night.. which is quite funny as we were complaining all day that we wanted to stay another night, so it worked our quite well.

We spent the two and half days exploring all of my favourite areas in Melbourne; Balaclava, Windsor, Prahran and Fitzroy, eating delicious food, visiting exhibitions, taking photographs, looking through vintage shops, drinking beer and lots and lots of coffee.

Melbourne... I will miss you!!!

X Ula

Artist Page

2011-06-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

I have created a facebook artist page for my work

Have a look if you like: Ula Blocksage Photographic Artist

I will try and update it regularly with what I am up to and what I am creating

x Ula

Exhibition - I Am A Camera

2011-06-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

I am in a show a Greenhill Gallery called ‘I Am A Camera’, a group show that opened two Sundays ago.

Check out the invite on facebook Here

There is a lot of wonderful work in the exhibition do check it out if you get the chance…

X Ula

Attitude

2011-06-20T23:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I posted on my blog… but that is because I have been so busy. It is now less than 3 weeks before I leave the country for greener pastures and although I am sad to be going, I am now more excited than ever!!!

However, I have so much to tell you about… which I will be filling you in on over the next week or so…

Firstly, today I want to tell you about Attitude Magazine

I was contacted earlier this year by the magazine, asking if they could write an article about me for their winter edition. They had seen my work in various exhibitions in Adelaide and were interested in my story… the interview was lots of fun, thanks guys for letting me be apart of the mag! So if you live in Adelaide head to your local city café / fashion boutique and pick up a copy… it is free street press. The article is on page 43 =)… or you can see an online version of the magazine on the website... I think my interview is on page 23 though!

Being a featured artist in the magazine meant that I was invited to attend the launch that took place at Grace the Establishment (an awesome venue in Norwood) two Sunday’s ago… I was also lucky enough to invite three of my favourite people with me. It was wonderful, we drank apple cocktails and ate macaroons, truly a wonderful night spent with even more wonderful company!!!

These images were taken at the launch by photographer Chanelle Leslie, the rest of the images she took on the night can be seen on the Rip it Up website.

X Ula

Paris - Exhibition - Models

2011-05-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

It is so very interesting… why is it that as soon as you make plans to do something, everything in your life starts to become extra amazing? This is the case for me at the moment… I have booked my flight (my one-way ticket to Paris… FINALLY)! But the day after I booked it some pretty amazing things started coming my way. I will update you all on one of them in a couple of weeks, when everything is confirmed! YEAH!

Until then I think I will take this opportunity to inform you all of a show I was actually asked to be at Greenhill Gallery. It opens next month and is called ‘I Am A Camera’. I am quite excited as Greenhill Gallery is a wonderful exhibition space in Adelaide, North Adelaide to be exact. I will post official dates and times soon, once it is all confirmed.

Finally I will leave you here with a couple of images (above) I have been working on this semester, I am feeling really good about this work. I have had some wonderful feedback and some extremely wonderful models. Just a few more shoots to go until this aspect of the project is finished… well maybe not finished… an artists work is never done!!!

X Ula

Snowed Under

2011-04-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hello there,

I have not been about the place in such a long time, as I have been snowed under with University work, amongst many other little projects!

Here is a little look at some images I have been creating for an exhibition I am very proud to be apart of taking place tomorrow night at Liverpool Street Gallery, Adelaide South Australia. The show is called The Shadow Box... it is an exhibition of pinhole photography!

It runs for one night only, so if you are in Adelaide please do come down to have a look. The opening will run from 6pm – 9pm.

Hope you can make it

feaverish

2011-03-12T23:45:00.000-08:00

Just a mini post to break up the day a little... I have been writing and reading for uni non stop, but I must say I am really enjoying my chosen area of research, I think it suits me extremely well.

Anyway a little about the image above. Some of you may already be familiar with Aaron Feaver... an amazing photographer. His works are gorgeous representations of the modern woman, which I think is what initially drew me to his work, as I am focussing on photographing the female form this semester myself.

He also has a flickr and a blog, do check them out here and here.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

putting pencil to paper

2011-03-11T05:24:00.000-08:00

Today marked the end of my second week back to uni and I must say it is already consuming my life again… I have not been able to think of anything apart from proposals, research questions, photo shoots, business plans, marketing strategies and portfolios for the past two weeks!!!

I could not sleep last night as I was too awake with ideas flying around in my mind, giving me no peace, so I decided to draw.

I must confess I rarely ever pick up a pencil and begin to draw something apart from the odd squiggle / musical note / weird animal that looks like it could pass as a cat, and I must say I was very happy with my little drawings!

What kinds of activities do you do to allow your mind to settle after a crazy day??? I normally play guitar, I find it to be the perfect tool for relaxation =)

Infinite Inspiration

2011-03-06T22:34:00.000-08:00

I was not expecting to head back to the study environment so soon, but alas my plans have been slightly delayed and so it got me thinking... why not study what I love in the meantime!!! So I am currently overloading myself with 5 subjects at University... should be interesting, but I think I am up for a challenge!

I will leave you here with these beautiful works by Yann Orhan, do check out his website, it is full of wonderful inspiration.

The lazy ballet dancer

2011-02-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

These are a few monoprints I created at the end of last year. They were made originally for The 'Print Repeat' exhibition I told you about here and here.... but I could not bare to part with them, hence this is why they are not in the exhibition and I am showing them to you here.

Hope you having a lovely week

She Whispered

2011-02-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

She whispered a note

Do not hope to love

For you will choke

Never believe, nor understand ever love

Sneak Peek

2011-02-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

Here is a little sneak peek at what I have put in the exhibition ‘Print Repeat’, previously mentioned here.

Please do come along if you are in the Adelaide area on the 3^rd of Feb, it will be a lovely evening, full of wonderful work, and delightful refreshments.

Yesterday was hanging of the exhibition and I must say it looks rather superb.

PRINT REPEAT

2011-01-20T17:56:00.000-08:00

Hello there,
Just thought I might tell you all of an exhibition I am very lucky to be apart of opening next month. It is called 'Print Repeat' find the facebook invite here... I have this amazing fellow to thank... Alex Bishop-Thorpe the brains behind the whole operation and the wonderful poster, below, which he hand carved and printed himself... what a talented man!!! We even had a little ad in Imprint Magazine, copies (if you felt so inclined) can be purchased here =). Do come along a check out the exhibition if you find yourself in Adelaide on the 3rd of Feb! There will be wine, cheese crackers, and lots of wonderful prints by equally as wonderful artists!!!

'The Atrium"
Burnside Civic Centre
401 Greenhill Road
Opening night: 3rd Feb 6 pm
Open: 8.30 - 5pm weekdays, till the 24th Feb

Midnight Boom

2011-01-19T01:29:00.000-08:00

I am a very happy girl, today I picked up The Kills album Midnight Boom from JB, absolutely brilliant album...

It is really funny actually... as my lovely friend .... this one...

not only kinda reminds me of Alison Mosshart....

just a little, but when ever I see her she always manages to get the song Cheap and Cheerful in my head without fail!!!!

Left Overs

2011-01-14T17:52:00.000-08:00

Scanning away I came across these images… they are not for anything in particular, but I very much like them!!!

Hope your enjoying the weekend

Rock captured with light

2011-01-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

Norman Seeff is a photographer whom I admire very much. He is responsible for some of the most iconic images of rock and roll legends ever produced. He has photographed the Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, Patti Smith, Kiss, Fleetwood Mac, Sonny and Cher, Joni Mitchell, Blondie and Ricki Lee Jones just to name a few.

Rolling Stones 1971

Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe 1969

Frank Zappa 1976

Joni Mitchell 1976

Head to his website to check out more of his wonderful works and to see what he is getting up to more recently.

Night owl....early riser

2011-01-11T17:44:00.000-08:00

Listening to Fleetwood Mac, scanning negatives and drinking cups of tea is my idea of a really nice morning…

Just thought I might share a couple of these images with you….

I am working on a little side/fun project at the moment and amongst the images I have taken for that, there were these photographers…. Taken on a lovely night out with some even more lovely ladies… I will miss nights with these ladies when I am in the UK!!!

Hope you are having a lovely week!!!

Sticks Stones Broken Bones

2011-01-01T05:53:00.000-08:00

Another thing I have been meaning to share with you for a while now are images of the South Australian School of Art Graduate Exhibition: Sticks Stones Broken Bones. It took place a couple of weeks ago and was really wonderful, a real celebration of many years of hard work for all graduates involved.

Here are some of the images taken by the official photographer for the graduate exhibition, Alex Lofting, the rest can be found here.

The last image is of the work I placed in the Exhibition.

Hope you are all well.

Under the Bed: An Exhibition

2010-12-28T19:25:00.000-08:00

Hello there

I have been meaning to tell you all about an exhibition I am in, which is currently running at The Grace Emily Hotel in Adelaide. They have a gallery space upstairs, very sweet and intimate. The opening was last week, there was a really great turn out and the works were all received extremely well. It is a great feeling watching someone you do not know talk about your work.

Here are some images I took whilst setting up the day before.

The Exhibition was only meant to be for a week, but we have been asked to stay on until just after new years, so if you get the chance please do check it out.

CHANGE OF SCENERY AND A LITTLE INSPIRATION

2010-12-28T00:15:00.000-08:00

I have not been posting much at all recently and I think I have figured out why... so I decided to change the appearance of my blog a little... Not quite one hundred percent happy with it... but I am getting there!!!

Also I have been meaning to tell you all of an artist that I have loved for many years now. Imogen Cunningham... An amazing photographer who provided much inspiration for me this year in my final leg of my Bachelor of Visual Arts degree.

She photographs the human form most poetically and has created wonderful series of images of various flowers... my favourites being the Lilies.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

More Platinum

2010-12-10T01:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some more of my platinum works that I previously mentioned here

There are actually 12 images that make up the series... head to my new website to check out the rest if you like!

MY NEW WEBSITE

2010-12-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

Hello this is ever such an exciting day for me…. Today I launched my website!!! Finally after months of sorting images I have done it.

Please let me know what you think…

www.ulablocksage.com

YAY

Annie

2010-12-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

An image I took quite a few months ago... of my wonderful mother!!! Annie

Especially for you K xxxxxxx

Everlasting Moments

2010-12-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

Just thought I might share this with you all, I watched it last night... it is a most wonderful story.

Everlasting Moments is a beautiful story of a young woman living in the early 1900’s, in a time of social change and unrest, who is married to a drunkard, womanising, violent man, but against all the odds finds a love for photography, a love that would change her life forever. She wins a camera in a lottery and with gentle persuasion from a lovely local photographic shop owner decides to keep it instead of pawning it for a little extra money. She finds solace away from her alcoholic husband, her role as a mother and their impoverished life in a medium that enabled her to view the world through new eyes. As the years go by her photographs begin to narrate her life and give her strength to cope. It is a foreign film in Swedish and Finnish and stars Jesper Christensen and Maria Heiskanen who both equally deliver wonderfully, truthful performances.

Although I am a huge lover of the stage and theatre productions, the intimacy that this woman experiences with a camera is something that could not be equally communicated if it were produced on the stage. I often question which I love more, theatre of film… It is times like this when the quite helplessness of one woman’s life resonates so powerfully with the viewer that film wins my vote… these gentle gestures can not be so easily seen or felt when produced on the stage.

Which do you prefer? Film or Theatre?

sorting. life. photographs.

2010-11-30T23:23:00.000-08:00

All the photography sorting these past few months will be worth it in just under a week. This project will finally reveal itself!!! I am very excited... it feels like it is all coming together finally! Also have any of you checked out this blog... she is a very talented writer, and most positively a wonderful person too!!! She is an English / Australian girl now living in France. Do pay her a visit!!!

Above are some images I took recently in my parents empty house.. they were captured on a 4x5 camera! I have become increasingly aware of myself these past few months and am beginning to understand why I do what I do!

Not long now london!!!

Gardening, Spiders, Sunburn, Books, Wine and Ginger

2010-11-20T16:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was one of the most tiring days of my life, I literally could not keep my eyes open on the way home from Yank last night... luckily my mum was driving back to the city. We worked all day in the garden, so when I woke up today I was still tired, sore and a little sun burnt... oh and covered in scratches from the long grass and little bite from various nasty bugs and mosquitos. We had a couple of scary moments in the shed involving jumping spiders and a flippin huge huntsman spider that freaked the shit out of me when it ran straight past my hand whilst pulling a bag of plaster along the floor... that plaster has been there since my first year at University... oh my! Anywho... the house is looking really wonderful now... It has taken quite a while but it has definitely paid off!

Today is going to be rather eventful too... Lady and I (you know who I am talking about K) are heading into the city to go to boarders and take advantage of the 30% off books sale the have on today.. I really want a copy of the new book by Judi Dench entitled Judi Dench and Furthermore , she is such a wonderful actress, it would be lovely to read about her interesting journey into acting... Then we are off to the south of Adealide for a very special event... the opening of The Mandelli Estate, a winery that has been my aunties dream to launch for many years now... and by jo I think she's done it!

Lastly I will leave you here with a photo I took of my lovely cat Ginger... she will be leaving us within a week to start her new life with a lovely new family as we are off to the UK in a couple of months... My Photography Technician at Uni has fallen in love with her and has offered her a new home, with a curfew at 6pm and the simple rule of sleeping at the end of his bed at night... she will love it!!!

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend

Upon the Window

2010-11-17T04:37:00.000-08:00

Just a little something I have been working on whilst finishing up uni for the year. This image is apart of an ongoing project I have been working on for a couple of years now... which will hopefully one day culminate into something wonderful!!! This image was taken with expired polaroid, however, when I scanned the image in I did so in Greyscale and colour... the greyscale has won my heart... I just love the simplicity of B+W...

Control

2010-11-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful medium film is for expression. I have often wanted to delve into the realms of film/movie making for my photographic work in the processes of super 8 and cine film, and have even bought myself a lovely little super 8 camera and black and white film to get me started.

I think this interest in making my own video footage has come about through my love of art house movies, small directorial works, and short films, a love which has seemed to really blossom over the past month perhaps even into obsession… yes I am currently that weird person you always see at your local blockbuster … and you are the one standing there thinking doesn’t she have anything better to do with her life??? The answer to that question is … YES… but this is keeping me from going insane whilst I am in Adelaide finishing my degree anticipating my move to the other side of the world at the end of the year.

Encase you already didn’t know I am moving to London to pursue acting and my love of photography, very very soon!!! However in the meantime I am becoming a movie buff! =) The film I want to talk about here is Control…

Control is a film which is based on the lead singer (Ian Curtis) of the band Joy Division: an English alternative rock band formed in 1976, in Macclesfield, Greater Manchester, UK. The film is a profile on Curtis’s life according to his former wife Debbie who wrote a book about the trials of his and their life together including his love affair with a Parisian woman, his struggle with epilepsy, band commitments, married life and fatherhood, all before he committed suicide at the young age of 23. The film was directed by Anton Corbijn and stars Harry Treadaway, Samantha Morton, Joe Anderson, and Sam Riley; who went for the role of Ian Curtis whilst he was a simple factory worker.

The film is entirely in black and white and is one of the best films I have seen in a while… do check it out!!!!!!

Little Ginger

2010-10-26T04:13:00.000-07:00

Image taken on Hanimex, plastic lens.

This is just a little post mainly for myself and for K's benefit... This is my cat Ginger... we will soon be leaving Asutralia and unfortuntley this lovely little friend of mine will be staying behind... thankfully I believe I may have a wonderful new owner for her... someone I know who will treat her the way she deserves to be treated!!! ... That someone is my Photography Techi at Uni... hehe

Anywho... Hope you are all having a lovely weekend...

I will miss Ginger as much as I am sure K is missing her already x

mon inspiration

2010-10-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my sister I took a couple of years ago when I was just venturing into a degree of photography at uni… it is apart of a series of images I took of my family at the time. She is currently living in France and I miss her dearly… hopefully if all goes according to plan we will all be together in under two months!!! Tu me manques ... kaya mon inspiration! à bientôt

Sleep and photographs

2010-10-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

Sleep… it feels like the only thing to do when you ain’t feeling so good… why does it always happen near the end of a semester?

Oh sleeping and taking photographs of course! =)

European... Complexion to Camera?

2010-10-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

Some of you who have been reading my blog since the beginning may have come to realise that I am a European girl currently residing in Australia. I do not really think of myself as just purely English anymore as I have been in Australia for over half of my life, however it was reinforced to me the other day when I was showing my work to someone I truly admire. They told me that there was no escaping it “You are European from your complexion to your camera”. Above are two of the twenty (or so) images I showed that person the other day. Do they look European to you? This spurred on another re-evaluation of my work… and has taken this other project I am working on in a completely different direction!!!

----------------

For the past year Portrait of Curiosities has been about me documenting my work and placing it on the web as a kind of reminder to myself of all the creative things I am making and venturing into… however, I decided that I want to start documenting all of the things that inspire me as a way of documenting it all for myself later down the track… as a sort of inspirational diary… It will include artists who inspire me, exhibitions I have visited and productions I have watched.

Hope you are all well =)

When will we ever learn

2010-10-17T04:09:00.000-07:00

... Like fools, we turn away

Platinum Printing

2010-10-16T04:09:00.000-07:00

I think it is fair to say that today has been rather productive, after a big load of procrastination yesterday, I woke up early today and began to write an essay which is due in a couple of weeks. I decided that it would probably be best to get it out of the way as I still have much photography work to complete. I have made a bit of progress so in all I am feeling pretty good.

Now onto a more exciting subject… I am in the process of printing my addition of platinum prints for my specialisation project. The image above is the one I have chosen to represent my work in the graduate exhibition catalogue, being produced for the University graduate show I am in at the end of the year. There are 12 different platinum prints in my series in total, each image has been produced as an artist proof and as I said am still in the process of printing the edition, which is an edition of 3... YES that is a lot of printing!!!

Anywho, hope you are enjoying your weekends, I am off to eat a delicious meal of soya bean curd and soy beans bbc style (ying chow lovers… you know what I mean)! ;)

Degas Inspiration

2010-10-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

I have always been a huge lover of Degas work. When I was in Paris last I stumbled across a little book of degas work in a second hand book store, I could not read much of it as it was in French but his works are so wonderful I bought it anyway. I have been finding myself day dreaming a lot recently about the works of Degas, Vermeer, Rembrandt, such wonderful artists.

This is an image I took a little while ago, for my specialisation assignment for Uni, however, I think it is a little more appropriate for another idea I have had milling around in my mind for a while now. I am yet to figure it out completely, but when I do I will definitely tell you about it. (can't remember why I took this image actually, i think it has something to do with Degas Femme dans un tub).

Have a lovely weekend

4x5

2010-10-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

These images are apart of my specialisation project for uni, well at least when I took them a couple of months ago that was what they were intended for. I am yet to decide whether these ones will be used or not, either way they have been most helpful as they have lead me in the direction of a new project that I am in the process of putting together, for an exhibition I am in, which is in February next year in France. I am rather excited.

Any who, have a lovely week.

Documenting Times Past

2010-10-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few images I took the other week on a walk through a couple of parks on the outskirts of Adelaide... I'm starting to document the beginnings of my new adventure... Can not believe I will be leaving Australia in the next couple of months... It has been my home for the past 12 years! Time for a new adventure!

Female Gaze

2010-10-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

I have been writing my contextual paper for University these past couple of weeks, and have become extremely aware of my interest in female photographers. All three artists of significance for my paper are female, this prompted a thought pattern… something along the lines of the female gaze, ways of seeing etc… There is definitely a sensitivity behind the female lens, that is most certainly the case with Jane Burton, Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron; the three woman who have influenced my work for the past couple of years… beautifully talented and extremely interesting photographers.

P.s. I have a new photographic project underway… more details to be confirmed soon =)

Evelyn Evergreen

2010-10-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

Today I awoke with a huge smile on my face, not because the sun was shining, nor was it because I had bought a mango from the markets yesterday which was to be my lunch today mmmmmm yummy! No it was something else I got from the market…. Something that turned the lovely day out with my mum into an even lovelier, extremely exciting moment…

I have never named one of my cameras before, let alone have ever felt the impulse to give one not only a first name but a second name as well…

her name is Evelyn Evergreen… which I thought was a rather sweet as the man who made her did not have a name which rolled so easily from the tongue… he was a Swedish man…. his initials were V.H. Yes you have probably guessed it by now…

Evelyn Evergreen is a Hasselblad and she is quite flipping beautiful if I do say so myself!!! Now I can cross her off my list of beauties I wish to acquire… having been on there for quite a few years now =)

Anywho… Like is said earlier, the sun is shining here today, it is absolutely lovely, I think it is turning into picnic season!!! I will leave you here with an image I took last year, this was a test shot I did before shooting a series of images in a pinhole camera made of a teapot… the images were of a sinister teddy bears picnic =)

there is silver amongst darkness

2010-09-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

This week has been most lovely, I have been rather productive with my practical work at uni (printing platinum) very exciting, I have finished a book I only started on Sunday, that I have wanted to read for a couple of years now (The Alchemists Key, by Traci Harding). I have been listening to a lot of rock music, I have been practicing the guitar…. and singing a lot =)… I hope all of your weeks are turning out to be as nice! It certainly seems so from all the lovely things you have been writing on your own blogs.

I went to uni today and did a bit of silver gelatin printing, until today I not done any printing on silver paper since last year… so I thought it about time I satisfied my craving for the luminosity of this process. I decided to print some of the images I have been working on for one of my studio specilisation projects. I was rather happy with the results. These images are part of a big bundle of negs I processed the other day which I have been shooting over the last month.

Jane Burton is a bit of an inspiration behind my work, to have a look at her wonderful photography click here.

Darkness... it clouds my judgement

2010-09-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

These images were taken earlier this year, in preparation for my studio specialisation project at University. The work is about displacement, and without going into great detail, the work discusses these feelings, coming to terms with them, accepting them and eventually moving through them. These images are not used in the project, but I wanted to share them with you all anyway. The use and shaping of light is central to my work, so it is really great to hear people complimenting me regarding my use of it, as it is very encouraging. I am very lucky to have a wonderful supportive network of people who believe in my work.

Early self portraiture

2010-09-27T03:26:00.000-07:00

Early self portraiture, gosh these images were from long ago... very crazy the situations we find ourselves in...

Anyway... up until this year I rarely used myself as a subject... so when I discovered these last week after having come across some old work I was rather surprised, yet very pleased I documented this rather strange part of my life!

Good old AE1 - Program... gosh I love that camera... 3200 ISO... gotta love grain!!!

Anyway... SUCCESS... today was great... processed all seven rolls and I am very very excited about my project! The past few months are finally making sense before my eyes... will update you all on this soon, many negs and polaroids to scan =)

cameraman or artist

2010-09-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been looking over my past work, and have been really pleased with all of the things I have managed to capture over the years. This recent activity has been spurred on by something I read a couple of months ago, about the choice and presentation of every piece of information within an image, it is the choice of deciding to include or remove something from a photographs composition that makes a cameraman an artist.

I would have loved to provide you all with actual quote but as my room is piled up with books at the moment, I could not possibly remember where I originally found it.

Anyway here are a few images I took earlier this year on a 4x5 camera. I am off to uni to do some 4x5 processing tomorrow and about seven rolls of 120 film that I have been shooting for almost 2 months now… Cant wait to see how my images have progressed over this time.

Sisters

2010-09-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Sisters... cant live without them... p.s. one of them is missing from the picture... yes i have three sisters in total

England... a beautiful country

2010-09-21T06:05:00.000-07:00

I think it is fair to say that the UK has been on my mind a lot recently… I can not wait to revisit these places and take some photographs again... I have some lovely ideas for romanticism inspired images... and the best part is... I will have my favourite model available to me just a channel tunnel trip away…

you just can not beat the English countryside…

Along the Brick Wall

2010-09-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

These are a few images from a shoot I did the other day…

They are of a woman called Annie… seriously this woman is talented…

Not only did she make the dress she is wearing in this shoot… she also made the costume, which is featured, in my latest creative project for University (which I will share with you some point soon).

P.S. have I ever mentioned she is my mother? Yep I am the luckiest girl in the world… This woman rocks!!! … Well done mum I know how freezing it was that night and you didn’t complain once =)

So life has been really busy for me recently… so many really exciting projects, developments and directions underway… time seems to be flying past so quickly, before I know if I will be stepping off the plane in Paris to begin my new adventure in Europe…

But before then… bring on the Graduate exhibition…. Yep I am excited!

Love you mum

Intimate Instants: Secret Gardens

2010-08-26T05:06:00.000-07:00

Gardens.... especially secret gardens are magical... These images are of some of the whimsical places I love to explore and get lost within...

Production

2010-08-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Just a few of images I took for a commercial job the other day. The photographs are of a production by Actnow Theatre for Social Change, based in Adelaide SA. The production was 'An Enemy of the People'... bloody brilliant.

Intimate Instants: I Came Here Once...

2010-08-12T04:12:00.000-07:00

Time just seems to have flown by recently. We are coming to the end of week three at University and I am feeling a little impatient as my 4x5 film from the states, still has not arrived. However, I have some great things in mind for my specialisation project, which I am very excited about.

For now I will leave you with another instalment of my Intimate Instants

I Came Here Once...

Spooks, Spies and the Secret Service

2010-08-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

This is a little professional work I have been doing alongside my artistic practice. I shot these last week and finished editing them today, with the help of a most amazing lecturer at my uni... he is the glass master! I don't know if any of you are aware of this, but glass is one of the hardest things to light and photograph, without getting reflections and ugly marks popping up!

Diplomats Daughter is a new wine collection, created in the heart of the southern wine region in South Australia. The amazingly talented woman behind it all is Caroline Burns. Her wines are all about mystery, after all the life of a diplomats daughter is never boring!!! =)

This wine is about to be released and can be purchased from The Mandelli Estate in Mclaren Vale.

They are a real delight!!! Yes I have tried them all... naturally!

A Spy Named Rose
Secret Service Sauvignon Blanc
Spooks Shiraz

Intimate Instants: Empty Spaces… Change of Place

2010-08-07T03:47:00.000-07:00

Intimate Instants are images of my everyday life… taken in an instant format, to crystallise the idea of the now… they are an immediate, instantaneous documentation of my everydayness.

Most of the other photographs I take for my artistic practice, are not centred around capturing the real / everyday life…so this is a new on the side project of immediacy… intimate portraits of my existence.

Intimate Instants will hopefully become a regular thing on my blog for the…. well…. Foreseeable future… as some of you may know I am a very big camera lover and amongst my lovely array of image capturing bliss, I have my very much-loved Diana camera with her instant back attached…

Empty Spaces… Change of Place

A long over due request

2010-08-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine from Intimate Vignettes asked me… well I don’t know how long ago, maybe 4 months… to list seven random facts about myself… so here I go,

Bits and bobs about me ...

1. I feel as though I was born in the wrong era

2. I was born in England, but I have been in Australia for over half of my life

3. I recently bought a lovely blue bike, made in the 1970’s and love riding it about the place

4. I am moving to the UK at the end of the year to peruse various things including my love of photography, art, the stage and theatrics

5. I am wearing a big fluffy red dressing gown right now! (which I got from Target, it has a hood… I recommend everyone gets one)… it is the colour of strawberries!!!

6. On the topic of shopping, I have what I consider to be the coolest watch in the world… I got it for $5 when I was in Melbourne last, it is waterproof, made of plastic and is decorated with cars, that have faces and are crashing into each other… It is cooler than it sounds trust me … =) BEST $5 I HAVE EVER SPENT

7. I was recently given a piano accordion

I think I am meant to tag 5 others to do the same, however I am going to take a different approach and leave it to the individual to decide whether they want to do the same or not... I wont blame you if it takes you 4 months or so to do the same, but if you feel inclined, please go right ahead =)

Exposition....Parlez-vous français

2010-08-02T03:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Just thought i would pop some of these images up for you all to see, however, some of you may have already seen them all on my friend Sundari's blog earlier this week. The exhibition went really well, and was loads of fun. Well done girls, for making it happen, we made a very good team!!!

I also have some really great news... It has been confirmed... I will have my first overseas solo show in February next year in France. I am so very excited... I better get working on my french....Je suis très excité....
Parlez-vous français??? =)

Intimacies... An Exhibition in Adelaide... do head down to have a look

2010-07-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

Its not the best resolution, but here is a copy of the exhibition flyer that was put together by a lovely lady called Georgie, for an exhibition I have been lucky enough to be involved in. The image featured is one of my own, although the colour balance in this copy, is not the same as the original, you get the idea... =)

In-fact I sold the AP of this work last night at the opening. It was a lot of fun, and a great experience. Thanks to everyone that came along.

Anyone else have any excited exhibitions, or shows, or gigs coming up... please do share x

21 years old - 19 houses

2010-07-22T00:44:00.000-07:00

I have spent the past few weeks backwards and forwards between my parents and my house, trying to pack the contents which have we have accumulated for as long as I can remember. Imagine this being only 21 and having lived in 19 houses!!! Yes I have become a bit of a pro at the moving thing. But I have to say the amount of things I have seen and done because of all the moving and travelling, has been worth every moment of the time spent packing countless amounts of boxes.

Today was rather lovely, in between box packing and shifting, my mum and I gave ourselves a well earned break and headed down to a little gallery / café just down the road from my parents. In the three years they have lived here I had not visited it once. The place is called ‘Seagull Droppings’ quite apt I think considering the seaside area =)… Anywho we had the most delightful lunch, we shared an amazing Moroccan couscous dish and a delicious vegetable soup with crusty bread, whilst we sat outside next to a cosy fire. Brilliant.

I will leave you here with an image I took whilst in France earlier this year. It was taken on the outskirts of Merlins Forest… France is where we will touch down later this year when we move to Europe.

Hope you are all having a lovely week

Inspirational Ladies

2010-07-20T01:25:00.000-07:00

Just thought i might post a few images i took the other day of one of my favourite people, and favourite artists for that matter... Coby.

These were taken at the home of another of my favourite artists and favourite people in Adelaide... the Friday just gone... you are simply... an amazing cook Sun!!!

Two people I will definitely miss when I leave for the other side of the world at the end of the year!!!

Times have past... new beginnings...

2010-07-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

These are a couple images I took earlier this year whilst experimenting with a large format camera. I have also created platinum prints of these works which I shall post on here soon.

... Now... Patiently anticipating Uni results... only two more days to go arrgghh!!! anyone else really wanting to know what they achieved last semester!!!

Can not believe how quickly it all went!!!

get out of my head and focus on the space around me

2010-07-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

yummy

I must say, that the past few weeks for me have been invaluable. Doors have opened, things have appeared, ideas have been realised and plans have been set into motion.

I think it is fair to say, I am a bit of a worry head… But due to recent events, (which at this point in time I will not explain as it will take a very long while and may end up making me sound a bit loopy)… My approach to life in general has been altered significantly. I now have definite pictures in my mind of things I want to achieve, goals, plans (albeit not set in stone)… but hey they do amount to some kind of mentionable entity. Anyway… what I think I am trying to say in a very convoluted way, is that I found that it is time for me to focus on the simple pleasures in life, be thankful for what I have in the here and now, and get out of my head…. Stop thinking so much and start embracing the space I have around me…

Either way…. Today was lovely, I baked tarts, packed boxes, and sat in some of my favourite books stores for hours… with my mum!!! I am now the very happy owner of some acting books... (I have been looking for for a while now), books of Shakespearian plays and an old John Keats poetry book.

Have a lovely week everyone, x

p.s. i don't normally like baking

Heading to the other side of the world to spend time underground

2010-07-06T04:01:00.001-07:00

The beautiful banana staying up late and riding trains with me!

The London Underground to be exact... With my big move to the other side of the world I got wondering about what part of london I might like to live... any suggestions? It might end up being just where I can find somewhere affordable =)... What is your favourite part of london?

Home Sweet Home

2010-07-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

Came across these images the other day which I took when I was in the UK a couple of years ago... hope your having a lovely weekend!

All things positive

2010-06-10T00:04:00.000-07:00

Despite my project being about … in short…. Displacement… (will elaborate more soon), I am pleased to say that the past few days have been most positive, reassuring, and exciting.

I have managed to get myself into a performance elective course next semester instead of doing computer-manipulated photography. Although I would have loved to learn more about different avenues of photography, I am really missing my other passion, which is performance and acting. This way next semester I am able to not only complete my bachelor of visual arts majoring in photography, all the while working away on a photographic project I am most pleased with… so far anyway… I will get to keep my foot in the door and the juices flowing with acting.

After a very well received review with my studio specialisation tutor I am more than happy to be showing you all, a few more of my works for this semester.

Please do let me know what you think? Perhaps what you believe the underlying message is??? Or what is being said in the images?

Have a lovely rest of the week,

Xx Ula

Delightful… sunny… winters??? …. day

2010-06-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Delightful Thursday morning,

sitting at my desk,

scanning negatives,

being wonderfully surprised and excited by my latest photo shoot.

Window wide open,

sunlight filtering through my curtains and onto my face,

listening to fat freddys drop

and having hot Ribenas with my mum =)…

although I am feeling a little under the weather (hence the Ribena (Vitamin C), nothing can get me down this delightful Thursday!

Here are a few images I have just finished scanning, hope your day is as lovely as mine!

I love Europe and my Diana F+

2010-05-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the images I will be placing into my Plastic Camera book that I will be making over the next three weeks. They were taken in Europe whilst visiting my sister K and Mr Amazing (the name…this is a story for another day). I have decided that I am moving to England at the end of the year… in fact this weekend I put into motion beginning to pack up my parents house as they are moving too… I finally feel that after the past week or so my life is finally getting back on track. Anyway these photos were taken on my beloved Diana F+ in the UK and in France.

Hope you enjoy your weekends, I know I will =)