Sydney’s Coal Seam Gas Protest – Just Everyday People

Last week I marched alongside thousands of everyday Australians, who are greatly concerned about coal seam gas mining. Personally I was surprised to see business men in suits, elderly women, teenage girls, families and farmers together raising their voices. Not fanatics or radicals – just everyday people.

Even more surprising was that 22 different community organisations came together with an united, outspoken voice against coal seam gas mining.  One such group was the Country Women’s Association of Australia (CWA), who in their 90 year history had never taken to the streets – until now!

Thanks to the Wilderness Society of NSW who again allowed me to hang with them during the protest.

Four Generations Portrait Photography

It is a rare and very special occasion to be asked to photograph four generations, for the one family.

With permission from Bonnie (aka brand new mummy) I wanted to share some of my favourite images from her photography shoot.  Five weeks old Charlie was the star of the day, lapping up all the attention from his Mum, Nan, Great Nan and even the photographer (aka me).  Charlie you are adorable!

Merry Christmas Pet Photography Portraiture

It isn’t easy having a mother who is a professional photographer.  My poor dogs, Mini and Cooper are often reluctant models for my photography ideas.

Just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Mini and Cooper also wanted to say “Happy Holidays”.

Can We Do A Funny Photograph?

The number of times someone has asked me during a photography job “can you take a funny photograph of me?”, is amazing.

You are probably thinking that this question would be limited to family portraits and weddings, so would it surprise you that corporate clients equally ask for funny photos?

It appears that universally (well in Australia anyway) that we love to not take ourselves ‘too seriously’.

What I especially love about capturing ‘funny’ photographs, is watching as the participants relax in front of the camera and enjoy the experience.  It is interesting that often the client’s favourite image, is that ‘funny’ photograph.

An organisation recently hired me to photograph around 20 individual ‘head & shoulder’ portraits and a number of group team images.  After all the individual portraits were taken, the very first team group appeared and within 5 minutes asked “can we do a funny photograph too?”

With permission from that organisation, here are some of the funny photographs captured of their team groups.  Sure these images probably won’t appear on their website, business cards or flyers but hey they were fun to capture.  Maybe the images might appear on their Christmas card this year ??

Sydney Spring Bambini Photography

Middle of Spring and with Christmas around the corner, means lots of baby photography.

How can you resist those cute little cheeks, wrinkled toes and fingers, bright eyes and innocent smile?

Personally I love photographing babies once their eyes have opened because then they are interacting with their parents and myself as the photographer (around three months old).

I really do believe every baby has a totally different personality and hence desire to capture each child’s uniqueness (not the same old baby images).

The colour images below are portraits from Lachlan’s baby portrait.  You may recall I have photographed Lachlan before.

The black and white images are from Lilly’s first baby portrait.  Photographing Lilly was extra special for me, as I photographed her parent’s wedding, ten years ago.

I love my job!

Not Your Usual Opera House Wedding Photography

With more than seven million people attending the Sydney Opera House every year, it is one of the most photographed Australian locations.

Of those seven million people, many wedding couples will make the ‘pilgrimage’ to the steps of the Opera House to have their wedding photographs captured.

The challenge for local wedding photographers who frequently photograph the Opera House, is to continually capture unique and creative images.  Each wedding, to photograph through the eyes of never seeing the Opera House ever before.  This way the wedding photographs are fresh, new and capture a sense of wonder.

This weekend I was photographing Swedish couple, Johan and Frida, who eloped to Sydney to get married.  Of course the Opera House was high on their ‘must get’ list of wedding photographs.

As I am currently not booking weddings through Sarhn McArthur Photography, Johan and Frida booked VFM Photographers (which I am the owner and director for).  I photographed Johan and Frida’s wedding for VFM Photographers.  They have been gracious in allowing me to share some of their wedding images with you.

Johan and Frida thank you and all the best for your future together.  :)

Post Cards from Las Vegas

I’m heading off to Vegas for SendOutCards (the greeting card side of my business).  I’ll be back to work in Sydney from the 25th of Aug.

Just to confirm, what happens in Vegas…………ends up on Facebook! Yes I will be sharing photographs and video of the trip shortly.

Winners of the Photographic Challenge ‘Photograph Yourself at Work’

The winners of the photographic challenge ‘Photograph Yourself at Work’ have been selected and was just announced on Sarhn McArthur Photography’s Facebook Page.

It was easy to choose as there were only three entries. All three entries wins the yummy chocolate brownies gift pack (even though all three wish to be anonymous, I have their details to send the prize to them).

Thank you to everyone who responded to this challenge (many phone calls and emails). However I am now thinking that the challenge was probably too hard i.e. only you can be in the image (only human) and you must also be the photographer. Hence only three people succeeded in emailing me an actual entry.

Thank you to the three entries who thought outside the box and just had a little bit of fun with the challenge!

Your Photographic Challenge for July!

Just because I reckon it would be fun, I am going to create a monthly photographic challenge for you.  All you need to do is, think about the challenge topic and then capture your photograph.  Email me your photograph and I will select my favourite three entries, who will win a prize.

So here we go……………. July’s Photographic Challenge is:

Capture a photograph of yourself at work!

Here is the challenge details:

1) Everyone knows what I do for work but I don’t know what you do.  Capture an image of yourself while you are working.  Be creative and humour is always encouraged,  however only you can be in the photograph.

2) Email me your favourite image you have captured of yourself at work (only one image per person).  My email address is above, on the banner (top right).

3) You can also include details of your work i.e. a little blurb about what you do and your website address.  I will add this information next to your photograph – a little plug for your business (perhaps it is best to check with your boss first).

What is the prize?

Three Prizes to give away of '4 Decadent Chocolate Brownies' - YUMMY!

Things you need to know:

• Only you can be in the photograph
• You need to be over 18 (sorry)
• You must be the photographer of the image (this will make it interesting won’t it)
• If you don’t work, capture yourself doing what you normally do
• Only one image per person is allowed (just choose your favourite)
• You give me permission to display your image on Sarhn McArthur’s website and Sarhn McArthur Photography’s Facebook page
• Sarhn McArthur is the judge and my decision is final
• No you can not transfer the brownies into cash or another prize (why wouldn’t you want your yummy brownies?)
• I am looking for images that are positive, funny, interesting, make me think, make me smile or even laugh
• I have the right to refuse any entry that is nasty (you know what I mean)
• In order for the three winning entries to receive their prize, they will need to provide us with a postal address (makes it hard to deliver the prize otherwise)
• Entries will be accepted from ANYWHERE in the world (looking forward to receiving those Swedish enteries).
• We will post your prize (if you are the winner) to anywhere in the world (yes even Tasmania).
• Competition will end July 22nd 2011
• Any questions, leave a comment below
• I’ll be posting photographs received to the Sarhn McArthur Photography’s Facebook page.  Follow along and see what everyone else is capturing!

  

Good Luck and Have Fun!

A Five Minute Child Portrait

It was a gorgeous late Autumn Sydney day (the 26th of May to be exact) and I was catching up with some very good friends who all happen to be professional photographers.

Good food, good friends and great photographic conversation.  Amongst our chatter, our children played (well those of us who had children).  I noticed Katie playing in the sun room.  I picked up my camera and captured these images in less than five minutes.  When the light is right and when children are happy, I have learnt to be quick…………as you never know how long until the light changes or children get tired.

Nothing set up, nothing planned…………just Katie playing and having fun.