Australasian Wrestling Federation

One of the consistent spectacles at Supanova is the Wrestling put on by Australian Wrestling Federation (AWF). Now I will admit that I am the last person to talk to about this sport. I had no interest in it when I was growing up, even though I had heaps of friends that raved about it. I was skeptical about it being introduced into Supanova years ago, but once I saw it live, in person on the floor... well lets say I can see why it's a crowd pleaser.

So over the years I have attempted to shoot wrestling as a challenge. It's fast, hard to anticipate (when you don't know the sport enough) and full of emotion. Taking some of the lessons learnt shooting a stupid amount of Roller Derby over the last 12 months I approached the ring in Adelaide with more ideas.

Below are some of the shots I took over the weekend in Adelaide. If I lived anywhere near a ring, I would jump at the chance to improve shooting this sport.

Check out AWF, and get to a bout if you live near them. It's totally worth it.

Nina

Quite a while ago I did a shoot for Nanna's Coffee + Vintage. The images are to be used as part of advertising and branding with a fun twist. While that is still ongoing, I ask if I could share a image of first time model Nina that I love. This shot doesn't fit the brief of the project, but it's way to good to not be shown the light of day.

Model: Nina Bok
Hair & Makeup: Allie Hill

DREDD

Character: Judge Dredd
Cosplayer: Dylan Wech
Assistant: Kendall Bailey
Location: South Bank - Brisbane - Australia

I don't often get to photograph cosplayers even though I know heaps of them. My job at Supanova Pop Culture Expo generally prevents me from doing more than a quick snap in the halls. While these shots are fine, I much prefer doing something less in the moment and more planned.

So that is what we did. I organised to met Dylan on the Sunday after the Brisbane 2013 event to photograph his Judge Dredd cosplay. I proposed a basic idea a few weeks before and when the time arrived to do the shoot, the clouds came in and it rained.

Not to undone, we grabbed a coffee, had a chat and waited till it eased off. The results below are partially from the original idea and some improv due to the weather.

I started with a headshot. Trying to get that icon look that Dredd has in the comics.

This shot is more in keeping with the original idea, but instead of the atmosphere being based around the cityscape, I chose to use the rain as a motif and move it into movie poster stylisation.

Thirdly if you follow my Roller Derby photos, you will by now know my love for stark black and white, I couldn't help myself.

Because I was always wanting more of a torso shot than a full body I told Dylan not to worry about the lower part of the costume. That was a mistake and I kicked myself as the rain gave me new ideas that required the full costume.

Not to outdone. Dylan stripped off his trousers and stood in the street for what I am calling "The Lost Scene" of the latest movie. I am not sure if Karl Urban remembers filming it... but now we have proof!

Lastly I must give a lot of thanks to Kendall Bailey for being my assistant and holding up strobes and generally being fun.

Second I must thank Dylan for being a sport and jumping in the rain (have you seeing Dredd Singing in the Rain?) .

Make sure that you go and follow Dylan's cosplay page at: The.Archetype.Project

Dirk Flinthart

I met Dirk Flinthart in Canberra at a writers convention called Conflux. A mutual friend had said we live in the same area and should met because Dirk needs more nerdy people physically around him. We all collectively blame Marianne for that and now Dirk, his children and other ring-ins end up on our couch most weeks watching movies and eating really bad food.

Dirk is a stay at home dad who moonlights are a professional author, editor, reviewer and occasionally slush pile reader. His bent is fantasy, sci-fi and everything in between. I didn't realise that I had read his work before I met him.

How to be a Man by John Birmingham and Dirk Flinthart

On Saturday Dirk calls me and asks if I can do a portrait for his new publications. Expecting something simple like most authors want/need, I was surprised when he rocked up in top hat and cigars. He wanted to be photographed on a black background and nearly everything in his outfit was black. So a quick change up we have a three light setup, smoke, colour and two children helping me provide effects in my kitchen.

Here is the fun result. If you know Dirk personally it's totally him and also completely silly.

Make sure you grab a copy of Dirk's latest work, Path of Night. The above image might be gracing it's print version in the near future.

13

Setting myself a challenge, I offered to shoot head shots for the 3rd year UTAS theatre graduates. What I didn't realise that their was 19 of them and only 3 hours to complete the shoot in. I must give credit to them, even though they where all sleep deprived, stressed and wanting to be anywhere but in the studio, they did really well.

The graduation play is call 13 by Mike Bartlett.

Across London, people wake up from an identical, terrifying dream. At the same moment, a young man named John returns home after years away to find economic gloom, ineffective protest, and a Prime Minister about to declare war. But John has a vision for the future and a way to make it happen.
In a year which has seen governments fall and hundreds of thousands take to the streets, 13 explores the meaning of personal responsibility, the hold that the past has over the future and the nature of belief itself.

They all are acting in it, but also have different roles like stage management, lighting, props, marketing, etc.

WHEN: Wednesday 23rd - Saturday 26th of October @ 7pm
WHERE: The Annexe Theatre, Inveresk
Facebook Event Page