Mondays Musings…

Go big or Go home..isn’t that what they say? So I jumped, sometimes you have to make a leap of faith that all your training, your planning and sheer determination will make an endeavor pay off; sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. This weekend marked the launch of Pixel Sisters Studio, I wrote about this yesterday. We also had out Instagram, Website and Facebook all went live as well. Desley and I have been very busy behind the scenes, planning and arranging our very first workshop, which is already starting to fill up, so very exciting.

I ran another of my own smaller workshops from the home studio on Saturday, Light and bright, cakes and candies; I dubbed it the Sweet Tooth Workshop. People commented it was the tastiest workshop they have ever done…lets hope I have not set a dangerous precedent 🙂

Sunday was the last of the planning and editing I had left to do and just pottering around, even a bit of a tidy up in the studio.

Oh and did I mention I had another two images published in Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine (page 8) last week, yay me!

I am hoping to work with another new model next weekend and getting everything arranged for the next Pixel Sisters Workshop.

I hope you all have a fabulous week ahead, safe travels and happy snapping…

~ Julz

Monday’s Musings…

As Victoria (Australia) celebrates the Queen’s Birthday (funnily enough not our current Queen, but one from our past – figure that, weird Commonwealth traditions) we have a public holiday today, so I am probably off hunting toadstools and mushroom (I kids you not), this is a scheduled post. Perhaps I am still snug in my bed; it has been a huge weekend after all.

Jess & Mel – Forest Fairies

So Saturday, was a super huge massive day, Jess and Mel came at 10am for 3 hours of Hair and Makeup with the talented Micaela (from the Alice shoot), and I was joined in the studio by Desley (the not so frequently flying scientist 😛 ) for a Boho Forest fairies studio shoot, we also shot a nearby park. Lots of fun, laughter and hi-jinks, a few oops moments (I’ll explain that one later) and a brilliant day with some amazing shots, I am still to edit them all. I then literally kicked them all out, to head off to the next shoot – Light Painting! In a new old abandoned building, not much time for exploring before set up, but it was a fun night, with a fun group of people.

Then an early wake up to clean up the studio after the dump and run, from the day before, as I had yet another model shoot, another lovely lady, Ally Xu;

Such a wonderful and creative shoot……but as per usual, more on that later.

I hope you have an amazing week, I have so much editing to do from three very different photos shoots, plus getting ready for another workshop on the weekend.

~ Julz

 

Monday’s Musings

Wow Winter is really officially here, it’s been frosty in the mornings and nights are FRESH! But that doesn’t stop me, we had another busy weekend; I spent Saturday finishing up some new YouTube videos, as well as some videos for other projects, plus really working on some new Australian Animal pieces

I won a few FB Awards and banner pics with this image………..so cool, very Spring for a cold, wet and windy Winter’s day.

I then had a shoot with a new Model, I think we clicked and worked together very well, so I am sure you will see lots more with her, this is Nikki…

I actually had two shoots on Sunday and a mini Still Life shoot as well, so now I have lots of editing to do 🙂

My Exhibit at Brunswick Street Gallery finished on Friday, but my other exhibit at Scugnizzo is still going.

Not much else to say….I hope you all have a fabulous week.

~ Julz

Monday’s Musings…

Isn’t funny how things that are planned can change in the blink of an eye, don’t panic nothing bad, just…….annoying.

All week I had been looking forward to my two shoots on Saturday and then my Workshop on Sunday. Last week was a bit of a stressful one and I was so looking forward to a bit of fun. The call came from Mel and Jess that Saturday afternoon needed to be postponed, that’s OK it meant we get a full day to play instead of just 1/2 a day…..so stay tuned on that one.

Then my shoot for a new model just never happened. I was all set up and ready to go, double checked and clarified everything with her a few days before. Spent Friday night and Saturday morning setting up for it all……..and then nothing. 10:00 am came and went; no message, no call, no text. I tried to contact her several times, but nothing. I still have not heard anything……….very strange. I wonder if she is OK? That’s my second no show from this particular Facebook group, I’m beginning to wonder if I should continue to use them?

So I had Saturday to my self, I played around and did a few images.

And spent the rest of the day setting up for my Dark and Moody Still Life Workshop # 1, phew what a name huh? What a blast, so much fun, these six students had been to my beginner workshop last year, so we did a bit more exotic and advanced stuff.

We have also been having a bit of a Movie marathon; I have been wanting to see the latest Resident Evil movie (I know I normally don’t go in for that type of movie, blood, guts, violence and zombies…can’t explain it, I adore Alice) Moth has not seen any of them, so we went back to the start. Currently seen the first four and are slowly working our way through. Gotta love a good chic flick that gets the guys in too!

I have stuff on this week, my new exhibit opens tomorrow night, unfortunately it was the cause of most of my stress last week, this exhibit is badly organised and lots of confusion and mixed messages, and no answers to inquiries about when where who etc. I just hope it is worth the time, money and effort. I have no heard whether any more of my Alice (In Wonderland not Resident Evil) have sold from my current BSG Exhibit which finishes this week, at least selling one was super exciting.

I have been awarded the Foto Art II (Facebook Group) banner of the day for my Kangaroo pic and also been told my another of my images will appear in July issue of Fine Eye Digital magazine, as well as a in June issue of Artists Downunder, which comes out in a few days.

I might take a few days of downtime, it’s been a busy few days. Don’t worry I have a few posts already scheduled for this week 🙂 Tieve Tara Gardens, some images for my new exhibit and a few other bits and pieces, oh and of course I will pop by everyone’s blog.

Have a great week…happy snapping

~ Julz

 

Monday Musings…

Wow another Monday already, the weekends just vanish too quickly. I spent Saturday working on finalizing things for a new exhibit, starting shortly; but more on that later.

Sunday we met some photography friends at Mount Macedon to visit the Tieve Tara Gardens, I have been wanting to go, but I always seem to forget, it is truly stunning in Autumn and Spring, in fact that is the only times the gardens are open.

We then went into Mount Macedon for a lovely lunch and to visit a few galleries and shops.

We then drove through very low cloud (not fog) and made out way to Hanging Rock, finally…………we tried to do this a few months back, but alas………poor timing.

One of the locals at Hanging Rock

You will have to wait to see some pictures of the Rock. We then drove back home, had coffee with a friend and BAM! time to get ready for work again.

View over Melbourne from Bolte Bridge

This week I have two concept shoots on Saturday; another themed shoot with Mel and Jess in the studio and I get to work with one of my new models for the first time, so that will be exciting and exhausting. And then the First of my ever popular and always full – Still Life Workshops; this time we are doing Dark and Moody! I may need a holiday.

In fact I am pretty much booked up solid with photography things for the next couple of months. So many exciting things coming up.

Anyway that is it for me for now, I will try and get some pics done for posts, later in the week. Til then I hope you all have a fabulous week…

~ Julz

P.S. All pics from today’s post of the Smart Phone………will post good pics later 🙂

 

Monday’s Musings

OK, my crazy month of April has finally come to an end…….it was a wonderful month full of travel, friendships and experiences beyond my wildest expectations. So Now I am back in the world of reality, work, family, housekeeping and Portrait shoots 🙂 I loved every minute of April, but it did leave me exhausted. So time to find some stillness and catch my breath.

So I spent most of last week between editing images, catching up on housework and relaxing, the weather is really getting quite crisp and I feel Winter is coming soon ( as is the next Game of Thrones installment, but that’s another tale 🙂 )

I spent Thursday and Friday evenings try to sort out the studio, I had dumped stuff everywhere from workshops and travel, my prop box needed to be sorted out as I had a Concept Shoot on Saturday with the wonderful Hayley. We wanted to work on some really different pieces, more emotive, but based on a similar theme. Hayley has a creative soul and enjoys doing things just a little different. So I wanted to delve into some styled shoots I have wanted to try but had not had the chance. It was a relaxed morning and and easy shoot, even the edit was not overly taxing.

I also went back to shooting portraits this month, because……….well hey gotta help pay the bills somehow right? I Had a lovely lady who wanted a fashion/glamour look in the studio. Hair and Makeup done by Dee Harding. Interesting shoot, I don’t do a lot of fashion but it is fun.

I also finally got around to playing with some still life, I had to let the ball drop on this one, as I had so much on with travel etc. So it was really nice to just play and breathe; my Still Life is my Zen, the ying to my dramatic yang as it were.

This weekend, coming up, I have another corporate shoot and a concept shoot, this time I am shooting with another photographer; so that should be fun. I am setting up some workshops for later this month and next month; Still Life and Conceptual Portraits………so that is time consuming, but will be exciting. I have also been doing a big clean up on my photographic catalogue. Sorting it all out, it’s such a mess, but now slowly getting under control. Finding lots of images I forgot I had, or which I had shot but not touched for a few years; and would love to re edit. Something for those cold wet, rainy days I don’t want to be out shooting 🙂

So here is to a great week ahead & happy snapping…

~ Julz

 

Monday’s Musings…

I am writing this from our hotel in Inverloch, grabbing a quick rest after a very long day. We were up at 5am to shoot sunrise back at Warratah Bay….paradise. We acually visited this spot 3 times in 4 days.

We have been visting this little stretch of coastline for three days and still two days to go. I hope the weather holds out. 

I am exhausted and sore, so many stairs, everywhere we go. Steep slopes and stairs 😣 my legs are so sore. But what an amazing area. Will post more soon. 

Until next time…happy snapping

-Julz

Monday Musings…

Easter Monday…….so the weekend is still on a roll, but that’s OK we are home this weekend and such a lovely relaxing weekend. Good Friday was spent with family, such a lovely day, both my girls and my Son in Law, my Parents dropped in for a visit and we have a debacle of a roast dinner………I can cook, but I think my oven in not working properly, 2.5 hours to cook a 1kg lamb roast? mmmmmm I see a problem happening here. Anyway we carried on, and feasted on Easter chocolate and alcohol 🙂 Oh and then played Monopoly……….have you played the new version with credit card? Weird…oh and it was the Australian version as well……double weird. But loads of fun………I didn’t loose exactly but I came close 🙂

Saturday………oh wow what can I say? Desley Jane and I had a wonderful day together, lunch and shopping at the Rose Street Artist market, I didn’t need to mortgage the house; but I did spend a little something $$. We then wandered the streets of Fitzroy, such a hipster paradise, fun people, cool characters and street art; so much happening everywhere you looked. We both did our Regular Random shoot, quite funny actually………be interesting to see each others pictures, as we shared the same subject!

I think the highlight of our day (apart from spending time together) we went to the movies…..we had both desperately wanted  to see Beauty and the Beast. OMG such a wonderful re-make…….good thing we had some vacant seats around us, I think we were both singing in spots and laughing…it WAS wonderful. But over all too soon. Eventually I had to make my way home, I had animals to feed and things to do, plus had not see Hubby all day.

Yesterday was spent in editing mode, plus trying to sort out my Photo catalogue; it is such a mess and so big…….I just have to do it. Food shopping, car washing (still had not been cleaned from our trip last week) and general household chores (I know…..so boring and mundane, but they never seem to do themselves!).

That leaves me with today……Easter Monday, no plans just relax………I think it will be that kind of day. We are off again on the weekend, so that will be wonderful, in the meantime, back to work tomorrow.

I hope you all had a pleasant and safe Easter and have a fantastic week…

~ Julz

 

 

Monday’s Musings

While you read this I am 100’s of miles from home, probably pulled up in the side of the road taking photos of something amazing; possibly even something like this.

Uluru Resort (Ayers Rock)

I don’t think the dirt will be quite this red where we are going but we are heading in that direction! I would have spent a wonderful weekend exploring rural Victoria, with gold mining towns, historic homesteads and mysterious giant granite boulders of Hanging Rock at Macedon. I’ll try and stop by every now and then with a pic or two!

The first pic is Forst Creek mine in Castlemaine and the other is sunrise in Maldon 

~Julz

Monday’s Musings…

I can’t believe in just a few days we will be on another adventure, our first of many this month; we head off into the Australian Outback, stopping at many iconic places along the way. The town names may not mean anything to most of you, but these places have appeared in many movies; Mad Max, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Red Dog, Wolf Creek and so many more. Red Dust, blue skies, flies, mozzies (Mosquitoes) and the open road; flat open land as far as the eye can see, so flat in sport you can see the curvature of the horizon. I don’t even know if I will be able to post, so I may be a bit quiet. I will schedule a few bits and pieces.

But for now I need to pack and get things organised and wait. I spent this weekend doing mostly boring household chores, but I did manage to get a few videos done for the YouTube channel……..check it outYouTube channel……..check it out, I’ll wait 🙂

I also got to play in the studio for a little bit, I feel like I have not done any still life in so long…..almost feel I am loosing my Mojo a bit. But I feel a real sense of being ALIVE when I shoot my conceptual portraits……I am adoring the latest Alice Series……still working on it and each piece, just gets better and better.

Sunday we had a big BBQ with hubby side of the family……enjoyable but still exhausting. Honestly there is nothing as exhausting as sitting around, eating, drinking and talking….why is that?

Well that’s about it from me, nothing much to really report, just counting down…happy snapping.

~ Julz