NEWSFLASH!
The project's exhibition is tonight at the Mingenew Recreation Centre. 7pm.
This will be my second last entry on this site as I leave Mingenew tomorrow.
Photos have been streaming in through my door (and email inbox!) in time to appear in the slideshow tonight. So here are some beauties I wanted to share, some by people we haven't heard from before. The talent keeps growing...
The year 4/5 class measured up these cute chicks. Here are some ways I've photographed their time doing that - trying to capture it from different points of view. You can see that it was also a time to play a little...
There is a growth on the wall of the Boylands Bakery. Your pictures are appearing and spreading like wildfire.
Here are a range of scenes in Mingenew that I've collected from snappers in this past week and a couple of my own encounters here too.
It's the things we do here that make this place special...
Be it conversations with Ken at the bakery about Chinese stone, a boy pushing a pram on to the footy field mid-match, friendly games of badminton every Wednesday at the hall, measuring water levels on the farm or eating watermelon with dad from the backyard...
These little moments are here, frozen in time for us to cherish.
This is a colour, texture, pattern palette made from photographs taken by year 4 and 5's from Mingenew Primary. We went on a tour of Victoria St, down past the bakery, through the park and back up to the school.
Does it give you a feel for this place we call home?
In workshop 2 we looked at how to use the sun as a back-light. It puts the person's face in shade which gives a soft look (and no squinting into the sun). It then highlights their head in way that feels summery.
But the trick is to use the exposure compensation button on your camera to lighten up their face (on a normal setting it will be too dark).
Here are some highlights from the workshop.
We set up a studio last Thursday and wielding my camera, the kids shot like pros. Each took turns as the photographer, the reflector holder, the light holder and the model.
Here are some of the most exciting results which I've turned into black and white as it gives a timeless feel. I've also done a little cropping on some to enhance their impact.
Aren't the kids just bursting with talent?? Is there something in the Mingenew water?
Two together can make a good photograph because they are showing a relationship. And the Mingenew community is full of different relationships and 'families'.
Hamish had a dirt bike trail riding / treasure hunt birthday. Every farm boy's dream!
Here are some shots I took of the party held at the Pulbrook's tree nursery / farm.
It started like any other weekend, hanging out around the nursery with the family.
Lena found this big frog and showed us how to hypnotise it.
Mum entertained the girls whilst mentally planning the day of burgers, ginger beer and fart bombs.
The boys arrive and they're off down the hill.
But not without a bit crazy bike antics before take off.
The girls and hungry dogs follow on the quad bike.
And dad and Lena stay close to the boys, just in case they get in trouble (as they tend to do).
And as suspected, dad was needed. Here he helps to restart a muddy-puddled bike.
Then we head the picnic spot. A little tree climbing first, then lunch.
The treasure hunt begins. But if you want chocolate, boys, then you'll have to learn to use a compass!
They got the chocolate in the end, and headed back to the house for a swim before cake...
Happy Birthday Hamish!
Here are some shots I've been sent lately that capture the Mingenew flavour.
Here are some great shots Steph Bligh Lee has taken on her walkabouts through Mingenew both on farms and in places I haven't ventured! Have you?
Often furniture and appliances are left to decay on farm sites. Here an old oven (is it?) is starting to look like it grew here.
This green cupboard is a photographer's delight. I like the balance created by the peeling door.
This is a beauty, I love seeing this stuff in the landscape. The light is perfect for this photograph and we can see this bizarre bus-bit (?) in context.
Steph's been following people at work on the farm. I like that the kids are doing their thing whilst the machine is in action dropping sheep dinner.
This is what I want to see more of! Interaction between Mingenew people. I like how so many people help each other out here, young and old, all pulling their weight (or learning about the job at hand).
For someone who hasn't seen a seeder.. this sure does look like an alien ship! Nicely cropped shot to really fill the frame up with its complex shapes. I like that we can see the little guy up there so we know just how big this baby is.
Some Mingenew kids (with the help of mums and dads) got skillful with their torches and created these unusual photographs. Here are some of the best.
We're doing the workshop again this Thursday evening at the Rec Centre. 6.30pm.
Yesterday at the sports fields, a grey cloud suddenly opened up causing mass chaos and excitement. The boys were the leaders in the revelry, running around the verandah, collecting hail and getting soaked.
Their enthusiasm caught on to the dozens of people packed in the rec centre.
These are my photos of that half an hour.
On Friday night a herd of people turned up at the Rec Centre to learn how to take portraits and how to set up lights like a professional photography studio.
Everyone ended up having a go as a model which was beautiful because now we have a stunning collection of portraits of Mingenew residents.
These shots are by the brothers, Ryan and Harrison.
Ryan is only 4 years old! I thought it would be an interesting exercise to see what a little person might photograph from way down there. What do they see? How do they see it?
When we were born we didn't think in words. But we had thoughts because we had emotion. So what were we thinking in?
Maybe pictures? (and energy and emotion).
So perhaps we can learn to take different pictures by shutting off our thinking and just seeing and feeling like a child.
We've talked about composition and some principles of photography in week one of the month-long project. Now we can add the human element to create something really special.
A person can breathe life into your photo.
This shot is a nice angle, has soft light and well composed. And with the addition of the little girl in her contrasting pink dress, it becomes adorable. The girl's pose is also great because it's natural.
Here we have a mostly blue and green photo but with highlights of the surreal pink marker foam from the spray machine and the red hot gloves on Russell.
Add to that an engaged expression and strong pose and you get a striking photograph.
This photo is really pixelated because of the lack of light but we all loved it because of the mood it captured. The light is subdued and the little lone bike sits like its watching the boy whizzing over the home made bike ramp. It's okay that he's blurry. It just gives an impression of the event and the movement is felt against the rest of the still image.
Looking through the door of the brightly coloured bus is a unique way to photograph a character. Not only that, but her fishing net for show and tell and the watermelon under the seat give clues to the personality behind the image. We wonder about the story. It is unique as well because she isn't staring at the camera, we just see her profile and she is clearly engaged in something else on the bus that we can't see. Love it!
This man came to visit the painting group and I thought he just looked fantastic against the 70's colours of the kitchen. The orange chairs and green lino. I thought it worked because it's the era from when he was in his prime! I also like his bright coloured (80's) shirt and mug in contrast with all that. I wanted to get his whole body in shot because I liked his stance and dress. It showed his character.
This is a shot of a baby at painting group. When his orange shirt sat next to green it really cried out to be photographed. I just concentrated on that, but waited for the moment Sue's 'burping' hand lifted into shot to add more interest.
The tip seems to be the source of many happy childhood memories. Investigating the world of rubbish with the family. Even now people have been telling me about finding old fascinating doors and cupboards, books and curious things. Jo Luxton at The Scrapbooking Group was describing a cheezel covered car she saw there and it inspired us to visit the tip for a photographic expedition.
Photo by Annette Thomas
Photo by Cherylle Culloton
Photo by Tenealle Bagley
Photo by Annette Thomas
Here are some beauties by Roma who has been giving her camera a workout.
Not using a flash, and letting the window light stream in has created a photo with real atmosphere.
A sunset reflected in water adds another layer of interest. Plus the white jet stream is something we see a bit of around here.
Similar to the wool photograph, the natural light streams in and creates a silhouette of the old chair.
There is so much to find around your farm, get snapping!
Sunday is the day where all ages come together to play sports, serve sandwiches or support their loved ones.
But this Sunday, outside the changerooms, a group of us concentrated on the art of sports photography. We learnt how to freeze people in motion and how to follow the action.
Here are some greatly captured action shots and some 'behind the scenes' of sports day that give us more of the Mingenew flavour.
A photographic essay can be found in the most ordinary of circumstances.
What is something you do on the farm or on a typical day in town. How could you photograph it? And see it with 'fresh eyes'?
A fence on the Forward's property got damaged by recent rains and the sheep had worked out how to get through. So the whole family (and more) went down to help mend it. Here are my photographs of the fence fixing.
Here is a selection of photographs by the ladies who attended the Workshop 1 today.
After learning about some photographic principles, they took to the farm like duck's to water and lapped up all sorts of views.
Geometric shapes in harmonious colours give a peaceful morning atmosphere. The unique view through to the landscape shows the context and provides the focal point.
Photo by Rachelle Forward.
This almost monotone photograph shows the unique pattern of the hooks which is offset by the off-centre iron piece. It breaks the neat pattern.
Photo by Anne Mitchell.
The colours in this photo are limited to the green/blue/yellow which is a harmonious yet cool colour scheme. These otherwise dirty bins look quite beautiful in this arrangement against the grey.
Photo by Lyn Pulbrook.
This sheep bone is something you might not see at first glance. The close up on the white textured bone looks striking against the dark dirt. The morning light is lovely across the bone to reveal its shape.
Photo by Lyn Pulbrook
In looking for textures, Rhonda found this gem. It's quirky seeing this natural mould growing on the manmade vehicle.
Photo by Rhonda Johns
Ok, well there was one boy at the workshop. He took his camera with him to catch some sheep. And luckily, because his bike got bogged in all the mud and so we got this great shot!
Photo by Tom Forward
We all liked this photographs of the purple blundstones against the green cement. Then the pattern of poo around the top and right make it all look kind of like candy. Who would have thought?
Photo by Lean Pulbrook
The contrast of textures, young smooth skin poking through the rough fertiliser. And the foot is well placed, off to one side of the frame.
Photo by Lena Pulbrook
A unique way to frame up your point of interest. Here the rusty tanks are surrounded by the textured wood colour. Our eye goes right in to see the background. A frame within a frame.
Photo by Lorraine Bligh
A great merge of patterns - the chains, the corrugations. I like how we can just make out the word 'Mingenew' on the wood. It (literally) gives us some context.
Photo by Lorraine Bligh
A beautifully framed shot. The foreground trees frame the edges, the path leads us to look right up to the house. The morning light gives this a very peaceful atmosphere. Don't you want to jump right in?
Photo by Di Taylor
In searching for textures, Roma found this view of where the dead wood contrasts with the soil.
Photo by Roma Parker
Doesn't the grass just jump out of the picture as the most vibrant thing? And so it should, having recently rained up here. We all liked the curve of this picture, the way our eye moves around the ridge. Nicely framed!
Photo by Lyn Lindecker
I do like this comparison of the smooth white gum with the scraggly brown thin one. It's made all the better by its framing - the white takes up the first third, the brown in the middle and the right side is empty. It has good asymmetry. A unique shot.
Photo by Steph Bligh-Lee
Mingenew Primary School held a belated service for Anzac Day, because the school wasn't open on the day. The principal said it was important to pass on to the children the spirit of commemoration for our soldiers who fought at Gallipoli in World War 1.
Many of the children spoke and many more lay wreaths in honour of soliders.
Three of the children were given the job of 'official photographer' and with only a few seconds of tips, went straight into the action. They were Troy Culloton, Thea Pulbrook and Harrison Forward.
Their photographs show their ability to get right in on the action, to capture the many angles of the event and to pick the best moments to 'click'.
