Where's my rider?

To Those of You Who Are Away (I'm Sorry To Be the One To Say, But) This Was the Surf at North Avalon Today

 

 

 
 

 

 

  
   

Should Ethics Be Taught In Schools? Bloody Oath.

But ethics is the tip of the iceberg for me. In an ideal world, my little heathens would be learning something like, how the Earth was created, since they are sure it wasn't by any spiritual entity.

This doesn't really get taught, as it conflicts with many religious beliefs, but what about for the ones who don't subscribe to that theory. Are they being punished for not believing, by being left to fritter the time away in meaningless colouring-in class?

I think it's fear based and a little background on me will show you why.

I was raised a Catholic. I attended mass every week as a child, and was educated in Catholic schools through both Primary, and Secondary. I never doubted what I was told. Life was blissful, I knew when I died I would go to heaven.

As with my political leanings, it only took one conversation with one person to change all of my understanding and belief (not the same person, mind you).

That conversation happened as I was just moving into adulthood. I remember sitting in a restaurant with my friend, a scientist, as he told me everything I needed to know - but still wish I'd never heard. Ignorance was blissful to me. Death never used to concern me as I knew we would all be together again in heaven. Now I don't have that safety-net, I think death is a scary concept.

Scary, too, that with no higher power acting as some kind of puppet-master, the world is a lot more accountable for it's actions.

I know now, that I will have friends who have probably stopped reading this, and I understand that. As part of me regrets losing the innocence of faith, I would never try to take it from another. Notice how I am not forcing any of my beliefs on you now. 

I was incredibly mindful of this, as a parent. I wanted my children to have some set of beliefs as a basis and so chose to guide my children in Buddhist teachings. All religions have ethical guidelines that are important to us all, but the Buddhist philosophy doesn't subscribe to the belief in an all-powerful creator, so I steered them in that direction. That's not to say I didn't teach them about God, though. I told them everything I had been taught - unbiased. Answered every question as the good catholic that I had been raised as. If my children chose to believe in a god, I would be happy for them - I would never want anything to worry them or cause them anguish, and if believing in a god helped them to not feel scared then so be it.

But, after taking their time and carefully studying the facts, they have concluded there is no god. There is spirituality within people, but no omnipotent creator of everything. And that's the thing. You may have religious faith, and then decide to change your mind, but once you reach atheism, you can't go back. Once I was given the facts, as sad as it was to me to 'lose my religion', there isn't anything that anyone could tell me that would bring it back.

My kid's school was a bit trendy and forward-thinking as it offered a Buddhist scripture class as part of it's religious studies. This was great. My kids had all been blessed by monks as babies in 'baptism' ceremonies, and someone who knew more than me about Buddhism was guiding them every week at school. I even used to volunteer in the scripture class when I wasn't at work. Sadly, the teacher left, and there is no teacher available anymore (anyone want to teach Buddhist class on Tuesday mornings, let me know). I did not want my kids time at school wasted in non-scripture (colouring-in class), so I told them they were welcome to attend scripture lessons - Christian are the only variety available - as long as it was Catholic because then I could answer any of their questions. My girls opted for colouring-in, and Evan is in catho class - the little cutie he is, even came 2nd on the test they had! But attending this class has not made him Christian. It hasn't changed his mind at all. I said, I wouldn't mind if it did, but once you're a heathen, it seems there's no turning back. Evan is a good boy. He never questions his teachers in catholic class, though he very much wants to, he knows it would be impolite of him, and perhaps almost wrong to plant any seeds of doubt in his peers.

At least he is getting moral guidance. My girls aren't getting that while they are colouring-in.

So, come on guys. Don't you think that my kids deserve to be taught about right and wrong too?

It's no good them attending Christian scripture if they are sitting back being all cynical about what they are being taught, and the girls thinking they could be reading a good book instead.

In an ideal world, the non-believers would be taught evolution and the origin of the universe, but I'm sure that won't happen in this lifetime (perhaps the next life?). Let's give them a bit of ethics education. God forbid they turn out to not only be heathens, but heathens devoid of morality and the concepts of good vs evil!

Those of you for this should check out this Facebook page or go to this site http://www.specialethicseducation.com.au/ to see what it's all about and even email your state MP. There's also a petition available here.

Those of you agin may be able to follow up this petition

http://www.hillsnews.com.au/news/local/news/general/ethics-dilemma-for-hills-catholic-churches/1838571.aspx

I'll end on a lovely note, because even I think this is a lovely thing to say...

As the 2SM priest wrote on his autograph for me (at a Monsignor's funeral we attended in primary school), 

"May God carry you gently".

Luke Shot Me, While I Was Shooting Sonny, Who Was Shooting Annabella Barber At The Time

And the sign said

 !

That's right, kids.

It's another jocular-laden account of what goes on behind the scenes of a photo shoot.

9th January, this year was really, bloody hot.

Just like last time I took behind the scenes pictures with Michael Azzolini styling up a storm, at Stockton sand dunes. 

Just like that day , too, we had a pre-dawn start for a long drive, with the Pix location van in tow - it was carrying the equipment, and the clothes.

Bleary-eyed (some more than others, but I won't mention any names, Michael), we all headed for the hills - Michelle driving the Pix van and assisting Sonny, Luke Davis from DLM doing hair, Liz Kelsh from 2c Management doing make-up, and Annabella Barber from (my old stomping ground) Priscillas as our gorgeous and super-cooperative model for the day. Once we got to the hills - the Blue Mountains - we kept going.

Windamere Dam is about 90km past Lithgow, on the way to Mudgee, so even with such an early start, by the time we got there, hair and make-up were done, Annabella was dressed and first location chosen, it was midday before Sonny could take his first shot.

Cudgegong Waters Park is a caravan and camping ground on the banks of the river/dam. We had a cabin to use for the day, and the managers helped us out with boats when we needed them.

It has the best campsite bathroom I have ever seen. Look. Flowers, a waiting chair, even magazines to read!

But back to the business of fashion

Outdoor steam-room. The machine was almost superfluous with the heat of the day.

 

Michael puts tape on the soles of the shoes to protect them, so they can go back  to the shop...

 

... while Sonny chooses locations

Those scouts are either pretty tough, or quite scary.

The cruel irony of the glamorous world of a fashion model is that you will invariably be wearing the winter clothes in summer and the bikinis in the depths of winter...

   

...add to that, 8 inch heels, and trees in water to balance on, and it's no wonder that Annabella is now popping up in absolutely every magazine you open. She just dived right in and did it all; boiling hot, uncomfortable, balancing precariously and no complaints! That girl rocked.

 

 

Sonny sets up, ready for 1st Shot

Quick look at those pictures...

 

...then it's back to the van...

...to get ready for Shot #2

Again with eyes to match the legs

Sonny shows us his idea.

Bella does her version of it, but the pink dress, the water, just makes me think of Nick Cave's song, Where The Wild Roses Grow. Annabella would be Kylie Minogue in it.

 

Shoes on, skirt hooked up in tree, make-up final touches...

 

 

 

 

Shot #3

Head back to the shade of the cabin for some water and a quick lunch

 

and a look at shot #3, before heading back out for

 

Shot #4

 

 

 

One of my shots that were used by the ABC...

 

Shot #5

 

Not dancing.... Trying not to sink into the mud...

 

 

Then we were in the boat, scouting the next location

 

and check out the beetroot face! I had a hat on most of the day. That's heat, not sunburn.

 

 

 

From the boat, you really get to see the stark beauty of the area.

Looking familiar??

Ok. Got the spot for Shot #6. My favourite of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the boat to get ready for the last shot. Quickly. That sun is getting low in the sky.

 

 

Shot #7.

      

 

A looooong, late drive home after that.

Stopped at the Grand View in Wentworth Falls on the way back, for a quick drink and a snack. Some weary kids there.

 

I did say I got shot, shooting the shooter...

Behind the scenes of behind the scenes...

  
  
          
     
    
  
  
        
     
 
  
 
     
 
 
 
        
 
  
 
  
       
           

   
 
 
       

 

Segue, Continued

Back in March last year (I've told you I have a bit of a lag on these posts), after I had taken the kids to Dubbo Zoo to feed the lions (not feed to the lions, it was a Santa gift, and they're not Christian anyway), 

 

- it was a really awesome experience and the kids loved it and all, and I'm not going to put up all those pics because I don't put my whole life on here, and this is a segue within a segue so it shouldn't drag on for anywhere near as long as this sentence is - 

we travelled via the soda water pump at Saxa (as in the salt - get it?), via a quick side trip to Mudgee to see Kathy and my two great-nephews, and then via this fantastic place called....

*breathe*

... Windamere Dam

Aha! I hear you say. Isn't that the spot of the previous segue-post?

Yup, but the magazine photo was not taken on this occasion, nor the next visit either, but this one was...

 

... and I really love this one of my little family. It makes me think of an Impressionist painting.
 

I really thought the landscape was so cool, especially those dead trees in the river, and I wanted Sonny to do a shoot there - of me. I kinda bagsed the place for myself. Me, in a boat, on the water, on the trees.

We travelled there again after a trip to the Hunter, in May last year. It was late and overcast when we got there. 

My hair-dresser, make-up artist, stylist, and lighting assistant failed to arrive. 

So did the boat.

 

I knew we'd be back, though.

 

This Is The Beginning of a Beautiful Segue

Today I got an email to say I had won a runner-up prize of a photo book, and my picture would be printed in Australian Traveller magazine, so I hot-footed it to the newsagent and voila...

Perfect timing, as I have been working on some pictures - hence the segue of the title. Stay tuned...

 

Sonny Vandevelde Talks Photography, While I Quietly Slip A Few In

I know I have put the link up before, of Sonny's tete-a-tete with ABC Arts Online about his Melbourne exhibition of backstage photography, but this is the beefed-up 12inch version. Re-mixed, re-mastered, with more of my photos in it.

The coolest thing was sitting back at the Westin, the day before Sydney Fashion Week started, and seeing my photos on the big (little) screen, on ABC TV! I was so excited. 

So, if you haven't seen it, or you just want to watch it again, here it is. In this clip you will see all the photos I took, at his exhibition, as well as all the photos of Sonny, taking photos. A little confusing perhaps, but it made me feel good to see so many of my own pictures, alongside someone I look up to (in the field, not usually in physical proximity due to my penchant for heels) and who's talent and skill is something I really admire.

Quick! Tidy The House, There's An Real Model Coming Over

This shoot was originally headed for Botany, or some such place. A few days beforehand Evan dragged me to the mangroves at the end of my street because he wanted to sow me some new spots he discovered.

He showed me, I showed Sonny, and we didn't have to go to Botany. Nice for the kids too, they got to see Sonny at work.

That's  Jennifer Massaux. She's a spunky young lady from Belgium. Travis (I always think "Bickle" when I hear that name, but it's Balcke) on hair, Stoj on make-up, and Nick, with "many hands make light work", assisting everyone wherever he was needed. 

Olivia, who was styling, and probably sorting out the clothes while this picture was taken, was assisted by the lovely, Hannah.

Of course, the girls threw their opinions around where they thought necessary...

Useful stuff like, "Wow, she's so pretty"

 

Evan (aka location scout) loves this place. There's tree-houses, how cool!

 

 

 

Really cute top.

 

Travis strikes a pose with the swing. Always good to have a back-up model. 

 

 

Wait 5 years, Ev, I reckon you may become more interested in helping Sonny at his work.

Time to get those good tree-climbing shoes on.

I covet those shoes.

 

The audience watches

Ready for shot #1...

 

 

Shot #2

 

Sonny tests the tree platform and his best "make love to the camera" look.

 

Olivia helps out with the shoes...

 

... look at the mud on Olivia's white sandshoes, and imagine how careful we (Jennifer) had to be, not to get the '2 week's wage shoes' dirty.

Quick check of the aim of the light

 

 

Ready. Pose.

 

Pose.

 

Rest.

 

Back to a pose.

Pose.

 

Pose.

High, thin heels on thin plastic, on mud = 

 

(in the immortal words of Run DMC) tricky, tricky, tricky

 

So Stoj waits as catcher

 

 

 

Shot #3

 

I love this pic. It's just cute.

 

 

Home for lunch, and Jennifer gets to feed some locals.

The afternoon was heating up, so there's one down...

 

two down...

 

Right. That's all three.

 

And a bit of nipple humour thrown in for good measure

 

Shot #4

 

I love her hand on the shoe. 

 

 

Shot #5

 

Shot #6. I love this dress. Oooh, and there's those coveted shoes again.

 

 

Shot #7. How good are the glosssy eyes!!! Love 'em.

 

 

But hurry, that sun is going down fast

 
 Shot #8

 

I love that late afternoon light

 

#9. The sun is gone

 

 

Like changing lanes on the freeway and not hitting any line markings, I caught Sonny's flash..

 

A quick check to see how it looks....

 

and, finished.

 
 
   
   
 
     
  
  
  

 
  
   
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 

   
 
 
 
  

 
 
 
 
   
 
    

Some Bracing Mountain Air

Earlier this week, Sonny and I made a trip to Blackheath to visit my nephew, Ben, and his (clearly quite patient) fiancé of the last 10 years, Sarah.

I haven't been to see him since he's been resident caretaker of Jemby Rinjah Eco Lodge, but in hindsight, wish I hadn't waited so long. Aside from their exemplary hosting of us, the place is really nice to visit.

The lodges are right next to Evan's Lookout, and the Grand Canyon of the Grose Valley, surrounded by bush and all the usual bird and wildlife species.

It was close to evening when we arrived, but we made it for a quick sunset look over the valley.

Back to have a red wine around the circular, open fireplace in the dining area, while Ben and Sarah whipped up a quick meal for some visiting school-kids (there, for geology studies).

Whip, whip...

Plate 'em up!

Then we were off for a game of pool. It's been a while for Ben and I - always a pleasure to see I helped him miss-spend his youth and taught him well.

The next day, Sonny and I went and did what folks do when folks go to the Blue Mountains.

They freeze, 

and they go for bushwalks.

For us, it was Govett's Leap, down to Bridal Veil Falls. Conservatively about 600 uneven and wet stairs down, and, funnily enough, the same back up again. This killed me both ways - my knees are very crappy, must be all those years of snowboarding and surfing, tee hee - but it was pretty nice down there.

 

Damn photo doesn't even make it look very far down, but believe me, there's many times along the way that you just want to make like Govett, and leap*, if only so you don't have to walk another stair.

 

Yeah, but it's pretty

Black-boy with a bit of Mulligan's Tyre* in the background

Made it back (looks a bit grit of teeth there on the bad-kneed one).

Huge thanks to Ben and Sarah. So going back there in a hurry. I like being spoiled!

*Govett didn't leap. I don't know why it's called that, but if someone does know, I would be happy for them to tell me.

*Mondegreen. 

Google it, if in doubt.

Date With a Sticky Bar

As I mentioned, I wasted no time hanging around Ksubi. I wanted laksa, guitars and sweat, and there is one band in Australia that I will happily pass up free booze for - 6ft Hick. But, last Friday was even better, cos it was Gentle Ben and His Sensitive Side as support - a quiet night out with the brothers Corbett. At my favourite venue, The Annandale. That, my friends, is an orgiastic triumvirate of sensory delights! 

I love Gentle Ben, but have always missed my chance to see them live. They lived up to every overblown expectation I may have had for them. I was looking forward to hearing so many of their songs - you know I love a good lyric and these guys have got 'em in spades, but in the end, my favourite was their rendition of the Go-Betweens 'Was There Anything I Could Do'. Hadn't heard the song for years, but as soon as I heard it I went "This is how the song should be". I was going to link to their myspace for you, but it seems to have caught a gremlin and just plays some crap electronica music track over the top of theirs, so you'll have to do your own investigations, but you do owe it to yourselves to give them a listen.

6ft Hick?

As Bonnie Tyler so succinctly put it, it's like those boys are "living in a powder keg and giving off sparks". Songs like "Hot Chicken Hero" and "Smoking in Bed' are delivered, machine gun fired, at the audience, accompanied by an always bewitching, shocking and hilarious stage performance that keeps me and so many others coming back for more every time. Don't wear your white silk blouse, you may get bled on. If you don't know who these guys are, WAKE UP, or perhaps soon we'll all get lucky when they're music and antics are brought to screen - it oays to google. 

I've never taken my grown-up camera to one of their gigs, I don't want to be tied down by it, I just want to have fun, and by the end of fashion week I was pretty over taking pictures. I still couldn't resist stealing Patti's camera to take a few myself, and I've kind of amassed quite a few pics of Hick gigs over the last few years that I've never posted, so I thought I'd just throw in a montage now for your viewing pleasure....

Sonny's pics, Nov 07

 

Sonny's again, Aug 09

 

 

My phone cam, last Friday. Wow that red is bleeding, at least on my screen

Patti's camera last Friday  

 

with Leisa

and Patti

 

Aug 09. My pics, Sonny's dinky camera

 

 

Phone cam, Jan 09

 

 

I like this one

 *

   
       

 
 
       
 

The best way to wind up that week!

Finally, for my Sydney fashion week wrap-up -

Best show to photograph, Romance Was Born

Best music and overall look, Gail Sarronda

Collection I saw that I'm most likely to wear, Zimmerman and Flannel

Nicest people (including models), the ones who smile back when you smile at them

I have to give my most gracious thankyous... to Scott - for unknowingly allowing the tilt-shift to travel all over fashion week with me, and with it's bent and blurred eye feast upon gorgeous girls. I'm sure Scott would have happily taken the len's place, though not been as useful for me. Thankyou, Scott.

To Sonny, for agreeing to have me haunt him all that busy week under the premise of doing a small amount of work, and letting me use the 1.2 almost exclusively. Most of all though, for having faith in me. Thanks, honey.

*I am sorry, though. I profess slackness. I was going to pretty the band photos up a little. You know, a bit of black and white here, a splash of saturation there, but I'm blogged out, and like I said last week, I haven't even put up any pics from Fiji last year or Europe in 2008. Apropos to fashion week, I'm slimming down - at least until I catch up a little.

   

Ksubi RAFW

Ksubi. Last show of the week, followed by a party. 

I only stayed backstage for a short while. 

It was time for me to leave the fashion world. I had a hot date with that lovable den of black shapeless clothes, average looking people , and of course, iniquity that is the Annandale Hotel.

But first, a few more pics from the land of the physically blessed...