Whilst in New York we spent lots of time at the magnificent Museums and Galleries. I entered two images from this trip into the 2011 Australian Institute of Professional Photography Awards and received Silver Awards for both.
The image below was captured outside The Rose Center for Earth and Space at The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. AWARD: AIPP Silver Award Landscape Category 2011. CAMERA SETTINGS: 1/250 sec at f/8, focal length 50mm, ISO 100.
We stumbled upon the planetarium when leaving the museum via an alternative entry. The six-story high glass cube encloses a mammoth 27 metre illuminated sphere surrounded by planets. Reflecting in the glass are buildings from West 81st St.
This Museum is one of the largest in the world and is difficult to comprehend its scale in just one visit. There are 25 interconnected buildings that house 46 permanent exhibition halls, research laboratories, and a library.
You could visit a dozen times and still not get to see all exhibits. We found ourselves happily lost in the Culture and Mammal Halls. The fact that we were allowed to take photographs of any exhibit was a ‘heavenly’ treat. We were enthralled by the artifacts, folklore, and artwork in The Native American Halls. This exhibit included exquisite totem carvings, clothing, tools, and masks.
At the Pacific Peoples Hall we were surprised to find New Zealand Maori and Aboriginal Australian Indigenous Performers on stage. It was quite a bizarre, yet novel experience to meet, greet and listen to Maori people from my home country and see an Aboriginal performer interacting with and mesmerizing visitors with his stories and tribal dance.
Pictured above is view looking directly upwards from the ground floor of The Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. AWARD: AIPP Silver Award Illustrative Category 2011. CAMERA SETTINGS: 1/125 sec at f/8, focal length 24mm, ISO 800.
This museum offers a unique viewing experience with its spiral architectural structure. We took a lift to the top floor and slowly followed the spiraling exhibits down to the foyer whilst viewing the exhibits. We were treated to Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art.
It is easy to understand why the Museum is one of the 20th century’s most important architectural landmarks. In awe of it’s phenomenal architectural design, we visited twice. The fact that we could sit relaxingly around the edges of the central foyer made the experience of taking and composing each photograph so satisfying.
My portrait of artist Stephanie Brown with her own self portrait.
Stephanie thought it apt to call this image “My former self”. I received a GOLD DISTINCTION at the NSW State Professional Photography Awards recently. Judges were unanimous in awarding the image with the distinction scoring 97 out of a possible 100 points, (which doesn’t happen very often).
One judge, Daniel Capobianco was fascinated at the composition. He commented that having Stephanie perfectly set in front of another painting gave the impression that she was in fact a painting too. He also noted that her assertive stance with her arms like and ‘A’ shape mirrored that of an easel.
Another respected guest judge from QLD Ian Poole commented that the wooden screen on the left draws the viewer into the image and acts as a frame for the portrait, and that the image was very ‘real and honest’ (and not giving the feeling of being highly retouched, which it certainly wasn’t).
Stephanie and I decided to use her garage as the setting for her portrait which had just had walls patched ready for painting. Just like Stephanie has transformed in her personal self confidence in her ability as an artist, her garage is about to be transformed into a beautiful working studio/gallery space. It seemed like the right place to use as her setting.
For interested photography enthusiasts here’s how I set my lighting… I used three lights: a snoot on Stephanie (placed to the left side of her and up high pointing down to her) that also spilled onto the painting to let the painting glow, on the right side behind me I positioned a simple umbrella on a flash head to fill in the shadow area created by the snoot, on the lime green painting behind Stephanie I used a grid (looks like honey comb) on the flash head.
Thanks Kayell Australia for letting me try to grid set – a must have for any studio kit.
A note from Tania… ” I got quite a surprise to see myself in this image as I had totally forgotten we had posed for this image. I was In Perth late last year judging at their State Awards and presenting when I was somehow coerced into sitting for a portrait with two of my fellow Masters of Photography (I was trying to be relaxed and confident but really all I was thinking was – do I look like an idiot trying to look cool! ). Des Birt (far left) took me on a tour of photography studios. We visited the absolutely divine Sarre Photography in Subiaco. Garry Sarre is pictured in the centre. Garry’s daughter Odelia was the clever creator of this image.”
Read what Odelia’s thoughts were about it’s creation…
“I named the image M.Photog. It is a Portrait of Des Birt, Garry Sarre and Tania Niwa.
Having three Master Photographers in your studio doesn’t happen every day and while I found it extremely daunting at the time I’m so glad we took the opportunity to get them all in FRONT of the camera for a change! I really liked the concept of each of the photographers looking in the same direction but each with their own vision. Each photographer in the image was very different in style and personality yet it was photography that they had in common and tied them together. I wanted to incorporate the “photography” aspect so I shot a Hasselblad body to use as a frame around the subjects.
Des, Garry and Tania have all been in the industry for a long time so when Garry suggested I enter the image into APPA I was terrified! I thought at least I’m not going to APPA [Australian Professional Photography Awards] this year to see it in person. I am glad that I did as for this Portrait I received my first National Award on my third year of entering – a Silver. I also entered this image as part of my folio for the Western Australian awards and received a Silver Distinction. “
