Urban photomontage series

I have embarked on a new project recently and this piece is my starting point for exploration. I have been capturing the ghost signs and architecture around Melbourne for the past few years. I am constantly inspired by the old buildings and the faded lettering, they are so unique and visually beautiful.

I decided to take these images a step a further. Using photo collage I can reassemble the image, making an everyday urban landscape into striking, surreal image that dwells in the space between real and imagined.

Lockdown, Melbourne

We’re still in stage 4 lockdown here in Melbourne, with 5km restrictions still in place. I decided to capture some of the stark scenes in the CBD.

Finders Street Station

Bourke Street Mall

Swanston Street

Flinders Street Station

Nightcapes, Melbourne

I've always been drawn to night photography, particularly the urban landscape. There’s something cinematic about the mood a scene creates with colour and available light. With Melbourne in lockdown, I thought this would be a great opportunity to capture the quiet and lonely streets of my neighbourhood. These are some shots I’ve taken within 5km of my house on my evening walks. Night time has always been this time of mystery and uncertainty. That makes for an exciting an environment to work.

Photo collage, Melbourne

I’ve been looking back through the archives and it’s interesting to see ideas that don’t go on to be developed.

This is a photomontage I created in 2018. It’s inspired me to explore this technique further in combination with my urban photography.

Minimal Melbourne - Urban Photography

So a little while between posts, but I’ve been very busy working on a new series these past few months. Many of you know my main interest lies in street photography and urban landscapes. Stylistically, I’ve taken a slightly more simplistic and graphic approach with these images.

Essentially, the goal of minimal photography is to be eye pleasing, with a very careful consideration of what should be part of the photo and what should be left out. Living in Melbourne has led me to become an urban photographer and some of the architecture is perfectly suited for this genre of photography. I’m also interested in exploring photomontage techniques as seen with the image below.

RMIT Building

When I go out hunting for minimal urban photos I tend to favour a simple sky, ideally blue and free from clouds. That guarantees a smooth background which is less distracting. Then I look for a single something I can isolate against that plain background, usually a section of a building, a sign or simple concrete shapes.

When my focus leans towards architecture, I search for buildings with repetitive elements, simple lines and interesting patterns. Through careful composition I aim to reduce the elements of the photograph to basic form and design.

Royal Melbourne Hospital

The minimalist images bring attention to symmetry, lines and patterns prevalent in the urban landscape. The images selected illustrate how exploring lines, structures and space rejects the banality of city scenes, reforming them into inspiring collages of geometric shapes. This an ongoing series I intend to continue exploring throughout the year. Stay tuned!

Climate Strike, Melbourne

Last Friday I attended the Climate Strike in Melbourne. Organisers say roughly 100,000 people filled Treasury Gardens and Spring Street - dwarfing the crowd that attended a strike in March.

Almost 300,000 people marched in cities across Australia for the coordinated rallies - as part of the global movement - but Melbourne hosted the largest turn out.

The energy was incredible as droves of office workers, public servants, tradies, mothers and babies, and politicians joined the protest.

Here are a few of my favourite images from the day. Enjoy!

Urban Reflections

I’m always inspired by Melbourne’s architecture, the juxtapositions of old and new are endless and make for dynamic compositions. Lately, I’m intrigued by the reflections and the abstraction created by warped perspectives. Here’s a recent one shot on Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD.

Collins Street, Melbourne

'Melbourne Street' Video

In recent months I’ve been experimenting with some video. As an extension of my interest in Melbourne’s urban landscape, I decided to explore an experimental piece that captures the city through my eyes. I wanted to combine a variety of visuals that celebrate the aesthetic and the energy of the city. Using a variety of stills and video as well as some experimental editing techniques, I’ve aimed to to produce a collage of urban fragments. Experimenting with moving image has inspired many new ideas and look forward to exploring more visual ideas in the new year!

I hope you enjoy Melbourne Street.

Reflections: A photo series

I’ve been out shooting footage for a short film about urban Melbourne in recent weeks. As I hit the streets to capture the essence of the city, I had the opportunity to capture some stills in the process. It’s been great to look for interesting new scenes in the urban landscape. I’m always looking at new and interesting ways to document my surrounds. I was drawn to the abstract qualities of the reflections from buildings in the CBD and it’s inspired to me to start a new series.

Here’s the image that sparked my enthusiasm! Stay tuned.

Urban reflection - Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Surreal Street Photography Series

I've been exploring surrealism in street photography for my latest body of work. Inspired by Trent Parke and his incredible black and white images that encapsulate an ethereal quality while shot in our everyday surrounds.

The master of street photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson was also influenced by surrealism.  For me there is something really exciting about playing with ordinary reality, and making it surreal. We are turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

There are many techniques that have been used when approaching surreal street images. Strange juxtapositions and scenes, silhouettes, double exposures, slow shutter speeds to create blur and the list goes on. Personally, I think the key is to take photos that suggest more questions than provides answers.

I decided to shoot with the iphone for this series. In order to capture the intimacy of these moments I needed to be virtually invisible. Here are some images from the series, as I set out to capture the streets with new eyes.

'Picturing Footscray' - Photography Exhibition

Picturing Footscray is an open-entry photography prize that focuses on Melbourne's unique inner-west suburb of Footscray.

Established in 2016, Picturing Footscray invites photographers of all capabilities to explore the streets of Footscray.

This was my first time submitting for the competition. I used to live in Footscray and still visit frequently to take photos.

The opening night was held at VU Metro West, in a salon-style exhibition. There was an incredibly diverse range of images that celebrate the essence of this unique melting pot. Jesse Marlow, renowned street photographer was this year's judge and he presented the 3 winners. I've been inspired by Jesse's street photography since moving to Melbourne, so it was a highlight for him to be there on the night.

My entry for the competition is in the centre above.

Jesse Marlow presents awards on opening night.

Tailors Mark - Autumn/Winter Shoot

These images are from a recent shoot with Tailor's Mark, a boutique tailoring company in Prahran, Melbourne. I had the pleasure of working with them on their Autumn/Winter shoot to advertise their suits and shirts for the season. They wanted to combine some corporate street shots in the CBD, as well as a more casual vibe that captured the atmosphere of Autumn. We chose Carlton Gardens which is beautiful at this time of year. Thanks to model, Ben Temby.

Changelings - Press Shots

Just recently, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the talented musician 'Changelings'.  We first worked together late last year and he approached me again to produce some new press shots for his upcoming album. We are both really pleased with the results, and Webb Bridge in Docklands proved to be a great location for the shoot.

Limited Edition Prints - 'Urban Abstractions'

I've just released some limited edition prints from my monochrome series, 'Urban Abstractions'. Here is one of them insitu thanks to the wallapp, which allows you to quicky see what your work looks like in a real space. Please email for me details.

Changelings - Press shots

Recently I was approached to work with an exciting artist on the rise to take some press shots for his upcoming album. CHANGELINGS is the creation of 24 year old musician Jay Penaflor, who began a small acoustic project as 'Jay Penaflor' and recorded a few EPs, before reforming under a new name - CHANGELINGS. It was great to connect with Jay and we're both really pleased with the results. Looking forward to collaborating again in the future. You can listen to his work here.

'Hope Street' - Street photography series

Over the last few months I've been working hard on creating a body of work that explores the beauty in mundane and extraordinary in the ordinary. Shot in suburban Melbourne, I've aimed to capture and celebrate the special moments that occur in our daily lives. I decided to shoot in suburbia, rather than the city streets that I usually draw inspiration from. It was this decision that made project began to take on an exciting new direction.

Shooting in the everyday landscape of suburbia allowed me to simplify the subject in the frame and to focus on capturing 'the decisive moment' I was seeking. Most importantly I wanted to capture the emotion and the images to resonate with the audience. Here are a few of my favourites from the series. You can view more here.

"Photography is an art of observation – it’s about creating something extraordinary out of the ordinary. You choose a frame and then wait until the right time for something magical to come along and fill it. ” – Elliott Erwitt

Abstract Mixed-Media: No.1

I've been feeling very inspired lately. I'm discovering more and more how the various projects I'm working on connect and feed one another. I've been shooting new images consistently and they're providing me with interesting source material for my collage work. I'm drawn to the abstract details that leave clues about time passed and the juxtapositions created when layers are peeled back.

Using various elements from my photography, I'm drawing inspiration from torn posters and the typography found on the street walls. I'm interested in recreating the layering, hiding and revealing what appears beneath. Equally, I'm intrigued by the role that typography plays when its no longer legible and becomes celebrated for its form rather than function. Aesthetically I'm drawn to the abstraction of the letters, textures, and how these ordinary, everyday elements come together to create an exciting composition.

8 x 8" mixed-media collage on canvas

Details - 8 x 8" mixed-media collage on canvas

8 x 8" mixed-media collage on canvas

The Typeset - Melbourne

In recent months, my friend and fellow creative, Leanne Franks and I started a new project to share our passion for typography and sign painting. We're collaborating to chart out the type and signs of Melbourne's yesteryear. Not only are we drawn to their aesthetic qualities, but they also provide interesting clues about the city's quirky past and social history.

The image below for example, is a recent discovery of a ghost sign in Carlton North, "DeWitts Otis Tonic Tablets". The name was an early twentieth-century product for "making your nerves stronger and your blood richer", released amid the post-WWI pharmaceutical boom.

You can follow the project via Instagram at @thetypeset, and join us as we continue to discover more hidden gems around Melbourne. Enjoy!

Ottis Tonic Tablet - Ghost sign, Melbourne

Tarax ghost sign, Melbourne

Newmans, ghost sign - Melbourne

Vintage Coke, ghost Sign - Melbourne

Ghost signs, Melbourne

I've been out shooting a lot around Melbourne lately. I'm always inspired by the city surrounding me, the people and the urban landscape. As a designer, I also notice good typography and interesting signage. I love the old heritage buildings and ghost signs that are still fairly prevalent in Melbourne today. It's what makes this city so unique and interesting.

Here are a few shots I've taken of signs in various locations around Melbourne.

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'Street Focus' - Melbourne street series

I've recently started a new photographic project, 'Street Focus'. I'm documenting people in this series, whether a part of the urban landscape or caught in a candid moment. In our daily lives it's so easy to fixate on what divides us—ethnicity, age, gender and class; instead of what unites us. I'm fascinated with the way we gather and act collectively on the street, on the tram, at work and having fun, it's all superbly similar.

I continually seek evidence that we do absolutely mirror each other despite our vast differences. Every day I am captivated to document the people and the places that surround me on the palpable streets of Melbourne, an incredibly diverse and dynamic place to live.