Farewell Hero

Last Sunday, while I was still on holiday in Queensland, my little cat Hero said her last goodbye to the world. My little old lady cat was 16 years old and lived a full and happy life so it was not entirely unexpected – although it was a terrible and painful shock when it finally happened. My biggest regret is that I was unable to be there to say my own farewell and cuddle her one last time. She rests now in her own corner of my sister’s garden, and she will not be forgotten.

Hero on a Berber rug :: John S // BlacKeys B+W // No flash

Seeing Red

Rothko :: Ben Watts // Big Up // No flashLast night I walked the red carpet and went to the opening of Red at MTC, a play about Mark Rothko and the Seagram Murals. A fortnight ago, just after we had finished producing the marketing collateral for the play, I took a little trip to Sydney. I was amused to find a print of one of Rothko’s paintings on the wall in my hotel room! That day I photographed some red shoes on a different wall, and walked past a souvenir shop in Chinatown bursting with the hue. Then the next evening I took my red dress out on the town, and photographed the bright lights of Chinatown. ‘I see red, I see red, I see red!’ 

These Hipstaprints are all taken with the Bondi HipstaPak inspired by photographer Ben Watts, of late my colour set of choice.

And, btw, I really enjoyed the performance. I’ve always loved his work, and this play was a great insight into Rothko’s personality (making me curious to read more about him). Good acting, lots of energy and passion – I particularly loved the painting scene – and a great set with evocative lighting and sound.   

The Red Curtains :: Ben Watts // Big Up // No flashThe Red Shoes :: Ben Watts // Big Up // No flashLady in Red :: Ben Watts // Big Up // No flashRaise the Red Lantern :: Ben Watts // Big Up // No flashBright Lights, Little Chinatown :: Ben Watts // Big Up // No flash

Mesmerising Morocco

Crossing the Straits of Gibraltar :: John S // Pistil // No flash

On the thirteenth of June last year I fulfilled a life-long ambition: I sailed across the Straits of Gibraltar, from Algeciras in Spain to Tangier, Morocco.

Where did this ambition come from? It was founded on nothing other than romance. As a child I must have read of those narrow Straits – separating two vastly different continents – and dreamed of one day travelling to that exotic part of the world. Or perhaps I first watched Casablanca at an extremely impressionable age.

I love to travel to countries so extremely different from my own homeland – there are so many fascinating details to take in: strange sights, enticing scents and cacophonies of sounds, and languages foreign to my ears. Even the quality of light is so different to living under the unforgiving Australian sun. Everywhere I look there is something that offers an intriguing glimpse into another world.

Everywhere I look there is something that offers an intriguing glimpse into another world.

Out of a thousand memorable moments, one in particular makes me smile fondly. I speak only a little French (which is a pity since I speak even less Arabic), and one night in a Marrakeshi restaurant I accidentally ordered avocado ice cream – because I didn’t know the French word for avocado. I was inwardly horrified when I realised, but of course pretended that I had all along meant to order this revolting dessert (only the figs saved it from being completely wasted). Worse than green tea ice cream in my estimation.

The Detestable Dessert :: Bettie XL // Big Up // No flashI chuckled at the time though, because I knew it would make that evening far more memorable than if I had ordered chocolate ice cream. There were other memorable moments from that night: getting lost in the souq, the boy who showed me the way to the hidden French restaurant and demanded an inquitious sum of money, the walk back to the Djemaa el-Fna through very dark and dubious back allies … but the avocado ice cream was unique.

There Be Dragons

Dragon Draws Breath :: Watts // Big Up // No flashWhat happens when you look for historical references to dragons online …

Let Them Eat Doughnuts!

Walker’s Doughnuts :: Watts // Big Up // No flash

This advertising poster gave me a chuckle today. For: doughnuts are reliable. Against: doughnuts make you fat. Hmmm. But boys can buy you doughnuts! Can’t I have my doughnut and eat it too?