Is.1.8,2025
Issue 5. Photo books, photo walks and more photos.
Best photography gig for the month:
There were three pretty epic parties amongst the photo gigs and assignments from the last month.
Trough is always wild (top row) and a sensory overload.
Jordan’s 30th was fun and lovely (gay cowboy themed) and was a mind-fuck as I had photographed his 21st nine years ago too. Both so long ago and so many lives ago and also yesterday.
And the Library Up Late party for RISING in the State Library was also incredibly epic. Think ball vogue dancers on tables in the reading room, drinking (spenny) vino in the dome and neon nightclub lights in research rooms.
What I’m listening to:
OH. MY. GOD. When I say I LOVE the band Baby Shower I’m not kidding. They are my FAVE. On their “Baby Shower” EP they had a track called “Everything Sucks and it's Everyone's Fault but Mine” and when I tell you I have an affinity with that song (the sardonic and self-aware and self-deprecating lyrics, the jaded millennial nihilism and the HUMOUR) but they have just released a new track and single “Winona Ride or Die” (which is a great drag name too) and I have it on constant repeat.
I first heard them play this track at the Leadbeater when they performed in the band room. I since heard it at another of their gig’s at the old Bimbo’s Deluxe venue and I could not be happier they recorded and produced and released it. Give it a listen - it’s awesome.
"I'm livin' the dream,
But I'm so triggered by everything,
On the borderline of borderlines,
What the fuck does that even mean?”
What I’m watching:
Revisiting Lena Dunham’s “Girls” on HBO Max and it has aged better than I thought it would. Genuinely funny, cringe, painful and sort of groundbreaking - and such a time capsule of the era.
What’s coming up?
I’m currently working on a few creative projects. I have become so disillusioned and jaded with the “gallery” system in Melbourne (or in general, really) after a decade or so making and exhibiting works in private galleries, group exhibitions, solo shows, at artist run initiatives and council and government owned institutions, I feel like I have reached some sort of mid-career trough or invisibility and glass ceiling.
I am now interested in turning one of my ongoing photography projects into a publication or photo-book. I have made small, cheap zines in the past, but I am doing a lot of research at the moment into photo books and specifically publishing.
I have started making a smaller, short photo zine-esque booklet of the photos I took around Footscray earlier this year on the photo walks I did then. This will be my practice / test work.
Do you know anything about producing photo books? I’d love to hear from you or get some assistance or direction, please hit me up.
Also would anyone be keen to purchase a short little photo book of Footscray? Or do you know any shops that would stock copies? Again, please get in touch :)
Upcoming Richmond Photo Walk! Make sure you purchase a ticket there are limited spots. It’s going to be really sick and fun and we are gonna have some little knock-off post-walk drinkies afterwards. Come by!
Is.1.8 photo of the month:
I lied when I said the graffiti van photo series was over - I don’t think it will EVER be over. I LOVE photographing street textures and graff marks and specifically on these moving walls.
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