Monthly Archives: January 2014

Still, this year I did, and we’ve entered into a sponsorship arrangement so you can expect to see me endorsing their products.

It’s not a big leap of faith as I’ve gone through one of their camera bags every couple of years since I began shooting professionally 15 years ago so I am familiar with the gear and I can say (hand on heart) that Lowepro produces my equipment of choice.

This year, in recognition of my age and an increasing reluctance to carry 23 kilos of camera gear more than I have to, I have opted for the Pro Runner 450 AW camera bag with the roller wheels which I expect to use mainly around airports (http://www.lowepro.com/prorunner_roller). It’s the largest bag I can squeeze into an airplane cabin locker and, with luck, the ease with which I will pull it along behind me will convince airport security that my carry-on luggage does not exceed the maximum weight requirements (you only have to witness my pitiful performance to convince them otherwise when the bag’s on my shoulder to realise how important this feature will be to me). It’s also about the largest size I’m prepared to carry comfortably on my back when I’m shooting.

Beyond that, the bags have always proved to be tough (the main zipper particularly which is important given I’m in and out of it so frequently (often with the same patience reserved for the 40 kilometre per hour driver ahead of me in a 60 kilometre speed zone), my camera gear is easily accessible through a single flap and the design feels comfortable on my back. Oh, and it’s proved water resistant enough.

Over the past week, I’ve been exploring the world of publishing-on-demand (producing a book on-line).

I published a book for my son’s 18th birthday through Apple a couple of years ago and I was about to do the same when I discovered a company called Momento (www.momento.com.au) produces books that include “all the bells and whistles” (creative stock choices, embossing, customised covers, special binding and opaque sheetings etc). So, I thought I’d give them a go on a personal project I’ve embarked on to publish a series of fine art photography books on the disappearing traditional cultures of the South Pacific.

This overarching statement for where I’ll be 10 years from now is built on a passion that’s emerged over the past several years as I’ve wandered the South Pacific. While I still enjoy the professional challenge of capturing promotional images, I am rarely more excited professionally than by the opportunity to photograph traditional culture (this was highlighted recently when I had the chance to photograph the land diving ritual on Pentecost Island given it ranked as the best three days of my career as a photographer). My hope is not merely to record what I see for posterity but to evolve my work to produce timeless, beautiful images which will generate pride among those I photograph and make their culture more accessible and appealing to those who know little about the subject.