I’m sure I’ll set up some form of paging system, rather than a post, but till then this will do.
2007 was a phenomenal year for me and my camera. I got off my arse and started shooting gigs bigger than ever. In a short six month period, while living in Newcastle, I shot local and international touring acts both up there and down in Sydney. Since then I’ve been getting more opportunities and requests to use my shots (and hopefully start paying back some money on the gear front - to all bands and touring companies, our gear doesn’t come cheaply, so unless you’re playing for free at the gigs I’m shooting, show some respect back to the photographers when you look at the contracts you have them often sign and realise that they must pay for their gear and training, just like you have to!). So without further ado, a month by month description of 2007 with photos.
So, read and look on!
January
New Years Eve as viewed from McMahons Point
January saw the year begin with a bang. I spent New Years Eve with some friends from uni at McMahons Point and then on to Manly to catch up with Charles+Kate and the rest of the Manly High guys.
New Years Eve at McMahons Point overlooking Sydney Harbour
There were also a few shots when the surf got good for the Billabong Junior Pro down at my home beach at North Narrabeen.
Billabong Junior Pro at North Narrabeen
The final treat for January was the seventh annual Australia Day camping trip - this year to Booti Booti National Park.
Seventh Annual Australia Day Camping Trip at Booti Booti National Park
Seventh Annual Australia Day Camping Trip at Booti Booti National Park
Seventh Annual Australia Day Camping Trip at Booti Booti National Park
Seventh Annual Australia Day Camping Trip at Booti Booti National Park
February
February was my last month in Sydney for half a year and was rather busy (as always ;)). This month saw me head out to Petersham for Green Beats, shoot Tom and Toby surfing at Manly, get up early to shoot sunrise over Long Reef - and sunset over Palm Beach, enjoy the 2007 Tropfest extravaganza in the Domain (and shot The Bamboos for the first time), attend Kate Butcher’s art exhibition at the national art school (along with some driving long exposure shots).
Green Beats at Petersham Bowling Club
Toby at Fairy Bower
Morning at Long Reef (larger panoramic)
Morning at Long Reef - small boat on the horizon watches the storm about to hit
Barrenjoey Lighthouse at sunset
Panoramic at Barrenjoey Lighthouse looking over the cottage (larger panoramic)
A big night out at Tropfest - and the first in three years where it didn’t rain (unlike 2006 where I got absolutely saturated)
North Sydney makes for fun long exposure driving shots (especially now I have a remote release for the camera - this was performed via a lean, click + hope method)
Kate Butcher’s art exhibition at National Art School
Kate’s younger sister hating the camera during the opening of Looking for Line.
March
March was my first month in Newcastle, and also culminated in a rather large amount of driving. During the first weekend alone (including the Friday with an RDO) I headed up to Newcastle to briefly become acquainted with my new residence before heading back to Sydney and on down to Jarvis Bay for my cousin’s wedding and then back up to Newcastle, via North Narrabeen and Haberfield, with Stu to move a bed and other random furniture into my new Newcastle abode then back to Sydney. I finally moved myself up more permanently on the Tuesday night, following two days of training for work. March also saw me climb down at the Narrabeen slabs with Jared, Lee and Heath, shoot some absolutely stunning surf down at Bar Beach (one of the shots has ended in an Australian surf guide - first shot published in a book!), shoot both Roger Explosion’s EP Launch at Kings Cross’s Candy’s Appartment and triplej unearthed j-award nominee Cuthbert & The Nightwalkers as they supported Newcastle’s The Seabellies EP launch up in Newcastle at the Cambridge Hotel and attend SemiPermanent2007 at the Convention Centre at Darling Harbour, Sydney.
The Valkyrie/Traktor at my new local beach (Bar Beach) for six months in Newcastle
Bar Beach - my Newcastle local beach (larger panoramic)
My sister Hannah performs for the camera at Jarvis Bay for my cousin Susan’s wedding
A little’un is intrigued by her shadow at Jarvis Bay for my cousin Susan’s wedding
Jarvis Bay for my cousin Susan’s wedding
James climbing at the Narrabeen Slabs
My old climbing shoes (and hairy legs) with Heath belaying in the background
This is my shot of Newcastle’s Bar Beach that made it into the sixth edition of The Surfer’s Travel Guide from Liquid Addictions
One of my most viewed surf shots on flickr. I want to get this blown up to wall size one day.
Big City Exile supporting The Seabellies’ EP Release at the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle
Cuthbert & The Nightwalkers supporting the Seabellies’ EP Release at the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle
The Seabellies EP Release at the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle
The Seabellies EP Release at the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle - one of my favourite shots of the year, the colours just work so well with the colours of the wood.
Roger Explosion EP Launch at Candy’s Apartment in Kings Cross
Mike O’Meally, phenomenal skate photographer from Sydney (now living in the States) showers the crowd with film (you know, the stuff you used to put in cameras ;)) - I picked up a t-shirt that I donated to Tom
VIRB is subversive - taking over the MySpace stall at SemiPermanent2007
A photo of the photo that I want to one day have in my collection. September 12, 2001 - New York City. Photo: Mike O’Meally.
April
By April I had finally got most of my life moved up to Newcastle (well, the parts that I couldn’t live without) and had a desk and a set of shelves and could actually live and work. After such a hectic March, April was a month of quiet times, so beyond a trip to Dudley to shoot Grant Walmsley (one of my housemate Ben Lange’s good friends) as he started out on the music circuit solo (following some quiet times during the post-Screaming Jets days) and rounding out the month with my first piece of contributor work for InTheMix with DJ Luke Fair hitting Newcastle not much happened (although my mates did come up for a bit of a trip at easter to get away from Sydney and hit the wineries, to differing degrees of success).
Grant Walmsley plays an intimate show for the people of Dudley
Grant Walmsley plays an intimate show for the people of Dudley
Grant Walmsley plays an intimate show for the people of Dudley
May
I headed down to the carpark at the end of my street in Newcastle to shoot some sunsets - the colours were amazingly vivid in comparison with back on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, owing mainly to the lack of high hills to the west. This month also saw the 24 hours of flickr, participation in a short-course on Earthing through work (I was part of the Network Earthing group), an inspection of Newcastle’s old Zone Sub through Engineers Australia, the beginnings of my art classes, getting up way too early at South Curl Curl for a sunrise shoot, another shoot for InTheMix - this time the classical-jazz-hiphop fusion of True Live at the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle, a visit to a 132kV substation in Sydney for work, and more trips to and from Newcastle/Sydney. Phew!
Sunset over Bar Beach, Newcastle
The Panoramic of the sunset (larger panoramic)
24 Hours of Flickr - bouncing across the Roseville Bridge
Night driving on the freeway to Newcastle
Kiosk inspection during the Safearth Earthing Short Course at Swansea
The Old Newcastle Zone Substation’s control board
Well, it was meant to be a banksia… I kinda like it though
My room was so awesome up at Newcastle - need to find another good place to move to in Sydney pronto!
The early bird catches the worm - living on about 3 hours sleep max to get up for this shoot at sunrise at South Curl Curl
Captured from the window of my car - this is another of my absolute favourite shots of the year from down at Curl Curl
It got real foggy one day at our place in Newcastle. Real foggy!
True Live rocking the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle
Who would have thought that violin, cello, double bass, keys and drums would work for hip-hop? True Live rocking the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle
The F3 cruise - setup was my tripod in the back seat!
June
The start of June and Ben and I were both in Newcastle at the same time - so he decided I needed to see the area and he took his bright yellow ute up to Nelson Bay for the day. June also saw me shoot The Vasco Era for the local online music zine I’m With The Band, Newcastle hit by ferocious storms leaving the Pasha Bulker stranded on Nobby’s Beach, a few birthdays around the place (Stu’s 25th and Sue’s 21st) and shooting further gigs for FasterLouder with South By Inner West at the Annandale Hotel and for InTheMix The Bamboos + TY at the Forum in Sydney.
Ben and his bright yellow ute (he’s also got a bright yellow VW Beetle)
Winter Afternoon at Bar Beach (larger panoramic)
Sid O’Neil from The Vasco Era sporting a touring injury
The Vasco Era at the Northern Star Hotel in Newcastle - they so needed a bigger venue!
Whiskey Go-Go’s supporting The Vasco Era at the Northern Star Hotel in Newcastle
The Pasha Bulker on Nobby’s Beach in Newcastle on the night of the storms - we braved the elements to get this shot!
The Pasha Bulker on Nobby’s Beach in Newcastle - a nicer shot taken after the weekend in much kinder weather (windy as all hell, but no rain).
The Mares at the Annandale Hotel for South By Inner West
Moscow Schoolboy at the Annandale Hotel for South By Inner West
New Zealand’s Cut Off Your Hands at the Annandale Hotel for South By Inner West
Perth’s The Panda Band at the Annandale Hotel for South By Inner West
Sue’s entertaining brother’s twirl fire at her 21st
Finally, a self portrait that I like. It’s not quite in focus, nor is my face evenly lit, but I really like this shot
Another of my fave acts for 2007 - The Bamboos playing at The Forum in Sydney
TY with the crowd at The Forum
TY’s DJ at the Forum
Support act for The Bamboos and TY at the Forum
My family’s cat Meg - gorgeous but not so clever (who needs brains when you have beauty?)
Charles at Stu’s 25th Birthday
Stay tuned for Part II!
You’ve got incredible photo skillz, Joel. Very nicely compiled for a great idea of a post.
Congrats on some wonderful photos, I’ve enjoyed this!
have a great new year!
Joel, magic photos.
did you use any post-processing, or are these straight from the camera ??
Dan.
@Luke Dorny: cheers mate - means a lot! Keep an eye out for Part II because my shooting only increased over the second half of the year!
@Dan Collins: cheers for the kind words Dan. In terms of post-production processing, most have had at least levels adjusted - mainly blacks and whites corrected. Some have had a bit more done, such as the slightly desaturated shots, holga-inspired shots (green beats for example) and black and white. I tend to keep it to a minimum though, depending on what sort of look I’m going for.
Wow, these are really wonderful Joel. Looking forward to 2008! Happy New Year
Great shots, Joel!
excellent photos. I’d like to see more of Hannah.
I’m afraid she’s spoken for @stang.
Joel, these are amazing, your ability to capture light, colour and with a crisp depth is beautiful. huge fan of your work.
[...] Contact « 2007: A Photographic Review - Part I [...]
Joel, top stuff, been going through your Flikr stuff too and absolutely amazing work. You must be a busy boy with all the different interests in your life.
[...] what a year it’s been (if you’re bored I’ve split my review of 2007 into parts I and II for a review with photography). Given that Gonzáles is currently on high rotation on my [...]