Nina's New York Photo Gallery

The lovely Duane Street (near Hudson Street)

My good friend Nina just returned from a trip to The Big Apple... ahhh lucky thing. I'm still hoping to get there next year but until then, living vicariously will have to suffice :)

I'm paraphrasing... but here is what Nina had to say on return from her trip, still high on the buzz of the big city:

Ah Lucy, NEW YORK. When I was flying into the States I was thinking, 'everyone has talked up this place. it better be as bloody good as they all say'.

Yes, it is.

There is a lot to like about New York. I kinda get why people have written so many powerful songs about it. It is sassy and vibrant. I flew in to JFK airport in the early afternoon, in the summertime, and from the air it just looks prosperous. The city is orderly, but the sense of spontaneity is genuine.

The thing I like the most is MORE. There is more of everything here. It truly is a global city, with lots of diverse people, so many global retail brands and lots of forward thinking (pardon the cliche). All squished into what we forget is a little island. For an Aussie, it is a reminder of just how remote we are and what we miss out on by living in this beautiful country.

Wow. Great words and great photos by Ms Nina Rozenbes. Enjoy! -

Incredible pom pom window installation at The Modern restaurant at MOMA (9 West 53rd Street).

Nina's favourite shot! - close up of the pom poms at The Modern.

Louis Vuitton's stunning fluorescent tube window display lights up Fifth Avenue after dark. Nice little article about LV's homage to artist Dan Flavin here.

views from the Empire State Building, around 9.30am.

cards from some of Nina's favourite NY discoveries... she's a business-card hoarder from way back.

Thanks so much Nina!

Ink & Spindle

Younghusband Wool Store building in Kensington

After interviewing the very talented Lara Cameron earlier this year, I have been eagerly watching the progress of her latest joint venture - Ink & Spindle handprinted textile studio in Kensington! This brand new company has been set up by Lara and fellow Melbourne screenprinters (and bloggers!) Bianca & Tegan, and will offer specialist yardage screen printing with an environmentally friendly focus.

They have a lovely blog documenting their progress - the space in the old Younghusband Wool Store building is just so beautiful! It's dream studio land.

Congratulations Bianca, Lara and Tegan - looking forward to your grand opening!

from left - Lara, Bianca and Tegan in their newly painted studio office.

tegan paints the window frames (with a little helpful assistance!)

loooong tables

Top 10 most influential design bloggers - vote now!

event design - VNT dinner in Amsterdam by the incredible Marcel Schmalgemeijer

It's on again, Home Rejuvenation are out to find the Top 10 Most Influential Design Bloggers from across the globe... and guess what? I'm nominated!

I am so excited to be on the shortlist of 80 incredible blogs including the likes of last years' winner Design*Sponge, the gorgeous Bloesem, and even massive sites like Cool Hunting, Apartment Therapy and Core 77! Agghh!

If you have a moment I would so appreciate your vote over here! You get to choose 5 favourites from the shortlist, and voting puts you in the running to win one of three Wallpaper* subscriptions!

Voting closes October 15th. :)

Thomas Klementsson

I love this beautiful series by Swedish photographer Thomas Klementsson... I stumbled across him a little while ago through the very lovely (and now bookmarked) calikartel blog.

Real Living latest issue

A little eye candy from the latest issue of Real Living Magazine (Oct 08 issue)... gorgeous collection of photographs and real homes and ideas as always. I loved the kids cooking feature even though I have no children to cook with or for! How beautiful is the shot of the kids in kitchen below? Agggh. Cuteness. Although I'm assuming cooking with 5 children in the kitchen probably isn't quite this much fun in reality. ;)

Unfortunately my scanner is playing up a little and the whites are a little blown out...

kids in the kitchen!

I'm gathering inspiration for imminent kitchen reno... this simple white kitchen looks lovely but mainly I liked the industrial-ish black steel framed doors opening onto the garden! Wish they weren't cropped quite so much... I want a good look at them!

Always love a good kids room. Cute mural but actually I mainly I loved the blurry wriggling little one on that gorgeous yellow/white saucer chair...

Succulents! My best friend in the garden. They always look lovely no matter how much you neglect them...

Beautiful contemporary reno of a Victorian home in South Melbourne. How about those floor to ceiling glass walls? Man. Safety glass that size isn't cheap!

PS) Also the Oct issue issue contains Natalie's pregnancy diary and photos of her beautiful bub Charlie...! Gorgeousness.

Interview - Narelle Sheean

Narelle Sheean documents a Sudanese beauty pageant in suburban Melbourne

I met photographer Narelle Sheean on the last TV series I worked on. We came across each other on set in between takes - I'd be carting some furniture around or tidying up a set, and she'd be lurking behind the camera, poised for the perfect shot of the actors or crew in action. Can't remember exactly how it came about, but at lunch one day we got chatting and I mentioned the blog... so it was only a matter of time before Narelle made an appearance here!

Narelle's folio is fantastically diverse - as with many emerging photographers, her spectrum of work is extremely broad, covering film stills to travel shots and wedding photography. She's been to more weddings than anyone I know(!), but this part of the job doesn't faze her - she welcomes each new challenge enthusiastically, and says wedding photography has taught her so much about photographing people and emotion, and about the importance of always being ready!

I think my favourite shots (although its so hard to choose!) are the series she took earlier this year documenting a Sudanese beauty pageant in suburban Melbourne (images above).

Thanks so much for your time and for sharing your beautiful work with us Narelle!

film still

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I grew up watching my brothers draw, paint, make little movies and stop animations.
They influenced me a lot to keep myself amused by being creative.

After doing photography at high school, I did work experience with HWT, Australian Geographic, JWT, photography studios and design agencies. I found it really interesting to have insight on what it is like to have a creative job.

I studied Media at Deakin Uni, which included Photography and Film. At the same time I started doing stills for my brother’s short films and loved being on set watching the DOP’s.

film still

Your work is really varied – from wedding photography to travel photography and film stills. Do you enjoy this variety, or would you prefer to focus on one particular area of expertise?

The most attractive thing about photography for me is its diversity. I really enjoy the variety. This year I have photographed Jewellery, Sudanese beauty pageants, Dating game shows and funerals...You just don’t know what’s next.

I’ve learnt so much from shooting weddings. The lighting conditions and emotions are going up and down and you just have to be ready.

I’d definitely like to do more commercial work, film stills and travel pics.

candid wedding shots

Working for yourself can be really difficult for creative people. What are the challenges you have faced working for yourself – do you struggle with the business side of things, for motivation to get started on a project, or marketing yourself? Do you collaborate with other creatives?

I guess I’m pretty lucky; I do work by myself a lot but have a really great network of other photographers. Mainly people I have assisted on other shoots. They pass on jobs that they can’t do and I try to do the same for them.

I struggle with keeping receipts, tax etc the book work is really boring. I’d like to more collaborative work for sure. Unfortunately it tends to get pushed aside when paid work comes up.

Which photographers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

Gregory Crewdson, Loretta Lux, Lee Dongwook, Erwin Olaf.

film still

Where else do you find inspiration (books, particular magazines, the net, everyday life?)

The net, magazines and everyday life.

Just keeping a look out for things that catch you eye and then think - why am I looking? Why is that interesting?


What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Battery charge and gear check the day before. Well it’s always a bit different… I may set up a backdrop and lights or be in a studio.

Come home to download Raws and start the culling process.

travel photography

What's the best thing about your job?

Being my own boss.

And the worst?

Invoicing and waiting to be paid.

What would be your dream project?

Making a film set for a stills project.

film still

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Buying my own place with a little studio.

Melbourne Questions –

Where is the best gallery in Melbourne to see the work of emerging Australian photographers?

CCP in Fitzroy.

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Kilim Turkish Restaurant on Victoria Street, Richmond.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Sleeping

romance!

Guy Mathews Vintage Industrial Furniture

Finally popped my head into the new Guy Mathews Vintage Industrial Furniture shop in Johnston st, Fitzroy last week. It's the perfect space for Guy's eclectic collection - wandering from one room to the next you get the feeling you've stumbled into someone's house... which is interesting because you get the same feeling at the beautiful Lee Matthews shop in High st Armadale.... *Bling* lightbulb moment - I realised whilst chatting to him that Guy is in fact Mr. Lee Mathews! (hope he won't mind me saying that!).

Guy has designed all the Lee Mathews shops, in addition to running his own interior design business and various retail outlets over the years.

Guy Mathews has a beautiful collection of vintage and industrial furniture, which he teams with stunning large-scale artworks and prints to maximum effect. A number of French vintage posters were on display when I visited... but what really caught my eye were the striking pieces by Croatian artist Boris Bucan. Turns out Guy bought them from a Croatian Melbourne cab driver, who insisted on showing him the collection after a good chat about art on a long drive back from the airport!

Guy Mathews eclectic interior

top image - one of Boris Bucan's prints is partially obscured by a vintage step ladder, bottom image - French vintage posters on display.

The artwork above is one of Guy's own collages

Guy Mathews Vintage Industrial Furniture
154 Johnston st
Fitzroy

(03) 9417 5750