the giants in perth

Hi

Did you see the Giants last weekend? Did you love it?

I went on the Friday morning, just to have a quick look, and ended up staying all day, following the Little Girl Giant around. It was one of those things you can't really capture with photographs. The excitement and buzz, kids shouting "she's moving!!!", the beautiful music, getting sprayed by water from the boat... and that inexplicable feeling when she looks at you, tilts her head, and blinks. I was taken away by it all.

The crowds were large on Friday, but really well behaved. Everything was organised flawlessly. I didn't get to see the Diver on the move (I saw him asleep at the train station though) but it must have been an amazing site given he was even taller than the Little Girl.

After it was all over, I felt kind of sad. Like when a friend comes to visit but inevitably has to leave. But I hope the Little Girl is enjoying a new adventure in a different city now. Maybe having a rest, taking in some scenery, making new friends... and maybe one day she'll visit us again?

H.

Catch up 2013: Rigoletto by Opera Box

This year I was stoked to be asked to shoot the poster for Opera Box's production of Verdi's Rigoletto. Last year, it was La Boheme (photos here). In the story of Rigoletto, there is a scene with a corpse being thrown into a river from a bridge - this is what we were recreating here (in a park in Belmont, in the middle of the day).

Opera Box is a not for profit organisation providing opportunities for opera performers in WA. They are all insanely talented and their shows are a cracker.

Oh, and if you are interested, here's what it looked like before it was photoshopped. That looks more like Belmont, doesn't it?

fringe world 2013 (3)

fringe world 2013 (2)

I am enjoying the pink theme that I've noticed around this year. And yes, some of those photos are taken on a roof top which if you know me, or have been reading here for a while, you'll think is surprising because I am scared of heights. I'd always avoided going to the roof top movies but when I was rostered on to go there for Fringe World I though I would give it a try... and it wasn't too bad! Some lovely friends came and repeatedly said "you'll be fine", which helped.

Unfortunately, getting better at coping with your phobias is one of those things that only happens if you actually do the thing that scares you, which is a horrible thing to have to do. But the good news is it can work. You might not suddenly wake up and not be afraid at all of clowns or small spaces or whatever it is, but you can kind of teach yourself how not to have a nervous breakdown when confronted by them. And I just realized after I typed out those examples, if you are afraid of heights and clowns and small spaces then you should not go to a rooftop circus accessible by an elevator because that would be way too much to handle. Baby steps people. Baby steps.

In talking about my fear of heights with people over the years I've also learned that people are afraid of some really weird things, and no-one's phobias ever make sense to anyone else. So it's a waste of time being embarrassed about having a phobia because everyone has something weird lurking in their brain space, way weirder than you can imagine. If you have a phobia - hang in there, you'll be fine, eventually. And that is the end of my advice for the day.

fringe world 2013 (1)

Hi! This year I volunteered to take photos for Fringe World, and have a look at the awesome stuff I have seen already! I got to photograph some of my favourite acts, namely Barry Morgan, and the Wau Wau Sisters, and got to discover some new ones like the Lunar Circus, and the ladies from Sugar Blue Burlesque. So far some of my photos have gone up on the Fringe World facebook page, and you may have even seen one of the Wau Wau Sisters in the West Australian. I adore people who make a living out of making other people laugh, and I can't help but smile to look back on these pics and remember how much fun it looked like they were having, and how much the audience were enjoying themselves. So, thank you for the fun Fringe performers. You guys are ace.

H.

p.s. more photos to come, but in the meantime you can also see some on The Colour H's facebook page or instagram.

b&w

Purpose @ The Civic.

la boheme (2)

Mimi and Rodolfo: he lights her candle, and it's all on between them.