He’s black, he’s beautiful, he’s a commanding Group 1 winner with earnings exceeding $5m, and he is Aquis Farm’s pin-up boy for the 2020 season. I had the pleasure of photographing Pierata’s arrival at his Murrurundi base last month and yesterday I did his cover shoot for the Stud’s Annual Brochure. 

The stallion team led by Ejaz Hussain have done wonders with the horse already - he is letting down beautifully, has strengthened considerably through the hindquarter and is a gem to work with.

Looking forward to seeing the brochure and which photo secures the lead spot.

It was Aberdeen Cup Day at Muswellbrook Race Club today; one might have wondered if the races could go ahead after 30 mls fell on the track overnight but whilst rated a Heavy 10 the track held up beautifully and we even saw a class record lowered in one of the races (go figure!).

The track remains closed to the public, there are 2 security check points, the male jockeys have taken over the Silks Function Centre as their new ‘change room’ to ensure the social distancing rules are upheld (so yes you do have the occasional giggle as a jockey clad only in his undies dashes up the stairs), clerks of the course and all attendants are masked and cleaners wipe down every hand railing/door knob/desk/available surface; they are our new norm. At least now we can have two photographers back on course. For a period NSW Racing stipulated that country and provincial meetings could only engage one. 

I hope that owners, directors, and race fans can also be welcomed back before too long. 

This afternoon’s assignment focused on photographing installations at the Michael Reid Gallery in Murrurundi. The Gallery shop has recently launched a Collection for the iconic Australian fashion brand Oroton. Concept Store Manager Camilla Wylie was responsible for the beautiful staging of the products. 

Did you know? Michael Reid is one of the leading art dealers in Australia, advising private clients on the formation of their art collections with the aid of decades of experience in the sector. In 2016 Michael received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the arts and has been ranked in The Art Life Power Trip for six consecutive years as one of the most influential people in Australian art world. Recognising that interest in Australian art is not bound by geographic constraints, Michael has established galleries in Sydney, Berlin and regional New South Wales, as well as supports an established online and social media presence. The Sydney & Berlin galleries exhibit extensively at art fairs within Australia and Europe. 

Learn more at the following link 

Selling commercial stock photos for advertising/magazine covers etc can be the difference between making money and not some weeks (the reality of photographing for a living; it’s easy to spin the good side but one has to be realistic about the annual income from this line of full time work these days.) William Inglis’ marketing department selected a commercial stock mare/foal image for a Sunspeed ad. in Western Australia last week. Scone.com.au selected a series of images of Singleton for a project they are working on today.  This follows Aquis needing a series of people photos for their annual brochure.  

The stock libraries are an ever evolving database. Feel free to have a browse on the main website.

2338 Catering + Events + Hospitality is a new name but an enduring client. Its owner - Amelia Wilkinson - has been a friend and work colleague for close on 20 years. Her new business has been brewing in the background for the past couple of years and is now set to launch; given our work history I was fortunate to be approached to do the marketing and communications for the business.  I have nothing but the deepest respect for Amelia’s work ethic, client focus and vision, and working with her pushes anyone to their limit intellectually and creatively and that is exactly what a role should do.

The first project was producing a detailed website brief for the web designer.

Looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds. 

Real estate video production is underway for Landmark Harcourts; it consumed the majority of the day.

I have to make a confession. Yesterday's real estate shoot at Blackville saw me obliterate (probably the only word to describe it) yet another drone. I mistakenly thought the latest model had the same obstacle avoidance sensors as the previous one. Nope. 32km/hr drone + impact with tree doesn't leave a lot of the original to put back in the box. Think that is Drone Number 4 (number 5 just has mechanical issues and refuses to play ball). I don’t insure aerial equipment as it costs more than the aircraft; am starting to wish I had punted on that decision. Drone Number 6 will be here next week. I live in eternal hope that this one lasts longer than the previous ones. The tax department will be auditing me for drone purchases (vs stupidity) at this rate. 

Photoshoot from 4pm out at Middlebrook Valley Lodge. Just sat and watched groups of weanlings as the moon rose and the sun set and the paddock grass - still heavy with moisture from the morning frost - deepened in colour. The one shot I had set up (then sat and waited for) didn't eventuate (I wanted the horses to gallop across the dam wall backlit by the setting sun so I could also get the reflection in the water and everything highlighted in gold). I secured another image that I was equally happy with however. Photography teaches you a lot about yourself (how you handle time for example. I'm hopelessly impatient so this craft has taught me that I WILL miss the shot if I rush. A hard lesson and one that still tortures me most days but unfortunately it is true!). Today's shoot also underlined the lesson that sometimes you have to just trust yourself, watch and see what ‘could be’. 

I did get to cuddle all number of fluffy weanlings and breathe the same calm air of a number of heavily pregnant mares along the way; drove home through the sunset and felt ludicrously content. 

I had the privilege of meeting one of my God’s of the photography world today: David Darcy. David turned his eye to painting after a career in photography; turned the extraordinary to a level few could grapple with in the process and earned himself the 2019 People’s Choice Award in the coveted Archibald Prize (just 2.5 years after he picked up a paint brush) with his depiction of Indigenous elder Daisy Tjuparntarri Ward. David was also a finalist in the 2018 Archibald. 

I started work on a Bid Video for international artist Janno McLaughlin; this one to potentially build - then float - one of her installations - Corona Girl - down the Yarra River as part of the Melbourne 2021 Festival. Photography, interactive online magazine, embedded video, graphic design and content creation were all at play to achieve what was required. It pushes the creative and technical boundaries and I love this stuff.

Headed out at Middlebrook Valley Lodge to shoot yearlings for the Inglis Digital Catalogue from 2pm and at 4 I switched hats to real estate and photographed lush paddocks of winter rye grass and weanlings and panoramas to supplement a real estate portfolio being managed by MacCallum Inglis.

Captured the moon 24 hrs off being full out on Gundy Road. Just because I felt like it. The detail from a mid range lens blew my mind. Who needs a 600mm when the air is so crystalline you could reach out and etch those lunar hills and craters with your fingertips? 

A full moon one week. A fogbow just 8 days prior. I'm certainly one that never takes the natural world for granted.