Jon + Jess | Darlington Estate Winery | 19 March 2016 {Perth Wedding Photographer}

Taking time out from a busy motor racing schedule in the US, Jon and Jess travelled all the way home to WA, to tie the knot in front of their family and old friends, at the ever stunning Darlington Estate Winery, set in the bush in the Perth hills region.

And what a beautiful day it was, and such a beautiful time of year too.  March has always been my favourite month in Western Australia.  It signals the end of Summer with its warm dry days, and cool, crisp Autumn evenings.  Although on this occasion, it rained, and rained and rained, a warm, sticky, tropical kind of rain, which thankfully let up by mid afternoon, just in time for the ceremony and reception!

Featuring a bunch of cool old cars, including the grooms very own bright orange mid 70's Ford, a set of blue hipster hightops for the boys, a very special vintage watch, some fabulous rustic DIY details and styling, and the most beautiful beaded bird and flower arrangement I've ever seen on the back of Jess's dress, this wedding oozed love, style, creativity and charm on all fronts.

Congratulations Jon and Jess, it was an awesome day, and a pleasure to be there to document it for you!

Shaun + Miriam | Quindanning Country Wedding | 27 February 2016 {WA Rural Wedding Photographer}

It was a cracking hot day for Shaun and Miriam's rustic country wedding, held on a beautiful local property in Quindanning WA, in late February 2016.  But that was no deterrent for these two, or for their family and friends, many of whom came all the way from chilly Ireland to celebrate.

Held on-farm in the historic region of Quindanning, this wedding had all the elements of a great Aussie shindig, from the dusty bush setting, to the rustic, purpose built bar, tubs of beer on ice, a rather obliging dog with a go-pro mounted to her collar, and some sweeping sunlit views across a stunning summer landscape.

And the light!  There is nothing quite like the warm, golden, late afternoon light of an Australian summer, so although it was a little hot, harsh and shadowy earlier in the day, it was totally worth waiting for the incredible backlighting we were blessed with during our bridal portraits later in the day.

Congratulations Shaun and Miriam, it was a fabulous day, and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it with you all!

A Portrait of Harvest | Personal Project | November 2015 {Avon Valley Documentary Photographer}

I've just spent a month working on an exciting personal project, documenting the story of harvest, from paddock to bin, while I drove a grain truck for my brother on our family farm.

This was a special opportunity for me on a number of levels, but mostly because I was able to return to my farmy roots, and at the same time, have oodles of time to record the story of a unique and ever changing season on a farm in the Wheatbelt of WA.

All shot on a Fuji XPro1 mirrorless camera, with the 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 and 35mm F1.4 lenses, this is a collection of spontaneous, opportunistic 'grab shots' which were taken while I was working, often as I pulled into a paddock or sat in line waiting to deliver my load of grain at the CBH bins. 

In most cases I didn't have the luxury of waiting for the best light, or taking time to position someone better for a portrait, or even to shoot on anything but aperture priority mode, because, well, I was meant to be working, which for the most part includes holding the steering wheel in a truck! Which is why you'll see lots of loosely composed images, and shots taken through the windscreen, bugs, dust and all.  But as many of you will know, I kinda like to shoot like that anyway, so really, I was completely in my element on this one!

Following are some of my favourites.  But there are so many more, so I suggest you settle in and enjoy them all in slideshow format, because that's where you'll see plenty more of the farm, my fellow truckies, and the friendly staff at CBH Avon Yard, who so kindly allowed me to poke around with my camera for an entire month!

Cairo Lunch 2015 | 2/28th Battalion & 24th Anti-Tank Association Event | 26 July 2015 {Avon Valley & Perth Event Photographer}

The annual Cairo Lunch was held recently, at the RAAF Airforce Association Club in Perth, and I was again privileged to be able to cover this amazing event, which celebrates the pivotal role our Diggers played in both Tobruk and Borneo during the Second World War.

Now a lunch for veterans and their families, this event actually began many years ago as an annual Ball, to celebrate the rest and recreation our soldiers had whilst on Leave in Egypt (Cairo) during their time abroad (which is why you'll see plenty of Fez hats and belly dancers as you scroll down the page!).

Sadly, my Grandfather passed away earlier this year, and will be greatly missed by both our family, his comrades, and the association. But I feel immensely proud of both him and his comrades for the sacrifice they made, and their ongoing contribution to all things veterans affairs in the years since. 

This is definitely one of my favourite regular events, and I think well deserving of its own Journal entry featuring some of the images!