Holy moley its February already. It still feels like Christmas just finished.

This year has started out pretty epically. The Atkins skin workshop was such a whole load of fun, I met some rad people and got to share all the little fun nitty gritty bits of working with people and skin.

It’s funny how when teaching photoshop and photography in general I learn a whole lot just from having to describe a process that to me is generally just second nature. I don’t even think half the time when I do what I do but, going back over my work I realise that there is good hard cold reasoning for all the decisions and choices I make. All this stuff that goes through my head when I first have a photo infront of me, its fun to sit and document that procesand take a look at what I do under the magnifying glass. I realise that all those years sitting behind a computer photoshopping things in dark rooms while the big shot photographers were out there doing the photography side paid off. I learned from fixing their mistakes or sharing their victories. I’m really proud of that background and I’m even more proud to be able to take all that information and put not only into my craft, but to help others out too.

I covered alot about working with subcultures of people. How varying social groups will ask for different things out of their images depending on what kinds of media they are exposed to. Heres a shot of me talking about the 16-25 year old age group and how I might choose to work within each group of people. This was snapped by Paul Atkins on his iphone at the beginning of the talk. o0o0! Fun!

It was also really interesting to watch an entire room full of people ghasp when I mentioned that I never use light meters. Oh my… that was a bit funny. Art brains vs photographers I guess. We all have diferent ways of practising our art.

Speaking of wich I talked a bit about this photo of Annie in that workshop about the choices Annie and I made based on the sort of person she was, the challenges we faced in that shoot and how in general I loved taking this photo because of how rad Annie was to work with and how much fun it was to be challenged by lighting situations.

However Annie is a rad cabaret singer/writer/conqueror of oddspot facts and I love this show to pieces. So here is the poster for that show with that shot on it, because I believe ya’all should go and take a look at her work!

In other news, I talk allot about having rad friends who share this road with me. Well last night was a tribute to how much photographers stick together and look out for each other. We share equipment, advice and ideas. Julia is one of those people who is always around when needed. So, Congratulations to Julia Thomas for launching her business The Dream Weaver! I went to the opening last night, she looked incredible and it was rad to see so many people there to share it with her. We love you Julia. Your a great friend and an important key player in how well this business of mine has been going these past few months. I was thrilled to be awarded a trophy for “best Broads” shared with Harmony Nicholas. It now its on my trophy shelf up there with my pony club trophies and my photography awards. In fact its right in the middle, pride of place.

I had other stuff to talk about I’m sure of it.

But right now I’m desperately craving the dip that my boyfriend made (Pumpkin and lentil! what a dude!) so I’m going to chow down on that and work on one of my new projects (o0o0o what project? Wait and see!)

Love Gee

xxx

It occurs to me, that even if there was so much sadness in 2011, it was one incredible year. So many amazing clients to meet and work with. So many rad images made, so much time spent on personal projects and way too much fun was had. I’m amazed at what happened last year, how far this buisness came and how lucky I really am as an artist.

I have too many people to thank. I really really do. These are the few important ones…

To “The Posse” who know exactly who they are. Knowing you lot is a total pleasure and having you all there to tell me to “calm the fuck down” whenever things get crazy has been a lifesaver.

To Mark Trumble… there needs to be more of you in the world so willing to lend a hand to a young face.

The AIPP who have given me so much freindship and confidence as a buisness person. Thankyou

To Anne for taking me back and being a totally fun friend to have.

To the clients who made it all worth it

To Jack. I talk to you every day, even if you are no longer with us. Its habit. I cant help it.

To Nathan. Who made hundreds of hot choclates, morning coffees, vegan chocolates, vegan cakes. Who drove to me when I locked myself out on numerous occasions, who was the boy who I wasn’t meant to fall head over heels for because last years new years resolution was to stay undoubtedly single. But fuckit… that was a new years resolution worth breaking. I wont regret that for one second.

And finally to friends… I have the worlds coolest friends.

So the new year brings so much excitement to me it makes my belly flutter… already amazing things are happening and I’m bursting at the seams to tell you all about it. But a girl must have her secrets.

I know its lame and ye’olde fashioned to make new years resolutions. But hey… why not…

1. Cook alot more. I love cooking.

2. See Friends more often

3. To photograph alot more personal projects

4. Never to ever work in retail again.

5. To only ever go with plan A. Its my first plan, my only plan and I have no backup. This is the thing I can’t imagine my life being void of… I love it more than you can imagine. And hell It’s keeping me busy

6. This is the important one… PHOTOGRAPH THE PEOPLE I LOVE. Make time for this project. Its worth more to me than anything else I can possibly do. This last year taught me one massive lesson. The ones you love you never have enough photos of when they finally leave your life. And to hell with it, they leave your life way quicker than you ever thought they would. So do it NOW.

7. Buy more post it notes and socks. One can never have too many post it notes or socks.

So heres to 2012 and all the interesting scarey and fun stuff its bringing into my life. It’s off to an amazing start…

Hows your 2012 been? (totally post it…)

WAIT WAIT WAIT… Christmas is here already?

Holy bejeebers… it still feels like January. Sort of. Wow! I hope you all are finished with your Christmas shopping and all that jazz… I’m so not even started on gift buying. How slack am I?

Today my friends is fantastical. I have been working on some new pieces, new ideas and more importantly kicking back at some of my favoutire studios working with them to create some wicked cool photos. After a one month holiday to an entirely different planet (retail is so not my thing, jus sayen. I missed my clone tool) I’m back with a digital retouching vengeance and there is not a thing to stop me right now…

I promise not to complain about Macs again. PINKY promise.

In-fact speaking of digital retouching… Atkins Technicolour have been so lovely as to ask me to come along and hang out with them for their Summer school and talk all about skin!

Skin you say?

Why yes sir. I’ll be talking for three whole hours on retouching skin. It should be super fun. Melissa Neumann is taking the class before me on basic photoshop for photographers so its going to be one superbly nerdy day of photoshop happy madness. Classes are $65 each and during that time I’ll be handing you my secrets on one bit fat shiney silver platter… o0o0! Exciting…

Whos joining me?

I did mention that I had some new work that I was doing right?

Yes yes yes, so this piece I guess is pretty readable. It’s called “The Spark” and honestly… thats what its all about.

OH BACK TO SKIN RETOUCHING…  I cant wait to share all my little secrets. So come along. have some fun and join other like minded cool kids…

http://www.atkins.com.au/education/summer-school-2012/

EEEEP!

Gee

xx

Well well… Gee Greenslade here, reporting from the new headquarters (or office wich is also my house… whatever one wishes to call it) in Glenelg North.

Exciting! The new office is coming along really well. The desk fits in here perfectly and it already feels as if I belong here. It’s the first time I have ever had my own little place all on my lonesome and whilst thats meant to be scarey I am so blissed out and relaxed its amazing.

Breakfast at the new place...

I treated myself to a wonderful breakfast of olive, spinach, sundried tomatos and mushroom with cashews and pine nuts on Turkish bread this morning on my new balcony. Nathans coffee machine named Jeeves graces the new kitchen and I gleefully bought myself a new purple kettle!

Its quite literally the perfect place to call home. I love it here!

Last week I had an incredible time wandering around with fellow photographer Mark Trumble (http://www.photographyroom.com.au) and photographers best friend Doug Young (Doug dude if you read this please post your website. I think so many photographers could use a studio expert like you!)  at this years Nikon event held here in Adelaide! It was amazing to see speakers like Glen Gibson, Sue Bryce, David Burnett, Juliet Taylor and my favourite Jesh de Rox. Woah! So much inspiration, so many amazing people. I tried out a whole stack of new gear to fill my little studio office with and my head is filled with so many tips from the best of the industry’s best. Please google these people, find out about them and go see them when they next speak!!!

Waiting to hear David Burnett talk at the 2011 Nikon Event... excuse the awful phone picture.

This event really put into perspective why it is I take photos. I think time and time again I question why the hell I do this. But people like David Burnett, Sue Bryce and Jesh de Rox really shifted my doubts about my motivations. I got a chance to remember how it felt when I first picked up an SLR, how it felt when I took those first successful shots. It reminded me of the beauty of a story. I think this year has been all about re-igniting my sense of loving a good story.

I always loved stories.

In other exciting news one of my images of The Jane Austen Argument was on the cover of Melbournes Weekly magazine as well as up on the big screen on the side of The Age building in Melbourne. I’m so excited to see Tom Dickins and Jen Kingwell do so damned fantastically in their chosen careers.

So tonight, in spirit of the wonderful efforts of the Jane Austen Arguments success, I leave you with this incredible song. It’s the very first song I played in this house.

http://music.thejaneaustenargument.net/track/bad-wine-and-lemon-cake

It occurs to me recently that as a so called “Professional Photographer” (I still laugh whenever anyone calls me that…) the people you love the most are often the ones you have hardly any photos of. Hell I don’t even have family photos! After allot of death surrounding me in my life its re hashed the importance of photographing the people I love. So I thought I would post this tonight.

A couple of days ago I have to admit I was pretty frustrated with my portfolio. Trying to update a website with your best work is always a little challenging when the work you do is so close to home. Photography and photoshop is this life long passion of mine. So I always get so emotionally attached to my images!

So I called up my boyfriend Nathan to hop on around and pose for my camera so I could get out of the office, clear my head and get back to basics. Photography! It surprisingly is the first time I have ever photographed him, despite us being together for a fair while now. This shot in particular was one of the first four images taken taken in the dwindling afternoon light of my office. I had allot of fun making that nacklace. I have to admit, photographing loved ones for a change was way too much fun.

So here it is, Nathan…

Feel free to leave a reply and tell me what you think!

I can’t be bothered really explaining why every photographer needs to see this…

http://www.zarias.com/transform-a-short-film-for-scottkelbycom/

Just shut up and watch it.

This is a photo of Moira and I at Lets Eat the Dead 3. It’s still hanging in Sugar if your interested in having a look. This particular print is in an edition of two and one of them has already been sold. So feel free to contact me if you would like to purchase the second one!

Photo by Spoz

So I’m one of those people who love eco friendly solutions. Little known fact that if I do the makeup for my own shoots all the makeup is animal product free and cruelty free, most of my props are recycled and when I print photographs I try to print them on recycled sources. However one little minor setback has been brushes.

My incredible friend Becca Kennedy is the main makeup artist I use (aside from a couple of others if I can’t get Becca)  because I love her attitude to makeup and being eco friendly. Shes always trying to find new ways to improve on old habits, in this case using animal fur for all makeup brushes has been the only option for professional makeup artists for years.

However when she approached me to help her do a photoshoot for her new artical on Two Six and Brush she was bursting at the seams to tell me that the brushes she was using were made not of animal fur, but entirely out of bamboo and other synthetic sources. Not only that but that they came from a company that fully supported much of the ideals that both Becca and I support.

Becca, Samantha Taylor (our wonderfully patient and incredibly fun to work with model!) and I had a total ball doing this quirky panda and bamboo themed shoot…

After the shoot Bec gave me the set she was working with and ever since then I haven’t looked back! I love them to pieces!

So go on over to Two Six and Brush to read her reviews!
http://www.twosixandbrush.com/2011/09/we-all-want-to-be-furless-dont-we/

Then if you wish to buy these brushes (vegans listen up!) check out http://furless.com.au/

Awesome!

Today Moira came around needing a break from the world. See the thing about Moira and I is that were nearly yin and yang. She’s the loud one, I’m the quiet one, She’s the thrill seeker, I’m the stay at home type. But we ground each other and compliment each other in ways that seem totally mystical to other people. She pulls me out of my homely box, I put her back into hers. It works well.

It’s been such a long time since I had a working camera in the house that I forgot that my wonderful friend Andi lent me her Cannon 7D, so today while we were sitting around the table sharing a cup of tea we decided to do an impromptu shoot.

It was very quick, no makeup, no real preparation. Just back to the old days when Moira and I used to take photos in the backyard using my old 35mm Pentax z70, no lights, no reflectors, just natural sunlight. I have been craving that sort of shoot for a long time. For too long everything I have done is totally studio based. It was time to break the mould and do something old… but new.

It felt so good just to use a camera without the burdon of sync cables or wireless receivers. It was almost weird not to have flashes going off all the time, but it was so worth it. Mr Crewdson told me… shoot without the photoshop for a bit and see how that feels. I resisted that advice for a long time. But in reality he was probably right. This felt pretty damned good.

Here are the results…

Click for the larger versions.

So people I totally nearly forgot to mention!

I’m now an official member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers! How exciting! If your interested in finding out more about them check out http://www.aipp.com.au/

I also have two exhibitions I’m in on September the 1st. So pop on down to Adelaide. Their both on the same street so it’s going to be a totally fun night of photographic craziness and… well I’ll be there so come say hi to me! Its going to be insane! Check out the exhibitions page for more info!