Gold Award at 2011 APPA

Enjoy the judging process for my image 'Robber Fly' live from the 2011 APPA in Sydney.

Also, please enjoy complimentary access to all the APPA judging by visiting www.appa11.com.au

A Huge Step Up!

Rewind to 2010- I had to do an assignment for my Diploma Of Photoimaging Course- the criteria was a ‘fusion’ piece (the mixing of video and still images to create a presentation). The piece I created, “A Day In The Life Of Michael Grantham, Zig Zag Railway Steamtrain Driver”, demonstrated my abilities within this genre. I received high marks and praise from my lecturer. The relevance of this story is, based on that piece, I was asked to shoot the Canon Australian Professional Photography Awards for the AIPP. The brief was to cover both the three days of preparation and the event.

Winmalee Artfest - 29th April – 1st May 2011

After entering Winmalee Artfest in 2009 I decided to have another crack at it this year. 2009 entries held some merit in that people paid good money for my artwork. I purposefully priced myself in the premium end of the market.

Fast forward to 2011 and, although the sales at Artfest weren’t as good as 2009, the end result was far superior because one piece won ‘Best Photograph In Show’. The winning image, titled “Waiting” was my first win at this art show.

Faces Of Springwood

As part of the requirements for my diploma course, I had to complete a body of work for an assignment. The body of work was open ended…it had to have a common thread. I decided to do a book on business identities within the retail area of springwood. One identity was the new State Member for Blue Mountains, Roza Sage. Roza had recently won office with a 16% swing. I noticed her foyer walls were bare and I suggested to her that I might hang my winning art piece in her foyer. She informed me she had thought about hanging art from local artists in her foyer and that she would be happy for me to be the first. I thought this might be a reasonable marketing ploy on my part as many people come calling on the local MP.

Benn Banasik of Roza Sage’s office contacted me asking me to consider being the inaugural artist to hang work within Roza’s Parlimentary Office. Naturally I jumped at the chance. I chose a piece, took it to Macquarie Street where I got a personal tour of Parliament House and had my photo taken with Roza and my print out the front. This story received coverage in the Blue Mountains Gazette. Many local artists are now taking up the invitation to have their artworks displayed in her electrol office and at her Parliamentary Office. There is now a considerable waiting list!!