Camo-Double Exposure – 1997

In 1997  I was studying BA- Sculpture and photography at University. I dont have many photos of the creations I made and only found the above image yesterday.

The pants below were for one of the subjects I did where we had constant assignments and presented our creations every couple of weeks. I’m unsure if we chose the theme or it was allocated by the teacher though I do remember the theme was Camouflage.

I made alot of wearable art for this class . The camouflage pants displayed all my photos .

The double exposures images were created by initially finding images of animals of owls, wolfs, tigers from magazines from memory and then capturing self portraits doing similar poses of the animals with my 35mm film camera.Looking at them I see similar themes, ideas and concepts that still interest me today though back then I  didn’t use Photoshop though I was very resourceful

In those days the photocopier was my favourite tool and I made transparent acetate copies of my photos  then over layed them over the animal images and made a photocopy of the combined images finally  transferring the images  onto material using another of my favourite tools which was a fabric transfer medium.

I presented the pants suspended from the ceiling with a pile of leaves I drew on underneath… the designs on the leaves was inspired by research into first nation people who created material inspired by the design on leaves.

In the wilderness of life, I stand tall,

Camouflage pants made from faces, I wear them all.

Each face tells a story, a journey of its own,

But together, they protect me, like an army unknown.

A chameleon in the wild, I transform and adapt,

My pants, a canvas of art, a double exposure map.

The faces, they blend, with animals they entwine,

A fusion of souls, a manifestation divine.

Faces and animals intertwine,

In a world where art and nature combine,

Double exposure captures the essence,

Of creatures and humans in coalescence.

Whiskers sprout from cheeks once fair,

But in the midst of this wild display,

Dust to Dust- From the Series We Are Star Dust

It is a mind-boggling realization that we are composed of the same materials that make up stars, planets, and galaxiesThe revelation of our cosmic connection dawned upon me during a time of personal loss and contemplation. After the passing of my father, I found solace in observing and documenting the decomposition of flowers, witnessing the cycle of life and death. As I watched these once vibrant blooms wither away, I couldn’t help but contemplate the impermanence of life and the intricate web of existence.Through documenting the natural process of decay, I experienced a profound sense of catharsis, a release of emotions that allowed me to confront my grief. It was in these moments of reflection that I realized our physical bodies are not confined to this earthly realm but are intrinsically linked to the vast cosmos. We are part of a grand tapestry, connected to everything around us.Motivated by this personal experience, I embarked on a quest for a deeper understanding of our existence. Drawn to the ideas of reincarnation and rebirth, I delved into ancient philosophies and modern scientific theories that shed light on the nature of our being. It is fascinating to consider the possibility that our individual atoms and elements are recycled and redistributed throughout the universe, giving rise to new life forms and experiences.At the core of this concept lies the understanding that every atom in our bodies was once part of a star, forged in the fiery depths of stellar nurseries. These atoms, the building blocks of life, have journeyed through time and space, coming together to form the intricate biological systems that allow us to exist. In a very literal sense, we are made of stardust.

In twilight’s embrace, where dreams softly entwine,
I’ll paint you a portrait, a tale so divine.
Where flowers, once vibrant, now wither and decay,
As stars, like tears, fall, in celestial array.
 
In the realm of blossoms, where life dances free,
Petals bloom in colors, as sweet as can be.
But time weaves its threads, fate’s cruel, restless gust,
And innocence, like flowers, fades into dust.
 
The velvety rose, once blood red and flame,
Now whispers of longing and forgotten name.
Its petals, once fragrant, now crumble and fall,
As stars, teardrops glisten, in night’s cosmic sprawl.
 
Oh, witness the floral tapestry’s descent,
As nature exhales, its fleeting lament.
Each petal a memory, delicate and frail,
As stars, shimmering crystals, begin to exhale.
 
Gone is the splendor, the garden’s grand array,
Yet artistry flourishes in this grand decay.
For as flowers decompose, returning to earth,
The essence of beauty is granted rebirth.
 
And whilst stars shed their teardrops, in mournful delight,
Human hearts gather courage, their souls taking flight.
For within this fleeting beauty, we find solace and trust,
In this dance of decay, where the cosmos adjusts.
 
So, let the flowers wither, let stars continue to weep,
We’ll embrace their transformation, our sorrows shall keep.
For in this juxtaposition, where beauty meets despair,
Our souls are awakened, by the tapestry we wear.
 

Beyond the Sea- An augmented reality photo encaustic series.

 Beyond the Sea, is an ongoing series of digitally painted  black and white seascapes.Coated with a mixture of beeswax and tree resin -known as encaustic. Giving them luxurious, textured finish

With in each   photo I have  digitally painted the water with different hues of the illustrious pigment, ultramarine.As a lover of art and history, I am fascinated by the origins of paint ,Ultramarine  was traditionally made by grinding down lapis lazuli and derives its name from the Latin Ultramarinus which means  ‘Beyond the Sea’. – Hence the title of the series

During Covid pandemic ultramarine blue became a precious commodity with a limited supply and obtaining blue paint at the time was difficult. This as well as the shortage of Raw materials to produce colour photographic film and the difficulty of buying highlighted to me the state our resources are in and inspired me to create this series . I intentionally chose to display this captivating colour bl;ue in a digital form, showcasing its rarity and significance.

Beyond the Sea showcases the beauty of nature and the remarkable history of a prized pigment combined with  thought-provoking images which intend to stimulate and educate, instilling a desire for safeguarding and reverence of our planet’s wonders 

The Photos also activate an augmented reality filter which displays a 3 Dimensional layered animation I made with poetry composed by artificial intelligence.

To view the augmented reality filter : Use a computer to display Photo of Leave the Light On and scan the QRcode below with your phone to use the filter from my Instagram.View the Photo come to life through your phone.

To see more of Beyond the Sea series of Augmented Reality Encaustic photos they are currently being exhibited at Bourvardia Cocktail Bar Melbourne till the end of June.

Favourite Black and White Film Photos 2022.

I am beginning the Year with my first post of 2023 on my neglected website by sharing 10 of my favourite black and white film photos i took in 2022.

I got back into film photography in 2021 and i enjoy experimenting with different techniques particularly double exposure , I develop the black and white film at home. I also shoot colour as well and may try and develop it at home too.I hope to create a portfolio of images either for an exhibition or a book this year.

I will also be updating my website and hope to post at least once a week and engage more in the community.

Looking forward to the year ahead.

Zoe xo

Motion Marinade- The Project

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In 2012 I began seriously getting into digital photography and would take 20 to 30 photos to get the shot I wanted . Nothing like when I first started with a film camera and every photo was a different shot. Is because I have become lazy or a perfectionist the reality is I don’t delete photos and have thousands of photos on sd cards and hardrives which are organised in dates which had become forgotten.

In 2018 when I was going through the photos and saw the slight movement between the photos ( I actually thought I’d discover motion pictures. Lol) I decided to join them altogether to make little slideshows.Whether it was nostalgia of looking at my children when they were younger and reliving the times I bribed them to be in my crazy photos it gave me the motivation to organise and make more videos and Motion Marinade the project began. I have since become obsessed with creating these videos that are a cross between a stop motion Slideshow Or a pixilation which I have most recently been informed of while doing an animation course. From stop motion to time lapse I have attempted them anything that is essentially a photograph with motion I explore now I have realised I can attach them on here I’ll be sharing more.
This was the first moving image I created from photos I took of my daughters In 2014 A Fairy Tale. I have so many more videos old and new that I’ve created and I’m also currently making a short film that I’ll be releasing later this year.

Enjoy

Zoe x

Dandelion

 

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Dandelions have long been regarded as pests. I’m captivated by them and would rather a field of dandelions than have the Gardener  come and mow them. I’ve been working on this portfolio for a couple of years and while researching discovered a poem

Deep in the blue sky,

‘like pebbles at the bottom of the sea ,

lie the stars invisible in daylight,

until night comes ,

You can’t see them , but they are still there .

Unseen things are still there

The withered , seedless dandelion,

hidden in the cracks of the roof tile

wait silently for spring,

their strong roots unseen,

you can’t see them , but they are still there ,

Unseen things are still there.   -Misuzu Kaneko

 

The poem unifies the photos , the shadows and darkness and out of focus suggest that unseen things are still there .

 

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A Photo a Week: Dusk

I took these last Friday. I had been wanting to capture the full moon at dusk for a while though I think the crescent moon is far more mesmerising . There’s something pretty spectacular about brightly lit objects at dusk .

 

 

The moon is a loyal companion.
It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.
Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.”
Tahereh Mafi 

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Seawinds, Arthur’s Seat. Up in the clouds

I’d been watching the peak of Arthur’s Seat be swept over with a thick mass of clouds on and off all day. Finally after work I ventured up the hill to investigate. When I arrived to SeaWinds a blanket of cloud swept over. I was thankful that I may get Some foggy photos. The fog came and went in waves. When it cleared I was disheartened though my spirits were quickly picked up with another wave of cloud that settled over the trees.

I’ve been wanting to get up to Seawinds for a while to get some photos for some new jewellery pendants. I’ll share the new pendant design next week. In the meantime here’s a collection of photos of Seawinds before the leaves change colours. Which will be very soon.02E12D6F-43ED-47DE-92B9-F0C2C503AC3E46C13D02-D85A-436F-91B3-9BFAD4289041B1DC1CCA-C5F3-4CA8-BBD7-1E2EAB197F82B53F9E76-DA1D-478F-AD74-589A691D8041DE296E59-5210-4FEC-B414-C892D01C29AF69A37F9B-6EBD-497E-83DD-355DCBC0BF89D4584B80-ECE0-4277-B6F1-7930CD17A92A709C9588-E8A0-478A-B879-350A297D16E983A49851-2923-4927-BA22-DE60B6EB7CFF63BFBEA2-491B-48A2-BF1E-5A92A0E8D810B442B76E-7819-4D5B-8E1B-65566A10A6C940262DE9-100D-42A1-B999-A888F132CD44E2518918-D657-492D-9A34-461FDA923EDD85B50BFC-06FB-4A48-B0FB-6CAD19515AA631E9D905-37AB-4642-86BE-F197D1215F452307DFF7-0A6E-4359-B724-3D9424AE691A53FD2B1F-C2A3-4917-8891-D8BD316F8C73767B9859-819F-4E1F-A47C-B84BE742E43A32C8CD29-3945-4784-871E-D25035325F79*F8546D3A-14B2-4606-BA7D-8D7555D4A2DB

Hallways and Corridors

” Many speak of opportunities ” when one door opens another one closes” but rarely about the hallway the transition the inbetween where you are and where you are headed the hallway doesn’t have to be a scary Dark endless confusion  it can be a space of massive transformation memories and peace. ”

Last month I did an online course called visionary portfolio with hopes of learning how to put a portfolio together. During the course I have been looking through my archives in search of themes. I mainly share objective images responding to prompts and briefs I find it therapeutic. 

A theme that I realised which occurs in my photography is hallways all these photos were taken when significant events happened in my life which I wasn’t aware until going through my photos.

I want to extend on this project with more Hallway and Corridor photos which I’ll share gradually.4244142C-AF5D-42F2-AA49-D8D964A89173475F1161-7EDC-4783-879D-A095318EF121

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