Keith and Nyssa

Sometimes your friends help you in the best ways.

I was lucky enough to shoot another wedding back in early October, with the lovely Keith and Nyssa. It was a lovely day and ceremony filled with beautiful and friendly people. I was very grateful to shoot two people that were truly in love.

But I’m getting ahead of myself here, let’s go back to the beginning. How’d I get this job?

I use to work at Dick Smith Electronics when that was still a brick and mortar store. I was only there for a year but I’ve made some good memories and even better friends out of it. One particular person, Ralph, I still talk to on a regular basis. I love Ralph, and he’s such a funny, genuine man and I’m glad to know him. One day, we were chatting away and he asked me a simple enough and innocuous question.

“Do you still do wedding photography?”

I answered positively, thinking it was just a random question. Before I could even ask why, Ralph’s added me into a chat with me, himself and Keith. He introduced us then left the group. I had no idea what was going on, but very quickly, Keith and I started chatting. The next thing I knew, I’d had a wedding booked for Keith and Nyssa. It wasn’t until October, as it was booked back in early 2019, but before I knew it the day had arrived.

The wedding was taking place at Mt Annan Botanical Gardens, right in my backyard, so I ventured out to scout the gardens and find some good places to shoot. I took my notebook and found a whole bunch of nice places to shoot, taking very detailed notes and went home satisfied knowing I’d got some places to capture the day.

As luck would have it, two days before the wedding, Keith messaged me. Thinking it was just to ask a question or two he dropped a bomb on me. “Hey, it’s suppose to rain on the wedding day”. My heart stopped. I’d planned the whole day around the fact it wasn’t going to rain. But it would be OK, they explained to me they’d be given an alternative at the garden. Everything would be fine.

I met Keith and Nyssa the next day at the gardens, as we were going to go through the changes and solve any last minute dilemmas or questions. We strolled around the gardens a bit and took in the alternative venue of the Plant Bank. It was a lovely building and when we walked in we realised everything was going to be OK. We left each other, confident in the fact that we knew the day would go smoothly.

The big day had arrived. And as we expected it was raining. I packed my gear, double checked everything and headed off to the hotel the soon to be wed were staying at. I first went to each other’s respective rooms and captured them getting ready.

The two had asked me previously, in a request I wasn’t expecting, if they could go out before the wedding ceremony itself and capture some photos. I was all for it, and with the weather being how it was, it seemed like a good idea. As soon as they were ready, we jumped in the car and went out to shoot. We grabbed some lovely shots and before we knew it, it was time to grab the rest of the wedding parties and head to the ceremony.

Everything came together perfectly, with the venue and the preparations, all the worries we had, evaporated once we saw the Plant Bank set up. Nothing would ruin the day.

Like the last wedding I shot, I wanted to make sure I caught everything I possibly could in the ceremony. I couldn’t ask them to repose or anything so it was a one and done deal. I was nervous as all hell, I stressed the entire ceremony. But I was lucky, Keith and Nyssa were so easy going that they made it easy and simple to shoot.

The ceremony was done, and we ventured out into the gardens with the wedding party to capture some photos. Luckily I was able to salvage some of my original plans and we ventured around the main garden, taking advantage of the scenery to make some memories. We only had just over an hour until the reception so we made our way around before heading there. We did make a detour into the playground nearby and had some fun. But before we knew it, it was time to head to the reception.

That’s when the party started. Food and drink flowed, people chatted and danced the night away. As the night drew to a close, people were saying their goodbyes and filing out, I looked back on the photos I’d taken from the entire day, and I noticed how happy and in love Keith and Nyssa were. I’d only known them for a short time, but I could tell almost right away, they were perfect for each other.

Thank you to Keith and Nyssa for letting me be a part of your day, and giving me a chance to capture your day. Enjoy the rest of your life together.

Brendan

Officially Open For Business!

It’s been a while. I’ve been quiet. But I’ve been busy!

So what’s new? What’s been happening? Life has been quite hectic and I haven’t had much time for anything other than work and other things that aren’t photography. But I’ve been plugging away in the background and am very happy to announce that I am open for business!

While I have offered for quite some time now prints of select photos, I have never offered any sort of official pricing for photo shoots. There are a few packages and options available.

• Lifestyle Shoot - For friends and family, special occassions or anything else.

• Engagement Shoot - Capturing the love between two people before they walk down the aisle.

• Wedding Package - A full package and arrangement of options for your big day.

All three options offer different things and will suit whatever want or need you have.

You can find all of the prices and options up the top under Shoots/Prices or just click HERE

And hey, if you’re looking for a gift for a friend or a loved one, I also offer gift certificates! To grab one it’s as easy as sending me an email at this address.

I’d like to end this off with thanking you for the support you’ve given me over the years as I’ve continued on in this venture. I love photography, and I love capturing moments for people, so here’s hoping you let me capture yours in the future. Feel free to drop me a line and let’s talk about what you’d like to do!

Brendan.

Lithgow Glow Worm Caves

Drive - Hike - Drive

Have you been to the Glow Worm Caves at Lithgow? It’s a beautiful thing to see. Standing in pitch black and seeing hundreds upon hundreds of tiny blue dots appear before your eyes, it’s quite the sight. In fact the whole Wollemi National Park is beautiful. Rolling green, hills and valleys and enough fresh air to fill your lungs for life. But the trip doesn’t start there. Bit of back story first?

I love how this turned out. The light and colours worked their magic for me that day.

I had done this hike a few years back. From my place to the caves it’s about 180km. I remember looking at it and thinking it wasn’t that far. Turns out it takes nearly 3 hours to drive there and well…I didn’t plan times well. By the time we started the hike itself back in 2017 it was almost midday. By the time the hike was done and I was back home it was almost 8pm.

Wasn’t going to make the same mistake this time.

My mates Ben and Joel graciously ventured to my neck of the woods on Friday night, we chatted, grabbed a burger and a beer and played Smash Brothers until we called it a night.

Lots of green and scenery. It’s a feast for the eyes.

We woke up early to get ready, leaving the house at 7AM to get to the caves. An early breakfast at Maccas and a long drive later, we’d made it. It was a rainy day and slightly cold. The fresh air stuck out to me in particular. You forget how clean it can be when away from the metropolitan areas. We checked our bags, tightened up our laces and headed off.

It’s not a particularly long walk, 10km in all, and in a loop so it’s hard to get lost, but depending on which way you take the loop you can make it easier or harder for yourself. As I’ve stated before in previous hikes, we like a challenge. Even if it defies common sense. So we took the hard way first.

Why was it hard? The first 6kms or so is all uphill. The last time we did the hike, we went the way we did only to encounter a group of hikers, the oldest and clearly wisest of them saying to us “You took the wrong way fellas”.

Well at least they were kind enough to leave it at the tunnel.

I’m not a petty man, well at least I like to believe I’m not, but I felt the need to hold a particular grudge with that man, as we all agreed doing the hard part first was the best option. And later on we’d remember why we thought the man was wrong.

After our uphill battle, we reached the Glow Worm Tunnel. Our day was quite lucky compared to our last time. in 2017 we went during school holidays on a particularly nice day, resulting in a lot of people in the tunnel. This time around? We had no one right up until the tunnel, and even then there was probably about 5 people in total during the entire tunnel.

It’s probably about 500 to 600m long and bends, so at one point, there’s no light at all visible at either end, which lets you sit in the dark and adjust. And when you do it’s pretty magic stuff. The glow worms come out slowly, just like stars, and the longer you look the more come out. Eventually the neon blue overrides the black and you get to bask in the magnificence of it all.

Soon though, torches come into sight and we get up and move along towards a spot for lunch.

The second chunk of the hike is slower, probably a bit more deliberately. Myself and Ben were waiting for our lunch spot to come into view, with Joel asking how long until we get there. I don’t know about Ben but I was starting to think our spot wasn’t actually real and we dreamt the whole thing up. But then, this…

Perfect.

The trees spread open and our spot was there! We stopped for a bit to eat before heading back to the car and the driving continued once more. The last little leg was a quiet one, we’d all had a long day and we knew we weren’t even close to finishing.

Once we reached the car, we chucked our stuff in and headed back home. We chatted some more, took in the scenery and thought about our next trip. Figure 8 Pools? Coastal Walk? Mt Solitary? Something else? We weren’t sure. But we were just happy to know we’d be doing something else soon.

The tunnel created a lot of nice opportunities to play around with light.

While driving so far and waking up so early to exercise isn’t a necessarily ideal way to spend a Saturday, it was for me. I love to get outdoors and explore it with people I love and respect. It’s a simple pleasure but one that I love.

Brendan.

You can grab some of the photos you see here to hang in your home! Go HERE to check it out!

Clint & Corrin

An engagement surprise! She said Yes!

When I shot Ashley and David’s Wedding back in October of 2018, the most stressful part of the whole day was the moments I couldn’t recapture. The rings going onto fingers, the first kiss and the walk down the aisle as husband and wife. Everything else can be reshot, but those moments only happen once.

Clint contacted me about a week before his big moment and asked if I’d like to help fulfil a wish of his now fiance Corrin. The wish was simple. To get photos of the exact moment he proposed so they could relive the moment later. Pretty simple right?

Well for them, yes. For me? Not so much.

Clint and I met up a few days beforehand to talk tactics and strategy. I had briefly met Clint a few years ago through his mum. We had worked together at a local school when I did IT and as a result, we met once or twice. After a brief catch up we had a plan set.

Hickson Road Reserve. 4PM. Saturday. And most importantly, make sure you get it.

The only thing I asked of Clint was to make sure he stayed on his knee for as long as possible. Apart from that we shook hands, felt both pangs of confidence and nervousness and went away, to meet again a few days later.

I was well and truly nervous, it was another big moment for me and I didn’t want to disappoint. Saturday came around and I did the regular routine.

Camera charged, extra battery and memory cards and a few lenses to boot. Was good to go.

I jumped on the train and headed to Circular Quay. I arrived far too early and as soon as I stepped off the train the nerves kicked in. I got in with about an hour a half before the big moment so I tried to relax with a coffee and a burger. I made my way around to the park to scope out the area and checked it all out. I had a plan all set. I sent a text off to Clint and let him know we were good to go.

Just before 4PM, I got a text from Clint telling me they were almost there and to get ready. I stood in the park and got the heads up they were walking under the Harbour Bridge. I soon spotted the two and kept my eye out.

Corrin immediately went off course behind a giant stone pillar. I quickly darted around trying to see what was happening, making sure I wasn’t missing the moment. Thankfully I wasn’t and I continued to move around the area. They slowly made their way to the middle of the park where Clint said he’d be. At one point Corrin looked at me dead in the eye and I thought it was busted.

Luckily she saw straight past me and they kept walking along. I kept an eye on them and slowly got closer. And before too long, the big moment happened.

My camera was at the ready, and I started clicking away, Clint did his thing and I moved in closer and closer to get the moment. Before I knew it, the two of them jumped up in celebration before Clint pointed me out and revealed the big plan.

We finally said hello to each other, after I congratulated the both of them, before we moved onto a proper photoshoot.

Being in Circular Quay, we had lots of choices of places to go check out. We started off just under the bridge, before we moved around towards The Rocks. It was a glorious day and the way the light came through the scenes we visited created some amazing stuff.

After an hour or so we wrapped up the show and said our goodbyes, I needed a drink after the stress of the week and Clint and Corrin were heading off to have a night in the city. It was a great end to a great moment.

Like I said up top, this was something I had never done and never thought I’d be able to do. To capture moments that can’t be recreated is another level of stress. But at the end of the day, once the photos had been handed over, and the response I got, it made it all worth it. That’s what makes it all worthwhile. It was also special to be involved in such a special and intimate moment.

Congratulations to Clint and Corrin, I hope you have a long and happy life together.

Brendan.

Rachel and Nathan

Add another first to the list.

This time, I made my way to Nelson Bay, about 2 and a bit hours north of Sydney, to go photograph my cousin Rachel, her husband Nathan and daughter Halli. But it wasn’t just a family shoot, it was also a maternity shoot.

All my mothers side of the family live up in Nelson Bay, so I decided to make a weekend of it. I left early Saturday morning, arriving at my grandparents at about 9AM. I caught up with my Grandma, and my cousin Ben for a few hours, having lunch and just chatting.

Once it hit about 4PM I made my way to meet up with Rachel and the family at Sunset Beach. She had recommended it and boy did she pick well. I have been going up to Nelson Bay for nearly 25 years now and I’d never heard or seen this place before, and I’m glad I know it exists now. It was beautiful and as the sun came down, it created the perfect back drop to the scene.

I got there about 5 minutes before Rachel, Nathan and Halli arrived. I was pretty nervous. Just like the wedding and almost every other shoot I had before, I get nerves. I just want to make sure the shoot goes great and the photos turn out well. We chatted for a bit, went over what we were going to do and then made our way down the beach.

We walked along the sand, took a few shots before making our way along the dock that was there. It lent to some amazing shots. We talked more, catching up on the events of the past few months and just making our way along and around the area. We walked back along the dock, before making our way to the shore and an area surrounded by trees.

There was a nice beautiful log that was laying down, allowing for some great backdrops of the beach and the water. Nathan and Halli jumped in on the fun and we got some great stuff. We kept going, soaking up the sun and the surf.

With some final shots along the beach with everyone, we walked back to the car, chatting some more, taking our time as Halli splashed and swam in the water. It was a really fun time.

After we got back to the car, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Looking back, I’m not sure why I was nervous. I just didn’t want to mess it up, but dealing with family, and someone I love dearly such as Rachel and her family made the photoshoot a very enjoyable experience. When I handed over the photos, Rachel and Nathan loved them, and it made it all worthwhile.

Brendan.

Mt Kosciouzko Part 2

A return to the top. Just more wind.

In November of 2017, myself and a few friends trekked down to Jindabyne to climb Mt Kosciouzko. It was a great little weekend getaway and a welcome bonding experience with people I love. So, why not do it again?

Our trip was, again, from a Friday to a Sunday in early November. Meeting up with my friends early Friday to make the 5 hour drive, we began in good old Campbelltown. Our first stop was in Goulburn, before heading onto Cooma and then eventually Jindabyne itself.

The trip got us down there just after 3pm and we decided to grab food before heading to our accomodation. We got the essentials for the hike on Saturday, made sure we got the super essential weekend supply of beer and made our way to the house.

Boy was it nice. A chalet just outside of Jindabyne with fireplace, spa, kitchen, plenty of bathrooms and the best addition, a sauna. It was great. We loved the place, it helped make the weekend that much better.

Figuring we were staying in a house with an oven, we decided to have a baked dinner. Lamb, potatoes, pumpkin, veggies. It was going to be good.

Then the oven decided it didn’t want to work.

“No worries!” we thought, “why not just grill everything up on the stove top?” No that didn’t feel like cooperating either. We thought we’d have to grab a pizza or something. But after a check through the cupboards, we found an electric fry pan. Our chef for the weekend found, with the help of Google, the instruction manual and discovered we could cook a roast in that! The day was saved. And while it wasn’t the most roasted of roast dinners, it was great none the less. Having a meal with friends and family reminds you of what’s really important in life.

After a late night sauna and some fine whiskey, we retired for the night to get an early start for the next day.

Waking up early Saturday, we grabbed some breakfast before heading to Charlotte’s Pass. We were worried as the day before we weren’t able to see a lot of, if any snow. But as we came closer to our destination we saw more and more patches of the stuff and it was lovely.

What wasn’t lovely was the wind.

I’d never dealt with so much wind and was not ready for how strong it was. And it continued to grow stronger and stronger as we climbed up.

The hike itself is 18km long from Charlotte’s Pass. 9km up and 9km down. It’s a beautiful walk, and easier than you expect. We kept going along, taking in the sights, throwing snowballs, sliding on snow and taking photos. We eventually got to Seaman’s Hut about 6km up and stopped off for a quick break and to warm up. There’s a small amount of provisions in the hut so we took some wine and chocolate, adding a few snacks of our own as compensation.

Once we warmed up we continued to the top with a new surge of energy and a little wine in us. The snow thickened and grew as we climbed further and closer to the top. The wind gained strength and as we got into the clouds it was almost too much to handle. But we came here for a reason and the elements weren’t going to deter us now.

The five of us ascended and the last small stretch was filled with slippery snow and wet socks but we didn’t care. We just needed to reach the top.

And we did! We’d scaled the mountain and conquered it once more, some of us for the first time. We captured a photo for the memories and had a quick food break before starting the trek back to the car.

After a solid 6 hours of walking, talking and photo taking, we made it back to the car and set back to our holiday stay. It was a great day and we capped it off with more beer, pizza and a sauna.

The sauna was well needed. The heat soothed our aching muscles and calmed us down to a point of pure bliss. It was great. We continued on with the night with some more whiskey and a few rounds of the excellent Windjammers before setting off to bed.

I woke up early the next day and got the most out of the sauna before we left. It was extremely energising and refreshing to start the day sweating myself stupid in a steam filled box. Once that was done, we all packed up our things, threw it in the car and headed out for some bacon and eggs.

Our trip home included a detour into Canberra to meet up with a mate, have a burger and a chat before continuing home. It was sad to drop everyone off back where we started and bid our farewells.

A weekend of good friends, fresh air and a relaxing time were well needed. Last time I climbed the mountain, it felt like a major accomplishment, and a weight lifted off my shoulders due to a lot of things going on in my life at that time. This time I didn’t have the weight lift off, mainly due to life becoming a bit more clearer, but it provided a moment of reflection on where I had gone in the past year. Had I grown since last year? Had I regressed? What had I learnt and more importantly, where will I be going?

The answers to those questions might not be clear, or even make sense, but I was happy, healthy, and had people in my life to help me continue on my path. And in the end, maybe the answers weren’t what mattered.

Brendan

Ashley & David

Well, it’s been a while hasn’t it?

It’s been a busy few months for myself, taking photos, moving and life generally taking over. What have I been up to?

During October, I was fortunate and lucky enough to shoot my first wedding. The lucky couple was Ashley and David Grainger. And they were so great to shoot, they made me feel welcome and comfortable the whole day.

But first, a little back story. A few weeks before the wedding, myself and my partner made our way down to the wedding location, Robertson. Located about and hour and a half from Sydney in the Southern Highlands, we went down to scope out the area and find places to shoot for the day. It was bright and sunny and we found more than enough diverse and beautiful spots. It wasn’t until the week of the wedding, after talking to the bride’s Aunty, that it would, infact be raining on the day.

Shit.

I’d planned the whole shoot to be outside and didn’t even consider that it would rain. What’s that song about rain on your wedding day?

I stressed all week. Googling alternative locations, trying to figure out how we’d get around the weather. I had a few sleepless nights, I wanted to get this right! This was a big step up for me and I didn’t want to be underprepared.

The day of the wedding came, and I set off early to Robertson to figure out a new game plan. Luckily on the way down, Ashley informed me of the hotel they were staying at, and that’s when the solution came clear.

They were staying at the Robertson Hotel and it was beautiful. An old hotel with huge beautiful gardens and gorgeous architecture. The hotel ended up being the saving grace of the weather.

I met with both Ashley and David separately, starting off the day capturing them setting up and getting ready for the wedding. If I’m being honest, I had no idea what I was doing for the first half an hour. But eventually I loosened up and we got things going.

The wedding was beautiful, simple and elegant. Both Ashley and David looked amazing and their kids were cute as hell. The wedding went off without a problem and we soon moved on to some more photos.

The rain held up for a bit and we managed to take a few outside, moving around the gardens and the hotel. We got some great shots and you can tell just how happy and in love the two are.

Spending the next hour and a half taking photos, we had to move back to the Robertson Inn for the reception. This is where people got to let their hair down, have a bite to eat and have some fun. After a few speeches people got their dancing shoes on and the night flowed with drinks and food.

All in all, it was a really special day, one I’ll remember fondly. I hope Ashley and David had a great day, with a life filled with love, laughter and happiness as they take the next step in their lives together. And thank you both for the opportunity. I loved every second of it.

Brendan.

Burning Palms/Figure 8 Pools

A return to the Royal National Park to see the Figure 8 Rock Pools, ruined by the sea.

It'd been a while since we'd been for a hike, but it was a welcome return to something I'd missed. Myself and a few of the lads woke up early on a cold Saturday morning ready to walk the 12km round loop to the Figure 8 Rock Pools. 

Myself and Kemp left Campbelltown early to head to Sutherland to grab the rest of the group, before heading into the Royal National Park. We parked at Otford, grabbed our things and began the walk.

I always hate the first 20 minutes of a hike, especially when it's cold. I'm usually running on pure caffeine, little sleep and it's hard to get motivated when all you want to do is sleep. Once the wall is broken though, it's always great. I love the scenery and the challenge, and it's always great to chat and catch up with friends.

The Burning Palms walk is a pretty simple walk through lush green forest to the beach. The waves crash against the cliffs below, the wind blowing and making the trees sound like chimes. When you reach the bottom, you hit a long stretch of sand at Burning Palms beach in one direction, with the rock pool the other. This time though, nature would conspire to make sure we couldn't see the Figure 8 pools.

The sea was so fierce, the waves crashing all the way across the rocky path we were going to cross. It caused us to change our original plan and instead we just sat by the sea, reading, talking and grabbing food to eat. The sun was out so we soaked in as much as we could.

The last half of the walk starts with an intense hill climb. It's about 20-30 minutes to get to the top and it isn't easy, but once you reach the top, it's smooth sailing. The last 5km of the trek is basically a long 4WD/Fire Trail and it provides a respite from the usual hiking shennaningans.

We clocked this in about 4 hours or so, but it didn't matter how long or short it was, it was great to get back into the swing of things with some great friends. 

Here's to the next one!

Brendan

Redfern/City Circle

I had the chance to catch up with my partner in crime the other day.

It'd been a while since we'd seen each other and had the chance to go for a shoot, but fortunately our schedules lined up and we were able to catch up. We decided we'd try to get some photos around Redfern and eventually work our way to the city. With a few coffee and beer stops in between.

My day had started on a poor note. Work the night before had ended late and I was running on fumes from the get go. My first coffee of the day was strong but gave me some energy in the reserve tanks to get going. I'd also been excited to wear a new pair of shoes but being the idiot I was, I hadn't worn them in, which would prove terrible later.

It was a very unusually warm winter day, and it made for good walking weather. We met at Redfern Station, just casually exploring the area for a while, getting some shots. I'd never really explored Redfern so it was interesting to check it out. 

We made our way towards Central, before stopping for a coffee in Surry Hills and a chat. Basking in the sun we talked for a while before the photo itch came up again and we were on our way. I always enjoy shooting in the city. There's always opportunities around to get some good shots, even if I'd been in the area 100 times before. There's always a steady flow of people milling in and out so it lets you get some fresh scenes.

At this point my feet were killing me. Why'd I wear these shoes today?

From Surry Hills we made our way around Museum and St James, down towards Town Hall. We stopped into a pub to grab a beer and chat a bit more. At this point the sun had started to disappear behind some clouds and the heat from before had all but gone. We sipped the last of our beers before heading out.

People had started to rug up and we slowed our pace to an even more casual speed towards Circular Quay then up to the Rocks. It didn't matter where we went we seemed to be fighting a sea of people enjoying the sights of Sydney. 

The beer had started to slow us down a bit too much so we grabbed one last coffee before we parted ways at Wynyard Station. My shooting buddy headed off to work and I'd jumped on the first train home to go rest and recover from the night before.

I arrived home and kicked off my shoes. Instant relief. I grabbed a beer, looked through my work that day and grabbed an early night. At the end of it all, it was a really good day and reaffirmed why I love doing this.

Brendan

Paige & Casey

Sometimes it's good to step out of your comfort zone.

I had to step out of mine the other week, having not only my first paid gig, but also taking shots and working with a kid. Now I have taken shots of other people's children, but never in such a professional manner, with the express purpose of having some nice photos for them to appreciate and share.

I was lucky then, that the people I was working alongside were lovely, accommodating and just as nervous as I was. We both helped each other and at the end of the day, we got some great stuff out of it all.

So who were the people I took shots with? Casey is someone I work with at my job and she's fantastic. She asked me to take photos of her daughter, Paige. I was very happy to do so, welcoming the challenge but more importantly, help create some lasting memories for Casey, Paige and her family. I've worked with Casey for about 2 years or so. Paige on the other hand, I had only met once before and unfortunately it was early and she was pretty crook so she wasn't in the best of spirits. 

This time though, I got to get to know her better and see what a great and interesting kid she is. 

We met at Mt Annan Botanical Gardens, located in South Western Sydney and a beautiful place to shoot. Fortunately the weather decided to play nice and it was sunny and just a bit of wind. We all had no idea where to begin, so we walked around for a while, trying to find spots and sights. 

Eventually we found a good place to begin and the nerves really kicked in for me. I hadn't ever really asked people to pose for me or follow specific instructions when it comes to photography and I think it showed at first, with my very specific instructions being "Ummm...just look at the camera and smile"

Those nerves quickly wore off, and we all got into the swing of it. Paige got into it, knowing how to strike a pose, with Casey directing too. I was more fluid in what I was doing and I felt more comfortable as the day went on. 

We had a few outfit changes, location changes and more, but after about 2 hours we called it a day, everyone happy and satisfied with how it all went.

Like I said earlier, I had never done anything like this before, but I was very lucky to work and shoot with Casey and Paige. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with it all. I got dragged out of my comfort zone, but I'm extremely happy I did. Seeing Casey's reaction when I handed over the photos to her made the entire experience worth it and I can't wait to do more. It's why I love photography.

Brendan

Melbourne

Long weekends are always a god send.

It's only an extra 24 hours you get off but that's all you need sometimes. I spent my long weekend down south, visiting the lovely city of Melbourne. I didn't do it alone though, grouping with a few of my best mates to experience the delights of the city, but mostly to have fun, eat too much and drink far more.

I jetted down early Friday morning, getting in a few hours before the next group arrived. I landed around lunch and got the weather Melbourne is known for, windy, rainy and cold. It was lovely. I grabbed some lunch and walked around the city. 

What I really love about Melbourne is just how calm it all feels. Even if it looks hectic, compared to Sydney there's a nice pace to it all. I moseyed down to Federation Square. I took in the sights of Flinders St Station, before seeing how jam packed Hosier Lane was. I was just happy to be amongst it all. 

Around 5pm, three of my mates arrived, where we went to the hotel and dropped our bags off, then it was Beer O' Clock. And it seemed to stay at that time for the rest of the weekend. Not a complaint, just an observation. We caught up, had some laughs before our lady friend turned up to join our shennanigans. The drinking continued and carried on as we awaited the arrival of the last two adventurers. Their flight got delayed by 7 hours, eventually arriving at 2AM. We all retired after that to get some rest.

Saturday was filled with more of the same, drinks flowed, food was guzzled, and our stories continued, weaving in and out of each others paths for the rest of the day. A late lunch was had at Shujinko Ramen, hearing it was one of the best joints to eat. Have you ever had such a satisfying and soul pleasing experience, you were sucked into your own bubble and dedicated yourself to enjoying the moment? That was the 6 of us having this ramen. It was such a great experience for all of us. It reinforced the idea of how important cooking and food is in relationships to me. Was a bonding moment.

We all gathered later and headed to Fitzroy to sample a few of the bars over there, becoming well acquainted with Georges. It was a Seinfeld themed bar and it was a delight for all of us. 

Sunday started quiet, with myself and my friend Pat heading to the Melbourne Museum then grabbing a beer. Chris joined us before heading off to a Fried Chicken and Waffle shop in Fitzroy. Hollie and Jake came with and it was another food moment I'll never forget. We all stuck together the rest of the day, drinking and getting in a few rounds of pool and darts. We capped it off with another ramen run and called it a night. We had an earlyish flight to catch and we wanted our beauty sleep.

What really stuck out to me when we were sitting at the airport before we left was what this weekend was really about. Friendship. Some of the people who went I hadn't seen in over a year, some I hadn't had a proper sit down talk with for a while and it was really special to me. I love every single one of the people I spent time with on the weekend. Whether it was sitting in the park having a coffee, indulging in some food and beer, or even trying to convince people that ginger beer and milk goes together (it does), it made me focus on why those bonds are important to me. 

The reason my friends are so important to me is they support me, through good and bad. They guide me through tough times and moments that will help define me. I couldn't ask for better people to have in my life, and they helped make the long weekend that much better.

How'd you spend your long weekend?

Brendan.

Japan Leftovers and Vivid 2018.

Hey there everyone, hope life is treating you well.

It's been a hot minute since the last time I posted, but I've been keeping myself somewhat busy with photography. If you've been keeping up with me on Instagram then you'll have seen some of the work I've been doing. Regardless, I'll get you up to speed.

Since my trip to Japan, I've been slowly going back to my shots every now and again, touching the photos that I only gave a brief look at. Sometimes with those sorts of things you have to let it simmer and brew a bit before you see something. It happens to me all the time and it seems like that time has come.

With over 800 shots that was bound to happen. I don't know how many are going to be good, but I hope you'll enjoy them none the less. Like the other photos I have already posted on here and Instagram, they reflect what I like about Japan, the sights, sounds, colours and most importantly the culture and people. I hope my photos help reflect the love and respect I have for that country and it's people.

So as of writing this, Vivid 2018 is on it's third day. Talking with a few partners in crime, we decided we were going to go. But only to the Chatswood part of it all. These guys live in Artarmon and deciding to see Vivid at Circular Quay would have been an insane flood of people, so wisely we went to Chatswood.

It wasn't that great.

It was basically the main drag of Chatswood, with a bunch of kids smashing drums and getting in the way of everyone. We had fun with it though, getting ice cream and laughing at the positioning of the local radio station right next to the loud sound filled kids area.

I managed to get some photos out of it at least. And some ice cream. So all in all, it was pretty good.

I hope that I'll have some more shots for you all soon! Until next time,

Brendan

A Weekend of Returns - Hikes and Abandoned Breweries

On the weekend of April 21st - 22nd, I spent the weekend revisiting some places I'd been before, but managed to see them in a new light.

Saturday was a day of hiking with the group, taking us back to a hike I had done before, Mt Kuring-Gai to Berowra. This hike is great because it can all be done with no need to drive. You can jump on the train and go from one station to the next. 

This day though would test me. 

I'd had a late night at work, finishing at 1:30AM. I needed to be up at 6AM and catch the train to North Sydney to meet the crew, so I tried to force myself to sleep which as you can probably guess didn't end up going so well. The alarm buzzed me awake at 6AM and my body was already running on reserve energy. On a train I went and to North Sydney I would go.

Meeting up at about 8AM, myself and the rest of the fellas grabbed a hearty breakfast, I filled up on caffeine and we jumped back onto the train towards Mt Kuring-Gai. Our walk was pretty normal, the weather was nice, the company was good and the sounds of nature filled our ears.

About halfway through, we reached a sign that halted our plans. There was back burning in Berowra and it was too dangerous to go ahead. We had two choices we could make. 

Either head back the way we came, or go towards another different direction we had seen many people file in and out from. After some lunch, we decided to head to the new direction, thinking we'd be back sooner rather than later. 

Turned out that wasn't the case at all.

We walked back towards Hornsby, on what seemed to be the beginning of the Great North Walk. We had no real indication of where this walk would take us to, or when we'd finish. We'd eventually reach an area that'd grant us reception on our phones and a quick look at Google Maps showed us we were near a fire trail. All we had to do was walk through some scrub and into a relatively unknown path. 

Unsure if our decision was wise or even able to pay off, we took he chance and forged ahead. Luckily for us it worked, and we had successfully shaved an hour off our trek and towards Asquith Station we went.

The hike itself was great, and even though it went in a direction we didn't know was going to even happen, it was still a great day as usual. 

On Sunday, along with my lovely lady, we visited the Mittagong Maltings. I've written about it before, so I won't go into to much detail. It was nice to revisit the place with a few new lenses and a better idea of what to expect.

The great thing about this place is the way the light spills in no matter what time of the day it is. It creates unique settings and opportunities. Exploring the floors is treacherous but the pay off is worth it.

We spent a good hour or so wandering around exploring the building before deciding to leave. I was happy with the trip and so was my lady. And the best part was we both managed to grab photos that we were very happy with. 

All in all, my weekend was adventure filled with what makes life great. I can't wait to explore more and grab some photos. I hope you enjoy them too!

Golden Stairs - Mt Solitary

"A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day".

That's been on a landscape photo hanging in my parent's house for about 15 years and it's so ingrained in my memory that it's hard not to think about on a particularly bad day. Although in this case, it was taken a lot more literally than what was meant. 

On the last day of March, myself and a few friends went for a hike in the Blue Mountains. We've been hiking at least once a month for the past year now, and it's something I look forward to with a lot of anticipation. We've hiked along the coast, inland, in the mountains and more. My favourite aspects are the disconnect with the outside world, where for a few hours, your phone has no reception, all you hear is nature and you connect with what's really important. 

There's a valley behind all that mist. And about Three Sisters too.

This particular hike started just past the Three Sisters, at a set of stairs called the Golden Stairs. The Golden Stairs were something we'd walked past in a previous hike and were told it was pretty intense. We'd soon realise intense was an accurate description. 

At 9AM we began, and where the usual beautiful and picturesque views of the valley would usually be, was replaced with a solid wall of fog and mist. We couldn't see more than two metres in front of us. It was rainy and slippery but that hadn't stopped us before. A short 15 minute trek down the steep stairs and we were onto Mt Solitary. A thought entered our minds when we reached the bottom that we all verbalised. 

"Those stairs are going to be a pain in the ass to climb back up".

We continued on with the hike, chatting away and catching up, the sun slowly coming out and the fog vanishing into the air. The light came through the canopy and was a welcome sight. After a good hour we reached the base of Mt Solitary and looked at how immense it was. We soldiered on, climbing over trees, stepping over dips, cracks and rocks on the ground.

The Crew

Mt Solitary stands at an impressive 950m tall and it was no small effort. It involved a lot of climbing but the view was very much worth it. And just like magic, all the fog was gone at the top. It was perfect timing.

We sat at the top of the mountain, had lunch and talked for a while, admiring the view and the company. It was completely serene and beautiful. After a good half hour or so, we packed up and made the trek back to the inevitable. 

The heat had started to pick up and we stayed quiet for a while. I think we all made the decision to try and conserve some energy before the last battle. 

Figuring out the next step.

At the base of the stairs we took a quick drink break and saw a sign that read, "Golden Stairs, 800m to top, 45 mins". We kind of panicked at that but thought we could very easily beat it. It became a challenge. We said we could do it easily in 25-30 minutes. We were being conservative. We started to climb and realised why they said 45 minutes. 

Being the smart men we are, we barely stopped, determined to prove safe advice wrong. As we blasted through it, our legs slowly became jelly, but our minds stayed strong and determined to win. In the end it took us just over 20 minutes to reach the top, but we almost killed ourselves doing it. 

The morning was pretty damp but cleared up very well.

The sun had well and truly taken over the day at this point and the true beauty of the area was in view. On either side of where we parked, we saw every shade of green as the tree covered valleys spread out for miles. We admired the view before jumping in the car and headed home.

All in all, it was a beautiful day, filled with lots of contrasts and it made for a memorable hike. Oh yeah, I managed to grab some photos too. Check them out!

Taking in the sights.

Brendan.

Updates and Thoughts

Hello everyone, it's been a while.

This blog post is focusing on two different things. 

1. What's been happening since my last post.

2. Some thoughts about my work, approach to it all and what's next.

So since the last time I posted any sort of update, back in September, a fair bit has happened. I've slowly been working on my photography ventures, whether it's been the online store, or personal projects. Some of it is slow going, some of it is making steady progress.

In terms of things that tie into photography, travel and new adventures, there's been a few things of note.

In November, along with a few people I love, climbed Mt Kosciuzsko.  We started our walk at Charlotte's Pass, crossing over the Snowy River and up to the peak. The mountain and it's surrounds were covered in snow and it was a beautiful sight to behold. Reaching the peak of the mountain felt like a true accomplishment. Looking out over the highest point in Australia, I was overcome with emotion, feeling like it was culmination of a lot of things happening in my life at the time.

Other hikes came in the form of a few trips in the Royal National Park. One of those trips created a few photos that seemed to really resonate with a fair few people, and now those are up on my store.

I also turned 28 so that was pretty decent.

That leads to my most recent adventure. For a fourth time, I visited Japan. I'm sure if you know me you are probably sick of hearing of me talk about Japan, but for those unfamiliar, I love the place. I love the food, the culture, the atmosphere and how vibrant and unique it all is. From one street to the next it's anyone's guess what you'll see. 

I stayed in the country for 10 days, going from Kyoto, to Tokyo. I visited the surrounds, trying to explore parts I hadn't previously visited. It was great as usual, but it helped me in a lot of ways. I'd felt for a while that my work was unfocused, that I had no real projects or goals to hit. I made sure while I was over there, I got it all out and focused on a few targets. I won't go into detail, but I made sure to hit them all. I feel like by the end of the trip I'd grown personally and professionally. It was becoming clear what I wanted out of this craft.

I have been updating my Instagram page with some photos of my trips and hikes, so make sure to check it out and give me a follow if you haven't already.

So that's it for what's been happening. The only thing left is to tackle is some thoughts and feelings about photography. Let's start with some gripes, and end on the positives. 

I do not enjoy being as overly self critical about my work as I am. I understand it's a problem that plagues every person who does any sort of self expression or artistic endeavour, but it doesn't make it any easier. The amount of times where I'll look at something I've done and just trash it numbers in the thousands at this point. Lately, I've tried to be less harsh in that respect but it can seep up from the cracks from time to time. 

My online store, in all honesty, needs some work. And I will be working on improving it. I have a few new prints to go up soon that I believe are better representations of where I am and what I think people will be happy to see. 

I find the art of self promotion hard. Too little and it's hard to be seen in a sea of people. Too much and no one wants to see you in that sea. It's tricky, but I feel like I'm slowly figuring it out. 

One negative that became a positive over the past few months directly relates to a new mind set and view I've gained. For the longest time, I would take photos and my first thoughts would usually be, "Will people like it?". I would never think about whether it was actually a well constructed, interesting or even good photo.

This happened for years, and it wasn't until the past few months that I've slowly come around to a new and better way of thinking. One that has I believe, drastically improved my flow and the content of my work. What I've realised is I need to take photos that I like, that I want to take.

It may seem weird and obvious that that is the answer, but I always want to make work that resonates and appeals to people. I believe that my work from my realisation onwards strikes more of an emotion and thought than before. 

I am happy with my work than ever before, and I hope you see that.

28, Still Alive, But Very Happy.

Brendan.

Online Store - Now Up!

Hey there everyone, how's it going? I got some good news!

I finally have an online store, ready to sell my work to you!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE STORE!

You'll notice that there's a new page up the top of the site called "Downloads". That takes you to where you can download my eBook "Kampai, Nippon", free of charge. 

The "Store" page takes you to my online store on Etsy. While this isn't ideal for me right now, there is a reason for this. 

Selling this work is technically considered a hobby, so I don't need an ABN right now, and this was needed to set up a proper store on this site. In time I imagine this will change. But for right now, Etsy will be the place I'll be selling my work.

So what is on the store?

Right now, I have six prints available to buy. All of them sell in two sizes, 5x7 and 8x12 and should take about 1-2 weeks to arrive. I ship anywhere too so it doesn't matter if you're down the road, or the South Pole, I can ship there. Here are the prints.

If you have any questions, or you'd like to enquire about other prints, sizes, or something else, please don't hesitate to contact me. Hope to see you soon.

Brendan

St James Hidden Tunnels

It's not very often you get to explore a hidden piece of Sydney history, but I was able to do just that the other week.

I entered an Instagram competition run by NSW Transport where you had to enter a photo utilising the Sydney Train network under the hashtag #trainyourlens. From 1300 entries, I made the final cut of 40 entries, then along with 14 other winners, earned a spot to explore the tunnels.

The Winning Shot.

The St James Tunnels are long unused. Lost to the passage of time. It's filled with huge pools of water, branching tree roots, rubble and messages left behind by soldiers. The tunnels were originally meant to be used for trains, that ended up not happening. Then as World War 2 rolled around, as Darwin was being attacked, it was used by soldiers as a shelter from what could come. After that, it was left alone, only to be explored by select people and adventurers. 

Myself and my partner in crime made our way to St James to start the tour at 10. We met up with a bunch of other winners, and after a few handshakes and warm welcomes, we went behind a very unassuming door, into the past. 

Right away, I noticed how much it felt like the place was stuck in a certain moment of time, almost like it was frozen many years ago. We chucked on our gumboots, grabbed our cameras and began the tour. Our guide walked us through the waters, into the first room, where a bell layed in the middle of the room. 

The bell and her splashing around.

We continued on into darkness. 

The further we went, the more isolated we felt from the outside world. The torches came out, and we see the history left behind. Graffiti left from all the way back in the 1940s until only a few years ago litter the walls. Messages, notes, dates, anything. It was rather fascinating seeing all these weird messages left on the walls with no context to some of them.

The tour lasted about an hour or so, but as we headed back, our guide had one last surprise for us. 

This area was apparently used for some sort of occult ritual or sacrifice. The graffiti left as a lasting sort of shrine to what happened down there. It was awesome to see, if not a little terrifying to think what happened down here.

Overall, I was really glad and fortunate to see the hidden tunnels. It was an experience into a part of Sydney I never thought would be there. If the opportunity came up again, I'd jump at it.

Brendan.

Update on Online Store

Hello there everyone!

First, thank you for all the support and love you've given so far for the website. I took all the criticisms, compliments and other words of advice and will continue to improve not only the site but also my work.

If you haven't been on recently, you might have missed that there is now a "Store" link at the top of the page. Hopefully in the coming weeks I will have that fully stocked with prints to sell you.

Right now though, you can download my very first eBook "Kampai, Nippon". It's a photographic journey through Japan when I visited in October of 2016. And the best part is...

IT'S FREE!

Yes, you read that right, it's free. So if you haven't had a chance to grab it, you got no excuse not to now. 

As for prints, like I said, I'll try and get something up soon. If you are keen for something though you can always shoot me an email and we'll sort something out.

Thanks again everyone!

Brendan

The Mittagong Maltings.

Accompanied by my photographer in crime, Blake, we made our way to Mittagong to check out the old, abandoned Maltings.

The Maltings were constructed in 1899, with later buildings being added in 1906, then 1916. The Maltings were owned by Tooth and Co, who later closed the place down completely in 1981. The three buildings still stand tall today, but have become slowly lost to the ravages of time. Plants grow through the cracks and the buildings are weathered and beaten down. 

Some of the graffiti to be found inside.

We travelled to Mittagong not knowing what to expect. Honestly, I was wondering which one of the two would fall off the roof first. Luckily, neither of us did.

Arriving late afternoon, we got there just as the sun lost it's bite, making for some excellent shots later. There were three buildings, two stone, one sheet metal. All of those buildings housed old equipment and tools. For the most part they were either rusted, destroyed or taken away, leaving only the heaviest and bulkiest ones.

Light creeps in everywhere.

After a brief exploration of the first two buildings, we wandered over the Nattai River to the third and most impressive building. It stood the tallest of the three at four storeys tall, and was still mostly intact, save for a few missing floorboards and stairs. Out of the three it was the most fun to explore, with multiple layers and each floor creating it's own mood and scene.

As we climbed we found what was to be the highlight of the place, on the third and fourth floors, the sun started to seep into the open roofs and walls of the buildings, creating some amazing looking shots for us. We shot for a while up there before we set off for the day. 

Abandoned, broken, but still standing.

The Mittagong Maltings are not just a great place to take photos out, but also are a great day out if you're keen to see and experience some history. Sure there isn't a lot of objects to look at, and rubbish and graffiti litter the place, but the overall history lends itself to a visit.

It's hard to get into abandoned places to check them out, but the Mittagong Maltings should be on your list.

Brendan

Welcome to Brendan Curtain

Hello and welcome!

If you already know me then it's good to see you again! If you don't, let me introduce myself. 

I am Brendan Curtain, a dude living out of Sydney, Australia with a passion for photography. Whether it's in the area or somewhere else in the world, I want to to go and take photos there. This website is mainly to help show off my work and projects that I do.

You might already see my stuff on Instagram or Twitter, but a thorough collection of my work is located here. If you like it, share it, spread it to someone new. All that stuff helps me.

So let's get to it. I'll make work, you like it. Simple right?

Brendan.