Top folio shots 2014: Jan- Mar

Here I am again on the first day of April madly delving into the last 3 month’s worth of images I have already edited for folios this year. From my humble abode in Titirangi I have travelled all over the world; from sparkly ocean pools scattered about Sydney’s shores, to the fashion scenes of Japan and Shanghai; I’ve attended Ukranian feasts, flopped onto hot car seats on dusty road trips, dived under crashing surf, and explored burning cane fields in far North Queensland, and poky back rooms with piles of rubbish.

At the beginning of this year 2013’s top shots were judged by an advertising creative from TBWA Melbourne. You can see the final winning shot here, and last year’s top shots here (Jan- March), here (April- June) and here (July- Dec). As I’m part of a large photography forum in Asia this year I’ll be cajoling an Asian based creative on board as the next judge. To be in the mix, I just have to edit your website/ folio during that month.

Here are my first three from 2014, and do keep watching my blog for updates.

January

I am a bit of a sucker for a shot which allows the imagination to roam. Top it with beautiful light (captured or created), and perfect composition and it has all the winning attributes. January was a tough month as I edited so many folios but when it came down to it this one was a great stand-alone image. Craig Proudford is a young Sydney photographer to watch. His work has a quirky approach, and is executed with utmost attention to detail. After assisting some of the best advertising photographers in Sydney, and putting together a gorgeous folio, I have no doubt he is well prepared for an awesome 2014.

February

I am in love with the layers and textures in this shot. And it’s also refreshing to see black and white imagery used in a deliberate and conceptual way. I can’t imagine the work that went into the costume design for this shot- part of a much larger project called ‘Shanghai Shadows’. But then, everything Robert Earp shoots is highly conceptualised and produced, and involves his very competent team of artists. You can see more of the series here.

March

‘I find something primeval, spiritual perhaps, in our immersion in water and the light of the dawn. It’s hard not to be moved by this interaction. I’m sure if you looked at our brain waves, the light and water would be triggering endorphins or fairy dust, or whatever you want to call it.’

So speaks Christian Mushenko of his ‘Poolside series’. And of course, here I go again, drooling over those ocean pools. It seems that every morning Sydney-siders head out in droves to their ‘local’ to do some laps and enjoy the balmy weather, chat to the neighbours, walk the dog and imbibe some of the fairy dust. It was hard to pick one of the many shots I waded through as I did Christian’s new print folio, but I settled on this one with it’s glistening milky water, slightly ominous sky, and the small figures doing their morning laps.