Low-Fi in New Orleans

Susan Stayer
Artistic Inspiration

From 16 February to 1 April this year, the New Orleans Photo Alliance hosted a fantastic show called Toy Stories: High-brow Photos From Low-fi Cameras.

The images are just so super cool ... here's a peek.

"Devil" by Uttermohlen

"Dirty Laundry" by Heather Oelklaus

"The Oracle" by Thom Bennett

Autumn in Canberra

Miguel Gallagher
Open

I love Autumn in Canberra. Susan, you should recognise a couple of these places.

Urban Designs

Miguel Gallagher
Portrait

Here are some portraits that I did a couple of weeks ago. I realised that I hadn't completed the portrait topic even though I set it as we were finding it difficult to arrange some free time in our busy schedules :).

These are some portraits for Industrial Designer Chris Hardy to use with his Workshopped design competition entry. He asked for a contemporary urban feel to his image so we went to the NGA and used the lines and walls of the building in combination with my new lensbaby. His Urchin Light from last year is definitely worth a look. His 2008 entry isn't up yet. I am hanging to see it.

Beauty Contests: No More Stigma?

Kathleen Fisher

Stigma

Is it my imagination or are beauty contests becoming acceptable again?

Back in the '90s, when us girls wore boots instead of stilettos, they were absolutely shameful ... so much so that I remember protests.

What changed? Young women have certainly shunned the hard image of feminism and, in fashion and home particularly, embraced femininity.

Anyway, I've finished working on this shot from the Miss Summernat's Beauty Contest of 2005 and only just noticed the frame number is the perfect 10.

As an aside, I've noticed the rather mundane things in my life carry stigmas, such as living in the country, being a "housewife" and believing in God. I'm curious to know if this experience rings a bell with other Betties.

Contemporary Portraits Trends

Kathleen Fisher
Artistic Inspiration

I've been contemplating trends in contemporary Australia photographic portraiture over the past six months. After browsing the finalists of the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2007 and Head On 2008, I've decided only the following subjects are allowed:

• Old people
• Indigenous Australians
• The photographer's partner and/or children
• Sick people
• People with their pets, preferably a dog
• Thespians and other artistic types.

And style must conform to one of the following devices:

• The subject must display no glimmer of happiness. In fact, suffering, especially of frail old people or anyone recovering from surgery, is preferred
• Backgrounds must either be of hip, vintage-style wallpaper or devoid of any clues as to the personality of the subject
• The portrait must not visually tell a story or provide a context.

Am I bitter? Probably. But do you think I'm right?

C'mon Betties, let me know what you think of contemporary Australian photographic portraiture? For inspiration, check out Head On (you have to register to see the finalists online) and the National Portrait Gallery.

Visitor to My Garden

Tawny Frogmouth

Kerry Baylor

Open

This is the first time I have seen this type of bird and was lucky enough to get a pic. He was so cute and inquisitive.

2008 Krappy Kamera Competition

Image by Bridget Kane

Susan Stayer
Artistic Inspiration

For the last decade, the annual Krappy Camera Competition has celebrated plastic cameras in all their unreliable glory.

Check out "Seeking Imperfection" Hailey Eber's review of this year's event, published in the Brooklyn Rail. Soho Photo Gallery hosts an exhibition of short-listed images ... browse through the 50 finalists here.

There is only one problem with this fabulous event ... photographers living outside the US can't enter. Boo hoo for the Betties!

Update: good news for Australian plastic camera fans ... Blender Gallery in Sydney ran a similiar competition last year and plans to continue to momentum this year. How exciting!

A Very Green Dip

Kerry Baylor
Open

Here are some new pics taken with my Howay 35 and some old cross processed slide film. I recently had my sister and nephew visit so we did a very Canberra thing and went for a walk around the lake and a swim at Civic pool.

A Walk Around Lake Burley Griffin

Kerry Baylor

Open

Collector Photographs

Kerry Baylor

Open

I am currently tutoring a class at Photoaccess, in which we are experimenting with old cameras and film. These are a sample of my pics from a class field trip to Collector. I am very proud of the results my class members are getting and hope to share some of their images with you all.