Here’s some photos from a brief shoot i had on Friday with famous New York transexual Amanda Lepore for Time Out Sydney. Amanda was in town to launch a new gay club night.

This was a pretty intimidating and exciting shoot for me, not because of Amanda Lepore per se, but for the fact that she was/is David LaChapelle’s muse and subject of so many of his photographs.

While i don’t ape his style, it was discovering his work over ten years ago that first made me open my eyes to how amazing photography could be and planted the seeds of my obsession with the craft.

With Amanda i just had a brief window of time to shoot after an interview and it had to be done at the Sheraton on the Park where she was staying.

I’ve shot there before and know the walls are pretty bland, so in a technique i picked up from Cybele, i brought my own wall in the form of some strips of vintage wallpaper.

It’s a simple thing, but adds more character to a shot than a plain cream wall.

Those shots were over so quick there was a bit more time to move into a corner with a grand piano for some more pictures.

There was also some spherical lamps which were cool looking, so i got her to hold one for a couple of frames.

It was all done in about 10 minutes.

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While i’m posting dance related photos, here’s some portraits i took of Kenneth Kvarnström for Time Out Sydney. Kenneth is a Finnish choreographer who is creating a new work for the Sydney Dance Company called Mercury.

We started in a workshop backstage where the outifts are made, and Kenneth immediately impressed with his dexterous posing.

With such a nimble pose i thought it deserved a cleaner simpler backdrop so we found a white wall. And that then inspired to have some fun with shadow puppets.

Kenneth Kvarnström’s Mercury opens 17th November.

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Back in August i had a dream gig shooting stills on the set of a promo video for Sydney Dance Company.

The one minute piece was shot with six dancers from the Sydney Dance Company, choreographed by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela.

It was all filmed in the Deutsche Bank building in Sydney’s CBD.

SDC Creative Director Rafael Bonachela and Tony Luu help block out the shot for Director Husein Alicajic

Credit is due to:

Director: Husein Alicajic
Director of Photography: Tony Luu
Creative Director: Dei El-Ayoubi
Choreography: Rafael Bonachela
Producer: Ellen Barton (Foxtel), Matt White (SDC)

Plus the amazing dancers and crew.

It was filmed on the Arri D21.

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Baffi and Mo in Redfern

Seeing Will’s post on Baffi and Mo reminded me about the photos i shot for Time Out Sydney’s Best Breakfasts issue.

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, and a lazy café breakfast is one of life’s great pleasures.

Bangbang in Surry Hills

Any of these establishments will feed you well, alongside a killer coffee.

Clipper Cafe in Glebe

Cafe No. 9 in Potts Point

Since the story was published it seems that Cafe No. 9 has closed in mysterious circumstances, and if the comments here are correct, all the staff have moved on prior to it re-opening.

Coffee at Bangbang

Kasbah in Balmain

Baffi and Mo

Baffi and Mo

See Time Out for the full top 10 list.

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Next week i’m having a little photo show with a couple of snapper mates, in association with the British Indie night Britpop.

It’ll be me, Graham Denholm and Mark Metcalfe, all showing photos of British bands performing.

I’ve managed to dig out the trinity of britpop heroes Noel Gallagher, Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn plus more modern fare such as The Horrors, Editors, New Young Pony Club and Amy Winehouse.

There’s a preview night this Wednesday from 6-9pm, with free beer courtesy of VB Raw.

It’s an invite only affair – but consider yourself invited – just RSVP to john@britpop.com.au

Then on Saturday 7th November, it’ll be open alongside Britpop, the british indie club night.

It all happens at The Abercrombie Hotel in Chippendale. Cnr Broadway and Abercrombie St.

Here’s a sample of what you’ll see.

The Horrors by Daniel Boud

The Pipettes by Daniel Boud

Arctic Monkeys by Graham Denholm

Franz Ferdinand by Graham Denholm

Kaiser Chiefs by Mark Metcalfe

Doves by Mark Metcalfe

Hope to see you there.

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Maxi Shield

For the 3rd year in a row i photographed the red carpet of Sydney’s drag industry awards, the DIVA’s on Monday night for Time Out Sydney.

The awards were held at The Bourbon in Kings Cross and although pretty much anything goes in Kings Cross, there were still loads of tourists stopped in their tracks, gobsmacked at the gaggle of outrageous drag performers on the street.

Dallas Dellaforce

Drag artists are always great fun to shoot. They love having their picture taken and (mostly) look amazing, dolled up to the max with elaborate make up and outfits.

See more, including the list of winners at Time Out Sydney.

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6000 Sydneysiders walked onto a grass covered Sydney Harbour Bridge yesterday morning for the first ever Breakfast on the Bridge.

Real grass turf was rolled out from pylon to pylon to cover the length of the bridge and provide a soft spot to picnic.

The grass, the people, the cows and lack of cars made for a surreal sight.

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Here’s some snaps from August, on the set of a music video for The McClymonts song Kick it Up.

It was filmed in Balmain Town Hall by Conti Brothers Films.

The clip was shot on the RED camera with an impressive looking steadicam

I did a quick portrait with my own lights

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Here’s some snaps from the new location for the Sydney Laneway festival – Sydney College of the Arts in Rozelle.

I got a call from the organisers the other day, saying it was moving from it’s former home in the Sydney CBD and that they’d like some pictures to illustrate what the new location is like.

The wobble in the chimney is actually like that, it's not caused by my lens

Thankfully it was a gorgeous Sydney morning yesterday when i took the photos. There’s more on the Laneway flickr.

Come January, acts like Echo and the Bunnymen, Florence and the Machine, Eddie Current and the Suppression Ring and The xx will be playing on these lawns.

Plus the band that wrote one of my favourite songs of 2008, Wild Beasts.

It’s a little odd that the ‘Laneway’ festival is moving to greener surrounds in both Sydney and Melbourne. Part of it’s appeal was the taking over of CBD streets with a music festival. But it wasn’t the most practical of venues, as many Melbourne punters would tell you.

In memory of the old Sydney CBD location, here’s some shots of Laneways past.

Dan Deacon - in typical fashion is in the crowd, rather than onstage

Broken Social Scene on the Park Stage

The crowd at the Park Stage

My Disco in The Basement

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Jake Stone in an outtake from the Problems album shoot. January 2007

To coincide with the release of bluejuice’s new album Head of the Hawk, i dug out some of my photos from the archives for a pictorial retrospective in Tangent magazine.

Stav and Jake at Megaphon studios on the day they recorded Vitriol. July 2006

At Big Jesus Burger studios during recording of Head of the Hawk. January 2009

Jake taking time out at Big Jesus Burger studios. January 2009

The complicated relationship of duelling frontmen Jake and Stav. January 2007

Kylie Keene photographing bluejuice at Splendour in the Grass. August 2008

Jake crowd surfing at the Sydney Big Day Out. January 2008

Jake, walking around on a broken leg. June 2008

The album art for their first album, Problems. January 2007

Jake, totally spent, moments after finishing a show at The Metro. June 2009

Bluejuice is in the midst of an Australian tour at the moment and Head of the Hawk is out now.

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