Me, photographed by Cybele

Cybele, photographed by me

While Cybele and i were on holidays, a couple of photos we took of each other were part of an exhibition put on by Vice and sponsored by Bonds. It was held at Luxe Studios in Darlinghurst and by the looks of it proved popular.

It was for of a project that Vice initiated for Bonds where they got creative couples and friends to photograph each other. The only brief apart from that was that you had to wear clothes from Bonds new unisex range.

As is my way i procrastinated about it until the last minute and we both had a bit of a freakout the day before the pictures were due trying to work out what to do. There was also crises of confidence as we realised that we’re much happier behind the camera rather than in front.

After several aborted set ups and abandoned ideas we decided on the style you see above.

It’s a technique that Cybele had used in a previous fashion shoot.

Our pictures on the wall at Luxe Studios. Photo courtesy of Vice

More photos and coverage at the Vice/Bonds made2share site, Pedestrian and Oyster.

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Last night i took some photos of the launch of DFA records art exhibition at Tom Dunne Gallery in Darlinghurst for EMI.

Titled “That’s Cool But Can You Make It More Sh*t?”, the show was a large collection of record sleeves, posters, doodles and polaroids from LCD Soundsystem and other DFA projects.

DFA art director Michael Vadino was behind most of the work

As it’s Splendour season the calibre of international guests was pretty high with LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, Alison Goldfrapp and Nick Valensi of The Strokes in attendance.

LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy with The Strokes Nick Valensi

Lisa Gunning and Alison Goldfrapp

3 Hot Chips

Local talent was well represented too with various members of Dappled Cities, Faker, Red Riders, Papa vs Pretty, Lost Valentinos and even a Masterchef contestant.

Natalie Miller and Aaron Harvie

Sometimes these things can be pretty wanky but i encountered no jerks and everyone was quite lovely.

The show continues till August 2nd.

You can find more of my snaps at Pedestrian or Oyster or below.

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To coincide with the Surry Hills themed issue of Time Out Sydney, the magazine held a one night only photo exhibition at Urban Uprising featuring 20 of my pictures, plus some more by Will Storr.

The pictures are all of Surry Hills people and places, some taken on assignment for Time Out, some just my personal work.

Surry Hills is a suburb dear to my heart, it’s where i was born, it’s where i’ve lived, and it’s where i spend so much of my time.

So it was a pleasure pulling some pictures from the archives for the show and sharing them with many of my Surry Hills pals.

Minnie Cooper's alter ego

Thanks are due to Urban Uprising, Dan, Andy, Phil, Roxy, ACP, Hardware Gallery, Pie Face, Peroni, Chandon and Café Lounge.

The show ran for one night only at Urban Uprising, but i’ve moved many of the shots to Café Lounge, where they’re on display till next Wednesday.

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The opening night crowd at Covers - photos by Patrick Stevenson

I was quite overwhelmed and touched by the support for Cybele and my photo show Covers opening night on Thursday.

Our thirsty guests smashed through 15 cases of beer and 12 bottles of wine in just the first hour. We sold a bunch of pictures and made some money for Oasis.

Now the first night is over the show continues. The covers will be at Mart Gallery until 20th February. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 12-5pm.

The show and opening night wouldn’t have gone so well without the help of the following people. So HUGE THANKS  to:

• Mel at Mart Gallery
• Everyone who’s come along to the show, and especially those who bought prints
• Becks for providing the booze
• Liv and Mimi for serving all that booze
• Patrick Stevenson for taking the opening night photos
• Cybele for being amazing and the star of the show
• Justin for all his expertise prepping and hanging the work
• All the media for helping spread the word about the show

We enjoyed great support from:

• Time Out Sydney
• Drum Media
• The Brag
• Two Thousand
• Pedestrian
• Concrete Playground
• 3D World
• The Blackmail
• Coco + Maria
• Boundary Sounds
• FBi Radio
• Unseen Magazine
• Throw Shapes
• Side Street Sydney

Thank you.

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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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Remember when i rated Cybele Malinowski as one of the top young Australian music photographers? Well now she’s exhibiting her wares in her first gallery exhibition titled LOUDlight. All the photos on display are in huge backlit displays like the one above featuring Catcall.

It opens this Thursday from 6.30pm at the MTV gallery (4-16 Yurong St, East Sydney). Marieke and The Doctor will open proceedings and Dappled Dave will be performing with his new band Curse of Company featuring Sarah from redsunband and Danny Heifetz, ex-drummer for Mr Bungle.

The exhibition continues till the 30th April – open Wednesday to Saturday between 1 and 6pm.

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I didn’t take any photos myself on the opening night of 3 Songs. No Flash, but the fellas from China Heights gave me some of these snaps that they took.

I told you it was popular! After publishing my work to a faceless audience on the internet for so long it was cool to see real live people in a room there to enjoy it. Or at least turn up for free drinks.

I’ve collected these shots, plus some photos i took at quieter moments in the 3 Songs. No Flash photo gallery.

Matt also took some photos of the show which you can see on his blog.

I promise i’ll stop going on about the show now. Normal blogging resumes tomorrow.

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View larger panorama of the room.

Now the show‘s over i figure it’s good to review all the media coverage we got for it.

• A full page feature interview in The Brag with cover inlay photo.
• An article and photo in Drum Media.
• A feature in 3D World plus social photos.
• On air interview with Matt on FBI and triple j radio.
• A mention in Mess and Noise magazine.
• A plug on the homepage of Australian Infront.
• Lead item on Kripy and Two Thousand email newsletters.
• Threads on Fasterlouder, Mess and Noise, Myspace and Flickr.
• Plugs on various blogs including whothehell.net, The Sandwich Club, A Reminder and Sydney Food Diary.
• Links from Crumpler website and email mailout.

I think we did rather well considering we didn’t spend a cent on promotion.

Many thanks to everyone who supported us.

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As an official sponsor of 3 Songs. No Flash, The Brag magazine gave us some plum coverage before the show, with a cover inlay photo and a full page feature interview with Matt, Nic and I.

The email interviews with The Brag editor Kirsty Brown were edited down to fit in the magazine, so i thought it might be nice to post the full contents of each interview – plus an intro from me.

• Interview with Nic Bezzina
• Interview with Matt Booy
• Interview with Daniel Boud

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Slipknot by Nic Bezzina

One of the reasons i wanted Nic to be in 3 Songs. No Flash is that he’s so different (in a good way) to Matt and I. Most gig photographers these days are loaded with lenses and a swish digital SLR. Nic on the other hand only uses one camera (a film camera) and one lens. A fully manual Nikon FE2 and an 85mm lens.

I’m amazed at what he can do with it. The quality of his photos speaks for itself.

Here’s Nic’s interview with The Brag editor Kirsty Brown:

BRAG: Tell us a little about yourself. Who do you work for, what is your style
of photography, do you have a day job?

NIC: Hi, I’m Nic; day dreamer, observer, perverse, quite silent, music lover.
I contribute to Blunt Magazine and the absolute worthless, Unbelievably
Bad.
I have a casual day job at Crumpler, so visit me in the Newtown store
and buy stuff.
My style of photography is ummm…
I like to think it carries atmosphere.

How did you get into the photography business?

I dreamt of being a music video director, and music photography seemed
the perfect stepping stone.
I bought a 2nd hand camera and lens off eBay and started shooting gigs
at the Annandale Hotel, which soon led to a residency. Thanks go out to
the Dale for giving me a home to grow as an artist and photographer. Oh’
that and I became obsessed with my work.

Memorable moments.

Watching Craig Nicholls (The Vines) kick a photographer’s camera and
flash out of her hands. She was 3 people down on my left.
I’ve always hated bursts of flash going off mid-performance anyway.

Not so memorable moments.

I was shooting Brisbane band, Raising the Dead, as a favour. The singer
was extremely out of his head and volatile on stage. He started throwing
garbage into the crowd from a bin he wheeled in from the alley. A girl
standing next to me was hit in the face with a piece of meat. It was
rotten.

If you could photograph anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Nick Cave with The Birthday Party, 1983. I was still in the womb that
year.

The Mars Volta. Again.
And again.
TOOL.

Deftones
Bjork – Debut tour.

FAITH NO MORE

Who has been the most exciting person to shoot and who has been the most
difficult?

Shooting The Mars Volta was a dream come true.
Shooting The Mars Volta from the Enmore foyer was a nightmare.
Also, taking a good photo within The Dillinger Escape Plan pit proved to
be difficult.

Is there a memorable image that you have taken that has become your
favourite?

Chino Moreno, on his tour with Team Sleep, climbed the barricade and
sung into the face of many smiling fans. The show was at the Roundhouse
and I was lucky enough to have been on the second level, waiting, camera
poised.

What is 3 Songs, No Flash about? How did it come around and what do you
hope it achieves?

Literally, 3 Songs No Flash are the two general rules for photographing
higher profile gigs. The exhibition is a showcase of best works from 3
of Australia’s next generation of talented music photographers.

Dan and Matt asked me if I wanted to take part in a joint exhibition. I
jumped at the offer and the ball started to roll. They’re both great
photographers.

I hope it brings about future collaborations with bands/artists that I
admire.
Ongoing work and projects.

What advice would you give to budding photographers out there?

Practise, experiment, be patient, and always look to improve.
DeviantART.com is a great place to publish your work for feedback.

You can see more of Nic’s work at Nicbezzina.com.

See Also:

• Interview with Matt Booy
• Interview with Daniel Boud

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• 3 Songs. No Flash – the media mentions
• 3 Songs. No Flash interviews in The Brag
• Interview with Matt Booy
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