The morning I woke

Sometimes my world gets so confusing that words just aren’t adequate or don’t come out at all. In that time all I can do is take photographs. Photography is my refuge.

© Cassie Sullivan 2011

Behind the Scenes with Bridget Pross and Photography with Cassie

Sun, guitar, dancing, laughs, meeting new people, photographing, iphones, singing, random people walking through shots, hay fever, fun, spring, jumping fences, did I mention laughter? Lots of laughter. This sums our day shooting with Bridget Pross and lovely band mates, Pez, Kev and Johnny. An amazing day! Thanks to John Lebesis for taking the snaps of Bridget and I hard at work :)  

www.bridgetpross.com.au 

© Cassie Sullivan 2011 www.facebook.com/photographywithcassie 

Introducing the beautiful Bridget Pross! 

I recently did a shoot with Bridget and her lovely band mates Pez, Johnny and Kev. It was such a nice way to spend the morning. We went and hung out at Werribee Mansion and photographed all around the building and gardens. Their music is a little bit country and they wanted the photos to have a rustic, natural feel to them.

Bridget and I met a few years back now in Tassie, Bridge playing her amazing music and me doing my event management. I can’t remember the first time we met but Bridget is one of those people you feel like you’ve known forever and could tell anything too.

She’s as honest as they come, willing to give anything a go and always ready for a laugh. Bridget has this beautiful soul to match her beautiful face, she’s truly a pleasure to be around. Go and have a listen to her music @ www.facebook.com/pages/Bridget-Pross/218831168165993?sk=wall 

See more of my images @ www.facebook.com/photographywithcassie 

Animals. Humans. Life.

Today I went and photographed Melbourne’s Grand National Steeplechase. I went there seeking a news story to document. I knew there would be controversy from the anti Jumps Racing protesters, this being the richest race of its kind in Australia and so I went down to see what adventure might unfold. 

We were there too early for the protesters so we ventured inside. I found it somewhat ironic that by paying to go in to the race we were directly supporting something I wasn’t completely comfortable with. But I found once inside the track I was intrigued with this world of racing. The gentleman who’s characters are so at odds with the suits they’ve put on for the day. The incredibly friendly staff, willing to chat and share and let me into places I shouldn’t have been to take photos. The trainers quietly sitting by their horses. And the horses, such intelligent, strong, thoughtful beings with an absolutely overwhelming presence. 

I fell in love with these horses, with the holding stables, with the energy surrounding them. It was a place of calm. The horses had come from all sorts of places, Australia, New Zealand and a small horse from Ireland called Fergus McIver. All had their own personality. 

The actual race itself was not anywhere near as interesting as the characters watching it. The horses raced around the track. A horse fell, there was a communal intake of breath from the crowd. The commentator mentioned it briefly, then continued with the race. It was not mentioned again. There was no footage, no replay on the big screen. 

We ventured out to the protest. The screeching over the megaphone of “BAN JUMPS RACING” contradicted with the calm inside. The placards were graphic. The police and security stood quietly by, watching, waiting. I listened to the man with the megaphone name each horse who had died while Jumps Racing over the last 15 years. It didn’t have a huge affect on me I’m ashamed to say. 

It didn’t have an affect on me until I got home. Once home I discovered that the horse who had fallen was the little Irish one, Fergus McIver. He died and it passed by unmentioned. My heart ached for that horse, for his trainers too. I had seen him only hours before. Fell in love with his world. It affected me far far more than the protest, I’m glad I got to document these horses before the race, it helped me connect with them, it helped me realise that Jumps Racing is a senseless sport. An unnecessary waste. 

Read the article here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/jumps-racing-death-in-melbourne-sparks-calls-for-immediate-ban/story-e6frg6nf-1226123873467

View more of my work here: www.facebook.com/photographywithcassie

photojojo:

Spanish artist Yolanda Dominguez had women re-enact poses from fashion magazines in public as performance art.

We highly recommend the video! Pretty funny.

Women Reenact Fashion Poses in Public

Too funny

© Cassie Sullivan 2011

This was taken a few days ago. I was feeling like I just needed to get out and walk, so I grabbed my camera and did just that. It didn’t worry me that it was raining, it intrigued me. I photographed the rains patterns, patterns on the road, the fences, the letterboxes, the leaves and these blossoms. It was so lovely to just take photo’s, just for me, just because. I recommend it to everyone :)

Grateful Post #4 - Grateful to have my Mum.

My mum and I have always been close, really close. We’ve always been in tune, in sync, two piscean dreamers together.  So it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am grateful to have the Mum I do and grateful for the person she is, but I wanted to share a little of this gratefulness with everyone.

I live in Melbourne, my Mum lives in Broome. This can be great when wanting to go on holidays somewhere nice and warm and so very different to Melbourne, but most days it wrenches a hole in my heart. Sometimes I truly believe that my heart tries to stretch itself the 3000+ kilometers to Broome. It hurts. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am happy my Mum lives in Broome. She has found somewhere she feels a part of and someone she connects deeply with. I’m sorry Mum, when you made the the move to Broome I thought (and secretly hoped) you would last two weeks. It has been over three years and you have never once stepped back. I find the immense strength it must have taken you to move away from all you knew and go on a search for somewhere you would feel happier absolutely inspiring. It was one of the bravest things I’ve seen and I’m so proud of you for doing it. Not just doing it, but doing it properly! 

I am most grateful to my Mum for accepting and embracing who I am wholeheartedly. I know that’s a Mum’s job, but I’ve seen a lot of Mum’s who don’t do their job so well. I feel so lucky that mine does. 

I know I can tell my Mum anything and I do, believe me this leads to ridiculously expensive phone bills. It never matters what I prattle on about, she will support me and know exactly what to say. More often than not, I don’t have to say anything at all, she will already know, in that way that she has. 

I am grateful that she has raised my brother, sister and I in the way she did. Grateful that we are all friends and that we are all individuals. I’m grateful that we never went without because my Mum ALWAYS put us first. I am grateful that she did everything in her power to change the worst parts of her own upbringing so that they would not become ours. Being a mother, being Our Mother was the most selfless act and I can only hope that one day I will have such strength of being.

When every day is a struggle I just ring my Mum and cry. Sometimes I forget that her struggles have been far greater than mine. When I remember, I am inspired by the person she has become. She is a fighter my Mum although I don’t think she feels that way about herself. I am grateful that she has fought so hard to be here even when I know it would have been far easier for her to give up.

These are just a few of the million things I am grateful to my Mum for. I am grateful that she has taught me so much, that she loves me so much, that she is proud of me no matter what and that she has had the heart and courage to live her own life.

I miss her every day. 

photojojo:

Check out these amazing photographs of surfers by Aussie based Stuart Gibson. These really make us want to go down to the beach, now if only any of us were decent at surfing! 

Water sport photography by Stuart Gibson.

(Source: photojojo)

A short photographic series exploring beauty in the death that surrounds us. All images © Cassie Sullivan 2011.

aneditorsview:

For me there are two ways to photography.

One is the love of technology, cameras and kit.

The second is through the love of people.

I’ve never been interested in kit.