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Fleur Blüm

~ writer, performer, musician

Fleur Blüm

Tag Archives: Photo Essay

Photo Portraiture

08 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by toearlyretirement in Art, Photo Essay

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Adventure, Art, Canon 1100D, Challenge, Creative Photo Workshops, Inspiration, Melbourne, Motivation, Nurturing yourself, Photo Essay, Photography, Professional development

For Christmas, my mum gave me a ‘voucher’ for a photography course. She made it herself and it accompanied some money with which to pay for said course. My mum does good presents.

I took some time looking around for a course that would suit my skill level, more experienced than a beginner but not a super whiz (especially with the technical side of things). After speaking to a few photographer friends and having a look at the photos available on each course’s website, I decided to go with Creative Photo Workshop‘s Natural Light Portraits course. It was a bit on the expensive side compared to the other courses out there, but ran for six hours, and, it turns out, they pay for a model, which was really great for practising. I decided that the longer duration (other courses run for three hours) justified my spending more on it.

Model - Brock, with window light.

Model – Brock, with window light.

Model - Brock, with carpark fluorescent lighting.

Model – Brock, with carpark fluorescent lighting.

Both of these shots were set up by the teacher in order to demonstrate what he wanted us to learn, as well as the many others I took.

I’m really glad that I attended the class. Before yesterday, I wasn’t confident to use the manual setting on my camera, although now I feel like I have a better idea of what the individual functions do and how to get them to do what I want them to.

Glynn’s photographic style is distinctive and strong, and while not completely in tune with my own style, produces some awesome effects that I’m glad to be able to replicate. He is extremely knowledgeable and he’s able to convey technical information and tips without making it seem like hard work, which is great for someone still learning. Glynn also focuses on in-camera technique, rather than post production or photoshop, which reflects my own preference. His style is a bit blokey, and though it’s not my favourite,  in the end, didn’t affect my enjoyment of the class.

So thanks Mum, and thanks Creative Photography for opening up my experience and for instilling a sense of confidence in my technical ability which should result in a better translation of my creative vision to the finished shot. Woo!! I look forward to shooting more portraits in the near future!

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The day after the night before

22 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by toearlyretirement in Art, Photo Essay

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Adventure, Art, Artist Date, bohemian melbourne, Canon 1100D, Melbourne, Photo Essay, Photography, State Library of Victoria, White Night Melbourne

I didn’t manage to get to White Night in Melbourne last night, for various dull reasons that I don’t need to go into. So today I thought I would head into the city and see if there were any remnants, or things I could still see.

Two by two, hands of blue.

Two by two, hands of blue.

Some interesting chalk graf outside the State Library

Some interesting chalk graf outside the State Library

Inside the 'Bohemian Melbourne' exhibition in the State Library

Inside the ‘Bohemian Melbourne’ exhibition in the State Library

Inside the State Library Dome

Inside the State Library Dome

There wasn’t much left, and there wasn’t that much mess, but then it was hours after the end of the event, so maybe it had been cleaned already.

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Lost and Found

24 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Art, Writing, Writing101

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Adventure, Art, Canon 1100D, Challenge, drawings, Flanigan Lane, Inspiration, Laneways, life drawing, Melbourne, Melbourne Laneways, Motivation, Nurturing yourself, Photo Essay, Photography, Self Esteem, street art, Writing, Writing101

During my adventure on Sunday in the laneways of Melbourne, I came across something that looked like discarded drawings. In a laneway near the law district which was a weird combination of old and new, on the cobbled street next to a big blue skip, was a large, forlorn looking piece of paper. When I first saw it, I thought it was just rubbish, but then I realised it was very white.

As I walked up to the paper I saw, in the fold, a half-hidden charcoal sketch of a nude figure. I wanted to know why someone would have thrown it away, and looked around for other clues. Further down the laneway, where I assume the wind had taken them, were other pages of drawings. I couldn’t have told you exactly why, but these pages, lying dead in an alley, filled me with an intense feeling of melancholy. Someone out there had hated their own work so much that they’d discarded it. They had hated themselves so much that they couldn’t bear the reminder of what they saw as their own inadequacy.

Flanigan Lane - discarded art

Flanigan Lane – discarded art

Perhaps I’m being overly dramatic. It’s just as likely that this artist didn’t care about the drawings. Maybe they were doing a life drawing class with their partner, or a friend, and didn’t have any room in their heart for the scribblings that they made. It’s almost as sad to think of people who don’t have room for art – people who are too busy, or who just aren’t paying attention. I suppose it reminds me of the person I used to be when I didn’t have time to work on my art, at time when I discarded my work, didn’t value it, or nurture it. I remember how sad I was, how there was a deep wound inside me that I didn’t even realise was there. Occasionally I look at my life now and think about how stressful it is, or how far away from my goals I am, or how I’m a bit lonely, or sad, or whatever, but sometimes I remember where I came from. How distant that person who started on this path seems. Now when I’m sad I know it. When I feel something I can really feel it. Before I didn’t even know I was unhappy, I thought that this was as good as it gets.

There is no way that an artist can keep everything that they produce, of course there will always be a selection process going on, there must be in order to grow. I do it with my writing all the time, get half way through some ill-formed concept and decide it’s never going to work, but it really reminded me that sometimes you can’t see the value in your own work and we have to be gentler with ourselves sometimes.

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Street Art on Sunday

23 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Photo Essay

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Adventure, Art, Artist Date, Artists, Canon 1100D, Challenge, Exploring, Flanigan Lane, Flinders Lane, Graffiti, Inspiration, Laneways, Melbourne, Motivation, Photo Essay, Photography, Stencil, Stick ups, street art

This is a quick post of a photography adventure I went on yesterday. For more photos check out my Facebook album.

Duckboard Place

Duckboard Place

Flinders Lane

Flinders Lane

Flanigan Lane

Flanigan Lane

Flanigan Lane

Flanigan Lane

Union Lane

Union Lane

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Week Four – Photo a day Challenge

01 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Art, My Journey, Photo Essay

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Adventure, Art, Artist Date, Challenge, fmsphotoaday, foodporn, Inspiration, MCG, Melbourne, Photo Essay, Photography, Woland, Woland the Artist, Writing, Writing Group, Writing101

Week four is the last week for the photo a day challenge I signed up for. I’ve had a lot of fun trying to find something everyday to photograph in line with the daily theme. I admit some days I didn’t get very close, some days the connection was tenuous to say the least, but other days I think I really nailed it.

As with the others in this series, these are all photos taken with my smart phone and posted on my Instagram @Dragongirlau. I also had to get a new phone part way through this week because the old one died (as in proper died, won’t turn on and won’t charge) and I’m still getting the hang of the new one!

Day 23 - Black and white pencil artwork by my friend Woland, it's called 'Weight Watcher'

Day 23 – Black and white pencil artwork by my friend Woland, it’s called ‘Weight Watcher’

Day 24 - Chicken noodle soup in Preston with Louise. It was supposed to be sunrise but I wasn't up for getting up for that...

Day 24 – Chicken noodle soup in Preston with Louise. It was supposed to be sunrise but I wasn’t up for getting up for that…

Day 25 - just outside my door this guy must have been dropped by a neighbourhood kid. Poor abandoned kinda egg guy.

Day 25 – just outside my door this guy must have been dropped by a neighbourhood kid. Poor abandoned kinder egg guy.

Day 26 - I nearly forgot to post a photo today. I don't have a pet but will this little guy do?

Day 26 – I nearly forgot to post a photo today. I don’t have a pet but will this little guy do?

Day 27 - Beans and rice, a meal I will probably be eating a lot more of next semester when I go back to being a full time student!

Day 27 – Beans and rice, a meal I will probably be eating a lot more of next semester when I go back to being a full time student!

Day 28 - Apparently I have the unique ability in my office to change the toilet roll in the downstairs ladies toilet. Only me and the cleaners.

Day 28 – Apparently I have the unique ability in my office to change the toilet roll in the downstairs ladies toilet. Only me and the cleaners.

Day 29 - I tried to do that thing where you make a heart shape in the negative space but with my feet... It doesn't really work though.

Day 29 – I tried to do that thing where you make a heart shape in the negative space but with my feet… It doesn’t really work though.

Day 30 - side view of the famous MCG in my way home. I can't believe the challenge will be over tomorrow!

Day 30 – side view of the famous MCG on my way home. I can’t believe the challenge will be over tomorrow!

Day 31 - the last day of the challenge. I missed the sunset today because I was at the gym after my writing group, but the light fitting in my bedroom looks a bit like the sun, if you squint really hard...

Day 31 – the last day of the challenge. I missed the sunset today because I was at the gym after my writing group, but the light fitting in my bedroom looks a bit like the sun, if you squint really hard…

 

For June, I’ve decided to sign up to WordPress’s Writing101 blog a day challenge. For this they supply a prompt and encourage you to post something every weekday for the month of June. You can publish on the weekends if you like, and you don’t have to publish everyday, especially is the quality is not what you’d hoped for sometimes (and with these challenges you can’t get it right every time).

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Women of Rock

31 Saturday May 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Music, Photo Essay

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AC/DC Lane, Adventure, Art, Artist Date, Canon 1100D, Cherry Bar, Feminism, Feminist, Hayley and the Fugitives, Inspiration, Last Mistress, Melbourne, Peta Evans Taylor, Peta Evans Taylor Band, Photo Essay, Photography, Rock

The world of rock doesn’t have a great history of women fronting bands, and an even worse record with women in bands doing other stuff – guitar, bass, keys, drums, etc. The best way I can think of to try to address this is to support bands with awesome rock women in them.

Last night I went to a gig at the fabulously grungy Cherry Bar, in AC/DC Lane in the Melbourne CBD. Each of the nights three bands were fronted by women who fucking rock.

Hayley and the Fugitives

Hayley and the Fugitives

First up were Hayley and the Fugitives, as the opening act they played to an underpopulated dance floor, something they certainly don’t deserve. Hayley’s vocals are solid and engaging, she leads the boys in her band with style and power and struts her stuff across the stage with excellent rock presence. Playing mostly original songs they’re definitely worth checking out.

Peta Evans Taylor Band

Peta Evans Taylor Band

Next up were Peta Evans Taylor and her band. Peta’s voice combines power and beauty in a way that is both unique and haunting. She can move from straight up rock to beautiful ballads, like ‘Amy’, which such ease that you don’t realise how hard it must be. Her band are all fantastic, be it the guitarist with his Hendrix-esque behind the head solos, the drummer who keeps it all together (and they never get the credit they’re due), or the new bassist who makes the fiddly licks look easy, and I know they’re not because I pretend to play bass and I’ve tried them. This band are consistently awesome, and well worth supporting.

Last Mistress

Last Mistress

Finally we come to the closer, the driving force behind the Women of Rock nights at the Cherry Bar, Last Mistress. Front woman Brihony Dawson is rock. She has a voice that will vibrate through your chest, she has a stage presence that would make any of the greats proud, she is undeniably in charge of an audience, and as you can see from the picture, she definitely draws the crowds. Whether it’s original songs or covers Last Mistress are epic. I should also give a mention to the lead guitarist who not only pulled out some kick ass solos, but also did so while riding on Brihony’s shoulder. Yes, that happened, and it was so, so great.

For the full photo set, have a look at my facebook album. And support our local artists like these guys! Keep live music alive and get more women in it!

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Week 3 – Photo a day Challenge

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Art, My Journey, Photo Essay, Writing

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Adventure, Art, Artist Date, Cabaret, Erotica, fmsphotoaday, Inspiration, Leonard Cohen, Little Raven, Melbourne, Photo Essay, Photography, Poetry, Sally Bowles, Spoken Word, Velvet Tongue, Writing

I have managed to get this post up less late than the last one, which is good, but it also means that there are less photos, so yknow, swings and round abouts. As with the others in this series, these are all photos taken with my (kind of crappy) smart phone and posted on my Instagram @Dragongirlau.

Day 18 - Collage entitled 'Sup Boney?', something I drew (on).

Day 18 – Collage entitled ‘Sup Boney?’, something I drew (on).

Day 19 - Woman sits hunched in the cold evening air waiting for a tram. She is alone.

Day 19 – Woman sits hunched in the cold evening air waiting for a tram. She is alone.

Day 20 - Waiting for the Miracle to Come wearing Fraulein Sally Bowles' nail polish

Day 20 – Waiting for the Miracle to Come wearing Fraulein Sally Bowles’ nail polish

Day 21 - probably more paper than card these prayer flags watch over me as I sleep

Day 21 – probably more paper than card these prayer flags watch over me as I sleep

Day 22 - Got into Velvet Tongue II for free because I was performing in the open mic section

Day 22 – Got into Velvet Tongue II for free because I was performing in the open mic section

 

That last picture was taken just as I was about to crawl into bed, still buzzing from performing erotic poetry at Little Raven‘s event Velvet Tongue, if you’re interest to see more of that and a picture of me head to their gallery.

My heartfelt thanks go to Van, Dionne, Skye and the Little Raven team for putting on such a fantastic night, and for giving me the opportunity to perform for a receptive, beautiful audience. It also gave me the opportunity to meet a number of other writers/poets/performers and all round amazing people. Well done everyone!

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Week 2 – Photo a day Challenge

18 Sunday May 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Art, Photo Essay

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Art, Challenge, fmsphotoaday, foodporn, Graffiti, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Monash University, North Melbourne, Photo Essay, Photography, St Mary's, street art

Again, slightly late, but y’know, whatever.

As promised, here are my photos, posted originally on my Instragram #dragongirlau (with my phone camera because I’m too lazy to transfer photos from my proper camera to my phone so I can Instragram them).

Day 9 - Sunset of St Mary's church in North Melbourne, one of my favourite times of the day.

Day 9 – Sunset of St Mary’s church in North Melbourne, one of my favourite times of the day.

Day 11 - seen off Little Bourke Street, for Mother's Day.

Day 11 – seen off Little Bourke Street, for Mother’s Day.

Day 10 - in the garden

Day 10 – in the garden

Day 12 - a meal ready made because I didn't go food shopping over the weekend.

Day 12 – a meal ready made because I didn’t go food shopping over the weekend.

Day 13 - I spy with my little eye a whole collection of figurines on a dashboard

Day 13 – I spy with my little eye a whole collection of figurines on a dashboard

Day 14 - Lines. Took me a whole day to realise they could be curved

Day 14 – Lines. Took me a whole day to realise they could be curved

Day 15 - From where I walk. Awesome graffiti streetart in North Melbourne.

Day 15 – From where I walk. Awesome graffiti streetart in North Melbourne.

Day 16 - My trusty lava lamp. I've had it since I was 15, it's followed me when I moved and I always feel warmed by the soft glow it creates

Day 16 – My trusty lava lamp. I’ve had it since I was 15, it’s followed me when I moved and I always feel warmed by the soft glow it creates

Day 17 - you can always find a bag left outside a rubbish bin; the detritus of urban life

Day 17 – you can always find a bag left outside a rubbish bin; the detritus of urban life

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Week 1 – Photo a day Challenge

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Art, Photo Essay

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Art, Challenge, fmsphotoaday, foodporn, Melbourne, Michael Buble, Monash University, Photo Essay, Photography, Rod Laver Arena, State Theatre

The first week of this challenge has come and gone, oh how time keeps passing by!!

As promised, here are my photos, posted originally on my Instragram #dragongirlau (with my phone camera because I’m too lazy to transfer photos from my proper camera to my phone so I can Instragram them).

Day 1 - Journal

Day 1 – Journal

Day 2 - snack; an apple and a feijoa

Day 2 – snack; an apple and a feijoa

Day 3 - A collection of cheeses for dinner last night, and I didn't even have cheese dreams!

Day 3 – A collection of cheeses for dinner last night, and I didn’t even have cheese dreams!

Day 4 - From all of us here at Rod Laver Arena to see Michael Buble thank you for coming out and caressing us with your caramel vocals. So good!

Day 4 – From all of us here at Rod Laver Arena to see Michael Buble thank you for coming out and caressing us with your caramel vocals. So good!

Day 5 - I missed 4pm today because I was staring into the black hole of complete disengagement from my work...

Day 5 – I missed 4pm today because I was staring into the black hole of complete disengagement from my work…

Day 6 - from down below, this was an attempt to take a picture of the inside of the State Theatre in Melbourne, I thought it was arty.

Day 6 – from down below, this was an attempt to take a picture of the inside of the State Theatre in Melbourne, I thought it was arty.

Day 7 - today's prompt was taken from above, I found this abandoned scrap of knitting in the Ming Wing at Monash University, I thought it was sad.

Day 7 – today’s prompt was taken from above, I found this abandoned scrap of knitting in the Ming Wing at Monash University, I thought it was sad.

Day 8 - the theme today was blue, inspired by the blue Melbourne street sign I snapped these buskers, when I asked what their band was called the said they didn't have a name.

Day 8 – the theme today was blue, inspired by the blue Melbourne street sign I snapped these buskers, when I asked what their band was called the said they didn’t have a name.

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St Kilda Festival 2014

10 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Music, My Journey, Photo Essay, Travel

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Adventure, Artist Date, blues, Canon 1100D, Chris Russell's Chicken Walk, House of Lawrence, Inspiration, live music, Melbourne, Music, Photo Essay, Photography, psychadelic rock, St Kilda Festival, St Kilda Vaults

Yesterday afternoon I braved the harsh summer sun to wander around St Kilda and soak up some of the festival good times.

The St Kilda Festival is a free annual event which runs for a bit over a week and culminates in Festival Sunday (yesterday). There is free live music, and rides, and stuff, and they close off the streets and it’s generally pretty good. A lot of people seem to get very drunk and wander around not closed streets and cause ruckuses so it has it’s problems, but most festival type events do.

I was there for a couple of hours in the afternoon, so before the real drunkenness started, and I snapped  couple of cool shots with the 50mm lens on my Canon 1100D.

New Music Stage: House Of Lawrence.

New Music Stage: House Of Lawrence.

House of Lawrence are a Melbourne based psych rock four piece. They were pretty awesome. You should check them out here.

The crowd in front of the main stage.

The crowd in front of the main stage.

Detail of a wall inside the St Kilda vaults, which are underneath The Esplanade.

Detail of a wall inside the St Kilda vaults, which are underneath The Esplanade.

IMG_8993

Alfred Square Stage: Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk

Chris Russell, of Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, a two piece which was just drums and guitar, described as blues, and they definitely rocked. You should check them out here.

It would be impossible for one person to capture everything that was happening on festival day and do it any kind of justice, so I didn’t try. What I saw, I enjoyed, and what I enjoyed I have shared with you. Yay for Australian Live Music! Rock on!

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fleurblum@hotmail.com

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