A Shot Away

Studio Visit - Jaclyn Réhe

2012-02-17T13:10:00.004+11:00

Recently I went along to Korpus Tattoo located in Brunswick and photographed the talented Jaclyn Réhe tattooing an Indian girl. You can find her on Facebook or contact Korpus Tattoo to make an appointment with her.

T-world New York Issue

2012-02-16T16:26:00.000+11:00

The latest issue of T-world has finally hit the shelves. I worked very hard on this issue along with Eddie Zammit and spent two weeks in the New York City photographing some of my favourite artists and designers for the issue including Claw Money, Tony Arcabascio, Jeff Staple, Mishka, SSUR, Stash, Bobby Hundreds, ALIFE, 10 Deep, Cookies-n-Cream, Ron English, ONLY, Ricky Powell and Zoo York. Art directed by Eddie Zammit and designed by Nick Rudenno the result is an amazing journal on t-shirt culture that is unsurpassed. I'm so proud to be a part of this publication.
Here are a few of my favourite spreads!

Weddings

2012-02-11T20:03:00.001+11:00

Every now and then I get asked if I shoot weddings. While I don't profess to be a wedding photographer I do shoot them so I've now a "weddings" section under "reportage" on my website.
Below are some shots from weddings I've done over the last couple of years.

Australian Tattoo Industry Awards

2012-02-07T14:14:00.002+11:00

I have been nominated for "Best Tattoo Photographer" in the Rites of Passage Australian Tattoo Industry Awards!!
What an absolute honour! Thanks guys.
Vote for me on the below link!

http://ritesofpassagefestival.com/australian-industry-awards/

Fitzroy

2012-02-06T16:03:00.000+11:00

New Folio

2012-02-03T15:13:00.000+11:00

Over the last week or so I've spent a lot of time doing a new folio. Choosing what photos and what order was a lot of hard work!
For the opening spread I decided to go with a portrait I took of Milton Glaser for the new issue of T-word journal. Milton Glaser is one of the world's most famous Graphic Designers. The photo I placed next to his portrait is of the front door to his studio in New York.
Art is Work.
A big thanks to John at http://jwpstore.com.au/ for the amazing work he does on all of my fine art printing, I highly recommend his services!

Some random shots of Melbourne

2012-01-27T09:08:00.000+11:00

Green Lotus Tattoo

2012-01-23T14:17:00.000+11:00

Here are some head shots I did of the talented and very good looking crew down at Green Lotus Tattoo. Look out for the article in the upcoming issue 81 of Tattoos Downunder magazine.

Surf n Ink 2012

2012-01-18T16:36:00.001+11:00

Here are a few preview photos from last weekends Surf 'n Ink. They will be published in issue 81 of Tattoos Downunder.

Prints for sale

2012-01-11T21:51:00.000+11:00

I now have a big cartel shopping cart with limited edition prints of some of my photographs.
Check it out at http://ashotaway.bigcartel.com

Bondi

2012-01-07T12:21:00.004+11:00

My old Primary School is being knocked down

2011-12-21T12:15:00.002+11:00

While on a family Christmas visit to my old home town I got the "opportunity" to go and have a look inside my Primary School which is due to be knocked down in a couple of weeks.
It was an unexpected pleasure so it was lucky that I had my Olympus with me to take a few shots.

Comedy Tattoo Show

2011-12-21T12:04:00.000+11:00

I've been taking photos at the Comedy Tattoo Show for many years now, and it's full of characters. Here are a few that will be in the next Downunder Tattoo Art magazine.

Seymour Drive In Theatre

2011-12-19T16:06:00.003+11:00

On a trip back home to Seymour (where I grew up) on the weekend I drove past the old drive in theatre where I saw Star Wars amongst many other films as a child.
It is now a paddock with cows in it and all that remains are two buildings and some old lamp posts.
taken with my Olympus Pen

Kid Zoom at Outpost

2011-12-15T15:37:00.001+11:00

At Outpost on Cockatoo Island recently I got to shoot Kid Zoom with his amazing installation, definitely the highlight of Outpost (other then having my own exhibit) for me.

The Birth Of Hip Hop

2011-12-01T13:17:00.001+11:00

Last year I had the amazing experience of shooting Disco Wiz and Koe Rodriguez at Cedar Park in The Bronx, NY, for the up coming New York edition of T-world journal.
What a great day it was for me to visit the place where "Hip Hop was started"!

Smile

2011-11-22T13:51:00.001+11:00

I came across this quote posted on the A Photo Editor blog, I like it a lot and it's something I've always tried to explain to people why I don't like them to smile in their portraits:

"The truth is no portrait of substance has people smiling. Look at the history of painting, Rembrandt, Titian, Goya, Velasquez, Sargent, Vermeer, DaVinci, etc., the subjects gaze to the viewer is neutral at best, neither inviting nor forbidding. It is there for the viewer to see and feel. Smiling is like much of American popular culture, superficial and misleading. It is part of our vernacular, but it should be expunged in photographs." - Rodney Smith

Below is are a couple of portraits of Tony Arcabascio I took for T-world

Studio Visit - Horiren - Japan

2011-11-21T13:03:00.001+11:00

The evening and ensuing night I spent with Horiren along with Gomineko Tours while in Tokyo have given me an incredible insight into tattooing in Japan and a huge appreciation of Horiren and her talent. Horiren has an amazing story, check out her website here.

Horiyoshi lll

2011-11-11T12:50:00.001+11:00

While in Japan I had the opportunity to go along with Gomineko Tours to Horiyoshi III studio in Yokohama and watch the master at work. It was amazing to meet such an esteemed artist and an experience I'll never forget!

NEXT: THE FUTURE OF T-SHIRT GRAPHICS

2011-11-08T10:49:00.003+11:00

Over the next 5 weeks I have 40+ portraits on display as part of NEXT: The Future of T-Shirt Graphics which is part of OUTPOST - Art from the Streets being held on Cockatoo Island in Sydney.
http://outpost.cockatooisland.gov.au/
Each portrait is printed over 2 meters high and is a selection of some of the most important people in street wear today.
Below are some images from the exhibition. The portraits can be found on my website as well.

Brat Style

2011-10-26T17:29:00.000+11:00

While in Tokyo I tagged along with some motorcycle enthusiast friends of mine to Brat Style, an awesome custom motorcycle store. http://www.bratstyle.com/
Here are a few snaps.

Behind the Scenes - Factorie Summer range shoot

2011-10-20T13:34:00.004+11:00

Watch me at work on the shoot for the new Factorie summer range

Tokyo - teasers

2011-10-12T23:27:00.001+11:00

I've been back from Tokyo for less than a day and I already miss it! I'll be uploading a heap of photos over the next week, but here are a couple of teasers!.

John

2011-09-28T13:56:00.001+10:00

I photographed John recently at the Melbourne Tattoo and Body Art Expo. He has been getting tattooed since he was young and still is continuing to add to his amazing collection as well as getting his older tattoos re-worked by some the countries best tattoo artists.
It's nice to see someone still so passionate about something after all these years!
Very inspiring John!!

1966 Coronet with Olympus Pen

2011-09-25T23:27:00.000+10:00

I tested out my new point and shoot camera today, the Olympus Pen, on a friends 1966 Dodge Coronet. I'm pretty impressed with it's performance in low light.

Beautiful Artists

2011-09-23T22:28:00.002+10:00

I love shooting artists, of any kind.

Here are a few outtakes from a shoot I did on Bondi Beach today.

Crumpler

2011-09-20T15:13:00.001+10:00

Crumpler is an iconic Melbourne brand and I'm lucky enough to count them amongst my favourite clients.
Here are a few grabs from some shoots I've done with them over the last year.

Chapel Tattoo for TDU

2011-09-09T20:25:00.001+10:00

Surfer at Bondi

2011-09-05T20:26:00.001+10:00

A Drive in the Country

2011-08-16T18:56:00.001+10:00

A day Trip to Mt Buller

2011-08-10T16:27:00.000+10:00

Bondi sunset

2011-08-09T12:36:00.001+10:00

How quickly the city can change

2011-07-13T14:46:00.001+10:00

This morning I shot the interior of an office in a high rise in Melbourne with spectacular views of the CBD.
I took a couple of quick snaps out the window while I was working - the first shot below was taken at 9.30am and the second after a fog had rolled in at 10.30am.

Wat Bang Phra

2011-06-21T17:40:00.002+10:00

When I was in Thailand recently I went with my friend, tattooer Rhys Gordon to watch him get tattooed at Wat Bang Phra, a Buddhist temple about an hours drive outside of Bangkok. I photographed the whole process from the offering to the prayer at the end. It was a great experience!

Brisbane sky

2011-06-09T12:25:00.001+10:00

This was way more dramatic than this photo shows

A Weekend in Bangkok 4

2011-06-03T16:32:00.000+10:00

A Weekend in Bangkok 3

2011-06-02T23:19:00.000+10:00

A Weekend in Bangkok 2

2011-05-31T16:53:00.000+10:00

A weekend in Bangkok 1

2011-05-29T11:24:00.000+10:00

The Hundreds

2011-05-26T19:49:00.001+10:00

Recently I photographed Bobby Hundreds in my studio and while I was photographing him he was photographing me!
I'm a big fan of The Hundreds so it was a huge buzz to end up on the site! Thanks Bobby!
thehundreds.com/blog/uncategorized/land-of-oz/

Melbourne Victory Photoshoot at Rokeby Studios

2011-05-26T18:00:00.001+10:00

Last week I photographed the guys from Melbourne Victory FC for their membership campaign. It was a lot of fun and the guys were awesome to work with, as was art director Mandy from Short Fuse! Stay tuned for the photos of the best looking team in the A-League!! (yes that's me in the middle!)

North Island - New Zealand

2011-05-11T10:18:00.001+10:00

Dan - The Sweet Life - For Downunder Tattoo Art

2011-04-17T13:45:00.001+10:00

Sydney Tattoo Expo

2011-04-17T13:36:00.001+10:00

Kings Cross

2011-04-06T18:03:00.001+10:00

Some quick snaps from 48 hours in Kings Cross Sydney - a lot more to come!

Pie in the Sky

2011-03-17T13:58:00.001+11:00

Mass Cult Album

2011-03-17T13:41:00.001+11:00

Design by Luke Fraser - Photos by me

Surf n' Ink Tattoo Festival

2011-03-17T13:19:00.001+11:00

NZ Tattoo & Art Festival

2011-03-17T13:14:00.001+11:00

Rites Of Passage Festival - Melbourne

2011-02-21T15:01:00.001+11:00

Here are a few shots I took for the next issue of Tattoos Downunder Magazine at the Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival in Melbourne this year

Early Morning

2011-01-25T09:34:00.001+11:00

SOS

2011-01-18T17:06:00.001+11:00

I drove around a small section of Brisbane today and saw the devastation resulting from the floods. It was horrible, but this showed me the desperation people must be feeling at the moment and it really hit home for me how bad it is.

Beach

2010-12-16T22:06:00.001+11:00

Byron Drechsler for Issue 76 of Tattoos Downunder

2010-12-08T18:44:00.002+11:00

Byron is not only an incredible artist but a good friend of mine and it was a huge honor to get to go to his home town to photograph him.

Byron Koester - personal trainer. Tattoos Downunder # 75

2010-12-02T21:49:00.001+11:00

Party

2010-12-02T16:18:00.002+11:00

Surecut Kids for Tattoos Downunder

2010-11-22T18:04:00.003+11:00

such a fun shoot!

Darrin Churchill

2010-11-18T14:37:00.001+11:00

Recently in Brisbane I did some promo shots for musician Darrin Churchill - check him out - www.darrinchurchill.com

Tattoo Candy Portraits

2010-11-16T19:44:00.000+11:00

Portraits of tattooed people in their homes for the new edition of Tattoo Candy

Jogger

2010-11-03T14:31:00.001+11:00

Karaoke

2010-11-02T17:46:00.001+11:00

Phrase - Never Fade

2010-10-30T14:03:00.001+11:00

Phrase has a new single out featuring a shot I took of him on the cover.

New York

2010-10-23T19:05:00.001+11:00

Photoshoot with the Surecut Kids

2010-10-09T22:19:00.001+11:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwXwycRqW4w&feature=player_embedded

QLD you are killing me with your weather

2010-10-03T18:11:00.002+11:00

New York

2010-09-28T18:42:00.001+10:00

These Artists

2010-09-28T09:08:00.001+10:00

My first solo exhibition is next week!

New York

2010-09-24T23:20:00.001+10:00

New York

2010-09-15T09:57:00.001+10:00

Some photos from a roof top somewhere in Brooklyn

Alfred Sultana

2010-08-20T17:13:00.001+10:00

Alfred is the father of my good friend Sam. I have photographed him for an upcoming exhibition for Semi-permanent where prints will be for sale, with a portion of the profits going to Alfred's charity of choice. I am very honored that he let me take his photo and this is his story as written by himself and his daughter Sam.

Alfred Sultana's smoking habit started at age 15 (1951).

This habit continued to grow as a handsome "Donkey Greaser", whilst in the Merchant Navy (working down below) on the ammunition ship The Retainer in 1957-1958.

He also attended to the Oil Furnace in the Engine Room on the ships The Queen Elizabeth, & the New Australia.

In 1959, Alfred worked as a Bus Conductor in Plymouth England where smoking was permitted on the top deck.

Alfred believes that passive smoking strongly contributed to his ill health today and as he quit smoking almost 50 years prior to his first diagnosis.

Alfred's first bout of mouth, jaw & tongue cancer was removed on Sept 1st 2003.

The process of his surgery was:

*Removal of ALL lower teeth

*Removal of fibula,vein removal & skin graft from his right leg

*Incision from lower lip to ear via throat.

*Calf removal to create a flap in his mouth, in place of his gum

*Fibular bone created his new jaw with pins

*Partial removal of his tongue

12 hours 10 Surgeons

Radiation therapy has caused Alfred not to grow facial hair & produce saliva. It has killed off many of his taste buds on what remains of his tongue.

Alfred has had to learn how to walk, talk & eat (new diet) again...

Seven Years later the same Cancer returned.

Alfreds second bout of mouth, jaw & tongue cancer was removed on 21st June 2010,

The same process was undertaken, however the left leg was used & the incision was from ear to ear across his throat.

More of Alfred's tongue was removed. Even though complications occurred post surgery, Alfred is learning to walk, talk & eat once again & remains optimistic about life.

Sam Clark by Chris Nieves

2010-08-14T17:54:00.001+10:00

I photographed Sam Clark a while back for the next issue of Tattoos Downunder (it's out in September) and I handed the photograph over to the very talented Chris Nieves who turned it into the amazing portrait of Sam you can see below!

New additions

2010-08-08T21:31:00.000+10:00

My new niece and her new cousins

Blogs

2010-08-08T15:16:00.000+10:00

I'm starting to get around!!
Design You Trust
Ink Butter

These Artists

2010-08-08T15:01:00.000+10:00

I am having an exhibition in Brisbane in October.

Melbourne Victory Membership Card

2010-08-06T20:42:00.002+10:00

Back in May I did the below shot for The Melbourne Victory Membership drive booklets. Today the posty delivered the membership pack and one of my shots is on the membership card!!!

Tongue and Groove

2010-08-06T20:22:00.001+10:00

This week I went and photographed the beautiful show room of Tongue + Groove and I particularly like the drawers designed by John and Coby.

I love Intelligensia Coffee

2010-08-03T17:00:00.001+10:00

Whenever I hit Los Angeles, my first coffee stop is Intelligensia coffee bar in Sliver Lake, or Venice Beach, depending on which way I'm heading.
Last year I went to the Roasting Works and took some photos during a cupping session - ahhhh the sweet smell of coffee...

Lucky Diamond Rich & Sarah Tucker

2010-07-30T09:28:00.000+10:00

This week I photographed tattooer Sarah Tucker and the Guinness Book of Records Most Tattooed Man - Lucky Diamond Rich.
Lucky's shoot was for a article and the next front cover of Tattoos Downunde r.
Here he is front of the Ghost Patrol mural in Rokeby Studios (my new home).
I can't release the final shots yet, but stay tuned!!

I heart The King Cannons

2010-07-21T19:24:00.001+10:00

and I get to take their photos, RAD!! Here are some wintery shots taken on a early Saturday morning.

The Jacknives

2010-07-21T19:17:00.002+10:00

A little while ago on a freezing (and I mean 5 degrees) morning I did a shoot for awesome Melbourne band The Jacknives. It rained, it was freezing, there was bird shit everywhere and it was dirty - and they didn't complain once. What an absolute joy to work with!!! The shots were intended to go on the inside cover of their new album, but they liked them so much one made the cover!!

Los Angeles

2010-07-18T16:56:00.002+10:00

Justin Hutchinson Design and Tongue + Groove

2010-07-16T11:27:00.001+10:00

This week I photographed some beautiful furniture from Justin Hutchinson and Tongue + Groove.
You can see them at Design:Made:Trade this weekend.

Mecurialist Bags

2010-07-10T20:32:00.002+10:00

I photographed the new range by local brand Mecurialist last week. Beautiful hand made leather bags and jewellery. Check them out http://mecurialist.blogspot.com/

Los Angeles

2010-07-10T19:36:00.001+10:00

Los Angeles

2010-07-09T16:07:00.002+10:00

Looking out of The Queen Mary to Long Beach

Los Angeles

2010-07-08T23:18:00.001+10:00

Done WIth Electricity

2010-07-08T21:34:00.001+10:00

Here is a quick portrait I did with Adam and Bugsy - publishers of "Done With Electricity"
It's an awesome book full of awesome Australian artists!

Town Bikes - BULK shoot

2010-07-07T19:50:00.001+10:00

Here is a sneak peak of the Town Bikes in their latest characters. So fun!!

Preview of a shoot for Peta Pledger

2010-06-26T22:30:00.000+10:00

Here are a few images from the Peta Pledger lookbook shoot

Sam Clark for Tattoos Downunder

2010-06-22T11:43:00.001+10:00

I photographed the very talented Sam Clark for an up coming issue of Tattoos Downunder. Sam is "on the road" tattooing at the moment.

Los Angeles Palm Trees

2010-06-19T19:48:00.000+10:00

I love them

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letters L & X & Z

2010-06-07T15:36:00.003+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letters F & W

2010-06-06T15:30:00.003+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letter R

2010-06-05T15:25:00.005+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letter S

2010-06-04T15:26:00.003+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letters M & O

2010-06-03T15:23:00.004+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letters D & G

2010-06-02T15:20:00.003+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letter B

2010-06-01T15:18:00.004+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letters I & J

2010-05-31T18:13:00.002+10:00

A-Z of Kids Tees for T-world - out takes and bloopers the letter A

2010-05-30T15:09:00.002+10:00

Dealing with kids can be pretty draining! You can't tell them what to do most of the time (or what not to do, such as look at the camera, don't look cold, don't cry, don't look scared, face this way, don't look cute etc), so capturing the right look or moment can be a fluke and just being 100% aware.