Nicolette Neish Photography Blog - ‘from both sides of the lens’

The last severals weeks have gone past in a bit of a blur - hard to believe that it has been over a month since I last updated the blog!   So okay, I have been a bit slack in this regard - so a catch up blog post is in order for today with images from just some of my portrait sessions over the last few weeks ;)

 

some photographs . . .

Firstly a portrait of very cute “Master B” from a few weeks ago - which I had not previously been able to share as this image was for a surprise birthday present for his Mum :)

 

Now on to a ’sneak peek’ of a portrait shoot from last week, which was to capture some photographs of family time together - and especially a grandfather and his grand-daughter.   The location was a real treat to photograph in, especially the wheat field - love the shots from the field! :)

 

and for some news . . .

 

A couple of weeks ago I was very excited and thrilled to be awareded my Licentiateship Honours Award (L.A.P.S.) for photographic skill from the Australian Photographic Society (APS)  - this means I can now put the LAPS letters after my name if I wish, but I am not too sure about using them as yet, as I do wonder if people will just think my last name is “Laps” ! lol.   Unfortunately as I was not able to travel to the presentation dinner at the Society’s annual convention (APSCON)  held in Tasmania this year, a special presentation night was organised at the Redlands Camera Club with Bill Smit, representing the APS, kindly travelling to make the presentation.  

On the night I was very priveleged to be able to share the awards presentations with Allen Forbes AAPS SSAPS PSQA, who was awarded the special honour of the John Low Medallion for service to photography.   Allen is an inspiration to many in the local area, sharing his love of photography and many talents in organising numerous events, including the annual Redlands Photographic Exhibitions (for the past 11 years!).   To share a photograph from the night, thanks to Victoria Purdie - (left to right: Bill Smit, me, Allen Forbes)  :

 

 

 

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Yesterday was a very special day, and the main reason for our trip to Auckland, NZ - it was the ‘unveiling’ for my late father-in-law, Ernie, who passed away a year ago this month.   It is quite difficult to put into words the emotions and events of the day - as joining with the family to celebrate his life on this day was such a wonderful experience that I was thankful to be able to share.

I personally think that the Maori traditions and grieving process when a loved one passes are truly inspirational.   For those of you who may not know what I am talking about, to briefly try and explain - when a family member passes away they are brought to the Marae (meeting house) to lie in state.  The extended Whanau (family) gather and stay / sleep on the Marae with their recently departed loved one for three days.  Ceremonies and speeches occur during this time welcoming visiting family and friends who come to pay their respects and share the grief with the family.   Then on the last day a full service is held and then everyone goes to the cemetery for the burial.   At this time no headstone is placed on the grave, as this is not done until one year later at the ‘unveiling’.  After the year has passed family and friends once again come together for the Unveiling services and ceremonies and then a gathering is held to celebrate the life of the departed loved on.

At Ernie’s ‘unveiling’ over 200 people gathered, some travelling from remote areas around NZ and also Australia (including us), to be there to share the day.   I felt very honoured and priveleged to be asked by the family to photograph the days events so that not only could they have the images to remember the day but also so that they could share these images with family and friends who were not able to be at the cemetery with us.    On a personal level I found it quite a strange experience photographing an event such as this - being part of it on an emotional level but also trying to separate myself enough so that I could capture the images.    I was very happy to be able to give to the family a special DVD slideshow of images telling the story of the day,  that they all loved.  

It is times like these that I truly appreciate and am thankful for the gift of photography, in seeing the happiness it can bring to others - and to be able to create something in memory of a wonderful and special man such as Ernie for his family.    To share just a few images from the day . . .

The traditional ‘Karanga’ - calling the family onto the urupa (cemetery) 

 

 

Ernie’s grandsons performing a ‘haka’ at his graveside

 

Brother-in-law, Richie, sharing shots of Ernie’s favourite whiskey so everyone could have a farewell drink with him :)

 

 

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On Wednesday 30th July, the CanTeen organisation held their annual charity Golf Day at Club Pelican, Pelican Waters at the Sunshine Coast - and what a fantastic day (and night)!    Lovely sunny winter weather on a beautiful golf course, with a great group of people getting together to have some golfing fun and raise money for the CanTeen organisation.

I was very pleased to be able to be involved and assist in a small way by donating my time and the photographs of the event to CanTeen - capturing some golfing action shots, photos of the teams participating and then at the charity auction and dinner that night.   It was wonderful to see such a big turn out of people coming along and supporting the event and raising funds for such an excellent organisation, CanTeen www.canteen.org.au .

 

 

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