Mocking Bird » Sydney

Wandering Neighbourhoods: Cronulla

Amanda — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:00:23 +0000

I’m kicking this week off with a Wandering Neighbourhoods of Sydney. While in the homeland, I spent a lot of time staring out at the ocean and soaking up all those blues. Cronulla is Sydney’s southern most beach and it was walking along the esplanade here that I had my “I grew up in an amazing country” moment.

It wasn’t warm enough to tempt my toes closer to the ocean, but brunch overlooking the water was just what I needed. Lattes, good food, warm, blue skies, the sound of the ocean, crystal waves and family time – the only thing missing was my Sean.

Sydney, you truly are beautiful.

Home And The Rest Of The World

Amanda — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:00:33 +0000

It’s been a roller coaster of a month for little old me. My time in Sydney was full of happiness, excitement, rest, anguish, stress, sadness, and joy. Living abroad is such a mad mix of emotions both while you are away from home and when you return. You always feel a little on the outside of both worlds – never feeling like you completely belong in your new land and the same time feeling disconnected from the home you grew up in. This life you lead is often hard to describe to others.

Despite the disconnectedness and the not so great things that happened on my trip home, I spent many joyous days soaking up my beloved Australian light and feeling the sand beneath my toes at the beach. I reveled in the bliss that is spending quality family time and devoted many mornings and afternoons to sipping my cherished Sydney coffees with friends old and new. I lapped up my favourite shopping haunts and ventured to many new ones.

I think my most favourite moment was my second morning in Sydney. I walked along the esplanade with my mumma in the glorious sunshine, the light was sparkling on the beautiful blue ocean and bouncing over the sand so perfectly white. Mum asked me if I missed the city…I looked out and said, “that right there is what I miss.” I think she looked at it with almost glazed eyes, as she sees it on a regular basis. I told her that we Australians have no idea how lucky we really are. You don’t know until you leave. And I’m quite certain the same thing happened to the Canadian when he lived in Sydney. His homecomings would include looking at those snow-capped mountains and thinking the exact same thing. He hasn’t told me in so many words, but I’m pretty sure that’s what he’s thinking when he sits atop Whistler Mountain on his snowboard.

Clearly, these are first world problems and ours could be far greater…either way, we will be alright.

p.s. Swing back here tomorrow to hear about my give away!

A Beach Somewhere In Sydney

Amanda — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:44:06 +0000

Hello from down under,

After the plane ride from hell, getting over the jet lag has been tough, but I am starting to feel more like myself again and venturing out and about in Sydney.

I walked along the seaside path with my mum on a gorgeous sunny day and told her how I’ve come to realise how lucky Australians are to have such a gorgeous backyard. The light so bright and shimmering across the ocean as the waves lapped onto the white sands of the beach…it felt great to be home.

We stopped in to a beach-side cafe for breakfast and watched the surfers and swimmers wander by. I could have stayed there all day.

Australia Bound

Amanda — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:00:45 +0000

I’m not quite ready for summer to end, so I’m heading to Sydney where spring is in full swing and 25 degree days have already arrived.

See you on the other side!

The Course is Here!

Amanda — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:02:04 +0000

Shoot By Design: Refining Your Photography Style is finally here. I’ve been working away at a course for photographers who want to discover their own signature style.

I will teach you what I know about shooting with purpose, shooting with passion and about working towards a style that makes my photos ‘me’. I will tell you my story telling secrets, how I find inspiration and how I deal with the emotional side of being an artist.

Along with the Shoot By Design blog, there is a brand spanking new private forum that I hope to open up to lots of students in the future, but this first group of students will be the founding members. Mocking Bird is all about sharing, inspiration, learning and community and I hope that this course is the first step in a new era of this blog/site. I really hope that I can share what I know with all the students but also help to build some new friendships and collaborative relationships.

There has already been a great response so far today and I can’t wait to get to know all the lovely people who have already signed up. Spaces are limited. Register here now!

In other news….

~ Polaroid Notes are now in stock at Chronicle Books and Amazon. If anyone out there sees them in stores, please let me know. If you do pick up a set, I’d love to know what you think! The girls and I are super excited to see them out in the world.

~ I am taking a small trip home to Australia in September and will be available for portrait sessions (kids, couples, families) while I am there. I am also available for small, intimate weddings. I’m currently working on my website but you can contact me for my info and rates package. I’ll be in Sydney in September and October, 2011. More on that in the coming weeks.

~ A new month means a new theme for the Twelve Photography Project. The theme for August is: Portrait. The colour inspiration is: “Black and White”. Check out the flickr group for more infomation.

I hope you’re enjoying this sunshine as much as I am! Summer seems to have finally arrived in Vancouver and I plan on spending many hours out in it. I even spent some time at the beach this weekend. It’s not the kind of “beach day” that I am used to, but relaxing just the same. Our favourite discovery this summer has been Nimby Burger down at Kits Beach. A Nimby burger, the beach and a summer evening sounds pretty awesome to me. What have you been up to?

New Sydney Finds

Amanda — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:19:32 +0000

In my returning to Sydney discoveries, I’m loving:

Children’s store Seed now has a women’s range- gorgeous clothing and accessories!
Gorgeous homeware stores in close by suburbs.
Latest Frankie and Real Living magazines by my bed.
Peter Alexander’s new range in store.
Magnation store in Newtown.
Crust pizza (nothing new- just loving it once more).
Kinokuniya now selling Japanese masking tapes and ribbons.
Wearing Havaianas while everyone is complaining about being cold- for once I’m not the one feeling the cold!
Spending time with the one with the cupcake.

What are you loving at the moment?