Night Ghost Stories Unveiled - Part 1

For my 100th post I am revealing some of the portraits of The Night Ghost Stories Series. What a cool coincidence. 

The best way to describe it, is as a very playful photographic experience. The photos are the result of a brainstorm of ideas blended together between the subject and myself. It's like a flashback in childhood when you are going back and forth creating the rules of a new game, and somehow it seems to bring out the inner artist from us. I find necessary this type of projects as a creative recovery exercise. Same as the last project I only use on camera techniques and no photoshop at all.

The complete series just came back from the Nexus exhibition in Canberra and will be showcased at my gallery (95 Sydney Rd, Manly, NSW 2095) for an undetermined period of time. This project is, by the way, still open for any volunteer from Manly and Norther Beaches, who wishes to participate.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up" - Pablo Picasso

ROC Boots "High Summer Neo Campaign”

Photography by Petter Karlstrom
Styling by Leigh Karlstrom
Hair and Make up by Vanessa Collins
Music Grimes "Oblivion"

Film & Edited by Mauricio De la Rocha G

Camera Obscura in Colour

Visually speaking, colour helps to tell stories. It can be used to add another layer of depth in a composition, or/and as a tool to communicate on an emotional level with the viewer. I’ve been thinking lately that maybe leaving the colour on the camera obscura portraits can make it easier for observers to see the pinhole effect. 

So the only way I can think of confirming this thought is to test it. If you have a minute drop me a line, txt me, call me, what ever is easy for you… Colour or B&W? 

Nexus - Reflections & Interpretations

Now is the turn for the "Night Ghost Stories" to be showcased. After a quick time on the windows of  my studio for the Manly Arts Festival 2013. It's time to  wrap again this series and send it to the Australian capital for another exhibition.

Tuggeranong Arts Centre Community Cultural Inclusion Program will present the art works of fifteen artists from diverse backgrounds in: "NEXUS - Reflections & Interpretations"  

NEXUS explores issues of identity including the sense of loss, belonging and the acquiescence of local and intercontinental culture. This exhibition is a collection of work by fifteen contemporary artists: Latin American artists who live in Australia and oversee and Aboriginal Artists who live in Canberra. It is intended that the exhibition encourage and facilitate an ongoing discourse between the artists, audi- ences and their international communities.

Within this vibrant and extraordinary exhibition the viewer can discover a wealth of cultural insights through the magnificent works of photography, installation, print, painting and silverwork that comprise this wonderful collection.

The exhibition shows from October 10, 2013 until October 29, 2013 in the new gallery space at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre.

Hope you enjoy it.

Mauricio

Nathalie D. & Escapade Shoes

Filmed a while ago and just to add some colour to this winter, please enjoy Nathalie in a colourful BTS from the Escapade Shoes A/W Campaign 2013 on one of my favourites tunes "Que Sera" from Wax Tailor.

Photography by Petter Karlstrom
Styling by Leigh Karlstrom
Hair & Make Up by Chisato Arai
Film & Edited by Mauricio

Portrait Of a Fighter

I’ve been a huge fan of combat sports since I can remember, especially because of the mental aspect of the game. This is a project that has been in the back of my head for a while.  Having done more fashion films than anything else, this was a good opportunity to explore a bit more about the storytelling side that naturally comes with the portrait genre. Shot it in less than 4 hours and edited in 2 days, this is definitely not going to be the last film portrait I do. It’s a terrific exercise to explore, try and polish different storytelling techniques. One of the best ways to improve your craft is breaking down and emulating the work of the masters that you follow, so, in this case I tried to mimic the style of one of my favourites directors of photography - Phillip Bloom. From the visuals to the sound, I'm getting a deeper understanding around where my strengths and weaknesses are. I can also get a sense of my own gear limitations and how far I can push them.

Having said that, I hope you enjoy this portrait of Matt Peters, shot it inside the Manly Fight Gym

Mauricio

Ollie & The Chitticks

This was by far one of my favourite days at work. No doubt about it. I mean, waking up early in the morning, going to a farm, listening to live music performed by The Chitticks all day long, well, some might say, it doesn't really qualify as a regular Tuesday at work.

We had a great atmosphere, which was the combination of Karlstrom Creatives' great work and the incredible vibe coming from Ollie, The Chitticks and the rest of the crew.

Regarding my work, I must say, I am pretty pleased with the way I used colours to reinforce the storytelling. As I said in my last post, having a deep understanding of how the colour affect our emotional perception of the world, can transform something simple into a visual experience.

I'm also very happy both of my ROC videos are displayed in New Zealand as the brand is also known there.

Now I will let you enjoy the BTS from ROC Boots Deep Winter 13' Campaign, Ollie & The Chitticks "Bath Salts"

Photography by Petter Karlstrom
Styling by Leigh Karlstrom
Hair & Make Up by Karen Hoopwood
Song by The Chitticks "Bath Salts"
Model Ollie Henderson
Film & Edited by Mauricio De la Rocha G

The Power of Colour

Colour influences our choices, our opinions and our emotional state. Our feelings of euphoria or rage, calm or agitation can be intensified or subdued by the colours in our environment. Each colour affects us uniquely. Even the slightest variation of a single colour can have a profound influence on our behaviour. This is powerful information in the hands of a filmmaker.

Not too long ago, colour grading was viewed as a black art and its more renowned practitioners enjoyed rock star status. They had the power to make everyone's work look great, or terrible.

Ironically, colour is one of the elements rarely recognised by the audience as manipulating them. Working on a subconscious level, it's remarkable how colour operates as a psychological tool in order to put the viewer in a specific emotional place, therefore, provoking a reaction from them.

With the new arsenal of digital tools available, the range of options for colour grading has grown dramatically in recent years. There are also hundreds of resources online that explain in detail through tutorials how to replicate the "look" and colours from almost any movie. However, there are almost no websites, (as far as I am concerned) that explain or talk about the creative aspects of colour grading and how to use colour as a storytelling tool.

Today the line between director, cinematographer and colourist is increasingly blurring. If you are wearing one or all of these hats and you remain unaware of this power, you leave a large part of your control to chance.

Like Patti Bellantoni says in her absolutely brilliant book "If It's Purple Someone's Gonna Die", a book that explores how colour affects our emotional perception of the world. She makes us aware of the visual path in our brain and how a film touches us, dissecting colour and its presence in film:

"The green brick road, the yellow shoes, and the ruby red city. Doesn’t work, does it? It’s because those specific colours send specific signals for specific intentions in the story. It is important to remember that in 1939, when the The Wizard of Oz was made, audiences were viewing films in black and white, and so it was brilliant for the filmmakers to expose the audience to black and white in the beginning of the movie so that they too could experience the incredible shock of the exotic and bizarre Technicolor world along with Dorothy."

Camera Obscura Portraits Unveiled - Part 2

"Creativity is an act of rebellion by definition. If everybody accepts what I'm doing when i'm doing it.. I'm in wrong path, I should better go and spend my day at the beach instead" - Allan Snyder

Camera Obscura Portraits Unveiled - Part 1

"Look at the portrait upside down and you would see the view they have every day"

Night Ghost Stories

(testing many different things for this new project)

First of all, I want to thank you all for the great response I received for The Camera Obscura Project. The interest and support from the community gave me the chance to meet amazing people and I had a great time photographing them. However the exhibition Confluencias at the MOF is over, so I brought those portraits to showcase them here, I hope you’ll enjoy them.

 

That being said, I’d like to invite you again to try a different type of photography. This new Project is called "Night Ghost Stories", and consists in a series of night portraits in which I’ll try to capture and show a personal side of you but in a different way. Mixing moon light and artificial light, this is pretty much the complete opposite technique to the one I used in the Camera Obscura. 

 

(planning to use some techniques I used in the past like flash and movement)

With this new project I continue my original idea of giving back to photography the importance of creativity and mysticism it deserves. Something systematically forgotten in the past few decades. Offering you at the same time a very unique portrait / experience... for free. And I promise you will value it more than any other (paid) one.

This portrait will take a bit of your time and mine. I need your help to bring some of that magic back, and show a different way to take pictures, in a time where everybody has access to a camera but chose to take the same type of photo all day, every day. 

So like last time, if you’re interested and want to pose for me, please don’t hesitate to give me a call, send me an email or text, or just come to see me at my gallery. And if you have friends that you think might be interested share it with them through Facebook or Tweeter, that makes a big difference.

Thanks

Mauricio

Phone: 0415639223 Email: info@mauriciodelarocha.com

RAD RATS

Otis Carey, Maddison P, and Suzi Leenaars in RAD RATS (BTS)

Photography by Petter Karlstrom
Styling by Leigh Dalton
Hair by Linh Ngyuen
Make Up by Kristyan Hearts Low
Film & Edited by Mauricio

Sneak Peek Video from Confluencias Opening Night

The Opening night at Confluencias gave me the amazing opportunity to meet many artists from Australia and Latin America. I also had the chance to talk with consuls representing Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay. However, the highlight for me was to meet and chat with Her Excellency Professor Marie R Bashir, Governor of New South Wales.

Below is a sneak peek video from the Opening Night.

This is a unique opportunity to appreciate the Treasures of the Museum of Freemasonry empowered and juxtaposed by Australian and Latin American art. If you live in Sydney you should not miss it. Remember you only have until the 7th of April... Hope to see you there.

Mauricio

Vesper Rose - In the Garden of Good and Evil

Ladies and Gents, I leave you with the beautiful Emily Green on a BTS for Vesper Rose Jewellery Collection 2013.

Photography by Petter Karlstrom
Styling by Leigh Dalton
Hair & Make Up by Chisato Arai
Film & Edited by Mauricio

Confluencias: Australian & Latin American Art

Finally the day has come, and the "Camera Obscura Project" I started in August 2012 is gonna see the light as part of  "Confluencias: Australian & Latin American Art". This exhibition is made possible by a partnership with the General Consulates of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay. And is gonna be hosted by the Museum of Freemasonry (MoF) - 66, Goulburn Street, Level 3, from 18 March to 7 April (Monday to Friday) 9:30 - 17:00. 

Above is the Press Release:

"AUSTRALIAN & LATIN AMERICAN ART IN COVERSATION

In order to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first Grand Lodge in NSW & ACT, the Museum of Freemasonry (MoF) in Sydney presents the exhibition Confluencias: Australian & Latin American Art, which will showcase works by contemporary Australian and Latin American artist. Their works will mingle and merge with MoF's imposing permanent collection. Objects of art and artefacts within the Museum include portraits, lithographs, panels, silverware, medals, swords, pottery, symbols and logos; traditional paraphernalia of historical significance. Embedded within ancient Masonic ritual and rite the Museum's collection will morph into synthesis with twenty first Century objects of art. 

This innovative way juxtaposing and viewing and reviewing art, will add depth to the context in which the contemporary works can be interpreted, while exploring philosophical ideas, metaphor, and symbolism common to both. Presenting contemporary art in the Museum's collection is a fascinating and a creative curatorial model. One that serves to transport the imagination: The contemporary and fine art works will seem to either merge or stand-alone. This model in the context of the Museum's collection generates new perspectives of thinking and doing. In this sense, art is presented as unpredictable, challenging and effervescent.

Australian and Latin American Art

Latin American art exhibited in Australia generates the opportunity for artistic encounter: A coming together or confluence of artistic ideas. Contemporary Latin American works will be seen and interpreted through a confluence of thoughts, signs and ideas when viewed and presented alongside MOF's collection.

The exhibition will look at the practice of some Australian artists while on residency projects in Latin American countries; and at works by Latin American artists working in Australia. Frequently their approach is universal and contemporary, while remaining Latin American at its core.

Australian artists not linked to Latin America are also presented in the exhibition. Their works afford a different standpoint when considering the issues that haunt mainstream contemporary life. Topics such as identity, migration, the sense of loss and belonging; and the acquiescence of local and intercontinental culture. For many people these issues remain an unrelenting challenge to contemporary life. They represent a contemporary predicament, inherited from the twentieth Century. Art has a powerful role to play in society. The voice of the artist can resonate and inspire. It becomes an astonishing enactment, a demonstration of solidarity."

I hope see you guys there.

Mauricio

Take aways from 2012

I can honestly say that 2012 was about rediscovering myself again. This year was a very big learning curve on many different levels. On a personal level, I was introduced to new mentors to follow and consolidate new passions like filmmaking.  Now I want to make 2013 the year of taking control of all the things I've learned, and enrich my life as a result.

Ironically I haven't worked for the past 2-3 months. In fact, I've been spending all my time running, swimming, snorkeling and more recently, surfing. It has been a great way to evaluate and digest my performance from last year, screening all the information I've put in my head in the last year or so, and turning it into some kind of strategy and philosophy to live my life by.

I know I have to stay sharp and on my toes. Because life is like a race, and there will always be somebody breathing on your neck willing to run that extra mile and climb higher than you. But also you have to know how to keep composure, fight your natural instinct of blindly trying harder just because something is not giving you the results you want. Pace yourself. Hold back if necessary, and you will likely walk away the winner. That's my biggest take away from 2012.

It's very clear that being good at your craft is not enough these days. So I have to keep learning new skills, go back to basics and do only what I enjoy. I'll start interesting projects that keep my mind excited and motivated. That's the key to growing. I have a couple of projects I will be sharing soon. One is doing great, and the other didn't come out the way I wanted but I can happily share it because I learned from it.

I hope everybody is pumped for this year and wish you the best.  See ya at the final line.



One of these mornings where I didn't have anything special to do.. and so was my friend. So I picked up my camera, he picked up his rope and we went to north head. Sick morning btw