Some of you may already be aware that I've started a new part time job, working in the Showroom at Dunstone Design.  I spend 3 days per week surrounded by the most beautiful looking, and finely crafted, furniture that you can find anywhere in Australia.  Or indeed the world.  I've also been photographing the new pieces as they come through for Evan and his team, both in their finished glory in the Showroom prior to delivery, and in the Workshop as the pieces either gain shape or are nearly completion. I hope the existing readership of The Image is Everything will take the time to wander across to the new Blog I have started for Dunstone Design, to see what glorious pieces they are working on throughout the year. Dunstone Design Blog Enjoy...

GUN CAMERAMAN PASSES AWAY Tony Leonard ( right ), a legendary equine photographer who chronicled the golden age of Thoroughbred racing, died July 14 at Homestead Nursing Home in Lexington. He was 89. Born Leonard Anthony Bergantino on Aug. 8, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Leonard served in the Army during World War II and became a professional entertainer after the war, performing first in nightclubs across the country and eventually on Broadway. He took up the stage name of Tony Leonard at the suggestion of Bob Hope’s manager and came to Kentucky in 1961 with his wife Adelle. Deciding to settle down in the bluegrass, Leonard began taking pictures of horses in the area as a hobby that soon turned into a full-time profession. He first made his name in racing when he went to Darby Dan Farm in Lexington and photographed the great Ribot in his paddock. Several of the photos appeared as part of a feature in the Morning Telegraph and Leonard was on his way to a career as...

I've been feeling a little flat, confused and low the past couple of weeks.  It's a feeling that I am having difficulty shaking, and uncertainty doesn't help either.  So while I was in Sydney this week, I turned to the ponies to try to help myself feel better.  And that was fun.  I spent some time at Randwick, with some of Gai Waterhouse's horses, including her 2 stars, the champion mare More Joyous and her unbeaten 2yo Triple Crown champion, Pierro.

Dan (my car) is packed.  And clean (well, sort of clean for him, anyway).  I am always amazed by the amount of horse feed I have to sweep out of him each time I clean him out, and the assortment of kids toys, and left over food, which always makes me curse.  His oil and water are checked (think the oil was low, again), and I just need to fuel him up, on route to feeding my pony and picking the kids up.  I am feeling tired and sick, and can't shake a cold that just wants to get nastier.  The reason for the trip this weekend is my mum's birthday party, as she turned 70 on Wednesday, and is having an afternoon tea for a party in Sydney tomorrow afternoon.   I have of course thrown the camera in, as there will be photos to be take, and I kept wandering back to my cupboard and looking at the big lens in its bag, thinking 'should I, shouldn't I?'  Then decided that spending a little bit of time with some ponies will be good for my soul, so made a q...

I recently went to Adelaide for the first time in well over 15 years.  I used to visit there, for work, in a past life with CSIRO.  The reason I returned was because trainer Peter Moody had selected 2 races at Adelaide's Morphetville Racecourse to prepare his great champion, and my favourite Pony, Black Caviar, for her engagement with the Queen at Royal Ascot. On the first trip, on 28 April, after the race was run and won, I spend some time out the back with the Pony.  Those who know my Blog and me will have seen the images from the day, including my own little reunion with the Pony.  What I hadn't posted were some images I took of a lady in a wheel chair, who was able to meet the Pony in the stalls just before they put her on the float home.  I didn't know who the lady in the wheelchair was, I was just intrigued by her, and by the wheels that bore the Famous Pony's great colours.  They brought Nelly back to the stalls, and before the lady realised it,...

There's a very important book being written at the moment, about an important little Pony...  It's being written by an eloquent and respected writer as well. And there's a photographer who's close to the Pony, and her heart (ok, and her stomach if truth be told! but we are v good friends!!!) who's also being closely involved in this project.  I've seen some of the artwork.  There are some occasions where you doubt everything that you do. This Pony makes a difference through.  To everyone.  Especially me.  In the darkest moments, she is a light that brightens my way.  Thank you Pony....

Winter is fully upon us.  Here in Canberra, the night time temperatures have fallen to around the -5 to -6 mark for the past 2 nights, and daytime temperatures being, well, damn cold!  My daughter AND I have also been a little sick with colds.  During winter I am kept busy with incoming photograph requests, bookwork and tax returns (enough to bore me stupid!), soccer photography for the local soccer club (with the annual soccer yearbook soon to be completed, which is a big job in itself), and my new job running the Showroom, and photographing for Dunstone Design.  The good news is that the Pony will be on the plane home soon.  It will feel nice to have her back in the country again.  Moody told me this morning that my Pony is doing ok, and that she is coming home soon.  Her lovely trainer is tired, and glad it is all over, but immensely proud of Nelly, her jockey, and his whole team.  He can rightly be very proud of what he's achieved.  ...