More glory today for the Famous Pony Black Caviar.  Tomorrow the Royal Australian Mint releases 3 special commemorative $1 coins to celebrate her retirement.  All 3 coins feature my imagery, as does the packaging.  It is indeed a special time.  See the link below for details of the launch, at tomorrow's World Stamp Expo 2013 being held here in Melbourne. Royal Australian Mint - Black Caviar Coins

I'm still trying to get a stamp after being with a Pony down in very lovely horse territory. I am following my wits slightly as I came off Eastlink onto Bulleen road, heading for Northlands. I navigated this exact route once before. I gazed thoughtfully at the large Ford Dealership on the corner of Manningham and Something-Else Road. It was my landmark to turn off to have a cup of tea at a friend's house.  I will have to start thinking about a new car soon. Except I don't want a Ford. Perhaps the stamps will have arrived and the nice Post Office lady will have remembered to put some aside for me?  When I get back I have some lovely and intimate photos to go through. They are just what I was seeking to achieve.

It is Friday 10 May.  I'm up early to catch a plane to Melbourne for the weekend.  I've been waiting weeks to be able to post these images, which further immortalize the great champion, the Famous Pony, Black Caviar.  Australia Post today release a Black Caviar Postage Stamp.  The stamp features an image I took of Black Caviar during her 2012 autumn campaign. Australia Post's 2013 Black Caviar Stamp.  It is being released today, Friday 10 May and will be officially launched on Saturday 11 May at the World Stamp Expo in Melbourne.  Stamp image by Bronwen Healy. The stamp goes on sale today.  It will also be on display at the World Stamp Expo 2013.  The Expo is being held in Melbourne, on Friday 10 to 15th May, at the Royal Exhibition Centre on Nicholson Street. Black Caviar is the epitome of an Affair of The Heart. Affairs such as these are rarely logical. And they frequently don't make sense. They revolve around what your heart wants t...

I was asked to photograph the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale Cocktail Party on Monday 8 April 2013.  It was held at Star, with the most amazing views over Sydney Harbour in the outside viewing/entertainment area.  These sorts of events are hard work, but there's some nice images here.  It was good catching up with a few friends as well. Gilgai Farm's Meaghan Strickland-Wood Rick Jamieson, owner of Gilgai Farm and breeder of Black Caviar, All Too Hard and the Redoute's Choice - Helsinge colt that sold for $5million arrives at the Cocktail Party. Mark Webster, Rick Jamieson, Meaghan Strickland-Wood and Pete Ford     Managing owner of Black Caviar, Neil Werrett and Lena Attebo.   John Coates    

The kids and I got back from Sydney late this afternoon.  We stopped in at Target so they could pick out a little treat after our boy "Redoute's" sired the AJC Oaks winner.  Maxie travelled with us.  I checked my oil, my water, and even my tyres.  Dan's trip-meter  will have clicked over to 338,000km. We ate dinner while we watched Nelly, Black Caviar, on Australian Story.  It had the footage of Rick and the statue.  It makes me feel proud, although lost as well at times.  After the program finished, Jessica started crying again.  Which of course made me cry.  I thought she'd stopped, but when I turned to go to the kitchen she was standing there at the tissue box, crying in earnest, with tears running down her face.  Her eyes look like mine when she cries. I bent down next to her, and I said this was just one chapter in a story we've been a part of.  And I promised her that I hoped we will continue to follow her life a...

Racing Victoria have released a photograph of this statue, and Rick Jamieson has told me it's now in the public domain, so I can finally post this.  I should stress that Racing Victoria are NOT involved in the commissioning of this statue.  The statue is all due to Black Caviar's terrific and wonderful breeder, Rick Jamieson, of Gilgai Farm. The statue has been done by Mitch Mitchell, and is 110% size.  It will stand on the shores of Lake Nagambie, which is her birthplace and home of Rick's Gilgai Farm.  It will be a wonderful monument to a truly wonderful and unique champion. This is one of the very important projects I have been closely involved with.  The statue is based on my image of the Famous Pony Black Caviar and Luke Nolen.  I was in the company of my best friend that day.

I hope my reader doesn't mind me sharing part of her message she sent me.  It brought tears to my eyes. Hi Bronwen,   I want to start off by thanking you for sharing your gift and love of photography both here and on your website and blog. Coming across photos of past and present champions is a real treat and brings back wonderful memories of days past.   With respect to Black Caviar aka Nelly aka The Famous Pony aka the Great Mare as I like to refer to her as, I have very much appreciated your images. You’ve captured her fierceness, power, strength, courage and beauty on the track and her grace, serenity, joy, gentleness and kindness away from it. While I am sadden by the fact that Nelly will race no more this has been tempered by feelings of immense gratitude to have borne witness to this stunning equine athlete. She has left an indelible mark on Australian and world racing that will resonate for generations to come. Her place among the equine ...

This morning I drove out to Royal Randwick for the trials, because Black Caviar's half brother All Too Hard was running in Trial 6, an open 3YO trial over 1050m on the inside grass.  As I work on the images, because I am now getting more disciplined with my captioning I went into my saved captions, and there in front of me was a saved caption for 19 April 2012.   On this day 12 months ago I'd gotten up at the crack of dawn, in the pouring rain, and headed to the airport.  I was breathless with anticipation for more reasons than one.  I flew to Melbourne then we drove to Nagambie, where I met properly for the first time the man who is responsible for the legend that is Black Caviar.  I speak of course of Rick Jamieson, who'd allowed me to visit his Gilgai Farm.   I drove to the farm in a blue falcon.  It wasn't nearly as cool as the Bad Ass car I'd been given by Hertz the weeks before, but I liked it nonetheless.  As I drove down...