What Happens When We Pay Attention?

A September of landscapes, creative lives and connections, from the Home of Compassion to Te Papa

Travelling with a friend: photographing beauty and connecting

In my last post, I wrote that August was awesome and September would offer even more.

Part of that story began on the road with my friend and fellow photographer James Stonely.

We travelled south through winter landscapes to create new work for my 2027 calendar and for Jame's brilliant truestock images.

There were mountains, frozen lakes, long nights and the occasional need to lie in the middle of an empty road to find the right photograph.

The finished images matter, but so do the curiosity, friendship and attention involved in making them. Can't wait to get on the road with James again !

Beyond the aperture: South Coast Arts Trail and the Home of Compassion

Coming up on the 12th and 13th September during the South Coast Arts Trail, I will once again be exhibiting at the Home of Compassion.

The exhibition moves between my astrophotography and landscapes and the creative lives of some amazing people: hands shaping glass, playing music and working with natural materials; faces absorbed in making; and quiet moments when somebody becomes completely attentive to what is in front of them.

Prints and my 2027 landscape calendars will be available to buy, with funds raised supporting the Soup Kitchen.

These photographs have also led me into a larger project, which I will be giving a preview of in my talks during the the South Coast Atrs Trail on the 12th and 13th September. Over recent months, I have been interviewing artists, writers, musicians, photographers and other creative people about where creativity comes from, what happens while they work and what their creations become in the lives of others. Their answers have been surprising, moving and profound, and I've interleaved the findings with neuroscience, psychology and philosophy. I will bring those stories together on the 26th September in a talk at Te Papa Beyond the Aperture: The Art of Paying Attention.

The talk combines photography, interviews, science and my own experience of recovery and builds upon some fundamental questions....could creativity be less about making impressive things, and more about becoming attentive enough to notice what matters and what happens to the creative person when their art transfers to a new owner. I am continuing to interview creative people and in time, the project will also become a book. I'm excited to see what happens next for this project and hope to see you at one of my talks!