Flashpoint Labs

Zoe Betar Little People, Big City Why do you make your art? I...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:20:17 +1100

What I see

Band

Silhouettes

Notes of a past, images of the present

Notes of the past, pictures of a present

Destination Somewhere

Reflection

Mystery

Zoe Betar

Little People, Big City

Why do you make your art?

I love photography as it allows me to capture moments. Why I do it? Basically so I can keep the memories and moments that I experience and see.

What inspires you to make it?

My inspiration comes from the people I meet and those I really care about. These photos are important people and places in my life that make me happy, the moments that I wanted to keep.

What does it signify or represent?

Growing up in a town called Tweed Heads, these photos are my view as an ‘out of towner’ of Sydney. ‘Little people, Big City’ tells the story of how my partner and I see the city when we grew up in what seems like a totally different world. These are the small moments that make up the big picture.

How do you make it?

I like natural light, so I limit my use of the flash. I keep either my phone or camera ready so I can take a photo at anytime which is why some are either blurry or slightly darker than others.

What does it mean to you?

These photos are literally parts of my life. Elizabeth Street tunnel is something that I see on a weekly basis. The music and people are always different and interesting.

Image Captions

1. What I see

2. Band

3. Silhouettes

4. Notes of a past, images of the present

5. Notes of the past, pictures of a present

6. Destination Somewhere

7. Reflection

8. Mystery

Buy These Photos

To own this artwork and support the artist and Flashpoint Labs, you can purchase individual images or the whole series by contacting us at: hello@flashpointlabs.org - simply email us the images you would like to purchase and we will send through the details for payment. Artists receive over 50% of the sale price. Flashpoint Labs is a not-for-profit social enterprise, all proceeds are reinvested into participatory photography programs for young people from diverse backgrounds.

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Zacharia Elbourne My Days When taking these photos I wanted to...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:19:52 +1100

Head office

One man's trash is another man's treasure

Reminder of Home

View from the desk

View from the lounge

Ride to Work

Zacharia Elbourne

My Days

When taking these photos I wanted to capture pieces of my everyday life. I was first drawn to my bike and trees. Why these two together? Who knows! Seriously though, as a child I was very close to my Nan, June, and she told me of the importance of trees and what they meant to her. This has stuck with me as I have grown; I am forever admiring the beauty of trees. The passion for bikes started as a young kid, but died out in my early teens. It wasn’t until I saw my first bright coloured fixie that it started all over again. I have rebuilt a vintage Apollo 10-speed bike which is now my current mode of transport. I like to build these kinds of bikes because I like the idea of something old and run down becoming useful and appealing again.

Image Captions

1. Head office

2. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

3. Reminder of Home

4. View from the desk

5. View from the lounge

6. Ride to Work

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Yale MacGillivray Underlay I am a proud Kalkadoon woman from...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:18:29 +1100

Yale MacGillivray

Underlay

I am a proud Kalkadoon woman from North West Queensland, who grew up on Darumbal land in Central Queensland. I’m also proud to be of South Sea Islander and Scottish descent.

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor Arts at COFA and UNSW, majoring in Time Based Art, Film Studies and Indigenous Studies. Although my main medium of work is video and film, I also love to work with photography.

My works revolve around Indigenous affairs and usually young Indigenous people and their experience of tertiary education.

The work, which is presented in the Photolines exhibition, is inspired by a reflection on Ricky Maynard’s work. This series is my reaction to his work. The focus is young, fair skinned Aboriginal peoples whom are all studying at university.

The three portraits represent the blunt interpretations, what others may see - the surfaced. The other three images represent the under layers – it documents the unseen, the layers beneath the scene.

It is important to note that this work only explores two layers, it does not go deeper. It leaves open all interpretations that are possible. These works aren’t shown to stop stereotypes, they are meant to deter and create a different afterthought. A picture is worth a thousand words and it’s up to the interpreter to create the story. My interpretation is a positive reflection of a group of young Indigenous youth finding their way, what is yours?

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6. Untitled

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Thomas Bassinder In the Moment Hi, I’m Thomas, and these images...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:17:31 +1100

Thomas Bassinder

In the Moment

Hi, I’m Thomas, and these images are just from hanging around mates and pretty much just capturing the moment. Capturing an image but also capturing a memory. I hope you feel as loved by these photos as you should. Thank you.

Image Captions

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Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Tara Chan Feel the Moment Hi my name is Tara Chan and I was a...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:17:12 +1100

Smile though your heart is breaking

Music makes the world go round

Wish you were here

Life in the fast lane

Crying times

Feel the moment

Like a sunset

Tara Chan

Feel the Moment

Hi my name is Tara Chan and I was a part of the Photolines workshops.

I chose to do this program as I have an interest in photography and all the styles of photography that there is.

I really enjoy photographs of people. Not just portrait style photography but more of capturing an emotion in a photo. I like the fact that a picture can tell a thousand stories and it’s what you get out of that photo that makes it great.

I have tried to go with different emotions in my photos. Some people posing and others just taken on a whim. When I look back on these photos and the emotion comes back with them. When you look at a photo of someone smiling, it captivates you into smiling also. When someone looks sad in a photo, you also take that on.

The other photos I have taken are a ‘just in the moment’ photograph, just like the people I just click and shoot. It’s like a surprise, you never know what you will get. I was told that there is no rules in photography, I make them myself and that’s what I’ve done.

I hope you enjoy my photos and that you get captured in the emotion. To feel like you are there and can make your own story out of the photographs. To empathise with the people in the pictures.

Image Captions

1. Smile though your heart is breaking

2. Music makes the world go round

3. Wish you were here

4. Life in the fast lane

5. Crying times

6. Feel the moment

7. Like a sunset

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Keisha Webb Places That Shape Me My name is Keisha Webb and I am...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:16:50 +1100

Redfern locals

Home -This image is quite important to me as every summer I visit this beach. This beach is also Gumbaynggirr land, which is my tribe.

Albert St

Terrigal

Keisha Webb

Places That Shape Me

My name is Keisha Webb and I am 17 years old. I took these images whilst staying on the Mid North Coast, Terrigal and through Redfern, I believe these places have helped shaped the person I am today because I spend so much time at them.

Image Captions

1. Terrigal

2. Redfern locals

3. Albert St

4. Home -This image is quite important to me as every summer I visit this beach. This beach is also Gumbaynggirr land, which is my tribe.

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Bianca Roberts Marry the Night I’ve always been a...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:15:56 +1100

Dark...

All that Glitters

Pride in the Sky

...and gloomy

Bianca Roberts

Marry the Night

I’ve always been a ‘night time person’, that’s when I come out to play, when I feel most comfortable, being out at night is like wearing all black - it’s slimming - at least I always felt that way. The night is dark and mysterious but beautiful and calming, one of the only things I find true beauty in. ‘I’m gonna marry the night, I’m gonna marry the dark, Gonna make love to the stark. I’m a soldier to my own emptiness, I am a winner’ - Lady Gaga.

Image Captions

1. Dark…

2. All that glitters

3. Pride in the sky

4. …and gloomy

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Anthony Fowler My World This installation, which shows some...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:13:48 +1100

Anthony Fowler

My World

This installation, which shows some events during various days in Anthony Fowler’s life, is an attempt by Anthony to show that his vision impairment does not limit him in his daily life and travels.

For Anthony, photography opens up the world to more than he can usually see, which is the inspiration for this installation.

During this project Anthony faced many challenges, including people who where hostile to a person taking photographs whilst they had a white cane.

Anthony Fowler (1991- ), first year student studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of New South Wales, is legally blind with Retinitis Pigmentosa. He enjoys photography, politics, micronationalism and is interested in becoming a diplomat after he finishes university.

Image Captions

6. Linguistics Text Book

7. Got Milk?

8. Running and not sure why

9. Goodnight

10. Granny’s Lamp

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Anthony Fowler My World This installation, which shows some...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:11:50 +1100

Anthony Fowler

My World

For Anthony, photography opens up the world to more than he can usually see, which is the inspiration for this installation.

During this project Anthony faced many challenges, including people who where hostile to a person taking photographs whilst they had a white cane.

Image Captions

1. The bed

2. The road of nightmares

3. The tunnel

4. Stairway to the bus (not heaven)

5. Ahh, good old uni

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Amanda Fowler One Special Night This installation is very...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:08:00 +1100

Dinner table, entree with yucky food

The entrance, ladies and gentlemen please find your seat

Olympians receiving their awards

Anonymous waiter, whoops cut his head off

Lights, social time, time to be me

Nice shoes, sore feet

There and back

Amanda Fowler

One Special Night

This installation is very special to Amanda as it shows the journey to and from the Swimmer of the Year event in Melbourne.

This event was only open to Australia’s Paralympians and Olympians and only a selected few are invited.

Amanda Fowler is an elite swimmer who recently competed in the London 2012 Paralympics (S14 classification*) and is Australia’s best Indigenous female swimmer.

*This is a disability classification system for sports; S14 is the intellectual disability classification.

Image Captions

1. Dinner table, entree with yucky food

2. The entrance, ladies and gentlemen please find your seat

3. Olympians receiving their awards

4. Anonymous waiter, whoops cut his head off

5. Lights, social time, time to be me

6. Nice shoes, sore feet

7. There and back

Buy These Photos

8 x 12 Print = $100

12 X 18 Print = $130

16 x 24 Print = $150

Digital image file = $50

Photo

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:07:41 +1100

HUGE NEWS!! GO TO: www.flashpointlabs.org/photolines Are you...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:44:00 +1000

HUGE NEWS!! GO TO: www.flashpointlabs.org/photolines

Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and aged between 15-25?

Do you want to learn how to take powerful photos and tell stories that matter?

Join the leaders in changemaking photography and learn from world-class photographers as you create with purpose and craft messages that inspire change.

Apply now to join this exciting photography program that will lead to an exhibition as part of the prestigious Head On Photo Festival.

Photolines is an 8-week program starting Wednesday, 10th October 2012, from 4pm-6pm. It will run every Wednesday from 4pm-6pm at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern, Sydney. Participants will gain photography, storytelling and changemaking skills. All equipment is provided, including cameras.

Find out THE DETAILS at www.flashpointlabs.org/photolines

APPLY NOW for this FREE OPPORTUNITY!

Applications close 25th September 2012 (Priority will be given to applications received by the deadline).

You can contact us at: hello@flashpointlabs.org or call Mickey on - 0402 313 169

In July we ran another participatory photography program in...

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:14:35 +1000

In July we ran another participatory photography program in partnership with Football United. This one was at Granville South High School. Over 5 workshops we worked with participants to develop their visual literacy and storytelling skills as they developed a photo essay around the theme ‘what does home mean to you?’. Football United did a short blog post about it a few weeks back.

It was such a great program for us to be a part of. The students were super enthusiastic and great to work with. We were also very lucky to have a brilliant school teacher in Ms Leah McKeown to support us and give us valuable feedback. We think the students had a pretty good time and learnt some important principles for meaningful creative expression and digital storytelling. The students photo essays will be exhibited at the end other year as part of Football United’s Digital Connections Showcase. Above are some great images from the students that were exhibited at the end of term in-school exhibition.

Big thanks to Natalie Hunfalvay for lead facilitating the sessions and to Saskia Wilson, Alex Cheek and Emily Lees for volunteering as ‘guides-by-the-side’.

- Mickey, Flashpoint Labs Co-founder

Join us and REGISTER NOW!

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:41:08 +1000

Join us and REGISTER NOW!

Flashpoint Labs Volunteers ARE THE BEST! This post is a huge...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:17:00 +1000

Sam (airborne), Jack (ground) by - Jamii

Raquel - by Anthony

David - photo by Mickey

Byron - photo by Mickey

Natalie - photo by Mickey

Sophie - photo by Jamii

Kata - photo by Mickey

Saskia - photo by Leah

Flashpoint Labs Volunteers ARE THE BEST!

This post is a huge shout out and massive thanks to all the Flashpoint Labs volunteers who worked with us on the Big Picture program. Each one of you were so generous and amazing with the participants. We deeply and sincerely appreciate your thoughtful engagement with the young people as guides-by-the-side. Your one-on-one mentorship with the participants during the photography sessions really made the program special. I know for a fact all the participants would like to thank you big time.

ROLL CALL!

In order of appearance in workshops:

Davide Clune - Producer, man with the video camera and secret skills for working respectfully with young people. Thanks heaps David!

Kata Marno - Flashpoint Labs longest standing volunteer and resident workshop photographer. Thanks heaps Kedvesem!

Raquel Duron - Fellow student at the School for Social Entrepreneurs, photographer and all around amazing person. Raquel is super culturally aware and experienced and she worked so well building trust with the participants in no time. Thanks heaps Raquel.

Saskia Wilson - Professional photographer and a kind heart with a connection to bakeries. She worked closely with participants, sharing her technical skills and building their confidence. She also donated a tasty loaf of sourdough bread. Thanks heaps Saskia!

Sam Hendel - Professional photographer and all round nice guy who really cared about the participants approach to taking photos. Sammy co-led the portrait workshop at B2 Studios and was great with the participants on day two when we were shooting moving trains. No doubt we all learnt a lot from him. Thanks heaps Sammy!

Jack Bollero - Professional photography lighting and equipment specialist and all around legend. Jack also co-led the portrait workshop at B2 Studios and was super knowledgeable about the spectrum of lighting techniques while being lots of fun to hang out with. Thanks heaps Jack!

Natalie Hunfalvay - Professional photographer and generous, thoughtful and respectful guide-by-the-side. Natalie was fantastic working with the participants, letting them use her camera, building their confidence and assisting them in selecting their best images. Thanks heaps Natalie!

Byron Keane - Professional photographer and willing to jump in and lend a hand. Byron only just found out about Flashpoint Labs and was great working with the participants on the train tracks. Thanks heaps Byron!

Sophie Venardos - Photo Media major at COFA, Sophie is also new to Flashpoint Labs and was great working with the participants on forced perspective and image selection. Thanks heaps Sophie!

Again, thank you to all our volunteers and we look forward to working with you all in the very near future!

If you would like to be a part of Flashpoint Labs and volunteer with us, register your interest here.

- Mickey

Are you interested in photography and digital storytelling? Want...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:48:00 +1000

Are you interested in photography and digital storytelling?

Want to hangout with professional photographers, get access to hi-tec digital labs and work towards developing a portfolio, a photo series and a digital story for exhibitions around Sydney?

Flashpoint Labs in partnership with the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence(NCIE), Powerhouse Museum, Vibewire, and Future Journeys is running a changemaking photography and digital storytelling program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (16-24) in inner-city Sydney over the Easter holiday period (April 13^th-29^th).

The BIG PICTURE program focuses on creating an opportunity for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to learn and practice photography, storytelling and multimedia production. It’s also about having a chance to hangout with professional photographers, having a bit of hands on creative fun, and getting to access to the Powerhouse Museum’s Hi-Tec Labs. If the participants want, we’ll also be working towards creating a final portfolio, a photo series and a digital story for exhibitions in galleries and spaces around Sydney.

There will be an introductory afternoon session on Friday 13^th April, then six full-day workshops, four at the NCIE on 16^th, 17^th, 18^th, 21^st April and two on the weekend of the 28^th-29^th April, at the Powerhouse’s Thinkspace labs. More details here.

APPLY NOW for these FREE workshops! Click here for more information and to fill out the online form, or print out and return the attached flyer to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. Applications close on Friday April 6^th 2012. Priority will be given to students whose applications are received by the deadline.

Flashpoint Labs is committed to providing on-going spaces for learning and support for participants of the program.

For more information contact Mickey Kovari (Co-founder or Flashpoint Labs and Online Engagement Coordinator at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence) at hello[at]flahspointlabs[dot]org or on 8094 2507 during business hours.

Flashpoint Labs Recap and Comeback! 2011 Recap Last year was our...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:33:00 +1100

Flashpoint Labs Recap and Comeback!

2011 Recap

Last year was our first year in operation and it was brilliant. Leanne and I committed to starting the social enterprise in June 2011 and we haven’t looked back since. We felt, tried and trialled our way through the second half of the year taking every opportunity and testing out ideas.

We piloted our version of the participatory photography concept and trialled pop-up workshops and programs with 5 different organisations. We had over 100 unique participants in workshops between September and December 2011.

We ran 11 workshops in partnership with Football United. Five pop-up workshops with mixed school groups and 6 program workshops as part of Evans High School’s Refugee Transition Program. The Evans program culminated in a group exhibition at the University of NSW for Football United’s Digital Connections showcase. The images above are mostly self-selected photos that the students chose to exhibit (a few were not present to select their photos). Check out this great video about the Digital Connections project featured on SBS’s The World Game and Football United’s own blog post about the Showcase.

We ran a workshops with a youth services organisations in Redfern and one with the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE).

We were also part of the Koori Story Exchange project with Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE).

It was a busy second half of the year and a steep 6 month learning curve for us. We loved it and from the feedback we got, the participants loved it too. The Evans High School students said the Flashpoint Labs program was the best part of their Refguee Transition program and used the term ‘awesome’ a lot in our evaluation forms.

2012 Comeback in Full Effect

This year sees us gearing up for some exciting stuff. We’ll be doing a bunch of pop-up workshops and some cool programs. We’ll also be partnering with some amazing organisations to deliver an even better experience. More to come on all that soon. Stay tuned.

- Mickey

Virtual world hiatus - Real world busyness While we may not have...

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:15:00 +1100

Virtual world hiatus - Real world busyness

While we may not have posted much online recently, it’s not because of a lack of action. On the ground, we have been busy running workshops and focusing on program development.

Leanne and I both have amazing and demanding full-time jobs (She is the CEO of the NSW Reconciliation Council and I’m the Online Engagement Coordinator at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence). The relatively little time we have to spend on Flashpoint Labs (nights and weekends), we spend doing the core work (program development and delivery) rather than talking about it (marketing/blogging/social media).

But enough is enough! You must know what we have been up to. We didn’t have a workshop this week so I thought we owed you a blog post and some photos.

Since our kick-off drinks back in September, we have run 9 workshops with a range of different participants.

We helped facilitate the final day of Information and Cultural Exchange’s Koori Exchange Project, we have run workshops with Airds and Evans High School in Campbelltown and Blacktown respectively, and we led a workshop for Football United’s Leadership Camp that brought together over 40 students from various schools in Western Sydney.

Last week, we were lucky enough to take photos for the Football United Festival 2011. This was an amazing event gathering together all the participants in the Football United program. Around 300 students playing football and having fun all day. You can see 10 of the photos above and some more on Football United’s Facebook page.

Over the next month, we will continue to deliver our custom photography program that we have developed with Evans High School. There are lots of great images coming out of this program. Check out our facebook page for a sneak peak at some of the student’s photos.

Until next time.

- posted by mickey

Flashpoint Labs Kick-Off and Volunteer Briefing Drinks Check out...

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:57:00 +1000

Flashpoint Labs Kick-Off and Volunteer Briefing Drinks

Check out this cool short video from our Kick-Off and Volunteer Briefing Drinks. Big thanks to Flashpoint Labs Crew member Drew Higgins for cutting it together so quickly and awesomely.

About 30 people came to 4ate5 Cafe on Crown St the other night to have a couple drinks and find out more about Flashpoint Labs. Thanks to everyone who came down to share a beverage and support what we’re up to. Also a big thanks to the people who offered to volunteer on the night. Our crew is growing quickly with some amazingly talented people.

First Ever Flashpoint Labs Workshops! We ran our first ever...

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:43:00 +1000

First Ever Flashpoint Labs Workshops!

We ran our first ever workshops on Friday, 2nd September 2011, in partnership with Football United and Information and Cultural Exchange. A day I think we at Flashpoint Labs will remember forever and look back on with smiles.

I think both the participants and we had heaps fun and learnt a lot.

We ran two sessions, both with about 8 participants. We introduced ourselves, handed out the cameras, talked a bit about how to use them, got everyone to take a self-portrait and then got straight into a photo hunt activity. We gave each participant a sheet with 20 words on it. They had 20 minutes to take one photo to to represent each word. Most finished the activity within the time.

After the activity, we gathered around a projector to review and discuss the images. You could see the joy on the faces of the young people viewing their images on the big screen and talking about them amongst their peers. The participants would guess what the photographer was trying to represent through each photo. Then the photographer would then tell everyone what they were trying to represent and how they thought their image illustrated the word’s meaning.

This was a great way to introduce the idea of ‘reading an image’, which is the core of visual literacy. It was a way to start to instil the concept of using imagery to symbolise words and meaning. The participants were essentially analysing the photos and using their values and understanding of imagery to decide what the picture meant to them.

At the end of the first session we burnt each participant a CD of their photos and gave it to them on-the-spot. They were very happy about this. The opportunity to take home something tangible that represented their learning, and gave them the ability to later review and analyse their images further, was cool. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to burn the CDs for the second group, but they should be getting their images through Football United soon.

All-in-all it was a fantastic first round experience for Flashpoint Labs and, we hope, a fun introduction to photography and visual literacy for the participants.

We look forward to working closely with Football United over the next few months to run a full participatory photography program.

Big thanks to Averie Harvey, our Professional Photographer ‘guide-by-the-side’ who did an awesome job of providing on-hand photography tips and technical macbook support :)

Anecdotes from the day:

‘yeah it was fun’ - Participant

‘they said they really enjoyed it, I’m going to have to listen to them talking about it all the way home on the bus’ - School Teacher

‘every time we came to check on your workshop they seemed so engaged, it was great to see’ - Football United Facilitator

- posted by mickey