Archive for November, 2011

Robin Lim and Bumi Sehat

November 25, 2011

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Robin Lim is one inspirational woman.

She is a midwife who has changed the lives of women, children and families all over Bali through Yayasan Bumi Sehat.

Bumi Sehat is a non profit organisation headed by Robin Lim which advocates for higher standards of maternal and child health. A large part of these deaths which occur during pregnancy and childbirth are preventable through proper hygiene, pre-natal care and nutrition. These are simple matters to most of us, yet are often overlooked, and are unavailable in this part of the world.

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A renown midwife and mother of 7, Robin Lim first settled in Bali with her husband in the early 90’s. Through word of mouth (all news travels fast in Bali), it got to be known that she birthed her own child at home alone, and Robin was later contacted to assist with a difficult birth in a nearby village. The woman died as a result of haemorrhaging during the birth, and that was Robin’s introduction to a problem she soon realised was all too common in Bali.

In Bali alone, the mortality ratio during child birth was double that of the whole Indonesian country.

The US jewelry company Anna Beck supports Robin’s work and Bumi Sehat, and has commissioned Director Sybil Steele and I to make a short film for their Anna Beck fundraiser in summer 2012. It’s very exciting for Sybil and I, and quite confronting at the same time. I reckon Sybil summed it up perfectly in one of our too-and-fro email barrages; “when I was 25, my goal was to help women around the world, I never knew that venturing into fashion photography would lead back full circle again to do a project something that will affect many lives.”

Robin has been nominated for a CNN Hero award, which recognises everyday people that are changing our world for the better. You can show your support here  – http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive11/robin.lim.html

You can vote up to 10 times a day, and the CNN hero of the year receives $250,000 towards their cause!

To read more about the clinic – www.bumisehatbali.org

Mornings…

November 24, 2011

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There is nothing better than a still moment at sunrise.

Photo – Alex Frings

Imperfect Match

November 23, 2011

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A little whiles back, I got to do a very strange interview/catchup with Quang Dinh of Little Red, through my side project Common Ground for Yen Magazine. Random. We hadn’t met each other before this day, and were thrown into some beer and banter with Mel Bampton, who kept us in line.

It was a really fun afternoon. I learnt more about music, and this ever-popular band Little Red. Quang also had an affinity with Charles Bukowski and psychedellics, both influences in my own life to date (the drugs have worn off).

Click the image to enlarge, but you will need good eyes to read it…. sorry.

 

Innersection… Getting Close!

November 18, 2011

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I’ve been working on the final edit of Nathan Myers and Taylor Steele‘s next installment of INNERSECTION… and it’s gonna be epic!

We are into day 10 now, and just a couple adjustments to go until it’s released onto the world. A couple of my favorite sections so far are from Albee Layer, Tanner Gudauskas and Tonino Benson. But it’s up to you to deside!

www.innersection.tv

 

Hey Ho Let’s Go Surfing

November 11, 2011

A clip that wants to make you go surf, have fun and do it with your mates. My good friend and fellow filmmaker Nathan Oldfield put this little doozy together featuring Sage Joske, Brett Caller and Jake Bevan.

“Hey, Ho, Let’s go surfing already!”. Darn Northerlies.

A Bohemian Love Story

November 8, 2011

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We all love love. I’m a sucker for weddings too. Planning one right now to my fiance’ Elizabeth. So when I was called up by Karissa Fanning at The Lane to shoot a little video for her, you guessed what my answer was.

The video and shoot tells the story of a bohemian romance and private commitment ceremony held on a secluded beach. I wanted to capture the free-spirited mood of the 70′s, and drew inspiration from nature, fire, music, art and sun-drenched afternoons in Australia.

Enjoy the video!

Pics are by Trent Mitchell. Floral arrangement by White Ivy Design. To see more pics and inspiration visit The Lane.

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To see more pics and inspiration visit The Lane.

Magic Seaweed – Photo of the Day!

November 5, 2011

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Alex Frings scored “Photo of the Day” on Magic Seaweed with this shot…. STOKED!

Running Down

November 3, 2011

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Hidden messages live in the space. The space left when your usual is put out of wack. A spanner in the work. The work you’ve been painting your whole life.

Sometimes you just don’t want to paint. Or are forced not to paint.

I’ve been ‘rundown’ for the last couple of days. Second time in three weeks. In the past when it’s happen I pretend everything is ok, keep painting the picture, but I’m much worse at pretending these days. Learnt a few lessons. Instead I dissappear and be at peace with the shadows. So much stimuli all the time. Lots of things I’m meant to do, but am I doing them with purpose? With meaning? In losing the paintbrush, it might be time to paint with your hands, or sit back and observe what you’re doing.

A life of constant observation. Can be tiresome looking at yourself under the microscope. Might be time to get pissed. Drunks seem so happy on the surface.

I find a lot of clarity in these times, when you look at life in a thoughtful way. I could meditate and calm the bleak, but…. Shit. I just fell asleep. That happens in this weird space. What was I writing about? Oh, I remember…

Cough cough.

So much stuff comes up when you stop painting. Questions and doubts. You become so human. A little bit needy. A little bit desperate. It’s like being in slow motion. Detached. A weird feeling. My Dad summed this up when he had a stroke.

That’s why I try go with it these days. Feeling shit. Good. Good to get off the treadmill. Makes you really appreciate it. Life that is. Puts you on the path. No such thing as the right one, but at least it helps you see what your life should be…

A friggin rollercoaster.

Nothin’ like a Freshy!

November 1, 2011

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Every surfer can relate the the stoke of a new surfboard. If it goes good, friggin stoked, if it doesn’t… F%#$.

I’m loving this purple weapon shaped by Michael Cundith of MC Surf Designs (board specs here). Flies. Versitile. Best as a Quad.

My photographic sparring partner Alex Frings and I went down to a very average NE corner. The light went soft. Shitty little double ups were hitting the bank. We were hoping for more. Luckily the ‘Purple People Eater’ got rid of the crowd, and I got to dance along a few faces, whilst Alex smiled and snapped a few moments.

Looking forward to getting it into some better waves soon. Spring in Byron isn’t that good waves wise. Tootaloo.

More very cool pics from Alex here – www.facebook.com/alexander.frings.photography

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