Tony Warrilow

Lot’s of fun at Katie and Jay’s wedding last weekend. Very cool bridal party and a super nice couple. Rather handsome I might add.

I could tell it was the combining of two pretty close families. Always nice to be part of.

We covered some ground. From the beautiful grounds of the Caversham House (wow) to the urban streets of Perth (groove) city. Then there was a tree and a riverside. Great fun.

Congratulations to Katie and Jay. They make a fabulous couple.

Speaking of couples for the second weekend out of the last three I have  run into previous clients and lets just say the population growth of Australia is in good hands.

Pretty fab wedding on the weekend.

Kelly and Andrew were married in the beautiful Secret Garden in Margaret River. I love that place.

Everything was perfect including Aravina Estate where the couple hosted their reception.

Guests came from near and far and all went absolutely perfectly.

Congratulations to all.

Afternoon Slab

We seem to be moving closer and closer to the opening of the Warrahwillah gallery in Margaret River. Once a few more items fall into place I will advise you of details including location, opening times and even an opening party.

Last week I started talking up another announcement regarding the gallery. I mentioned I though it was super exciting and a huge bonus to the art credibility of the gallery. Well it is both of these and I am very pleased to announce that it won’t be just my work hanging in the gallery.

I have approached one of “the best” water photographers and he has agreed to exhibit his work alongside mine. The photographer is Russell Ord and many of you will know that he is renowned for “up close and personal” water shots in some very serious surf.

Globally at this point in time there are a hand full of photographers that really take on the big heavy open water breaks by swimming into the line up and getting amongst it. Russell is one of them. Not only does he do it, he loves it. Every solid swell and he is good to go.

The photographs captured are typically dramatic and yet within the frozen image there is remarkable beauty. The early test prints I have been making have me in awe.

Appropriately Russell’s opening exhibit is titled “Deep Water”. It is a selection of 16 images that present the drama and beauty of large surf at the point of breaking. All images are captured whilst swimming or immediately beside the break on a jetski. It is an experience most of us won’t ever live through. Here are a few comments he made in reference to capturing these images.

“Deep Water….

I wish these photos could produce the sound of the wave exploding onto the reef, the energy is surreal. There are moments in time while swimming on your own when all the senses are extremely highlighted, from a small splash out the back from a bird or dolphin to being dragged along the bottom and thrown around in the turbulence, it’s very peaceful knowing there is nothing you can possibly do until the energy of the wave concludes, I imagine a floating in space type of feeling. I expect these are the reasons for enjoying the ocean and trying to capture its many faces and beauty in the form of a photograph

Short but this is why I do it…”

 

Russell in action.

 

I have found the images to be completely complimentary to my own and they sit very well together. There is remarkably little overlap. Russell’s images will be available in the same print quality and media that all of the Warrahwillah’s images are produced in. They will be displayed at the gallery in a variety of formats. You can research that of the Warrahwillah website but better yet wait a little bit longer and come and see them at the new gallery. They will be spectacular I promise.

To find out more about Russell’s exhibit or my own photography and about the gallery in general “like” the Warrahwillah page on facebook.

WARRAHWILLAH facebook page

Russell’s website is http://www.russellord.com/

Got to go now, lots to do.

Tony

It has been pretty warm over the last few days. Lots of crew walking around calling for the cooler months of Autumn and Winter.

Personally I love it. The days are hot but they are also long and the ocean is so warm and clear. I reckon it’s all just a case of “the green grass on the other side of the fence”.

Still Winter has a lot of good things going for it. Here are a few of them.

Check the dawn shot of the wave breaking with the cloud bank out behind it. Worth clicking on just to see it bigger.

In fact you can click on any of them to see them bigger.

Pretty fab wedding in Bunker Bay last weekend.

The boys left from the “coolest” beach shack and the girls had the “lusho” house in Eagle Bay. Andrea and Dan’s wedding day had that “very nice” yet completely casual feel to it. So Sou West.

I must comment that the Bunker Bay Cafe which is an awesome venue served up some of the best food I’ve seen in a long time. Great service too.

I loved working with the very handsome couple and their super fun bridal party. Always good to see some old friends as well.

Of note was a very special phone call from afar. Beautiful.

I was also impressed with Lobster Mike’s tie tying prowess. It saved the day!

Not much to say, just a few mellow waves from the dawn session the other day.

Nice art in there. Amazing what you find.

Tony

Took ten last night to run the hound. Dragged a camera with us.  Grabbed a bunch of shots within 300 metres of my house.

The bloom in the big native trees right now is spectacular. Actually this whole region is spectacular.  Have to love living here.

It is 3.00am as I am writing this and I just stepped outside. The sky is clear and full of stars. Despite the fact it is summer the offshore breeze is really quite chilly. I wonder what is happening on the coast.  Dawn shoot for sure.

Don’t forget to click on them if you want to see them bigger.

Out.

Tony

It is getting on to three years since I started photographing the ocean.  The catalogue of images is growing to bursting point. The Warrahwillah website shows a selection but the truth is there is way more depth to it than the 40 or so on the net.

I can feel a growing acceptance of the images in the community. My time spent in the markets has been productive and flattering. I like showing the images but love seeing a print or two disappear down the aisle to be displayed in someone else’s home.

The last two months have been about these “markets days”. Lot’s of down days in between but they are about to go.

Sometime in the next six weeks Warrahwillah will be set up with a permanent base. The space is in Margaret River, close to home. It will be dedicated to showing ocean images and will allow the prints to shine in a way that the randomness of the markets can’t quite achieve.

It allows greater range, better lighting and, what I am really excited about, the opportunity to show the images in larger sizes.  I reckon they will be amazing.

The location is perfect. It’s right in the heart of town, the building is super funky and it has amazing windows onto the street. (I love a good window, takes me back to Military Rd, Mosman).

The aim is to have this fab exhibition space and use it for exactly that, exhibitions. Now I say exhibitions and not a permanent display because when we are not exhibiting we won’t be here.  And those that know me know what I am really saying is that come winter and the quiet months and I am out of here.

Seems practical to me. Winter is really quiet here and I’m of the opinion of “why flog a dead horse”. If there is no one here to look, why show? Also it is winter and the ocean comes alive and it is time to get out there and shoot. This is when you focus on the creative and not the day to day “stuff” of running a commercial entity.

Now I have been really cagey here and not stated “it’s all me”. Not going into detail now but the next “thing” to announce is good, really good (top of the tree stuff). Better stay close to hear the “gos” as it comes about.

The attached image shows the outlook and a bit of the architecture of the new gallery space. Won’t look like this for long but it has me pretty excited. Can’t wait.

Speak soon.

Tony

I knew it would probably happen but I am being dragged in three different directions at once.

Surfs probably fairly good (let’s not overstate it) and there is surfing to be done. I need to find time to get to yoga and there are always photos to shoot. Add on to this setting up the new gallery in some sort of “efficient” time frame and my casual life in Margaret River has gone crazy.

Squeezed in a quick shoot this morning. Sorry if the processing has been rushed but I like them anyway, hope you do to.

Got to go, speak soon.

Tony

PS. Click on the photos if you want them bigger.

PSS. it is really hard to get up at 4.10am to take these in the early light. Winter might be cold but at least you get to sleep in until 5.15am.

Just a fun little smashing shore break.

Had a splash last night. Took on a wicked shore break. Not big but just thumping on the sandbank that pretty quickly became the beach.

Bit concerning really. Very easy to twist or break something. No water on the bank. Just a wave breaking into dryness.

Western Australian afternoon glow.

First swim for a while, (backed it up this morning and that was also fun, lonely but fun). Lots of kids and families getting bashed around as well. Great to be back in the water. Nothing super fantastic to show for it but not to concerned. There is lots on my plate right now.

Not a normal wave. More like a rapid as the last of the water in front of it runs out to sea. Then all it has to do is fall over on top of me. Great!! I'm still pulling sand out of everything.

Two exhibitions still running. The Blue Ginger in Station road Margaret River and up at Flametree cellar door in Dunsborough.

On top of this I am organising a gallery to hang my shingle. Now that is exciting.

Don’t forget to click on the image if you want to see it bigger.

More soon.

Tony

Lovely backlit patterns and glows before it turns to churning sand.