Tony Warrilow

Took a stroll through the paddocks last night. It was 30 minutes before dark, bit cool and really beautiful. The sky was full of colour and thin drawn cloud. Kind of a signal really. The lazy days of summer are done. These clouds spelt a change in the weather. They were the forerunner to a series of fronts and systems that are going to send swell in all sorts of directions.

We had the charts out speculating on where would be best, north, indo or other places. Whatever, the only certainty is that as winter draws near the visitors thin out and the locals start looking for a place to break from the extremes of the weather. Personally my mind starts to dream of places of drama where the full force of the swell comes home.

There is however new responsibility in my life with the gallery and all but there also has to be a balance where the creative and the fun pastimes can run their course. I’m still undecided on opening “hours” for the coming months. One week into operation and I already have a clash between the “important, busy” Easter trading period and a pretty substantial swell event. Luckily in this case it’s all going to happen at home. Maybe not the perfection of elsewhere but it’s going to be dramatic for sure.

So what to do in the down time of winter? Open full on, open on weekends only or my preferred situation, open when I am home from travelling and shooting. I think in the fullness of time we will be open for business full time but maybe not this year. If the last two years have been about learning the new skills of the ocean photography and with it a very general “coverage” this year will be about specific events and places. These events happen when they happen and they don’t run to anyone’s schedule. I need to be there on short notice.

So here is the trick/balance for THIS winter. I need to produce and show my work and I need you folk to see it but there will be times when I just need to shut up and go. The best way for me to keep you folk in the loop is right here on the web. Ie blog, facebook, twitter. So please still come to the gallery but please check the website first.

If you are coming to Margaret River the gallery is central and easy to find. Just go to the middle of the main street and look slightly up. Specifically the gallery is located at 6/119 Bussell Highway MARGARET RIVER. There is always new things happening there so do come and have a look.

My first “downtime” call is for next week. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will see the gallery closed. A couple of the new fittings need to be adjusted and it is just too hard with the tradesmen on premise. So come and visit us over the weekend and throughout Easter and beyond. We will post more info and images of the gallery asap. Just waiting on a couple of replacement prints for those that sold on the opening night.

Thanks for reading, Stay tuned.

Tony

Every so often I get reminded that special events, people and days don’t run to a fixed schedule. Life is as it is and it happens as it happens. It is there to be cherished.

I like to know this. I like to be reminded.

Lauren and Troy gathered with close friends and family for their wedding day in Perth.  As typical to Perth in the late summer months the warm day faded to a beautiful evening and all shared the camaraderie of the union.

Congratulations.

Cherish.

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