Category Archives: Photography

When I got back form Melbourne last night there was a parcel waiting for me from LYNX. I knew exactly what it was going to be! The LYNX Expression Series had Photographer Extraordinaire Dan Boud take a portrait of me and the photos have been printed in this limited edition book. One for my mum me thinks!

You can view the book online here: http://campaigns.lynxeffect.com.au/expression-series/dan-boud

Where do you live? I live in Maroubra Beach, Sydney. Moved here over 10 years ago now (was previously living in the city). Very much in love with the sunlight, fresh air and sleeping to the sound of waves crashing.

What do you do? What don’t I do?! I sincerely do what I love and through Zen Garage (my latest and perhaps last project) I’ve found a way to combine all my passions into the one project where I’m free to promote whatever it is I’m into at this very moment.

Any claim to fame? I founded the Australian Infront design community in 1999 (it’s still running today). That got me places and helped me to learn how to build communities (I now run quite a few). Infront got me on the cover of the Sydney Morning Herald twice and helped to get my work published in magazines as well as speaking at Semi-Permanent Design Conference in front of 3,000 people.

What inspires you? Family and my upbringing mostly. I’m a child of the 80’s. All the stuff my Dad was into when I was a kid I’m into now. Cars, bikes. I was a skater and still love skate culture today. I used to be in a 3-piece rock band in university and still play the guitar these days. I’m also really inspired by Japanese culture (I used to do trips to Japan every year as a kid as my parents did business there).

How do you express yourself? Online, mostly. I’ve become a bit of a social media marketing expert, and have been coined a social media influencer. I’m not massive on taking selfless though. I’m more into blogging (I find it therapeutic and I love that I’m documenting my life), and for the past 6 months I’ve been getting into photography a lot (specifically shooting models).

Does what you wear reflect your personality? I don’t think so. I used to wear it on the outside when I was younger. Heels, leggings, dreads. I wasn’t quite punk, or goth, just somewhere in between. These days I tend to wear only black, white or grey and I very rarely wear anything with prints on it (unless it’s my own Zen merchandise which also only comes in black, white and grey).

What’s the one article of clothing you can’t live without? That’s a tough one! Probably my black Levi’s 510’s.

What style trends should we look out for in 2015? Personally. I think much more black and white. People just look better in it. When I see kids wear my Zen gear they 100% look better in it that wearing T’s with cars or bikes on their chests (sure I love cats but I’m not about to wear a jumper with cats all over it).

Is there an “Australian style for men” and if so what does it mean to you? I’m guilty of it myself, but it’s overwhelming how many guys just revert to wearing a T-Shirt, jeans and sneakers.

What’s your go-to gadget?
iPhone, for sure. MacBook a close 2nd.

Got body art? (if yes) What do you love about it? Tough stickers. No bull, they make me feel stronger.

Any stories about some of the art? I have a few pieces, all of which were done on the night (a year after) between my Father’s passing away and Kurt Cobain’s passing away. They all represent Yin Yangs to me (at least in my mind). One is an MC Escher piece featuring 4 lizards in a circle, another is a biohazard symbol and another is Itchy & Scratchy fighting in a cloud of arms and legs, bombs and knives.

Got a beard? (if yes) What’s with the Beard? I don’t have a chin, so I have a beard.

I’ve just uploaded the full set of photos from my Katana shoot with Japanese model Sakya. We took a fair few more shots without the sword elsewhere in the house, but in the end I’ve decided to just use the Katana shots as they make for a pretty strong standalone set (first world problems!). View the full set: http://www.justinfoxphoto.com/stories/#/maya/

Maya x Katana.

I landed yesterday morning but slept all day yesterday day, and also slept well last night. I woke up from a dream I had with Robbie in it, then I grabbed my phone and it was Robbie welcoming me back home! It’s freaky how connected to the world I am right now! Robbie and Krysti came over, we had some Brewristas cold drip (aw yeah!) and a great little catch up.

I then got a message form Sakya who was on her way over for our shoot! DAMN IT! Google Calendar hadn’t changed time zones and I’d completely forgotten about the shoot! I cleaned up the house a little and bam, Sakya and I were shooting with the Katana (culturally correct! Japanese girl with Katana! Yew!). She’s a rad girl, we clicked and I’m looking forward to uploading the shots we took. Here’s a teaser for now. More to come!

Full Set (NSFW Nudity Warning): http://www.justinfoxphoto.com/stories#/sirens/
Follow: https://instagram.com/caciazoo
Follow: https://instagram.com/jess.ta

Cacia was sleeping like a log, so I let her sleep a few more hours to get over her jet lag. She finally rolled into the lounge room with a yoga mat in hand and I took the opportunity to snap a few shots of her out in my backyard.

No make-up, no fake lashes, no hair extensions, no spray tan, armpit stubble, deep breaths and huge yawns! I love her.

PS: I shot with the Sony a7S in full silent mode. No focusing beep or shutter sound as to not disturb her morning yoga routine. I have to admit, shooting in total silence is a really handy feature of this camera!

View the full set of photos on my folio site: http://www.justinfoxphoto.com/stories/#/cacia-zoo/

Jess and I spent Valentines Day together last year, and completely by chance we’ve spent it together again this year!

Instead of dining fancy and blowing tons of cash (which we already did in Melbourne last week!) we had lunch at Shalom, probably my fave Indonesian restaurant as it’s cheap and cheerful and reminds me of street food back in Indo.

We then tried to get on Bare Island (I still hadn’t been), but oops, Sundays only! So whilst we were in the area we thought we’d go and check out Cape Banks.

Just next to the shipwreck we found a little penguin cowering under the rock. As soon as I saw him I knew something wasn’t right. He wasn’t exactly scared of us, and it wasn’t his home. I figured he was sick and most likely going to die overnight if left there. Jess being the good samaritan that she is decided to call Wires, and that led us on a wild goose chase to track down the right people to speak to in regards to saving this little dude. We finally got the right number for the local rangers but the phone rang through (no one picked up).

I was ready to give up at this stage, but Jess called one of the previous organisations she spoke to and asked to leave a message for the local rangers. We were walking back to the car when she got a call, which had us going all the way back to the shipwreck/penguin to give the rangers GPS co-ordinates off our phone, and photos of the penguin and it’s location under the rock too! Whether they saved him, or not, we won’t know but I’m sure Jess has stocked up on some good karma either way!

Had a late afternoon shoot with Estelle yesterday, who’s a glamour model who’s been on the cover of ZOO Magazine a fair few times. She’d seen the shots I took with Britta, and Shontelle and wanted more of the same in her folio (IE: more natural, less photoshopped to death skin and shiny wet tits and ass I assume?!). The sunlight in the afternoon was so different to the brighter whiter light of 11am so I struggled a little, which felt strange but Estelle was a lot of fun so it all worked out alright in the end. Check out the set: http://www.justinfoxphoto.com/estelle

I’ve uploaded the photos from the snappy shoot I did with Amanda Sierras last weekend in Melbourne. Amanda was awesome. Heaps of energy and she’s drop dead gorgeous! We shot in her apartment. I’m not a stranger to dirty windows! So didn’t mind them at all. Find the whole set here: http://www.justinfoxphoto.com/amanda

So despite my thick (39 year old) skin, and my long career in making marks as an artist, designer, community builder and now photographer, I still find the small stuff a thorn in my side.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff”.

For the most part. I don’t give a fuck about what people I don’t know think of me. I’ve had so many people tell me that they’ve heard their friends talk shit about me, stuff like “He’s a drug dealer obviously as he’s loaded and always buying shit”… actually it’s almost always money related, but those who KNOW me know I’m not a drug dealer (lol), and that I have no money in my savings account because I choose not to “save” money, and instead enjoy it when I make it.

But when I hear negative things from people who I respect, it hurts.

“Your photography is porn” – Really?! Come off it. I can show you porn, then I can show you my work. If you can’t distinguish the two then I’ve got no time for you.

“You’re a one trick pony” – Get fucked. I’ve only JUST started shooting a year ago. It’s VERY new to me and I’m having SO much fun learning. I’m genuinely hungry and obsessed about shooting more in order to develop more confidence in my shooting abilities.

“You need more diversity, you always shoot in the same locations” – What’s the difference between me shooting in my house as opposed to other photographers only shooting in a photography studio 24/7? In any case I’m not shooting my location… I’m shooting people!!! During the 2-3 hours of my shoots I’m trying to get to know the girl in front of me as best I can in order to capture the person as best I can. Ultimately that’s what it’s all about.

“So you’re a Lingerie Photographer now?!” – No I’m not. I simply get girls to bring whatever they like. I then shoot them in whatever they wear in front of my lens. Sometimes I end up with a natural and sexy set of photos of a girl, sometimes I end up with amazing artistic concepts, again, it ALL depends on the person in front of me. IE: I am NOT about to come up with an amazing concept for a shoot for a girl I’ve never shot as that could just be a disaster and it’s far from real (or natural). On the other hand if the girl in front of me does overt sexual poses because that’s what she likes to do and how she wants to be represented, then who am I to tell her to stop being herself and put more clothes on?

“You’re sexually objectifying women” – I can’t win a gender debate, but again, get fucked. I don’t shoot girls for my own sexual pleasure (and if guys out there get off on my images it’s their problem not mine). I’m an artist. My work is art (because I say it is). I sincerely look for beauty. I am not selling a product with my photography. I dead set respect every girl that sits in front of my lens for doing so (good on you girls!).

End of the day you can’t please everyone. I know this. And of-course I don’t NEED to justify myself to anyone, especially as I’m having SO much fun learning and pushing (I’ve only recently gotten over my fear of shooting in low light/at night and I’m now giving that a go) and fuck yes I enjoy the recognition and praise, especially from the girls I shoot and their parents and friends (this makes me so happy!). But I felt the need to vent (I do this less and less).

I think I feel better now. /vent.