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.