Michael Coyne on Iran

My feature on legendary photojournalist, and really nice guy, Michael Coyne is in the December issue of Pro Photo. In the story he recounts the years he spent covering Iran as well as the 2000 Olympics project he shot for Kodak - one of the photos is below. Funny, generous, daredevil, dedicated - just some of the words that spring to mind when I think about Michael. I hope you enjoy his story.

Coming up are profiles on Martin Parr, and Maggie Diaz, coverage of Foto Freo (Fremantle March) and Visa pour L'Image (France September).

Wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season. More posts to come in 2012. Thanks for reading.

Michael Coyne from Five Ring Circus

Baron Wolman Rolling Stone Photographer - story on website

My profile on Baron Wolman, the first photographer to work with Rolling Stone magazine in the US is now up on my website RealityIllusion - Baron Wolman

Baron Wolman Rolling Stone Photographer

The latest issue of Pro Photo features my profile of Baron Wolman on the cover - awesome photo of Janis Joplin, and inside a host of other rock'n'roll legends. On sale now!

Remembering Russia

Can't believe it's 12 months since I was in Russia and I've only just begun to go through photos in earnest - it's been a very busy year. This photo sums up how I felt on that amazing trip - freezing cold, but very happy - thanks for the snap Ms. D. Am looking forward to working on the architectural shots I took and will upload a selection soon. And then there are the Russian stories to come .....

Maggie Diaz Interview Part III

On Sunday 13th November I sat down with Maggie Diaz at the State Library of Victoria, one of my favourite haunts in the city, for our third interview session. Maggie was at the Library to sit for her portrait, which is being painted for the Archibald Prize. Maggie's commercial works from The Diaz Collection, which was acquired by the Library, are on show in the Keith Murdoch Gallery until 5th February, 2012 as part of the As Modern as Tomorrow exhibition. If you are interested in taking a walk through Melbourne in the 1960s make sure you check out this fantastic collection. Entry is free. My feature on Maggie will appear in an upcoming issue of Pro Photo. Will keep you posted.

(Photography Marty Williams)

New Pro Photo stories on website

Features on Nick Moir - Storm Chaser, and the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (Pro Photo) are now on my website Reality Illusion

Ballarat International Foto Biennale feature in Pro Photo out now

My story on this year's Ballarat International Foto Biennale is in the current issue of Pro Photo (Sept/Oct). "In the eye of the beholder" features a number of interviews including photographers Maggie Diaz, Osamu James Nagakawa and Tony Whincup and festival director Jeff Moorfoot. I hope you enjoy it.

Photography by Maggie Diaz - Cover image
  Photography Osamu James Nagakawa

Photography Tony Whincup

Nick Moir Storm Chaser

My Pro Photo feature on Sydney photographer Nick Moir the Storm Chaser is out now... check out his amazing photos of the Australian outback

Photography: Nick Moir

Christian Blanchard Pro Photo story now available online

My profile feature on Christian Blanchard is now available on the Pro Photo website. Alison Stieven-Taylor Christian Blanchard

Photography Christian Blanchard

RAW Gallery Baron Wolman Book Signing

On Saturday 24th September (that's this weekend), Baron Wolman will be at RAW Gallery from 11am to 1pm to sign copies of his book, Every Picture Tells a Story: The Rolling Stone Years.

Now 74 years of age, Baron was the first photographer to sign on to Rolling Stone magazine in LA in 1967. Shooting at a time of seismic shifts in cultural attitudes, Wolman not only captured individual performances, but the vibe of a generation. This cover shot of Jimi Hendrix, says Baron, shows the sheer ecstasy Hendrix felt when playing guitar. In his book Wolman shares the transformational power that music has on performers, the audience and fans - the book also has a section dedicated to "the Groupies" because Baron "loves women".

Wolman describes himself as a photojournalist. His images are true to documentary form in most cases, and are the antithesis of the stylised marketing shots favoured by artists' management today. This book is a welcome addition to the rock'n'roll library.

RAW Gallery 11 Yarra Place South Melbourne (opposite St Ali Cafe - fabulous coffee).

Look out for my feature on Baron Wolman in a coming issue of Pro Photo magazine Pro Photo AST

Rolling Stone Photographer Baron Wolman

Totally psyched, have scored an interview with Baron Wolman who began photographing for Rolling Stone (US) in the late 1960s. His new book, "Every Picture Tells a Story: The Rolling Stone Years" is out this week. Check out the supporting exhibition at Melbourne's own rock'n'roll photography space RAW Gallery 11 Yarra Place South Melbourne opens Thursday 22nd September.

Frank Zappa (Baron Wolman)

Ballarat International Foto Biennale - on now

I've just returned from the opening weekend of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB). This year's Festival has an expanded range of artists exhibiting across multiple venues in Ballarat and its surrounds, and is definitely worth checking out.

A highlight for me - meeting Maggie Diaz. Maggie, who is now in her 80's, migrated from Chicago in the early 1960s landing in Melbourne where she carved a successful career as a commercial photographer. But it is only in recent years that her social documentary work has come to light. Maggie is included in my upcoming feature on the BIFB in Pro Photo and I'll be penning a dedicated feature on this fantastic woman and inspiring photographer in the very near future.

Maggie is pictured here on the right at her floor talk on Sunday (21/08/11) with the curator of her collection Gwendolen De Lacy. (Photo: Marty Williams)

Reality & Illusion Turns Ten

Happy Birthday to Us!

Reality & Illusion Productions has been in business for ten years this month! Over the past decade we've worked on some amazing projects, created concepts that have stretched boundaries and learned about all sorts of things from longwall mining in China to identifying the subtle nuances of premium vodkas (a favourite project), from how to take photographs from a helicopter without falling out to writing about the coolest technological innovations - don't believe there's nothing cool about geospatial equipment or printing presses!

After celebrating this weekend with French Champagne (when only the genuine article will do), it's back to reality. Thanks to everyone who's been with us over the decade.

Here's to the next ten years!

New photography book released

Check out the first edition of The Australian Photography and Gallery Compendium 

US Radio Interviews for Rock Chicks Book

To my friends in the US, I’ll be on air talking about my book, Rock Chicks, which has just been released in the US, on Monday 25^th July at 10.30am on Premiere Prep with Mike McCann. This national interview is one of 18 I am doing across the US on Monday. I’ll be hoarse by the end of it, but what fun! If you can, please tune in!

Firenze, Italia April 2010

Pro Photo April - Christian Blanchard

My feature on Christian Blanchard is the cover story for April Pro Photo.

To read the story please visit Christian Blanchard Pro Photo

Visa pour l'Image 2011 France

Visa pour l'Image International Festival of Photojournalism - programme

Visa pour l'Image Perpignan

11th annual Canon Female Photojournalist Award Open

The French Association des Femmes Journalistes (AFJ) and Canon France, in association with Images-Evidence, have announced that the 11th annual Canon Female Photojournalist Award is open until 31 May 2001 for submissions from female photojournalists of any age and nationality. Award Information

New articles in Pro Photo

Please check out my recent articles in Pro Photo magazine

- Sydney's Reportage Festival Turns Ten (Summer issue)

Sydney's Reportage Festival Turns Ten

And in March Pro Photo

The Wonderfully Chaotic World of Philip Blenkinsop

Also to come features on Australian photographers Christian Blanchard, Nick Moir and Michael Coyne.