When I try to think of an excuse for my silence and lack of photo diary blogging, honestly, I really can’t think of anything substantial… Maybe I’ve just been very busy? I haven’t been taking very many diary pictures and I haven’t been thinking of blogging much at all. But when I glance at the pages of my planner, I realise I really have been SO busy. At the very beginning of this year I was incredibly sad, I was unmotivated, I spent most of my days locked up in our home, alone, with all the time in the world to blog and yet still very unhappy. My life truly has been turned upside down. I can’t remember the last time I spent a day at home. Just this past fortnight alone I’ve flown across three states, that’s six flights. I’ve been to work at my creative space, I’ve completely assignments for my job at Emporium, a ballet breakfast, photographing Melbourne’s icons, interviewing staff members, I’ve attended the Emerging Writers Festival as a blogger, I’ve photographed my parents cafe, I’ve shot an editorial, I’ve packed orders for my shop, I’ve found time to work on new projects, I’ve cleaned our entire house for an inspection and I’ve found time to have dinner with my mama almost every second night. I’ve dipped my toes in the ocean, watched clouds from plane windows, I’ve read a book. This chaotic schedule keeps me alive. But with all this madness of the past few months, I’ve forgotten one very important thing that means so much to me, documenting my life. And so I promise myself to make time each week to share and write here and to savour these moments.
I have a little black book where I scribble ideas for pictures built from stories. Tales that are begging to be told, of forest-dwelling nymphs, girls with broken hearts, sassy queens, worlds of colour. Sometimes I’m too frightened to create for fear of not being able to breathe life into the dream, because what if it’s not perfect? But sometimes everything just falls into place, like with this shoot, Wayward Traveller. A last minute stylist cancelation meant that I was forced to use a collection of my vintage clothing and handmade pieces that I and been saving for one of my little black book shoots. And with that, the story leapt from the page and into my camera.
Beautiful and talented Jordanna, climbing rocks to scout our next location.
Warm end-of-summer nights walking to the end of our street to watch the blood moon rise.
What I thought I would miss most after leaving University was having something to draw me into the city. Melbourne is fascinating. I could walk and explore for hours, beyond the busy shopping malls and cafe-strewn streets. I look for hidden gems, buildings with floors and floors of undiscovered magic, laneways like paint-spattered galleries, buskers spilling their hearts onto the sidewalks.
When one door closes, another door opens. I have a wonderful new job as a social media contributor for the Emporium Melbourne shopping centre. I write articles on fashion, food and culture for the website and Facebook page, and I also go into the centre each week to photograph different assignments. It truly is a dream job. This is one snap I took this week while photographing the Australian Ballet breakfast. Gold-leaf cupcakes, berries and fresh yoghurt and watching the breath-taking dancers merely a foot from my lens.
Collaborating with friends is one of my all time favourite things, especially when it means I can work on fun new projects. Lovely Kelsey Genna asked me if I would like to get involved with her new active wear line, and while she visited Melbourne we took pictures of the beautiful Petrova from Lady Petrova.
A small trip to rural NSW to show Martin my parents new home and cafe. At dawn we flew to Sydney, and then onto Moruya in a tiny little plane.
Touching down in the country-side. We drove beside the lakes and mountains until we arrived at the cafe.
First thing I did was run to see the boys. Macca and Stirling the happy Alpacas, Simon and Garfunkel the two baby bulls and Bully the Goat.
Once we had settled in and dropped our things off at the house, it was off to explore the seaside. The beach at Narooma is one of my absolute favourites, with crystal clear water and impressive waves.
Wriggling my toes in the soft sand.
One day I will photograph something beautiful here.
Finding wild seals sun baking and lazing around was by far my highlight of the trip. Just look at these fat beauties! Almost close enough to touch.
We sat up on the hill and watched the waves, attempting summersaults on the grass.
In the mornings I drink black tea and read my book in the sunshine on the porch.
Adventuring to small country towns.
We received heart-breaking news mid-way through our trip. I am grateful I was surrounded by those I love. At dusk we left the house to breath fresh air in the forest at the bottom of the property.
Looking for bats, the air was full of their chattering.
Night-fall by the lake, the boys skimming stones. I felt hyper aware of life, of sound, smell, touch, life is surreal.
Collecting oyster shells, I find comfort in beach combing.
Martin returning the favour and trying to get a picture of me (he’s never very pleased when I turn my lens on him).
Our little trip wasn’t just for a holiday but also so that I could take picture of my parents cafe (and soon build them a website!).
Orange cake and cream.
Martin and I fishing at the lake. We fed lots of fish our bait but didn’t catch any….
On returning home to Melbourne I set about cleaning the house like crazy for our house inspection. My mothers obsessed cleanliness for open inspections definitely has rubbed off on me… Every surface was dusted and polished but it is lovely to have a clean home. I thought it might be fun to document the finished result with a few iPhone panorama snaps. So here’s a little virtual tour of our ramshackle cottage! The Burrow.
Some of my favourite phone pictures from instagram (@clairealiceyoung) this last month (left to right): making handmade necklaces for my shop // mothers day gift to my mama // wrapping up orders with love // enjoying having my hair short so much that I chopped it all off again! // sunny morning at the cafe // creative cubby at home // experimenting with bits and bobs // cold days and homemade veggie soup // reunited with my boy.
Rodrigo
beautiful.