Thank you Prague for the Charles Bridge & Hello Sydney + Art.

Thank you Prague for the Charles Bridge & Hello Sydney + Art.

A few days before we were due to leave Prague one of my art school buddies whom I used to spend a lot of time doing night shots with (on film..) suggested via Facebook that I do some night shots of Prague. Of course, what a beautiful classic and romantic idea! Why didn't I think of that? So the very next morning before the crack of dawn. I was out the door, onto the lamp post lit cobbled streets of Prague heading for the Charles Bridge. And the the lights went out - remember that night in Brisbane, Allan, Megan... Well at least I knew it was lights off at 5.38AM. I still had two chances to make my morning/night bridge shot happen. Next day - oops slept in - or no alarm.. leaving me with just ONE FINAL CHANCE! Can he do it? Well yes and well no; but at least I made it onto the bridge with the lights still on, shooting-pictures all the way. And the minute I put the camera on the tripod and readied for the BIG SHOT! Megan, Allan, do you remember that night in Brisbane.. just as I squeezed the cable release on the camera and the lights went out. Déjà vu!!! Well I certainly wasn't happy. So I grabbed some time exposure shots (no street lights) and felt I needed something more. With much better timing than myself, along walks a lovely young woman whom I just know is Street Fashion Sydney Prague. So here it is, my last street fashion portrait from Prague taken at 5:51 AM on my last morning there. Thank you everyone who stood for my camera, I appreciate your kindness more than you will ever know.

And yes I did get some night shots - most of my pictures will be going up (much larger than here) on my Flickr here https://www.flickr.com/photos/kentjohnson/ or follow on Facebook for updates including those night shots!

Meanwhile back in Sydney..
Some great painting and a fabulous last Hurrah from the legendary Stills photography gallery which after 25 years is closing - still at the top of their game - at the end of June. Read On for more.

Curator and former Co-Director Sandy Edwards - Final show at Stills Gallery. 

Jon Lewis  - Final show at Stills Gallery

Melita Dahl - Final show at Stills Gallery

I know I tend to free associate a lot but how strange was it to see an artist for the first time at Watters Gallery just last week who; just so happened to be a huge inspiration for a friend of mine; you guessed it, from art school (which was some time ago I might add). My friend would say to me "Oi kento, you have got to look at this woman's work, Vicki Varvaressos, it's brilliant! Vicki Varvaressos, Vicki Varvaressos, Vicki Varvaressos" Just like that. I think he loved her name as much as her work which is just as brilliant now as it was back then. Go see it for yourself!

Jim Anderson with Vicki Varvaressos at Watters Gallery.

Finally, though it didn't really happen in this order, the lovely show by Lucy Culliton at King Street Gallery on William. I know Lucy's work is very popular and it is easy to see why, at least for me. I did overhear someone saying "who would put a picture of a farm animal on their wall". Well let me tell you. Lots of people. And go learn some art history while you are at it! Anyway, clearly they are all portraits and as a city fella it's nice to learn that those animals are all different and have their own personality, great work, head on down and make some new friends. On Now!

The Residents of Bibbenluke Lodge.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kentjohnson/Prague2017

http://www.stillsgallery.com.au/exhibitions/

http://www.wattersgallery.com/artists/Varvaressos/vv.html

http://kingstreetgallery.com.au/

Telling Stories in Pictures all over..

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Food, Events & Opera. My Life.

Food, Events & Opera. My Life.

Monday 15th May

At some point, maybe last night? We made pink murry river sea-ish salt cookies! These were addictive with apples! Sadly most were forgotten about and perished. Note to self to bring them to the studio.

Traveling for meetings always comes with a chance to try new places nearby! Lunch deals are the best, and today it's a return visit to KaChin. Lemon Chicken $10. It was very good though the dish itself reminds me of food court but better. It was sweet and tangy, not oily or chewy. Would have preferred more salad and less rice though.

Tuesday & Wednesday
The biannual shopping festivals!

Day 1 - Chadstone - Yes the pompoms were a highlight.

Day 2 - The City.

Assertiveness test! Internationals... and by that I mean chinese (only for the first two scenarios). Thrice my assertive skills were tested:
1. Girls behind me talking very very loudly, just to each other - it sounded like they were across the room from each other! Staring at them didn't work, normally does.
2. Another girl standing way too close to me, waaay too close!
3. Pram pusher pushed in line, can't tell if she was doing it on purpose or not, said something but she didn't hear me? Stared her down, that worked.


Friday

9am start. A challenge these days.

Friday Lunch at D'Tandoor. - $13.50 all you can eat is served upstairs, and there's four dishes. Chicken, goat, lentils and veg. With rice, naan, salad and white sauce (raita?).

A great deal, especially if you're a bottomless pit. Though it's how much you'd normally pay for just the main minus naan/rice so a good deal either way.

Saturday

We were late and missed a workshop *sigh* mornings we struggle with. Lunch at the market, service was aloof, but the cheese toasties were awesome! A once in a while treat.

At the library we came across an awesome book about granny skills, we loved it so much we ordered two copies! It's mainly cooking but here's a page on laundry. Appears to be a small batch hard to find book.

Over to sushi (dinner prep), their wifi wasn't working while my app was. Then my banking app didn't work. Quite a bit of a challenge to work this app!

7/11 donuts. My card wasn't working, a day of fails...
Carmen was spectacular! Bright bold matadors, the music and passion/games. One set with just the change of props and lighting, a town square became every scene.

We were delighted to have experienced the vip experience, with the fast pass ticket collection line (for guests and media), free program, very good seats (damn tall person) and drinks in the private  guests lounge during interval.

We're ticked Carmen off the list. It was amazing to hear all the music that we know so well, live!

Q - Why doesn't Carmen sing before she dies? That was disappointing! There's always time for a song after you're shot/stabbed.

Little Local Gems - Firebrand Bakery in Ripponlea

Little Local Gems - Firebrand Bakery in Ripponlea

Thursday 11th May

On our way back to the station from an event we came upon a lovely local bakery that looked fascinating. They've been here for 30yrs but have no reviews on zomato?! And only two on Yelp... But they do have a facebook presence where they announce the daily bakes. The interior has much underutilized space and makes it look like they're new.

Damn reflective glass, there should be a sticker or something to reduce that. 

What we have our eye on, yes I know we just came from morning tea.

Firebrand Bakery, a small rustic bakery on main street, that creates hand-shaped sourdough bread baked in an original 1930s wood fired oven, without using commercial yeast or additives.

Personally I'm iffy about things being unwrapped, people breathe on them, and bugs (flies touch them...) I prefer everything shrink wrapped.  

There's a large selection of unwrapped paper bagged loafs, to give that real rustic feel, some baked slices/muffins and Boscastle pies. At 1.30pm they were almost sold out of pies.

I'd love an assortment of party pies! Alas there were only big ones.

Our picks for today, sadly can't get a loaf on our way to another meet.

We had the chicken mushroom well seasoned and herbed without being too salty or liquidy. Delicious! Yes you can buy these in the freezer at IGA. As someone who grew up on pastries (and frozen food in general) these are one of the best I've had, with a matching price tag.

A flourless raspberry & boysenberry slice was what we're really here for. At $5 it was average price, though we were happy with the size. The slice was just like a friand! Moist all the way and delightful! Can't wait to get this again.

I would have like the option to serve it warm with cream but it's takeaway only. Though some tables outside would be nice.

Service was very friendly, unexpectedly they take card, no min. Unlike the fruit shop on the same strip.

We can't wait to return for a loaf and sourdough chocolate croissants! I think a warm loaf (even if it was warmed on the journey home) is one of life's most wonderful simple pleasures!

Night Life @ Ripponlea - A 1920s & 30s Fashion Exhibition

Night Life @ Ripponlea - A 1920s & 30s Fashion Exhibition

Thursday 11th May
A morning tea at Ripponlea followed with a chance to explore the exhibition and gardens on a Thursday morning in mid-ish May. Ripponlea has been on the list to explore for years! Though by the time we get around to making a tour booking it's winter and there's an exhibition on. And so only the kitchens downstairs are open.

An exhibition featuring Victorian (as in the state, not era) fashion over 20 years from the early 1920s to the Moderne style of the 30s. "A time where stars, sophistication and city lights influenced the fashion worn by the well-dressed." Nowadays it's about wonder how short you can wear it without being arrested for incident exposure XD Also going out in your underclothes like tights as pants and slips as dresses... look away.

Entering the exhibition you could play dress up and borrow a dress to wear around the mansion, there's adult and kid's sizes. Nothing in my size (12-14) though, when it comes to one size fits all the reference is to sz8-10. *sigh* Also I'm vertically challenged for the women's sizing.

Black is in! Though it's anything but plain with all those details!

Downstairs is all about the 20s Night Life, our favourite time of the day! For all the wonderful things happen at night, trips to the theatre, parties (assuming we were invited). Isn't everything just lovely?! It's often made locally or sent over from England too, nothing here was made with the intention of being worn a few times to end up in the trash after a couple wears, nor was anything made in bulk. It was the relatively good old days. When things were made with love and to last. 



Upstairs featured in the 1930s. There was a most definitely shift in style from 20s beading, sequins and jazz (for evening wear only) to the more embroidery and lace trends with waists of the 30s.

My favorite pieces? A camilla and marc-esque cape and the dark beaded dresses. 

After the exhibition we went for a stroll around the gardens, and climbing stone steps which may have been a mistake in city shoes. It's always a good idea to wear boots when going exploring!

You could hire these row boats for events I believe.

The trek back to the front gates, boots are a very good idea as the drive way isn't paved.

There's tea rooms at the gate house! Though as we just had morning tea, and are on our way to afternoon tea we'll have to return later on! The exhibition runs till the end of July, and we shall return to share a house tour with you all!

Have you been to Ripponlea? Which era is your favourite?

The Event Life

The Event Life

Thursday 11th May

A morning tea at Ripponlea celebrated volunteers of the trust, with awards (I wonder how long we've been apart of this) speeches, thank yous and a chance to explore the exhibition.

After the exhibition we went for a stroll around the gardens, and climbing stone steps which may have been a mistake in city shoes. I also missed the dress code - black with pops of colour, accessorize not a fluro skirt.

Lunch on the way at a local bakery, they've been here for 30yrs but have no reviews on zomato?! We had the chicken mushroom well seasoned and herbed without being too salty or liquidy. Delicious! Yes you can buy these in the freezer. A dark chocolate raspberry slice accompanied, it was just like a friand! Moist all the way and delightful! Can't wait to get this again.

On the way back we stopped by South Yarra to pick up some macarons for dessert. At $3 it's an occasional treat, when we buy a box to share. Perhaps quarterly? If I had to pick under pressure the lychee rose is my favorite. Jas said no to milo, the pistchio, yuzu and classic rose lychee were my favs, sour strawberry was quite good too, something I haven't had before.

Afternoon tea at a venue where the ceiling was covered in helium balloons! Lots of string dangling everywhere as the ceiling wasn't high unlike in the ballroom this morning.
Beautiful heart-warming (if I felt things which I don't) stories of volunteers who visited others who were sick. It takes very little to make a huge difference said one guy, a recipient of a years of service award. He was great at speeches, and so I'm curious what he did before he retired. He's been volunteering since before I was created! And I do love that while he wasn't American he finished his speech with god bless you all.

With balloons (7, for I couldn't really mange any more with two bags), a big bow in my hair and macaroons in my bag, I was happy. Saw my reflection in a window and realized I looked about 8yrs old XD Someone asked me what I do, and I said I'm a socialite and spend my time dedicated to various causes. Though am yet to get on a board. It's true, though I am working to find paid work as my field doesn't pay.

Back at the house we crashed. While it's true that I spent the day going to tea parties/networking it was a bit tiring. Nap time!

We made a faux risotto dish for dinner which was quite good, very good with jas as head chef while I broke the dishwasher (which he said was actually already broken...)

Friday

Egg waffles with black sesame ice cream, yum! I prefer this over the green tea, as I find that one a bit strong. Light and fluffy these were a delight that I can't wait to return for! Though at $9 they're a once in a while thing. 

Shannon Noll at Trak Bar. Firstly it started an hour late! Typical artist. Then there's way more people than seats. It's very very loud and bright! Strobe lighting. The floor was gross, and some people bought fart bombs along. Being little I couldn't see anything. So this is what a modern concert is like...

Pre-concert we had tacos at my place! It was fun and easy, I did the meet while she did the fresh salsa. We used a hard and soft taco kit, the soft ones were a bit sweet while the hard crumbed easily. The meet was mince, the spice/herb mix and some sausage meat we had left over from last night. 

Saturday

Vine Choral Symphony at Monash. It took over an hour to get here, with football crowded trains but it was worth the trip! Plenty of seats, clean carpet. Order and precision. My kinda event.

Dinner on the go was the meat left over from taco night, some black beans, the faux rice/pasta from Thursday with added sauteed mushrooms. It was delicious! My most successful and only ever left over night recreation :P 

Sunday

Snacking on lasagna bites w cheese sauce $10 for a large fries size, much than four bites as suggested. Super cheezy and yum, a try once thing. The place was full, almost as always and so the only lighting we could get was bluey purple. 

We also had $1.70 flaky egg tarts from the dim sim place, cash only with minimal English I didn't feel welcome. They had a huge variety of things to steam at home, not sold after 6pm.

Dinner at Sauced, takeaway on the way home. No pictures yet, as it doesn't look that great :P It ended being way too salty, but that's for another post.