Dolly the pony was so gorgeous to photograph for my Summer Series.  Here is the where how and why on this chosen image for the exhibition.

THE WHERE
At their home in Hamurana.

THE HOW
Canon 50d camera
Canon 50mm lens
Natural lighting
1/1000th sec, it was a very bright day!
f 3.2
ISO 100

THE THOUGHT PROCESS
I grew up with horses.  I have many memories of Summer pony rides and I just had to have a pony and girl photo shoot for my exhibition.  It was certainly a bright day and they wild flowers just added to the summer atmosphere.  This was one of my most fave shoots of the whole exhibition.  I found it personally nostalgic. 

Fond Summer Memories with the smell of hay, the sound of insects, and the regular thumping of hooves.

xox
Calico Jo

"When you get up in the morning, be aware of what you wear, because if you die today, that will be your ghost outfit forever".... 
I had a giggle when I read his social media post, and when planning ideas on photographing Kharl for my exhibition, this quote jumped to mind.  Even if it is so hot, you were cooling down an outside bathtub, you would still be dressed fabulously, if you were Kharl Wirepa... and have a bottle of bubbly, and a fashion magazine as well.

Kharl Wirepa is a fashion designer who has his runway show this week at the NZ Fashion Week, so I thought it would be a good time to showcase his portraits from the exhibition.  This image was my poster image and book cover for the whole exhibition.  I thought it portrayed the hot summer / cool photos well.

THE WHERE 
My vision required an outdoor bathtub, and I didn't have one.  A call out on social media, and Robyn said we could use hers, and it was perfect!!  So this was taken in her backyard.

THE HOW
The water was cold, out of the hose, yet he handled it with ease and without a single goosebump.  It was great that the bathtub was next to a veranda, so I was able to get my step ladder on top and get some birds eye view type shots.

I had to work around the sun.  Half the bathtub was in the sun and half is the shade, so a reflector was used as a shade, and a speedlight on a softbox was used to light his face on the shady half.

Camera:  Canon 70d with the pop up flash triggering the speedlight.
Lens: Canon 24-105mm set at 28mm
ISO 100
F/5
1/250th sec shutter

THE THOUGHT PROCESS
As he is a fashion designer, I wasn't going to tell Kharl what to wear, but told him the theme, and  whatever he chose to wear, it was probably going to get wet.  His outfit of choice a fur vest (a Mereana Ngati design), sunnies, a hat, ripped black jeans and a pair of silver heels, from his massive collection that he has for his models.  This is Kharl Wirepa, fashion designer, entrepreneur, larger than life, but still humble enough to collaborate and inspire and encourage others.

I have a ticket to see his show, so I will post some pics on facebook and instagram as it happens.  I also had the opportunity to photograph some of his collection and models for his look book.  So I post some images after fashion week is over.
​
xox
Calico Jo

HAPPY GO LUCKY: Someone who is easy going and carefree.  Someone who takes things as they come. 
This is the photo that was a wall display piece in the Summer Exhibition.  It's a hard thing to throw a hat, keep a smiling face, and not block off your face from the camera.  Renati knocked it out!

THE WHERE: Old Mill bypass Road, Rotorua, New Zealand.

THE HOW:
Camera: Canon 50d
Lens: 50mm
F / 2.8
ISO 100
Shutter 1/250

There is also a brushstroke painted texture layer overlayed in the editing process.  I liked the low  contrast and black depth it gave to the image as well as the look the texture gave to the painted wall.

Lazy Summer Days, having time to sit down and hang out, time to perfect the hat throw, to chill out, to not have to rush off and be somewhere.

xox
​Calico Jo

THE WHERE
Mill Bypass Road, Rotorua New Zealand.  

THE HOW
Camera: Canon 50d
Lens: Canon 50mm
F / 3.5
ISO 125
1/250th sec shutter
Natural Lighting

THE THOUGHT PROCESS
I had the honor of being one of the first to photograph Renati as he breaks into the modelling world.
Even though still new, I was impressed at how he could model, coolness one minute and happy go lucky the next.  

For this photo exhibition shoot, I wanted a Bruno Mars type of vibe.  This image was shot through branches along a dirt road.  I thought the branches added a bit of visual interest, but Renati looking straight down the camera, is still what grabs my attention.  This was my favorite shot of him.

Very easy to direct, and a genuinely nice person, I can't wait to see where his modelling adventures take him in the future.

One to watch,
xox
Calico Jo

THE WHERE
Up a tree in Hamurana, by the lake.

THE HOW
Camera: Canon 70d
ISO 500
1/250 sec shutter
Lens: Canon 24-105mm set at 92mm
Natural Light

THE THOUGHT PROCESS
This image was one I had in the exhibition book.  Stella is so beautiful.  The blown out, white background, made the focus go straight on her and her gorgeous eyes.  Musician, singer, model, and a really nice, friendly person.  Stella, beautiful inside and out.

xox
Calico Jo

I have been photographing this coffee group every year since the oldest kiddies were 1 year old.  Now they are turning 5!  Some more little ones have been added on the way, and I have truly loved seeing these families grow year after year.  

The day was cold and wet!  But still they got together with their gumboots and umbrellas and had fun at the Te Aorangi Museum in Rotoura, New Zealand.

Here are a few of my faves from the morning.

Well done Mums!!

xox
Calico Jo

THE WHERE
Hamurana, Rotorua, New Zealand.  This side of the tree hangs over Lake Rotorua.

THE HOW
Camera: Canon 70D
Lens: Canon 24-105mm set at 105mm
Speedlight held in left hand -  Yongnuo 565EX - fill in light for the shadow side of faces. 
ISO 250
F/5
1/250 sec shutter

THE THOUGHT PROCESS
This was a wall display photo for the exhibition.  I liked the sense of Summer adventures, road trips and exploring in this photo.  I also think the girls looked beautiful here.  After all the playful and friendship photos, this was a nice quiet, peaceful moment.

I LOVE SUMMER ROAD TRIPS!!  Especially love it, when there is no plan, just spin a bottle for a direction and off you go.... Think I should plan one this Summer..... who owns a van? ;)

xox
Calico Jo

THE WHERE
If you are driving to Hamurana from Ngongotaha, just before you hit the Dairy on the left, on the right, there is this tree with low branches, very close to a jetty.  Some of the low branches hang out over Lake Rotorua.  It holds a tyre swing and a seated swing, and from time to time, the odd hammock.

THE HOW
Camera: Canon 70d
Lens: Canon 24-105mm set at 105mm
1/250 sec shutter
F/5
ISO 640
Natural lighting (I used natural lighting a lot in this series, because I wanted that natural, summery, capturing a moment, feel to most of the shots.)
Models: Stella and Georgia
THE THOUGHT PROCESS
I met Stella (the one on the branch) through her modelling, but I also knew she was a singer and musician. I already had this tree in mind for a session with a musician hanging out within its branches, so I asked Stella if she would be the model for me.  She asked if she could bring her musician / singer friend, and this became one of the most enjoyable sessions for exhibition.  I got so many great shots of these lovely ladies, in the swings, playing ukuleles, in the water, on the jetty.... it was really difficult to choose my exhibition shots.  

This shot was my fave.  It was also on the back cover of the exhibition book. I love the interaction and the obvious friendship these two had.  To me, this photograph personified the whole exhibition theme.  Granny square blankets, a hot day, shorts and big floppy hats, hanging out with a friend, with the cars parked up and the lake right there.  

xox
​Calico Jo

Exhibition book portrait from the Miss Jessica Mae shoot.

THE WHERE
At the back of a storage shed within Kulture Shock's grounds.  Ngongotaha, Rotorua, New Zealand.
(Jessica also has a hair salon within the Kulture Shock building, hence the title pun).

THE HOW
Camera: Canon 70d
Lens: 24-105mm set at 28mm
F 5.6
ISO 320
1/250 shutter speed
Natural lighting

THE THOUGHT PROCESS
This was my favorite image from the whole shoot.  I love her look and pose.  She looks like she is one cool rockabilly.  Summer drives in a hot rod, pulling up at a hamburger joint for a soda, dancing the night away to the rock n roll music on the radio.

xox,
​Calico Jo

One of the things I love most about portrait photography, is the people you meet.  People you may not normally get to chat to in day to day life.  Because of being a photographer, I get a glimpse into cultures, hobbies, lifestyles, meet and talk to the movers and shakers.  I especially think that Rotorua is a hub of interesting and creative people.

Jessica Caulfield introduced me to the community of Rock 'n' Roll / Vintage culture.  The clothing, the cars, the  antiques and collectibles,  and the style still has a massive following worldwide.  It is awesome to photograph.

This is one of two similar portraits, this one went on the wall in the exhibition.

THE WHERE
This is the back of a storage shed on the grounds of Kulture Shock.  Kulture Shock is the business owned by Jessica and her partner, Brett. Located in Ngongotaha, Rotorua, it has a hair salon, vintage clothing, and lots of vintage and collectible items and furniture.  It also holds vintage car meets, and Vintage Pin Up bootcamps.  It's a happening place of business! 

THE HOW
Camera: Canon 70d
Lens: Canon 24-105mm, taken at 40mm
F 5.6
ISO 320
Natural lighting

THE THOUGHT PROCESS
When thinking of cool photo shoots, Jessica immediately jumps to mind.  How cool is her outfit?!  Need I say more?  Jessica is also a vintage pin up model, by the name 'Miss Jessica Mae' and has won competitions, so she made my job very easy.  Cool outfit, Cool old building, Cool Model, done!

This weekend, Kulture Shock is having a big hoollie to celebrate being open for 1 year, it's in my diary and should be in yours!

xox
​Calico Jo