Tyson @ Waymouth Street Carpark Adelaide, SA

Tyson is a young man on a big mission. He helps organisations improve overall effectiveness which makes the organisation much more valuable.

These images were taken at the Waymouth Street carpark, which has since been demolished. The car park was old, rundown, rusty and haggard, the perfect backdrop for the purpose of this shot. I was aiming for a dark mafia type shot for this image. Cool, calm, collected and if looks could kill, you'd be dead.

This image will be entered into the South Australian Professional Photography awards in 2009.

Kirra, Irish Deerhound photo shoot at Scott Creek, South Australia

Roaming a large Scott Creek property is the gorgeous Scottish Deerhound who goes by the name Kirra. She is a friendly old soul who warms to you without hesitation, even if you are a stranger. Although the weather was cold in the hills, my legs were warm where she was leaning against me as I was talking to her owner Dee and her friend Emma.

Scottish Deerhounds, unlike other breeds of dogs age a lot quicker. For each year they live, it is equivalent to 10 dog years as opposed to 7. Their lifespan is between 7 and 10 years. Kirra is 14 years young and when she's not puffed out from a nanna walk, she's galloping around like a 2 year old puppy.

She was a pleasure to photograph and I felt honoured to meet such a friendly beautiful animal.

-Benjamin Liew

Latest update

It's been a while since Bens last post but that doesn't mean that nothings been happening. Quite the contratry in fact. Benjamin has been going through zone training which basically teaches one how to be in the 'zone'. Life isn't a battle of control, not if you just go with the flow. If your in the zone then everything good just happens. Benjamin is now the first Zone Trained photographer (visit http://www.zonehigh.com/ for more info). In other news, www.benjaminliew.com.au has been revamped with less - less is more right? Still needs some work but it's a work in progress. Benjamin has been busier with admin as opposed to shooting but what better feeling is there than being ORGANISED?!

The studio will be taking on a couple of work experience students soon, so if there is a young person lurking around the studio setup, this is why. Benjamin is currently learning Italian so if you speak the language, please attempt to have a conversation with him in the language.

This is just a quick update so please stay tuned for photo's and more updates.

Expose Your World Competition 2008 Awards Presentation @ Blue Hotel, Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

Last night was the long awaited Award presentation night for the Roving Eye Expose Your World 2008 Competition held at the Blue Hotel in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. It was a great opportunity to meet the other Finalists and Winners of the competition as well as the crew from Roving Eye - Joanna especially who made the whole thing happen. 

The grand prize went to Lung Liu who unfortunately wasnt able to be there, but I did get to meet his represantitive Katie who is a Sydney based photographer. Lung Liu is from Canada and took out the Photo Essay: Environmental Story category. 

I also met Trent Mitchell who flew up from Queensland and his brilliant photograph of Kirra Beach which was the Single Shot: Place - Category Winner as well as being finalist for the Photo Essay: Australian Story and also being Highly Commended in the Single Shot: People category. 

Michael Williams who I met also had shot the coolest series of photographs starring his Alaskan Malamute called Bondi in various places across Europe. Michael was the Category Winner for the Photo Essay: A Traveller's Tale. 

I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Christine Bull who I shared in the Finalist position in the Wildlife Single Shot category. 

The images above are of the Blue Hotel itself. The first one is looking into the hotel and apartments, and the second one is looking towards the bar where the exhibition and presentations were. The other two images are self explanatory. 

Taking the photographs inside the next day was interesting. I asked permission from the front desk, and they obliged. I was shooting for half an hour and when I was on my way out, security walked past and said "you're not allowed to take random photographs in here". I don't know what threw me more: the fact that "Random Photographs" were being discriminated against or that I had already seeked permission and this guy decides to change the rules. Anyway, I got the shots I wanted and left. 

Thanks for reading.

-Benjamin

Dharshi & Ananths Wedding pre-shoot in Adelaide @ Parliament building, Botanic Gardens, the Rotunda on the Torrens, and Botanics on North Tce.

Corporate Portrait Photography at Headquarters Studio Richmond, Adelaide.

Corporate Photoshoots for Ashley Knoote-Parke and Michelle Stanton. Both have published books for which these images will be used for. 

Sorana & Pauls Wedding photographs taken in Adelaide and it's surrounds

Congratulations to Sorana and Paul who were married on the 24th of January 2009 at Wesley Uniting Church in Kent Town. I had the honor of being selected to capture the day in photographs.

Henna Mushrooms

I woke up this morning with this crazy idea to use mushrooms as photographic subjects. Together with Humna's skills, we were able to create this little composition. 

This idea is being developed and more like it will be produced soon. Stay tuned.

-Ben

New Years Eve Fireworks photographs from Balmain, Sydney 2009

 Taken from the end of Darling Street, Balmain at Thornton Park at New Years Eve 2009. 

Sally Park after their gig at the gov

Sally park photoshoot at a run down car park on Waymouth Street, Adelaide.

PETstock Microchipping Day

These photographs were taken at PETstock Melrose park last weekend during their Micro Chipping day. 3 month old Penny the Chihuahua you see her is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. 6 month old Missy the great dane is small enough to fit in the back of a big truck. Together they were just two dogs sniffing eachother but were both so gentle with each other. They would make the best of friends.

Henley the Spoodle

Photographic Journey leading up to now

The following is an excerpt from my life and in particular, my journey to becoming a photographer.

My passion for photography began when I was just a child living in Malaysia. I had a Kodak Cameo that my parents bought for me. Many years later, and after borrowing many of my parents cameras, I purchased a Canon IXUS V2. I had a lot of fun with this camera, even though it was far from being a manual SLR. I was still able to gain an understanding of shutter speeds, ISO and also play with photo composition. During the later months of 2005, I purchased a Canon 350D so I could photograph my cousins wedding. Since then I have acquired a Pentax ME Super 35mm camera, and an old Minolta with a whole lot of dark room equipment and lenses. Nikon Digital SLRs have also fallen within my grasp while I was working at Locksmith Supply Company aka LSC photographing their various products for the better half of 2007.

I studied at Mercedes College and finished in 1998 and then proceeded to spend many a day practicing my computer skills which would potentially be a career path for me. After studying Information Technology at Adelaide TAFE for 3 years, I needed to learn more. I then went to study a 2 year Diploma of Multimedia at Prides Business college before they went into liquidation. Torrens Valley TAFE brought on board all the stragglers with half finished diplomas and we were given the opportunity to complete our Diplomas at the end of 2005. The feeling to learn more and more took over, so I enrolled into Animation and Interactive Media at Melbournes RMIT. I failed the first enrollment. Whilst I was waiting to enrol for the second time around, I studied Photography at the CCP. I applied for RMIT the second time round and I got in. 2007 was the beginning of my life in the big smoke. Melbourne. I studied what most kids watch on ABC after school. It was great. I lasted 6 months at RMIT. Photography called out to me.

My first "real" job was delivering Pizzas for Pizza hut. Before that, I attempted door to door sales (2 days) and car washing (1 day). I applied for a position at Telstra Bigpond Internet and as I was studying Information Technology and they were just happening to looking for people with computer knowledge, the job was given to me. I was in the call centre telling people how much they owed Telstra. I then gained employment at Optus Mobile Billing before moving to a Westpac Call centre. From there, I moved to a mortgage processing position. My next place of employment was Adelaide Bank before working at Australia Post. In Melbourne, I got my first photography job at the Lock Smith Supply company followed by regular event work on the weekends, and also a job assisting a photographer with school photographs. After moving back to Adelaide in 2007, I worked as a casual laborer. Working behind a desk was not an option for me so I didn't bother to apply for any. I did such jobs as moving furniture, shovelling fertilizer around and even sorting plastic stuff at a plastics factory.

I completed a Small Business Management course through NEIS run by Mission Australia and began Benjamin Liew Photography in May 2008. I also became actively involved with the AIPP and entering into photographic competitions. After winning a few awards in both state and national competitions and also making the Finalist in an international competition, I believe that I am becoming a better photographer and providing a high quality service.

It's been a roller coaster ride to get here but it is far from over. Every day something new happens. A new project arises, a challenge is put in front of me.

Bring it on!!!

-Benjamin Liew

sandy pic

this my dog sandy. she's so cute.

Jersey the English Staffy Puppy ( and Penelope the Bassett )

Last week I met a Candi and Paul at the Unley shopping centre. They are the proud parents of the beautiful English Staffy pup that occasionally answers to the name Jersey. I was drawn in by the extreme cuteness of this little creature and offered my photographic services to her owners. They instantly recognized my name from my efforts at the Animal Welfare League, so I was in. We met earlier this afternoon at the park next to the shopping centre, but soon moved to the Sturt Football Oval where there would be less chance of a running Jersey making it to the main road.


The photo shoot went well, Jersey the super model did great and looked cute as ever. During our shoot, Jersey made a new friend - a 4 and a half month old Basset by the name of Penelope who was just as cute as Jersey. Together they were super cute. Hopefully Penelopes owners will call me so that I can get some photographs of this super cute puppy.... but maybe next week. I've had my cute fix for this week with Jersey.