Dollar Portraits

Yesterday I visited the offices of Cancer Council NSW where I got to meet Rachel in the funky meeting room! We discussed my project and she offered some fantastic ideas and suggestions that were both positive and fruity... for lack of a better word. Her vision for the project was very much in line with mine which was a bit of a relief to be honest. I went in to the meeting expecting them to demand certain things and came out with a pleased spring to my step.

Today I received an email from Rachel with an attached authority form. Happy days! I didn't personally need this form to carry out my project but it helps with public perception and will hopefully help me raise more money. For this I thank the Cancer Council of New South Wales and I hope to build a long standing partnership where we both take on cancer for a ripe ol' beating it deserves.

The year is nearly over and my project is heading in the right direction. It has enjoyed a great start and I plan to continue in 2009 with the same enthusiasm.

Two things of note. Next week I have a meeting with the staff of Cancer Council NSW which will bring me closer to being an authorised fund raiser. If we can't come to some form of agreement I will still continue to raise funds for them which has always been the plan. There is a fair bit of red tape involved from their side which makes it difficult for them to simply hand out authority for money collections. It's totally understandable and to be expected I think. Wish me luck but I don't think I'll need it. I'm going to take my camera with me so look out for some portraits of their staff soon.

The other thing I've been working on is organising business cards. The good folks at B&C Mailing have generously donated 1,000 cards which are being printed this week. The cards will be handed out to every person I take a portrait of as a way of promoting the cause and hopefully selling some prints and collecting donations. More on the cards including a scan of the final print as soon as I get them.

I'm happy to report that I've reached my first hundred dollars with your generous support. Whether you donated your portrait or just donated some money, please accept my thanks. I hope to take many more portraits and maybe some of your money too. ;)

Last Sunday I went to cover a social even known as the Zombie Lurch. Throughout the world in major cities people gather, apply zombie make up and walk around the streets looking for brains to eat. Well not quiet but they do walk around the streets and pose for any photographer with their most fear enducing look they can muster. The Sydney turnout this year was lower than normal so they called off the walk but still gathered at Hyde Park and had a ball. I left early and didn't take any photos unfortunately.

I did however walk around Hyde Park and shot 2 rolls. One was a Fuji Neopan 400 and the other a Fuji Astia 100F. I'm really pleased with the Astia colours. Medium Format slide film looks amazing. No scan can do it justice but I tried to represent the natural colours as much as possible.

I can't imagine anyone reading this so I'll keep it short and welcome an empty room to Dollar Portraits. This site will be the home for a project I hope to see through to some positive end. I'm not entirely sure how far I will take this but with a bit of support, some zip ties and duct tape, I am certain to achieve a bit of success in my own little way. To find out more about this project please visit the about page.

Here we go...