Invitation To Hang - another brilliant project by Chase Jarvis

Thanks to Chase Jarvis and his team, the photography World got a bit shaken up again a few weeks ago. However this project is now over, the site of Invitation To Hang is still up, open for anyone to see all submitted and chosen images.
The project was simple but definitely something that tickled all participating photoagrapher's creative mind: The snap shot. Capturing a moment, there and then, wherever you are, take a shot that no one else can or would but has the power to make the audiance stop and stare. (Well, this was my translation of the project description. Being part of such a fun and exciting project, have my picture hung in New York City's Ace Hotel was a pretty cool feeling - to say the least.
If you have a camera of any kind, take photos with it. Don't worry about the technicality, just follow your creative insticts and capture the moment. When you're done, check out Chase Jarvis' blog for more inspiration. Enjoy!

Sweet reminder of the week

We all have bad days. You know, the ones when your car breaks down when you are already late and your phone goes flat at the same time, oh and by the way you are in middle of a highway... These days happen to us because we let life pass by without noticing the fun and sweet side of it. We have to fall at times to be able to rise up again, dust ourselves off and see things in a new light.

Today's photo shoot reminded me of just that. The sweetness of life. It came in a box of chocholate. A very special one from Coco Chocholate to be exact. Thank you Rebecca! :)



Note: If you don't try this one, you will miss out on something very special!

Keep smiling!

Published in Sydney Pool+Outdoor Design

As a property photographer for Top Snap, I am lucky to see my work in print and on websites on a daily basis. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside still.

Occasionally I am approached by designers, newspaper editors or business owners who are in the process of updating their marketing materials. This is how I got in touch with Stevie Newbegin from United Media Grooup, publishers of the Sydney Pool+Outdoor Design magazine. If you are looking at finding the right pool, you must check out this magazine, it's got all and every style you can imagine!

So Stevie needed some images for their editorial of Southern Cross Pools which lead me to a meeting with the lovely Cathy from the company - who was by the way amazing to make the shoot smooth with helping me setting up.

And now, the wait is over. My images are in this thick and glossy magazine! Yes. Feeling warm and fuzzy inside. :)



Thank you Stevie and Cathy!

Me & Melbourne

It was my 28th birthday and a trip I planned as a present to myself. My one and only Simon (the guy who loves me most after my brother) was waiting for me there, organized a place to stay, a place to hang out and time to show me around in the fabulous Melbourne. He made sure that he is close by while I'm catching up with a guy who I had a date with that night.
(Note: All girls should have their very own "One&Only Simon" in their lives if you ask me!)

This was my very first affair with Melbourne. I didn't see Europe in it (like some say it is like) but I had a magical weekend, which I spent with some great people.

Life happened to make me visit Melbourne a several more times in the coming 2 years and what I love about this place is; it shows a different side of its face each and every time.

My latest visit was the first one which was planned with some my close Sydney friends. It was a new - a very new - feeling to be there. And as I was walking around with people who truly are part of my Australian family, with my camera in the hand, a 50mm and I had a creative outburst and I started seeing things I've never seen in this city before. Some of my favourites from a short weekend below:

Times like this, moments filled with laughter, tears and love for people who mean the World to me; worth living for.



I've had a little bit of time to wander around in art galleries, which is a must to do in Melbourne. You can see some um... out of the ordinary pieces :)






Walking around in the city, I see why some people think it has got a European feel. The cafes, the architecture, the atmosphare... I must admit; similar. ;)















Melbourne will always have a special place in my heart. It gave me feelings I've never known, it created memories I will never forget, it made me laugh and made me cry... It once meant so much to me that it's impossible to erase it from my life.



So, if you have a chance to visit Melbourne, please do it. And get lost in it. Let it make you feel like you've never felt before. Let it make you laugh. And take some photographs. :)

Have a great weekend, World!

5 Years in the World of Oz

Exactly 5 years ago I woke up in the very early hours, after very little sleep and my Mum and my boyfriend drove me to the airport in Budapest. I was so excited that I don't think I realized how long it will be until the next time I will see them again. After re-packing my suitcases (because where can you find a girl who is able to pack less than 20kg for a year? Duh!), checking-in, making sure my Mum see; I do have my passport and insurance and all the important stuff on me; I was ready to say goodbye. I think my Mum cried, but she didn't want me to see it, she didn't want to ruin my excitement perhaps. She wanted to be happy for me eventho her heart was breaking inside.

I walked through the metal detector, sat down in the almost empty hall (because if you go anywhere with my Mum, she will make sure you'll rather be there an hour early than a minute late :)), I pulled out a cigarette, my phone rang - it was one of my best friends, she just woke up, I think it was only 7am, her voice was so sleepy still, but she called... To say goodbye. That's when it all sank in. I burst into tears and couldn't stop. I have never felt so alone in my entire life.

It was my decision, right? I was ready to get on that plane and fly 13,000 kms, leave family and love behind, get on with something new... But all of a sudden it was terrifying. Eventually I stopped crying of course - I think I just needed it so much that it couldn't stay inside :) - and 2 planes, 13,000kms and 24 hours later I arrived to where it all began... Sydney, Australia, The World of Oz, the Land of kangoroos and koalas and convicts and sunshine and the ozone hole... Oh it was a feeling like no others!

5 years, plenty of challanges, a few heartbreaks, some tears, lots of laughs and even more experience later; I am still here.
In the World of Oz. Where miracles do happen - I believe.

If I wouldn't have come here I wouldn't be the person who I am today (and you would probably not read this blog), so today (because it's been 5 years after all!) I'd like to thank Australia for all and everything - good&bad - it has given me because it truly was the best thing in my life so far!

Here to make more mistakes to learn from, more experiences to grow from and more friends to enjoy it with!

Thank you for everything, Australia. x

P.s.: My Mum's heart recovered since :)

My Amazing Mum - Maintaining Love from the Distance

This morning I woke up and realised that I haven't been in touch with my Mum in a good few days. I moved to the other side of the World 5 years ago therefore we usually chat online or email each other or talk on Skype but somehow we haven't done it for a few days now. I've also had a missed call on my phone from a blocked number which usually means an o/s call. This always makes me nervous and worried so I wanted to make sure it's all ok at home.

I started a long email to her because I felt guilty that I haven't made contact with her in the longest time. (Such a bad child.. I know!) I wanted to tell her how much I love her and miss her and that I think of her every day and feel bad that I got slack and only replied to her emails/chats instead of me starting one.

People who know me know that my lack of communication with home doesn't mean my lack of love for them. For a fact; my family is veryvery important to me. We went though a lot together and everytime something important happen to them over in Hungary and I can't be part of it, it makes me sad.
BUT! I'm coming from a familiy where I didn't see my Dad for weeks sometimes, but usually never more often than once a week. He was traveling all the time, so I grew up with his constant absence and learnt that love can be maintained without psyically being close to the person. I made a decision 5 years ago and my family knows how happy I am here. As hard as it is for all of us, they do understand (well I believe they do) why it's better for me here in Sydney than Budapest.

I wrote the longest email to my Mum about all and everything that has happened with me since we last spoke, how much i love her and my thoughts on visiting home this year. She is an awesome woman and honestly; I have no idea how she can cope with the void I left. Not that I'm that fantastic, but i'm her daughter. The only daughter. And however she's got my brother, his kiddies and the rest of the family there for her - I can't even start to imagine how hard it must be for a parent when they can only see their child once in every couple of years... And please don't think that it gets any easier with time passing. To tell you the truth it gets harder with every week and month. But we have to sacrifice whatever decision we make in life. Yes, I miss out on birthdays, weddings, baby births and a whole lot of other important occasions, but I try my best to make up for it everytime I visit home - at the end of the day I have to make more effort as I moved away from them not the other way around. And yes, it's so veryvery hard not to be able to go home to my Mum for some home made soup or a big hug when I'm upset or hurt, and it is even harder not to be there for my Mum when she's sad and she needs my hug. Of course it is hard to hear my brother telling me how sad he is that I don't see his kids grow up, but in his children's eyes I sure am the coolest aunty, who lives where the kangaroos live and send cool stuff occasionally (not to mention that I will reach a whole new level of coolness in those kids eyes when they can holiday in Australia in the school holidays!)... (At least this thought always makes me smile. I can't wait to have them here for a visit!)



All in all; I love my family.
And love means that you understand or at least accept your loved ones decisions in life. It is never easy, but whatever makes them happy, we have to let them go for it. And if you are in the same shoes as me, live far away from home by choice because you followed your dreams, but can't see your family whenever you want to; just think of all the happiness you've got from your furtunate situation to live somewhere amazing! I promise you, it will make them happy too!

Enjoy life! You've only got one to live!
Love passionately! You never know when it's going to end.
Be positive! Life if too short for spending it upset.

Have a Happy Easter!

Talking photography & what really matters

When I started my freelancing career as a photographer I've been told that in Sydney it is not easy to network with other photographers, they've got their own circles and they rather stay there than be open towards the newbies. Hm.

This thought comes back each and every time I come across a photographer who I get the chance to have a chat with. From my experience as long as I am open and not afraid to talk about what I do, how I do it - even if I know that some of it might not sound or be cool and fancy - the other photographer will be just as open and honest and friendly as I am. (And then we laugh together about how we battle between 2-3 jobs to make sure there's enough $ on the table to fund our businesses)

I went out with the girls last night. At the bar we've been directed to sit in an area which must have been reserved for someone before because there were only a few people sitting there. It also seemed to be the chilling spot for the photographer too who I happened to start chatting with. We ended up talking for a long time, it was probably more than what a noisy bar is designed for, but if you let me talk about photography then good luck to you; it will be a long one so you better get comfy and get yourself another drink before I start! :)

I really hope I didn't dominate the conversation too much or bore him. I think I let him talk too because however I really don't remember how long we were sitting there chatting, but I got this really sweet text message from this same photographer a little later:

"It was nice talking photography with you, it's great to see the passion you have, I'm sure you will be very successful."

I believe that if you leave the smoke and mirrors at home, keep your focus on what you love and talk about the bumps and holes too on that road you are on towards becoming a successful artist; people will be more interested in you and your work and encourage you much more. They might even look up to you and start to believe that only talking about the flash equipment or the next big thing on the market are not the things that will make anyone a bigger and better artist/business person.

What you really need in whatever business you are in is passion for what you do. It really is that simple.

Keep this in mind and thank me later. ;)