Building more bridges… backbends in Europe
As I travelled Europe, my “bridge” art project was on my mind. As a result, some fun shots, some (of what I think are pretty) great shots, and some memorable stories that lie behind most of them (which I will have to tell some other day).
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Truth through a photoshoot
On Monday I did my first fashion shoot for the year. I was modeling my sister’s fashion line (she’s a fashion student at Sydney Tafe) with Gilbert Rossi, an amazing photographer who I’ve remained friends with over the years.
Rossi was standing about 8 metres away with a long lens, instructing me what to do. Holding myself in a ridiculously awkward position with my elbows out, one hand under a jacket hole, my feet crossed over and trying not to wobble on my ridiculously high heels, I had the most unexpected epiphany about “truth”.
You see, the photographer was seeing one version of the truth – a version edited by his lens, his lighting, his framing, and by his finger on the shutter.
But there I was, awkward as all get out, seeing and feeling a very different truth.
My sister was seeing a third version of the truth from a location of an outside observer. She could observe both my and Rossi’s truths, (seen in the photo above) and was also experiencing an entirely different truth that focused on how what she liked and didn’t like about her designs, and how she hoped they would look in the photo.
On one hand this could be judged as three relative truths: all three of us were obviously seeing a perspective of the “truth”, and each was seemingly a correct interpreting the shared reality, when one viewed at the situation from our positions.
How does this relate to the big question of the last fifty years of great thinkers: Does such a thing as an objective version of the truth also exist?
I think yes. Yes, the Truth with a capital T does exist. I think this Truth is one that encompasses all the relative truths, and more. It would come from the location an all-knowing perspective, that can completely comprehend the relative perspectives and combine them together in a bigger perspective.
Can we ever really know the Truth? I think not. Not unless we can become each of these people.
However, by learning about the other’s perspectives we can get closer to knowing the objective Truth.
Another thought I had was on the creation of the Truth. On Monday any of us could have changed the Truth, for example, I could have pulled a horrible face and created a bad photo. But experience has built a level of trust in the photographer’s perspective, so I didn’t pull a face, knowing that the temporary pain I experienced in awkward positions would be worth the photographic results.
Rossi reminded me of his perspective during the shoot, showing me a sample of the images he was capturing. This positive affirmation motivated me to hide my true feelings and create a better Truth (and better photos for my sister).
How does this apply to other situations? Well I guess when it comes to conflicting views, different understandings of reality, and the debate between modern and post-modern, it provides an analogical way to think about relative and objective perspectives.
If each party analyses their position in spatial and temporal terms – looking at where they are located, and the historical factors that brought them there; and if they do the same to understand the “other”s perspective, a dialectical relationships between the different perspectives will allow each relative position to move closer to an unattainable objective one.
The closer you can get to the objective truth depends on your ability to reflect on yourself and to empathise with others.
The more we “conscientize” as a scholar by the name of Lederarch calls it, the more we can gain awareness of our self-in-context, and others-in-context, the closer we can get to understanding the bigger context of our microcosmic-macrocosmic position: with universes seemingly existing both inside and outside our consciousness.
Some are a few images from my sister (Nicole Bennett – remember that name)’s new look book:
Credits:
Photography & Copyright – Gilbert Rossi
Fashion – designed and produced by Nicole Bennett
Make up – Maria Buavo.
Featured Image:
Behind the scenes with Gilbert, taken by Nicole on my iPhone.
Side note:
Also this day I met Margaret, a 17 year old Aussie blogger who has built up an international following of her fashion blog: http://shinebythree.blogspot.com/ Pretty impressive stuff!
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Circles in the Land of Angles
THE CRAB – IN ENGLAND
I love learning where words come from. England, according to wikipedia, comes from the Old English Englaland, the “Land of the Angles”, the Angles being a German Tribes from the Middle ages. Learn something new every day – I always assumed it meant ‘my land” or something unoriginal like that.. you know, like the naming of all the monuments in Sydney: the “Harbour Bridge” for a bridge across the harbour, the “Opera House” for the theatre where opera is played , the “Centerpoint” tower for the tallest tower in the center of the city. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I mean, it does make sense even if its a little boring.
Anyway, back to the Circles in the Land of Angles…
These four shots are the latest to join my “Crab” series, taken during my July trip to Oxford and London in July.
Tower bridge, London
Farmoor Reserve, Oxfordshire UK
Some ruins near Oxford
Buckingham Palace
I was hoping to make it to Paris and get some shots in front of Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and go to Barcelona and Rome – but the peak holiday period made tripping around much less enticing… the South of France was lovely and I think I got another “crab” shot there but they’re buried in my files so I’ll have to save that for another story.
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The Animal Question: Darwin’s Bastards
I’m working on a concept for an upcoming exhibition entitled “Darwin’s Bastards” that will be held at Verge Galleries on City Road in November. I’m not yet sure yet my photos will be accepted but it has been an interesting exercise to contemplate how Darwin’s theory has been modified and adapted, how it has been used and misused, and how we might transcend the theoretical application and consider the practical implications of life’s origins on our lives today.
From the vantage point of 2009 it seems that over the last hundred years humanity has journeyed through a dizzying circling of paradigm shifts (a few I will discuss below) and fear-induced retreats to pre-modern mentalities (leading to Fundamentalist paradigms embedded in ideological identities). It is time to return to the origins hence this series explores the islands where Darwin’s theory first began. Like Darwin, I was 26 years old when I set foot on the Galapagos – a group of islands that lie an hour’s flight from the mainland of Ecuador.
On arrival I immediately felt different. I looked around and wondered if Darwin too knew deep inside the significance his experience would have on his life and on the world. Not that my experience will have nearly the effect of Darwin’s but surrounded by a strange world where animals treat you as if you are one of them, something in my gut told me my experience there would be life-changing. A later book written by Darwin is called The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals makes me think Darwin might have had similar impressions to mine.
These photos reflect just some of such moments. It’s not just the fact that you are surrounded by sealions, iguanas, turtles, birds and insects, and it was their deep thoughts, expressions of emotions, and human-like interactions and family feuds, that brought me back to a key question of evolution: The Animal Question.
This year is the Year of Darwin. It has been 150 years since the Theory of Evolution was unleashed on the unsuspecting public, and just look at where it as taken us… a theory of life that that should have connected all life under a collective identity has backfired and out of fear and frustration Fundamentalist movements – be they religious, atheist or ideological – have escalated to levels like never before. Globablisation has placed different religions, cultures and often what are perceived as clashing world-views side by side with the threat of a “clash of civilisations” said to be waiting just around the corner.
In many circles Darwin’s theory has been denounced as just that, “a theory”, and children be they of religious, atheist or agnostic parents are presented with a choice: religion OR science. Believe in God and mystery OR evolution and life with no meaning. So I ask: what happened to the “AND”? Why is the commonality of the two so often avoided? Is it so hard to see that while religion questions “why?” science answers “how?” Are science and religion two sides to the same coin?
I can’t understand why children are rarely presented with a meta-narrative of evolution and history, and engaged to recognise the limitations and seek answers to its gaps. Instead at school we were presented with isolated segments of history “today we will learn about Ancient Sumer, and tomorrow Ancient Babylon”… what kid would not fall asleep at such a suggestion? Is it not much more interesting to draw a line on the black board and say, this is what scientists believe to be the 14 billion year history of the universe, and this little cm section here on the right is the 6000 years of history us humans have actually got a written history to support. Tell the children that we have no evidence that tells us how the first atom appeared, and that we have various dating techniques that tell us about the points in between: the age of our sun, our earth, the reign of the dinosaurs; and then go into detail on Ancient cultures from the perspective of how this has led to the evolution of human consciousness into the society, culture, education and lifestyles we take for granted as ‘normal’ today. To note that all of what we are surrounded by is but transient. It is never static, it has never stopped changing and will always continue to do so. To me this is a much more exciting way to present life, history, evolution, religion and science.
Similarly it baffles me that in religious circles children are still being encouraged to blindly accept the authoritative interpretation of holy books instead of equipping them to engage with the narrative presented – to historicise the Holy writings and theologies and look at how they developed over time. To question how religions of other civilizations might relate to theirs, how the differ and how they might enrich each other. Are they not all a historical record of different groups of humans seeking the divine answers behind life? Different conceptions of God better explained by historicizing the cultural circumstances of their mental conditioning rather than as conceiving each other’s conception as deceptions?
What completely astounds me is why so many people are fixed on the question of Does God exist? and Whose God is the True God, and that gods are false?
Why is it so rare that in the Atheist/Theist debate no body stops to ask: What per say is “God”???
From religious to atheist, everyone can see there is some kind of unexplainable energy that causes atoms to split and allows for animals to adapt. Whether or not you choose to personify this force as many religions do, or to see the force in more abstract scientific terms, or even in terms of the more detailed (and complicated) reality of quantum physics, it seems that this is a sturdy platform from which interfaith dialogue, sharing and learning can begin.
Simultaneous to the Fundamentalist movements of the 20th Century, bastardizations of Darwin’s theory have continued. It seems that as we rejected Modernity’s meta-narrative and embraced Post-Modernity’s pluralism, we lost something important: the pursuit of Truth. A meta-narrative exists and even if we will never fully know this Truth it is still a worthwhile objective. Books from the 1920s like H.G.Well’s The Outline of History and Hendrick Willem Van Loon’s The Story of Mankind – vanished from the bookshelves and instead of teaching children history in perspective of our place in the universe and its 14 billion year history, segmented units of history and science are taught as if each have no bearing on the other.
I now return to my concept for this exhibition: The Animal Question.
It is hard not to see the overlap between plants and animals (eg plants that eat flies), between mammals and birds (eg birds that don’t fly), between mammals and fish (eg whales and dolphins) and in forms of life that transform before our eyes (eg caterpillars to butterflies). Evidence for evolution, and how life came about, but what does this say about why? What does this say about the other side of life’s coin?
Anyone who, like me, believes there may be more to life than meets the eye, must really consider what this animal question actually means…
How is our consciousness different to that of animals?
If we evolved from similar roots to animals then do animals also have a soul?
If animals also have a soul, then do plants have one too?
Where can you draw the line? Or is it possible that we all share one soul?
Most importantly, what does our relationship to animals and plants and the history of the universe tell us about the purpose of our short human lives?
What part to we play in the process of creative evolution?
How can we unite in collective identity of life?
How can we move towards our individual and collective potentials of infinite creativity???!
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People and Portraits
South Americans are different. There’s some powerful energy inside of them unlike any other people. The eyes of these children say it all.
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“A Little Inspiration for a Big Idea”
The Art Tree Exhibition – my series is called “A Little Inspiration for a Big Idea”…
The little inspiration
The Theory of Evolution is a HUGE idea. But like all ideas, it starts with one thing: a little inspiration. Something happens to you: a feeling, a thought, divine inspiration? Over time this develops, culminating in an idea which if it’s a good one, can change the world forever.
Darwin took over twenty years to transform his thoughts into the massive idea unleashed into the world in The Origin of Species. The year 2009 is The Year of Darwin, the 150-year anniversary of his theory’s publication. This series explores the origins of Darwin’s idea to explore his greatest inspiration: The Galapagos Islands.
1JB – “My little friend” on Isabela.
I flew to this island in the front seat of a tiny seaplane and roamed the island for what felt like days but was only a few hours. Alone with nature. This island is heaven. Marine Iguanas were everywhere – but it was this little Lava Lizard, so colourful and curious, that won my heart.
2JB – “Anything is possible” on Isla Bartolome.
I was standing with the tour group at the top of a volcano when Rachel pointed and mouthed “LOOK B E H I N D YOU”. I turned, and there it was, sitting on the rail. I stood and stared. This Galapagos Eagle was BEAUTIFUL. I took one photo, ten, and as it flew away I caught this shot. Freedom.
3JB – “Family life” on San Cristobal.
We spent three days and nights hanging out with the locals – Ecuadorian boys, English teachers, and Galapagos Sea Lions. At the local beach they welcome you to join their family of countless females and babies and one token attention-seeking male boss. Just watching their family relationships you realize we really are not so different after all. 3000 people live on this San Cristobal. You can too if you marry a local… and people do!
4JB – “Cancerian decor” on Plazas Sur.
There nothing little about these Sally Lightfoot Crabs – at least relative to their body… just look at their giant claws and bulging eyes!!! These bright coloured creatures, also known as ‘Red Rock Crabs’ are scattered all over the seaside rocks like Christmas lights on a tree. Sometimes animated and full of life, and seemingly playing dead – much like the Cancers I know (I’m one of them.)
5JB – “Kiss and cuddles” on Santa Fe.
I used to think if I had to be a different animal I would be a dog, or maybe a bird. But now I know what I want to come back as in my next life. These Galapagos Sea Lions are the most affectionate creatures on this planet. Sure the have their family domestics, but they always make up with kisses and cuddles.
6JB – “Old souls” on Santa Cruz.
The Galapagos Giant Tortoise has the aura of a very old very wise man. These beautiful ancient reptiles move very slowly, eat slowly, sleep 16 hours a day, and live like this for more than 100 years (the oldest recorded age is 152 years.) These majestic creatures have a ‘mutual symbiotic relationship’ with the finch –stretching out their necks for the bird to eat off ticks – an easy meal for the bird and no more parasites for them.
8JB – “Happy as Larry” on Santa Fe.
Feeling like Alice in Wonderland I wandered down a little path to have lunch with Larry the Land Iguana. He was hungry. Just one, I said to myself, unable to resist. I “accidentally” plucked a flower and put it on the step in front of Larry. As if in slow motion first his eyes motioned to the yellow petals. His head followed, then one foot and then the next. He scooped down, his tongue popped out and LICK… the flower was gone. Then he lifted his head and smiled at me. I got this shot, and hurried along in a vain attempt to catch up to my group.
7JB – “Curiosity killed the cat” on Santa Fe.
I got in trouble for taking this photo. I was crouched in the bushes observing this little Darwin Finch hopping here and there, engaging with me curiously. Finally I stood only to find my friends and tour group were nowhere to be seen. Still able to see our boat I didn’t panic, instead wandered up a pathway. The search party found me… eventually.
9JB – “Contemplating life” on San Cristobal.
I relate to this baby Galapagos Sea Lion. He is tired. Who isn’t? Life can be tough. Learning to walk. Learning to think. Learning to eat. Leraning to do this, do that, but why? All this “stuff” that requires energy and effort. Sometimes we all have follow this baby’s example: pause, rest our chins on a rock and think, “what is this life really all about?”
So… Why Galapagos?
Galapagos formed 5million years ago by underwater volcanoes that rose to the surface creating 20 or so rocky islands and over 40 tiny islets. These islands are in Ecuador, located 1000km from the mainland (about a 1.5 hour flight). There are over 300 plant and animal species that are unique to the islands, and evidence of evolution can be seen everywhere with each island inhabited by plant and animal life different from the rest. Plants and animals began to evolve there 2-million years ago after seeds, insects and plant spores were carried over in the wind and with birds, while larger animals such as the iguanas are suspected to have arrived on floating vegetation. Because they have sent this time with no predators around them, the animals have no fear toward humans and they go about their day as if you were one of them.
Our connection to the animals
As I took these photographs, and at times when I sat on a beach simply observing their family life, eating habits and the ways they communicate with each other, I felt a sense of unity with them. I could understand why these animals would challenge any belief in human superiority above other forms of life. I found myself contemplating my relationship to the other creatures of this planet: are they just there for the benefit of humans – to admire and eat? Or is there something more?
Darwin’s finches
It was the variety of finches collected from the various islands that demonstrated natural selection in action. Darwin discovered that the bird’s beaks would evolve to be longer or shorter, weaker or stronger, thinner or thicker, depending on the food sources available on the island for example large hard seeds led to nature preferring birds with a long strong beak while small soft seeds gave preference to small more flexible beaks. Darwin analysed his specimens and noticed differences between different islands, asking himself: did God create these in 6 days, or had something else occurred?
Controversy
In the last 150 years, people in western societies have faced a confronting dilemma: do I believe in creation or do I believe in evolution? It’s often presented as if we have to make a choice: religion or science. Either: an all-powerful “God” created us, or we evolved from an empty void of nothing and there is no God.
This polarized debate distorts the real issue. If we were “created in God’s image” but also evolved from animals, then might we simply have to broaden our idea of what “God” actually looks like? Could science and religion be talking about the same energy behind life, but in different languages? Could the two in essence believe in the same thing, but be talking about it in different ways – some choosing to personify the energy, and others preferring to scientify it? Might “God” be a personification of the quantum energies that create themselves out of nothing? If this is so, then what part do we now have to play in the ongoing evolution of our species, our planet and our universe?
Check out the other twenty artists collaborating for this exhibition at: www.thearttree.com.au
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Alchemy
Exhibiting at Manning Artspace, Sydney University – July 2009-December 2009.
The title of the series, Alchemy, was inspired by Paolo Cuelo’s The Alchemist; a four-part series taken over a three-month journey around South America. The first shot of the series was the one in Huacachina – sand dunes in the south of Peru. Not knowing yet quite what I was onto, I played around with the asana Urdhva Dhanurasana, also known as Chakrasana, Upward Bow, Wheel, Backbend or “The Crab” – which, seeing as my starsign is Cancer, is probably the most appropriate – in the salt-lakes of Bolivia, after a fashion shoot in Argentina and finally on the beaches of Brazil.
“Never stop dreaming”
Uyuni Salt Lakes, Bolivia
Standing on one cm of water on top of a lake of salt, these clouds surrounded me in every direction – it was the most breath-taking experience of my life. Levi Martins, one of the boys in my 4wd took this. I got a bit wet, slipping as I tried to stand up… but it was worth it. This shot represents to me the power of dreams, and the incredible way that everything you dream, everything you ask the universe for, will come true. Never stop dreaming.
“Everything in life is an omen”
Huacachina, Peru
As the sun was setting following an afternoon of sand boarding in dunes of Huacachina near Ica in the south of Peru, we dove off the mounds of sand, performing handstands, cartwheels and finally the driver of our buggy snapped this shot of me in what would soon become a signature pose. Looking for signs and following intuitions, allow us to connect to the thoughts and actions of ourselves and others’ past, present and future. These omens led me to Huacachina, and the omens uncovered in Huacachina, including this photo, had significant impacts on my trip and on my future. Everything in life is an omen.
“When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.”
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Facilitated with an exchange of facebook details at a youth hostel, this shot followed a spontaneous fashion shoot with Columbian fashion photographer Gustavo Moreno. I stole the blue scarf from around my friend’s neck and inside the phonebook of a convenience store I created this fun little outfit and requested Gustavo to take this shot. Cars stopped (and tooted) and after many tries we got the shot (an my muscles ached for days!). This is my favourite of the series – I think because it was the most difficult to create. It is true that when you want something, anything, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.
Photographer: © 2009 Gustavo Tomás Moreno T. (YACO)
“He had not a cent in his pocket, but he had faith.”
Florianapolis, Brazil
Words cannot describe the appreciation that the Brazilians have for life. They smile, they laugh, and in their bright coloured clothes they walk as if music is pumping through their veins. At the beach, whether wealthy or homeless, people share the pleasures of warmth, water and sand; together clapping and cheering the sun’s final glorious moments as it retires for the day. Brazilians live in a way that seems much more connected with “God”, or the “Universal Soul”, the mysterious unknowns behind life, than most people I know. By living in the moment rather than worrying about what the next day will bring (whether by choice or default) the Brazilians’ energy, attitude and lifestyle represented to me the most beautiful expression of real deep faith. They have not a cent in their pockets, but they have faith.
For the exhibition I printed them to 15 x 40 inch (381 x 1016mm), mounted them on 9mm craftwood with black melamine edging and finished them off with a cold satin lamination. Wanting to spread the love I priced them at $240, and happy to sell them over the internet for the same price + postage costs.
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Sud Americana Landscapes
Galapagos is not the only awe-inspiring place in Latin America. Here are some of the most mind-blowing sights that with my camera I did it’s best to capture…
Uyuni Salt-Lakes, Bolivia 
Lake Titicaca, Bolivia
El Calefate, Patagonia
Iguazu Falls
Salvador, Brasil
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
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Early days
Some of my stuff from a few years back. Most of these are from Paris and London. I can’t hardly remember the feeling of having a shaved head… it was liberating, that’s for sure.
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Enchanted Isles
This show will be exhibited in Sydney in November 2009, as the “Year of Darwin” (the 150 year anniversary of Origin of Species and Darwin’s 200 year birthday), comes to a close.
Darwin was 26 years old when he undertook his paradigm shattering expedition in the Galapagos and around South America. I too was 26 when I followed Darwin’s footsteps on what would be my own paradigm shifting adventure….
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A short biography
This is a short summary of the twenty-seven years I have spent on this planet – giving you some background to where my philosophies and theories are coming from.
1982
I was born
at 630am on 6 July 1982 during the longest Luna Eclipse of the 20th century. That makes me a Cancer and a Dog, which do tend to describe me quite accurately, and the Luna Eclipse, 
well, I’m not sure if that has any significance but it’s pretty cool.
1982-1984
I spent my first two years in Jakarta, Indonesia and traveling the world. The adventurous nature of my Dutch mum and Aussie dad seeded in me a passion for travel and I think the lovely Indonesian ladies who looked after me as a baby probably seeded in me a love for people and cultures.
1984- 1999
Returning to Sydney my sister was born and I spent the next 15 years in a Northern Beaches suburb attending a small Christian school five minutes from my house. I excelled at my HSC (94 UAI!) but I don’t feel as if I learned all that much.
1999- 2002
At 17 (the youngest in my grade) I followed my Dad’s advice and went straight to the closest university to my house and for the next three years I completed by Bachelor of Business (Distinction!) but again, with majors in Marketing and IT, I really didn’t feel I learned that much.
2002- 2004
I was 20 when I finished uni and after a couple of years working and saving I left Australia to “see the world”.
2004-2005
After a short holiday in Thailand I landed in Japan where I stayed for the year and a half that followed. Here I taught English, “acted” in TV shows, short films & commercials, and did my first on-stage parade – in lingerie!
This was a dream come true. When hairdressers turned my hair yellow, green and purple I shaved it off and was surprised when this opened an opportunity to further my dreams – in PARIS!
2006
I modeled in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Italy, Spain, and LA. And in-between jobs I traveled around, met wonderful people and gained a new perspective and appreciation for life.
Feeling homesick for family, mangoes, beaches and everything else that comes with the Australian summer I made a rash decision: I canceled my 1 year plans for Europe, canceled my return trip to Tokyo, and booked a ticket home, turning up on mum’s doorstep on Christmas Eve.
2007
With an apartment in Tokyo and modeling agencies awaiting my return in Europe, I had some decisions to make. My Dad was in my ear with the typical fatherly “time to get a real job” speech and approaching 25 years old I (nearing retirement age for models) I had a quarter-life crisis and thought for a moment he was right. Selling advertising space for fashion magazines sounded like a good job that involved both but at the interviewer it was one little comment the interviewer made that changed my life. He said, “And you know what the BEST thing about this job is? When you see the digits on your bank statement!!!” He said it with such enthusiasm. My insides curdled and I knew it wasn’t for me. But if not this, then what?
Photography? Fitness instructing? That would be a good life. My grandfather (91 years old) had a fall and I offered to move in as I “skilled up” as I called it. I assisted some fashion photographers, did part-time modeling in Sydney and became a qualified pilates instructor. I also got lost on wikipedia and in library books – teaching myself the things I’d either forgotten from my schooling, or never been taught. I was teaching myself a lot about science, history and religion – revisiting my childhood “faith” in the Christian doctrines, trying to reconcile it with my developing understanding and experience with the peoples and cultures of the world.
2008-2009
Realising I was never going to join the corporate world (much to my Dad’s disappointment) I took the time to go back to university and skill up more formally. Then I came across ”Peace and Conflict Studies” at Sydney Uni, applied for a MA which I did leisurely over the two years, making use of uni holidays to travel South America last Christmas, which I am using to write a book about travel, life, love and contemplating the future.
2010 and beyond
I love learning so much that I submitted a PhD proposal on the Narratology of Peace approved to start mid-year. Yeah, I might be a bit crazy. But you gotta aim for the stars!
Through this blog I hope to share this spiritual, mental and physical journey I continue along in my quest for peace and understanding about myself and my place in the universe – traveling, researching, thinking and creating. I thank you for sharing my journey and I hope to share your journey too.
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For shits and giggles
Japanese TV shows, crazy photoshoots, short films and many more things to laugh at… can you guess which are wigs and which are not?!
Sakura Wonderful Jet. A short satire film about flying in different classes.
How good is my Japanese! Shame they don’t have the English version up here, it’s actually kinda funny.
Buchinuki – I was Yamu-Chan (lamb) – the gaijin (foreigner) TV host-girlfriend of one of the Garage Sale comedians.
My first photoshoot – for a hair magazine. The beginning of the end of my real hair.
Test shoot Paris Hilton style…
Yes, I really am standing where it looks like I’m standing. I’m glad there wasn’t an earthquake at that moment in time! Quite obviously my pre-backbend photo days.
Sometimes I do miss this shaved head. It was so much fun!
A promo gig at a motorbike expo. Gosh there were some kool bikes.
a Russian spy in the Smap Smap TV show – what a mysterious woman I am…
Snapshot from a CASIO camera TV commercial – I never saw the final result… I wonder what they replaced the green screen with…
Slendertone – a regular Shopping Channel client… I think they got a good deal – they matched the wig to the outfit and I became many people for the price of one 
The Ralph holographic magazines of the future! Magazine ad for an IT company, I think.