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Parliament Objects!



The other night I was invited to attend and photograph the Portrait Artists Australia (PAA) association's Gallery launch at Parliament House in Sydney. It was a wonderful evening and I got to rub shoulders with some of the very accomplished artists and their families and also some of the subjects, who were in large part politicians, judges and other notable people of the parliament. One thing that struck me about these paintings is the detail, the accuracy and the capture of what they transposed from eye to brush. I am in awe of these artists, and am grateful I have come to know some of them. I love the vibe around creative people. It can be stressful at times, but the feeling and ability to recognise that anything might just be possible, is heartwarming and a feeling I long to imbue within my own life. here are some pictures below.


The wonderful host and talented artist herself- Janis Lander




Portrait of The Hon. Joe Hockey - Shadow Treasurer, Federal Liberal party. Painting by Robyn Ross


This is a portrait of The Hon. Virginia JUDGE, BEd MP - Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Citizenship, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts. Painting by Kathrin Longhurst
This painting has caused a bit of a stir in the media and Parliamentary ranks, but I liked it!, I think it is the hands!!!!!
I also like Virginia very much as well. I think she imbues a comfortable balance between chic and stylish, a parliamentarian, and a fun life loving individual. I have met her on two occasions now, and like her a lot. The parliamentry aide was not allowing me to photograph her in front of the painting because of the stir it has created in the media of late.


The artist and her work. Kathrin Longhurst


I will try and get the artist and subjects name. I am so sorry I didn't record it previously.


The portrait of The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP - Leader of the Opposition. Liberal Party of Australia painting by Vivian Falk


Portrait of Mr Peter John DEBNAM, MBA MP former leader of the NSW opposition. Liberal Party. Painted by Maurice Schlesinger


Portrait of The Hon. Steve Whan MP - Minister for Emergency Services and Small Business. painted by Julie Ballis


Portrait of The Hon. Jillian Skinner, MP -Liberal Party. Deputy Leader of the Opposition. painted by Margot Freimann


portrait of The Hon. Angela d'Amore - Labor. painted by Constance Farquharson


Portrait of Mr (Chris) Christopher Peter HARTCHER, MP -Shadow Special Minister of State, Shadow Minister for Inter-Governmental Relations, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast. Member of Liberal Party painted by Peter Smeeth


Portrait of The Hon. Verity Helen FIRTH, BA, LLB MP - Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Women painted by Janis Lander. Janis with colleague and friend pictured. I will get her name soon - sorry!


Portrait of Mr (Geoff) Geoffrey CORRIGAN, MP Australian Labor party. painted by Rizwana Ahmad


The "Dishonourable Honourable" by Nafisa Naomi ( who was absent in Africa helping to save the elephants.)


Portrait of The Hon. Mike Baird MP - Liberal Party. painted by Bob Baird


Portrait of Dr. Meredith Burgmann - Former President of Parliament House. painted by Janis Lander


Portarit of The Hon. Bruce Attire (Satire!) sketched by Nafisa Naomi


Janis Lander with The Hon. Peter Debnam


Julie Ballis with The Hon. Steve Whan and the Hon. Virginia Judge with Viginia's Parliamentry aide


Refreshments were on!


Artists mix n mingle. Peter Smeeth in the middle and Robyn Ross on the right hand side.


An evening shot of the Parliamentry fountain in the courtyard. I liked the colours.


It was bucketing down with rain when I left the Parliament. I was soaked through in miliseconds!

Just before this event I had the opportunity to meet the British actors Nick Frost and the legendary Bill Nighy who were here promoting the film the "Boat that Rocked" which is about the pirates from Pirate Radio in the UK, which I wrote about a few posts ago. Now the movie condenses a few years worth of facts and mixes a bit of sex and intrigue into make the movie which also stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I never had the chance to have my picture with Bill or Nick as they were minutes from jumping in the Limo to head to Sydney Airport to fly back to the UK. But I did take their pictures for a magazine promo. I wont display the pictures here as the publicists and Universal were very particular about where the images appeared, which I respect, and at least while I have no physical photo proof, it was a pleasure to meet both of these men.

These are pictures of them which are generic shots from the film promo already and are fine to display here.




Bill Nighy

Nick Frost
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Tammy said…
2 questions for you Craig...well maybe even more than that, lol. When did you first get in to photography, and how long have you been a professional?

Do you keep some sort of scrapbook with a photo from each shoot to document your journey for yourself? I was just thinking if you do, it's probably fun to look at it occasionally in its entirety. Not only to see all the events you've attended and people you've met, but also to see your style changing over time (if it has).

Oh, and one other question: do you have an "all-time" favorite photo shoot you've done?

The girls and I have immensely enjoyed your posts. As you know, Katie loves photography so she especially is inspired with your accomplishments. Monty has even been known to peek in at photos here and there that the girls and I ooh and aah over. :)
April 04, 2009
Craig Peihopa said…
Hiya Tammy, No I dont keep a scrapbook, they would I thought of that but it would take far too much extra time for me to compile. But I keep all the photos from most every shoot I do on separate harddrives, and occasionally I allow myself the luxury of going and reviewing the folders and at those times I get a kick out of realising that I had done this or that, and yes, the style has changed. Primarily in HOW I take the pictures. I reached a certain level of knowing how the camera works I know how to push it to do what I imagine in my mind.

Hmmm, an all time favourite photo shoot? There are sooo many it would be hard to isolate one. Let me say they are all quite special. I have only a couple I couldnt say much about because the subjects were rude or obnoxious. I love what I do Tammy.

I am soo pleased you all enjoy my pics. Thanks you.
April 05, 2009
Goldenrod said…
Now THIS post I found absolutely fascinating, Craig! I spent many many minutes viewing the portrait itself and then looking at the actual person (not necessarily the artist) being portrayed. I guess I'd have to say my favorites include The Hon. Joe Hockey (Looks like a guy I'd like to meet and get to know sometime.); The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull (One second I look at him and he appears to be stern as all get out, and the next sec he looks like he's really quite bored with the whole affair and can't wait to get this whole posing thing over with and get out of there!); Peter John Debnam posing with the artist (Both look like a good prank has been pulled and they're trying very hard not to laugh out loud.); The Hon. Angela d'Amore (Artist's rendition of her was MOST flattering, altho the baby was captured exactly! Angela's smile looks like it would be quite infectious in person ... one would want to immediately smile back in return.); Christopher Peter Hartcher (Looks very much like Houston's mayor, Bill White, especially in the portrait ... Mr. Hartcher is better looking!); LOVED the one of Geoffrey Corrigan (I'll bet he's not had many bad pictures taken or portraits made.); Dr. Meredith Burgmann (So serious but trying to be pleasant, so tired-looking with paperwork piled up the wazoo on her desk ... would have loved to have seen a photo taken by you of her in person in front of her portrait.)

My most favorite? The Hon. Steve Whan and the artist flanking his portrait. LOVE that shot, Craig!

Least favorite? Far far and then even farther away Virginia Judge. Most unseemly! (Oh yeah, it's all in the hands. Riiight!) I find it in extremely bad taste. Extremely!

All in all, tho, I had a most enjoyable time with these ... guess you can probably tell. :) Great post!

PS. Thinking about one of Tammy's questions, I think my all-time favorite shoot of yours is that one that included the silhouetted wedding party. Remember that one? I also liked the dragonflies.
April 06, 2009
Tammy said…
Goldenrod, one of the things I like about Craig's photography is the wide variety of subjects. I think one of my very favorite photos of his was maybe a month or two ago (?) and it looked like a city block that was kind of turned into almost a "U" shape. Sorry, Craig, I can't remember the story of the photo off the top of my head or even how you said you did that photo. Seemed like maybe it was a new lens.... ??? I've enjoyed all of your photos, but that one really stands out in my mind as being really fascinating to look at.
April 06, 2009
Craig Peihopa said…
Goldenrod, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I got a real kick out of your comments. Especially Virginias hands. I thoroughly enjoyed the shoot and your observations of the subjects and artists is very telling considering you are a half a world away. Gee you are good. I am honestly very impressed. I loved the same subjects you did as well, and there is a certain something that trickles through each of these portraits from the artisits for me, a beauty, an insight and a feeling that these images will long outlast the subjects themselves.
April 06, 2009
Craig Peihopa said…
Tammy, yes it was the use of a 14-24mm lens on the new Nikon camera I have. The city block was in fact curved, but my lens accentuated that even more. Thanks so much.
April 06, 2009
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