Old Habits & an Old Dog

They say start as you intend to go on, and I had every intention of starting this blog post in January on time. Alas, the overwhelm was real with all of the events I’m about to talk about. I found myself sliding into old territory of not getting out of bed/showering/napping even more than usual around the editing of events. I turn 50 this year and that officially makes me an “old dog” in gay years. Perhaps I have patterns and old habits that I fall too easily into that I just cannot unlearn at this stage of my life. I want to change, I really do. Whilst I have disabilities that mean I need to find a kinder way of living with myself, I also live in a capitalist society that demands a lot of individuals. It is therefore harder to change the indoctrination I have been subjected to. Anywho, onto January!

The month started off very slowly with just one event in the first half on 6th January. My support worker and I travelled to a relatively close location, that of steam engine A2 964 at Edwardes Lake in Reservoir.

Steam engine A2 964. Image by Teague Leigh.

We started out traversing the Edgars Creek Wetlands, then did a lap of the lake itself. The whole excursion didn’t take very long, but it was a rewarding trip with plenty of various birds sighted, plus there was a weir, and of course the steam engine.

Edgars Creek Wetlands. Image by Teague Leigh

I bought another filter from Nisi for my wide angle lens that I purchased with the help of my ko-fi supporters, and I put the lens and the camera in to be cleaned at the amazing Vintech Camera Service Centre who cleaned my babies in a matter of a couple of days. They discovered that my secondhand camera has a scratch on the sensor, but at the f stop that I use, it will not be an issue.

I also created a new logo and have a new business name! I have moved away from TLeighs World Vision to World Vision Photography. This website is still a work in progress, making sure it is up to muster as far as accessibility is concerned, which is my top priority with the website. I've been told the colour scale I used wasn't accessible, so I'm reconfiguring that to pass the test and now it is more monochrome.

The second half of the month has been much busier with the advent of the three weeklong Midsumma Festival. I am always keen to take Midsumma on as a client as it equates to a third of my annual salary.

The first event is always Carnival on 19th January. Much like Sydney Mardi Gras’ Fair Day, merchants and community groups come together to celebrate the rainbow community. Over 100,000 people usually attend the openair event. Local and National performers grace the multiple stages and give a taste of what the three weeks of Midsumma entails.

Rainbow Racquets Squash members at Carnival. Image by Teague Leigh.

This year I was assigned the Sports Precinct and the Garden Bar area. I love capturing the diversity of the community and the Sports Precinct is a fun day of activations, rainbow sports teams, and the famous Queerlympics.

Queerlympics at Carnival. Image by Teague Leigh.

At 36 degrees Celsius, and a shift starting at 1030am going until 9pm, it was a long day, and I did get a bit sun-touched, despite slathering myself in suncream.

No rest for the wicked though, my next Midsumma shift was photographing the Queer Playwriting Award Showcase at Gasworks Arts Park on the 20th January. The showcase highlighted four finalists as they read an excerpt from their new plays. Not to be biased, but my favourite was from Danish Sheikh, “Much to do with law, but more to do with love”. This play focuses on repealing the sodomy laws of India and dealing with a system that doesn’t necessarily make it easy to love. Danish surprised me with his humour and grandeur of ego (for comedic effect). I laughed out loud multiple times whilst taking images. EDIT: Danish won the Award, so will get to produce it in conjunction with Gasworks and Midsumma.

Danish Sheikh. Image by Teague Leigh.

On Friday 24th I took a break from Midsumma to photograph another client, one I have photographed before – Tony Yap. This time, Tony curated Trance Zones – Ritual Performance, collaborating again with multiple dancers in an experimental and transcendental style. I find these performances to be gripping, yet difficult to shoot due to the lighting and the chaos of the movement, especially the free-for-all at the end where all dancers take to the stage in a trance of movement and music. I love shooting this chaos as I love the challenge of trying to capture the movement!!

Tony Yap and dancers. Image by Teague Leigh.

Lastly for the month, on the 25th January, I want to mention going to see a reading of a work-in-progress play “The Placeholder”, by my friend, Ben MacEllen at the Abbotsford Convent. I want to make note of this play because it left everyone in the room spellbound and excitement beyond compare. For information about the play I’ve included the link above. What I want to say is this: once it reaches production and asks for financial support, do yourself a favour and back this play. This play needs to see the masses and the masses need to see this play as it is life-altering. Not just for trans people, but even those people who don’t think they are transphobic or homophobic, but really are, plus all the allies all over the world (yes, I see this touring!). I was transfixed and now consider myself a cultist of this play!

Following on from the previous month, Midsumma work continued with Pride March on the 2nd Feb. For those uninitiated, Pride March is Naarm’s largest march for the rainbow community that goes all the way along Acland Street in St Kilda.

Pride March. Image by Teague Leigh

It was a fiery hot day of around 36 degrees Celsius, but thankfully I was stationed near the Pride Centre so I could duck out of the sun occasionally. The same day I also photographed another event, so it was a big day!

Shortly following the March, I got to photograph a lesbian play “Day For It” on the 4th. It had some lovely moments and was superbly acted throughout by the two actresses, Anna Lindstedt (who also co-wrote the play with Sally Q Davies), and Roz Hammond playing off each other.

Day For It. Image by Teague Leigh.

On the 7th I was honoured to photograph a dear friend, Mama Alto, in her De-Flowered performance. Mama Alto is a sensational and award-winning jazz and blues singer, and this performance included all songs about sex! It was quite the treat.

Mama Alto. Image by Teague Leigh.

Rolling right along on the 8th I photographed “The Queer Kingdom” staged reading. This play, written by Tom Ballard, is all about Emperor Dale Parker Anderson who declared a small island “The Gay & Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands”. The reading was raucous, and I highly suggest you go see it when it is staged in the future.

The Queer Kingdom. Image by Teague Leigh.

The party didn’t stop there for the Midsumma shenanigans. The very next day was VIC Pride, which is a street festival in Collingwood’s “gaybourhood” complete with live music, roving accts, window activations, and DJ’s, not to mention all the local vendors getting into the LGBTQIASB+ spirit (spirits quite literally flowing in the streets). VIC Pride is sponsored by the Victorian Government and is the last event of the Midsumma Festival (although VIC Pride was only meant to run for four years, so we have to tell the government to continue to sponsor it).

Vic Pride. Image by Teague Leigh.

After a lot of exhaustion, I finally got to go on my own adventures with my support worker on the 19th of Feb. I have tried a couple of times now to find the old pier pylons in Altona but have been unsuccessful. This was another attempt at finding them. So, we started out near Seaholme and walked (and drove) to Altona pier but still could not find the photo op. Still, there were pelicans hanging out in a rowing boat and plenty of wind surfers, so the excursion was not a loss.

Altona Pier. Image by Teague Leigh.

To round out the end of the month, on the 28th, I was hired to photograph the Summer Residency Exhibition opening at Yarra Sculpture Gallery. You may or may not recall that I have actually done this residency and exhibition in the past, so it was a nice full circle moment for me. The YSG residency gives people living with disability a residence to work on their art for a number of weeks, so it is vital that the program continues to run for future artists.

Artwork by Tamar Dolev. Image by Teague Leigh.

Next month is looking a lot quieter, but that is another blog post entirely. As always, thank you for supporting this independent artist and keep telling your family and friends about me and my blog post so that they too can support independent art, especially art that strives to help the planet through a positive path to change.

I will endeavour to get the next blog out the first Sunday of the month, but am also not making any promises. Maybe my “thing” can be that my blog is one of the most reliably unreliable blogs on the web!

Question of the month: What tips and tricks have worked on you, to teach you new life skills?

Be kind to yourselves, each other, and the planet.

T.Leigh

New Year, New Me. Apparently.

Can a person living with multiple disabilities make new year’s resolutions to be a new person? I believe so. There is always an opportunity to do and be better than we previously were, even when our bodies and/or minds limit us in how we go about these changes.

But before I get to January, there’s the full month of December to get through! Whilst on paper there are only three events to cover, there are multiple parts, and we begin with an adventure to Piggoreet with my support worker on the 11th Dec.

What’s in Piggoreet, you say? I’d never heard of it either, but my fingers meandering on the map lead me to Devil’s Kitchen – a volcanic area with a river running through it. At least, at the right time of year there would be a river, but not in a very dry, hot, Australian Summer. Devil’s Kitchen turned out to be quite the adventure with us traversing over boulders, ducking and weaving under bushes, and navigating brambles through “goat tracks”. All of which I did successfully. It wasn’t until we were on a well-worn path that I got stabbed by a low hanging tree branch which speared into and along my left knee. I have a faint scar still which I actually think is quite pretty as it curves my kneecap perfectly. Maybe it is just the artist (or autist) in me!

Devil’s Kitchen. Image by Teague Leigh.

Next was the last Out Doors Inc adventure for the year, starting on 16th Dec. This time to the Mornington Peninsula, staying in Tyabb. I’m loving these adventures, but they are exhausting as I have to chat and be friendly with twelve other people over the length of the adventure. If you’re neurodivergent, you’ll possibly know what I mean. For those who are not, let me just say that talking with strangers is exhausting because I have to weave my way through the landmines of body language and try and create small talk, which I am appalling at.

This adventure we walked around the Seawind Gardens & Arthurs’s Seat briefly, but as it was 37 degrees Celsius, and largely out in the open, we didn’t stop here long. Next up we hiked through a small portion of the ramblingly beautiful Coolart Wetlands. One of the paths takes you to Balnarring Beach and we stayed here a while for lunch and exploration.

Balnarring Beach. Image by Teague Leigh.

Once the day had cooled somewhat towards Golden Hour, we travelled to Mornington Beach where we had about an hour to explore. I will need to come back here at sunset with my tripod and filters as it is really quite a spectacular area.

Mornington Beach. Image by Teague Leigh.

Shortly after this adventure, Michael and I took off to my Mecca – Wilsons Promontory – the lowest point of mainland Australia and quite a bit cooler than Narrm/Melbourne. Starting on the 20th Dec, we committed to the Prom Wildlife Walk just before Golden Hour. Here we saw wallabies, so many kangaroos, and even an emu with it’s two juvenile offspring. That night, in the dark, we saw a wombat shuffling about near our unpowered campsite, so that was a bonus thrill.

Prom Wildlife Walk. Image by Teague Leigh.

On the 21st we went to Norman Beach, where Michael swam in the warm waters of the connecting Tidal River. We then came back for Golden Hour until just before blue hour because the temperature was dipping, the wind was wilding, and we weren’t dressed properly. Unfortunately, just as we’d packed up and had started walking back to the campsite the colours in the sky exploded and I didn’t get to capture them. Oh well, I’m happy with what I captured, at least.

Tidal River. Image by Teague Leigh.

Before the weather turned, we decided to catch the bust to Oberon and walk up to the mountains Summit. I really do not know what possessed me to do that walk with my level of cardio experience under my belt (which is to say minimal, lol). I cannot stress enough how it was a hard slog, taking an hour to walk up a winding gravel path. But oh my, how the views were priceless.

Mount Oberon Summit. Image by Teague Leigh.

The weather finally turned on us with torrential rains and fierce winds of 60km/hr. Our tent and marquee withstood the elements, but we were relegated to the tent and sufficed with playing boardgames for two days. It wasn’t until the 24th that we were able to venture out anywhere. By then I was decidedly stir-crazy – I do not come to Wilsons Prom to stay in a tent – it is for exploring with fervour.

Not that we went far. We took a 40min track through spindly beach woods to Norman Beach South Bay. Next time I have to some for sunset (or sunrise, whichever way works for the directions!) with my kit and take long exposures because it was a glorious destination away from the people who tend to stay around Darby Beach and the river.

Norman Beach South Bay. Image by Teague Leigh.

So, thus ended my 2024 adventures. Our friends came on Christmas day, bringing with them a glorious lunch spread, then took over our site for the next couple of nights as we drove back early. It was a hectic year and not a great one all told, but the adventures were plentiful and nourishing. I could not have survived the detritus without my fill of nature.

Question of the month: Do you have any New Years Resolutions? Or do they suck?

Be kind to yourselves, each other, and the planet.

T.Leigh

A Quiet Month Is A Good Month - Or Is It?

The month started with a bang. After an exhilarating and successful exhibition opening, I high-tailed it to Portarlington the very next day – November 1st. It was exactly the post event celebration that I needed to unwind and refresh my energy. I stayed at Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park, in a very cute little cabin right on the beach (what little beach there is, it is highly eroded and on a steep incline), with a walking path right out front to watch walkers go by whilst journaling and sipping rosé.

The view from my cabin. Image by Teague Leigh by phone.

Before the trip, my counsellor suggested I write letters to my ma in an effort to heal. I am a terrible diarist; however, I found this experience highly cathartic, and the automatic writing flowed, along with my tears, quite unashamedly. If you’ve lost a loved one, perhaps you have done something similar. I cannot recommend the experience enough. This trip was all about healing. Healing from a long stint of work, and healing from the passing of my ma in July, so I did not bring my camera, I only took photos with my camera.

Whilst going on daily walks I soaked up the sun and took in the views. On one walk I watched a woman walk her horse through the ocean waters, it was such a beautiful sight. Whilst sitting outside my little cabin I had so many people say hello, such a friendly area, so uncommon in the city. All this was completely refreshing, and I thanked my past self for having the where-with-all to book this trip in advance.

Next up, on the 8th of November, Michael and I drove to Shepparton again for their annual Out in the Open Carnival Day where Michael sold their books to eager locals. Everyone is so friendly, from the teens who are neurodivergent, to the adult queers who aren’t particularly readers, but love the content anyway, or just want a chat. We love going to this event and watching the day’s entertainment. This was an overnight trip with Michael giving a panel the previous night at the local library to a handful of eager teens who ate every word. It was an encouraging experience.

Michael holding up two anthologies at the Shepparton Library. Image by Teague Leigh by phone.

Lastly in a very lean month was another trip away with Out Doors Inc. This was another overnight trip. I met a few different people on this trip, which is always difficult for me, I feel so awkward at small talk and never know how to initiate a conversation. This is the main reason I go away on these trips – to help me conquer my chronic social anxiety. The fact that we go away and spend time in nature is an added benefit. This trip we went to the dubiously named Mount Cannibal and did the spectacular loop walk. Afterwards we made lunch at Mortimer Picnic Ground and completed the tricky nature track. Tricky because a couple of the bridges were out from large fallen trees. The next day we stopped to see Puffing Billy at Emerald Park and then we walked around the lake.

Mount Cannibal views. Image by Teague Leigh.

As I said, this was a less busy month than what I have experienced in the past. I’m not mad about it. In fact, it was exactly what was called for in my hectic life. I need to practice slowing down. My daily rests are a great start, but they are the tip of the iceberg of sorting out a comfortable living. I grew up with the “head down, bum up” mentality of the working class British, and as a British, my father taught me not to complain about it. I have been working on this. Whilst I do not complain out loud to others, I certainly have stern words with myself these days and ask myself whether or not working so hard is a value add to my life. I’m trying to practice the art of not giving a fck, but decades of poor life skills have made it a hard lesson to learn. Once again, I leave you with this – be kind to yourself, on both the easy days and the hard days. Take nothing for granted.

Question of the month: Who are you in the dark, when no one is watching?

Be kind to yourselves, each other, and the planet.

T.Leigh

A Crisis of Ability

October started out of the gates with a frenzy (if you pardon the racing terminology). Michael drove us to Canberra for their large family get together (about 30 of us, all immediate family) to celebrate their parents 50th wedding anniversary. Whilst I’ve been married, I consider that an anomaly as I do not believe in marriage. However, to see two people working hard to stay together for so long and genuinely love each other after such a large amount of time does impress me. I realised something a few months ago about my identity – I am likely greyromantic, which means I am not inherently romantic all of the time. I have yet to determine whether that is part of my autism, or a personality trait. Heaven help Michael!

October 5th, we ventured to Floriade, Canberra’s free open flower festival. Here in Naarm you would have to pay for such a privilege, so it’s always a busy festival for Canberra which of course leads to sensorial overload. Cocktails were called for whilst we waited for the rest of the family to explore the grounds, go on rides, and generally enjoy the atmosphere. I am getting better at wearing my Loops in public to help with the overload, but I forgot them on this day.

Flowers at Floriade. Image by Teague Leigh.

The following day, on the 6th, we walked around Black Mountain where the wildflowers were abundant and Michael’s mother, who is a keen flower spotter, saw several orchids.

Wild orchid at Black Mountain. Image by Teague Leigh.

Then we visited the abandoned Telstra Tower. Having spent a sporadic 15yrs of my life in Canberra, I remember the tower in its heyday when it was a tourist destination, now it is rundown and a tourist attraction of the notorious kind. It’s fenced off but not really patrolled, so you can walk up to it and take photos. I was disappointed to see it in its state of decay – I had talked it up to the family – though it does make for moody images. I have a mind to edit my images into black and white, to give them a moodier tone.

Telstra Tower. Image by Teague Leigh.

Back in Naarm I worked for the Victorian Pride Centre again, this time for their TiPS program, only to be told they were going in a different direction due to a “miscommunication” in what they were after with the images. This was devastating and a crisis of faith in myself ensued.

TiPS participants. Image by Teague Leigh.

I’m still not sure of my expertise, despite working at the Centre before for different clients and having my work loved. This was the first time a client had not liked my wares, and I was shook for a number of weeks as a consequence. Thanks to my mentor, award-winning Luke David (who has also photographed for the Centre), I was able to overcome my dark thoughts eventually. It has left me changing the way I accept clients forthwith, however, making sure the client knows what they want from me in the brief prior to accepting a contract, as well as making sure they know my style of work, so I am not negotiating terms and explaining photography concepts during. I am also going to stand up for myself more fervently from now on.

On the 13th I took on another indoor client, whilst still having a crisis of conscience. “Baliti” was performed by the exceptional dancer, Ricardo Magno, who I had photographed the previous month for the hero image of the performance as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Fortunately, this client liked my work.

Ricardo Magno in “Baliti”. Image by Teague Leigh

Then on the 27th I tagged along with Michael to Queenscliff for a writer’s festival they were appearing on a panel at. Whilst they were on the panel, I walked around the gorgeous town of Queenscliff and took shots of architecture and nature – my happy place. I know that nature is my balm, but it always surprises me just how much I get out of it, how much nature provides me. It charges my batteries exponentially and a lot of the suffering I am going through seems to evaporate.

Queenscliff pier. Image by Teague Leigh.

On the second last day of the month, I went with my support worker (my only trip with him this month) to Leanganook Camping area to walk around the breathtaking Mount Alexander Regional Park. It is a bush flower paradise. Walking around the scrub, we also detoured to Dog Rocks, Faraday, which were incredibly large boulders towering on top of each other on top of a mountain. I love me some rocks and the views were also outstanding. Again, walking around in the scrub for 2.5hrs, was a city detox and washed me of any lingering doubts about my abilities and cleansed me of the sights and sounds associated with city living.

Dog Rocks. Image by Teague Leigh.

For sunset we were going to walk up to Lang’s Lookout but weren’t really sure of how to get there once we were in the area and thus stumbled upon an old, abandoned quarry as the sun was setting across the pit.

Abandoned quarry. Image by Teague Leigh.

So, October was a tough one, but here I am, a survivor.

Remember to tell your friends to donate over on my Ko-Fi page so they too can follow along for behind the scenes and dedicated content.

October question: What have you survived? Was it depression? A poisoned working environment? An abusive partner? Bad news?

Be kind to yourselves, each other, and the planet.

T.Leigh

Busy Does Not Make The Body Stronger

At last chat with my GP, we discussed me possibly having Restless Leg Syndrome brought on by the trauma of suddenly losing my ma. However, I am due for another appointment on Monday as something turned up in my bloods. I am hoping this will bring relief to the chronic pain I've been suffering for the past two months.

Despite the trauma and the grief and the pain I have been busy, as is my subconscious want.

Firstly, in the month of September, I participated in my first overnight trip with Out Doors Inc. We travelled to Lake Eppelock, where we canoed to an island, made a collective lunch, then paddled around the lake before heading to our accommodation in Axedale.

Lake Eppalock. Image by Teague Leigh.

The next day we journeyed to the Pink Cliffs, which are quite otherworldly, then went for a longer-than-expected hike to Devil's Cave (which was underwhelming, but the hike was great)!

The Pink Ciffs. Image by Teague Leigh.

I'm liking the Out Doors Inc adventures - it's getting me out of the house into nature, I get to bring my camera, and there is a lot of group activity so I'm working on my social skills (the bane of my life).

Straight away after that I journeyed to Benalla and Winton Wetlands and for once, the Wetlands lived up to their name with plentiful water for the first time I've ever seen in the 5 or so years I've been going.

Cat Graf by David Lee Pereira. Image by Teague Leigh.

Winton Wetlands. Image by Teague Leigh.

Mid-month Michael and I went to Tassie for their work, and I like to tac on a few extra days for photography.

Launceston architecture. Image by Teague Leigh.

We saw many a sight, but the weather this trip did not want to play nice with us. At the Tamar Wetlands, however, we did see a sea eagle, which was a first for me. We also drove past a magnificently large wedge-tailed eagle eating a carcass on the side of the road (not pictured).

Tamar Islands Wetlands. Image by Teague Leigh.

Fortunately, though we'd missed the epic floods that shut much of the island down for a couple of weeks.

This is not Eddystone Lighthouse, but on location. Image by Teague Leigh.

I finally got to photograph some of Binalong Bay, but the weather really didn't want to play nice which meant we witnessed a rainbow underneath a fiery sky. So, it wasn’t all bad.

Binalong Bay. Image by Teague Leigh.

We also managed to get briefly to Freycinet National Park, where we actually had nice weather for once.

The Gardens. Image by Teague Leigh.

The highlight of the trip for me was a soggy detour to little known Mount Paris Dam Wall. A disused dam that is truly an architectural masterpiece being taken back by nature.

Mount Paris Damn Wall. Image by Teague Leigh.

Towards the end of the month now, and I had the pleasure of photographing Ricardo Magno under a beautiful Moreton Bay Fig at Albert Park Lake. Ricardo is a beautiful dancer of Filipino heritage and engaged me to create the hero image for his Melbourne Fringe Show "Baliti", and take some social media content for him. This was the first time I had taken portraiture for pay, and I am so fortunate Ricardo allowed me to take these unconventional images.

Ricardo Magno. Image by Teague Leigh.

The rest of the month was filled with friend catch-ups, cancelled appointments due to pain, and lots of Arts Access Victoria curatorial work (which is coming along nicely). I know it is an October event, but please get along to it if you can. I am so incredibly proud of and excited for the 18-25yr old's who are in this exhibition. They are sharing very personal insights into their disabilities through the theme of "Through Space and Time".

My question to you this month is: Do you switch off at all? If not, why not? What, or who, is stopping you?

Be kind to yourselves, each other, and the planet.

T.Leigh.

Grief is still a constant friend, but life grinds on.

There was no blog last month due to the sudden unexpected passing of my ma. My ma was my best friend, and I shared everything with her, so now to be going on adventures, stretching myself as a human being, and going through so many things, it is hard not to want to share them with her at every opportunity. There is a large gap in my life now that nothing will be able to replace (and believe me – alcohol isn’t a solution).

August has been another tough month of grief looming large in my system. I developed restless leg syndrome (RLS). Previously, my fidgeting has been contained to my fingers, having fidgety legs is another level of hell they do not tell you about. I get the zoomies (an uncontrollable need to move around sporadically). Luckily my desk is a standing desk, and I can crank my music up and dance whilst I work. The night-time pain though is another matter. My GP has prescribed me drugs to combat the RLS pain when I need it, which is actually helping.

Hopefully my brain will slow soon, and I can establish a new normal. A dear friend told me not to pursue my old baseline, that was forever lost to me through the grief of losing a beloved mother. This has helped me be gentle to myself in my recovery and I’ve allowed myself to sit in the pain longer than I would have otherwise. Oft times people think that autistic people are emotionless or blocked off to emotion. Neither is true.

My motivation has fluctuated, hence this post being late, but that is not to say that I have not done any photography. My work with Arts Access Victoria (AAV) has continued but for a couple of weeks my heart was not in it, and my nature adventures were initially not the balm I was searching for, which left me flailing with despondency. However, I have found the pleasure in nature once more and hopefully this shines through in the images I have for you today.

I could post about July now, however, for the sake of expediency, I am only giving you the month of August. Posting about July gives me sorrow I am still at odds with, so shall shelve that month. Even now, writing about August feels pointless, but I love you, so I want to share with you.

So, August: I finally bought filters for my new wide angle lens so that I can take long exposures with it now. My first trip with my support worker was to Lake Elizabeth, in the Otways NP. The walk from the campground took me longer to walk than expected so we just settled near the lake and hoped for platypus sightings (we were unsuccessful).

Lake Elizabeth. Image by Teague Leigh

Then Michael & I took off to Portarlington on a creative work trip. There I photographed sunset at the famous old jetty grommets at Clifton Springs.

Clifton Springs old jetty. Image by Teague Leigh.

 Then backed it up for sunrise at Point Lonsdale Lighthouse and jetty. Neither shoots really popped, but as a photographer of nature, I’m used to working with the elements.

Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. Image by Teague Leigh.

 I have registered with disability adventure group Out Doors Inc, an organisation that helps adults get out into nature, and August was my first day trip to Mount Macedon & Lake Sanitorium (where I have been a couple of times before). It was a great day, cooking stew on the campfire and getting to know everyone whilst also fitting in a short walk around the lake. This sort of social interaction is mentally exhausting, but it is exactly what I am looking for to help me grow my social circle, and how better to do it than surrounded by nature?

Mount Macedon. Image by Teague Leigh.

 Next up, my support worker and I travelled to Dog Rocks, in Batesford. This was a first for my support worker, but it was my second time. Again, the sunset didn’t really pop, but the rocks themselves (and that tree), hold magic.

Dog Rocks. Image by Teague Leigh.

 On August 26th I popped into my local tattoo parlour, which my dear friend, Lee Stain, owns and they gave me a memorial tattoo. The saying is Irish Gaelic, meaning “My Family Forever”. It mirrors the one my mother had on her arm. The flower is a carnation - my ma’s favourite flower, despite it being so overlooked, and the Triskele represents, amongst many other things, The Mother – a deeply Pagan symbol. As you can see, Lee did an absolute perfect job of such a meaningful piece of art. I highly recommend them at Inktricate, on Lygon Street, in Brunswick East for all your inking needs – they are also a lovely soul and phenomenal artist (painting and drawing).

Image by Teague Leigh.

 That’s it for now, but September is jam-packed (already), so keep coming back to read what is going on in my world and please continue to tell people about my work. Through word of mouth and community support I have bought all but one lens I need to further my career; without your help I would not have been able to purchase these tools.

Be kind to yourselves, each other, and the planet.

T.Leigh.