A quarter of the way

The first quarter of 2024 has been and gone – can you believe it! My apologies for the silence, I took some time off after working as a contracted event photographer for Midsumma Festival and have found it difficult to establish a routine. Which isn’t to say I have been sleeping this whole time – I wish!

First up, with the money my Ko-fi fans have graciously donated my way, along with my savings and the first half of my Midsumma payment I was able to buy my new waterproof full frame camera body – the Nikon D850. The D850 has been a blessing - allowing me to push my old lenses at low light events, and photograph beautifully crisp and colourful landscapes.

I ended up photographing seven extraordinary events (including Carnival, Pride March, and Victoria’s Pride) on behalf of Midsumma. “Animalising” is one of the events I photographed that has altered me forever – to the point where I am now trying to formulate the basis of a grant to allow me to photograph the official Bull Trance Festival in Batu City, Indonesia, which the director of “Animalising”, Taka Takiguchi told me about. The trance master of “Animalising”, Master Agus runs the festival, and I would love to explore the connection and importance of trance and nature within the local indigenous communities who have re-embraced this tradition.

The dancers of “Animalising” in rehearsal, by Teague Leigh

What have I been up to since the end of Midsumma Festival? Well, here’s the brief rundown of the photography and art adventures I have been on in date order:

Based on my time with Midsumma this year and what I saw and overheard during and then read and discussed afterwards, I wrote an open letter to the board asking for all members to step down as a vote of no confidence after the violence that was enacted at Pride March. The LGBTQIA+SB community deserve better than to kowtow to police and political parties and I firmly believe there is no place for uniformed police officers to march in any Pride around the world, particularly whilst we are still being abused by these institutions without recourse.

Midsumma Festival Pride March, by Teague Leigh

March was jam-packed and an indication that whilst I have not found routine yet, I am back to busy:

The first photography adventure with my support worker was to Noojee & Gentle Annie;

Then we took a few friends to Daylesford for the weekend for ChillOut Festival where I did bring my camera, but only took a few images at both the Pride Parade and the Carnival. I didn't end up with too many shots as my very old long lens is starting to melt on hot days (it was 38 degrees Celsius - in March! - hello global warming) and not focus automatically;

Cape Schanck mid-month was outstanding. It has long been on my bucket list to photograph and the ferociousness of it did not disappoint. I only managed to stack and land in the water once (within the first 30mins - but I got the shot!) and the tide, whilst going out, was still quite high by sunset (1.3m), so we didn't make it all the way around to the rock pools where I would have loved to have shot from, so I will definitely come back again;

Thanks to your ongoing commitment to my craft and the beauty I am trying to share with the world, and my final payment from Midsumma, I bought my new weatherproof wide-angle lens to replace the limited non-weatherproof wide-angle crop-sensor lens. She's a heavy-duty workhorse, though I must admit I am still getting used to her personality.

For instance, my previous Nikkor 12-24mm wide-angle lens was not fish-eyed, meaning the front of the glass was not rounded outwards. This new Nikkor 14-24 however, is fish eyed. It does not affect horizon/straight lines at all, but what I have discovered is that I need to clean the lens all the time. My workload has been bogged down trying to remove dust spots! I did some Milky Way photography with it which I am not looking forward to editing. There’s a tip for every photographer – know your equipment and make sure it is always clean before every use.

Michael & I went to Sea Lake for a weekend. Nearby Lake Tyrell (Direl) was another longstanding bucket list location, so it was fitting we spent our 5yr anniversary celebrating "walking on water" out on the pink salt crystals of the lake;

Lake Tyrell (Direl), Victoria, by Teague Leigh

During this trip we visited many places along the Silo Art trail and various other places across the Mallee region. I give thanks to the Latji Latji & Ngintait, as well as the Ngai Awang, Ngawait, Nganguruku, Erawirung, Ngaralte, and Ngarkat people as the original custodians.

Did you know that Wergaia is the word for Mallee and refers to the Eucalypts that grow with thick multi-stemmed roots under the ground that collect water? Local lore in the region is fabulous and I urge you to read up on it.

Penultimately, I took myself to Bendigo for two nights, sans camera, as a bit of a cleanser for the months of hard work prior;

Lastly, my support worker and I drove to Marysville to hike Steavenson and Keppel Falls. When I planned that trip Steavenson Falls was the main objective and I had also scheduled sunset in the region, however, once we saw Keppel Falls, I ditched sunset (even though conditions were promising for a gorgeous colour) and truly communed with the magic that is this region.

On the way out of Keppel falls, just after sunset, a tire shredded on the gravel road, and we were stranded for 2hrs as my support worker struggled to swap tyres. Perhaps this was the spirit of the Taungurung people, willing us to slow down and embrace the rivers and mountains of the region?

Despite the difficulty, we persevered in the dark with relatively cool heads, so I’m jubilant knowing that we can triumph over adversity together.

Triumph over adversity. Mobile phone image by Teague Leigh

Going forward, my plan is to continue blogging monthly about the previous month and share tips and tricks that I have learnt as a disabled queer trans artist. I will also start providing more information about the lands on which I visit so that you can get a feel for Country no matter where in the world you are.

I have some amazing news about the upcoming months, but you'll have to keep engaging with my blog posts to hear all about it. As always, I thank you for your support. Together we shall share the magic that is nature in an effort to save it.

This month’s blog question: How many dust spots are too many?

Together we are stronger.
Be kind to yourselves, each other, and the planet.

T.Leigh.

A Gala: the Goddess Keeps Me Humble

The Summer months, January in particular, is always a busy time filled with travel to see family (this year we drove to Yass to spend time with my sister and her three children for Christmas), and photography gigs and adventures.

Lake Hume, Victoria, by Teague Leigh

Despite also having a Gala to arrange (more about that in a minute), there was a lot of everything else going on, starting with a trip to Dinner Plain in the High Country of the lands of the Gunaikurnai, Dhudoroa, and Jaitmathang peoples.

As was the case for December, I have put the editing of that trip aside, but do have exclusive images, just for my supporters. They were taken with my phone, so don't show the whole grandeur of the region, but I hope they get you excited enough about Country!

Dead Timber Hill, Victoria, by Teague Leigh

Mount Hotham Summit, Victoria, by Teague Leigh

Omeo, Victoria, by Teague Leigh

The sunrise shoot at Pioneer Lookout, Omeo was initially a bust because I didn't listen to my instincts and I had placed so much pressure on myself to capture meaningful images of Country as part of my push to save it, that I was a grumpy douche! Fortunately, I got over it in time to take great photos in Omeo.

Whilst away for the seven days, I worked my patootie off on the Gala. Promoting the event, including all my talented performers. I was on the wireless! Joy 94.9 had me on as their first guest of 2024 - so honoured! You can listen to the segment here.

In one day, I had 17 items on my to-do list in my schedule; and I completed them all! Including the audio descriptions for all my artwork.

I've been running ragged, often sick, Midsumma Festival Carnival kicked off on the 21st and as an official event photographer it was a long day.

Me, by Suzanne Balding

Miss Moneesha at Midsumma Carnival, by Teague Leigh

A party-goer at Midsumma Carnival, by Teague Leigh

The Gala on the 25th January was a successful hoot and the amazing Tom Noble (@NobleTomNoble), whom you can hire, has already sent me his first pics - I've included a sample below, more will go up on my website eventually (check my website regularly for the link) and on Instagram (@tlwvision). The stunning portrait of me was also taken by Tom.

Rosie Roulette at The Reclamation of Terra Gala Exhibition Opening, by Tom Noble

Yin Paradies at The Reclamation of Terra Gala Exhibition Opening, by Tom Noble

I am exhausted, and with no help from the gallery who refused to answer many of my questions then act like I was the inconvenience to the point that I am questioning if they’re just a bunch of allists and ableists, I am so incredibly proud of what I pulled off with the Gala opening and the exhibition itself. It is always stressful sharing a piece of your soul with the world - what if they hate it or at least don't empathise with what you're trying to do?

I am particularly proud of the additional canvas I decided to do at the end of the 17 months after visiting many art galleries with so many textures that I could not touch - I would walk away overstimulated from the effort! So, I decided to create a canvas that people could touch - run their fingers over the textured paint and "Feel Country". Tom has captured that well in his image of Yin Paradies above.

Every single performer was sensational, and the gathered crowd enjoyed it. Bayley Turner spoke beautiful poetry; Dean Arcuri belted out an Abba medley; Wakaya man, Yin Paradies gave a speech that made me so emotional and proud that I am going to put it up on my website; Saskia hula hooped the roof down; and Rosie Roulette sang a pitch-perfect rendition of Kate Miller-Heidke's "Gravity"; and our MC Goddess Naavikaran was witty and performed a beautiful song in her mother-tongue of India. If you weren't there, you missed out!

As I think I mentioned last month, 5% of every sale from The Reclamation of Terra between now and the 5th of Feb will be donated to Environment Victoria, a grassroots community organisation who works tirelessly on a local, state, and Federal level to reverse climate devastation and our current negative impact on the planet.

Before I go for the month, I managed to shoot Jessie's Ngaio's original one human play "Oh Yuck It's Me" on opening night as part of the Midsumma Festival. So very thankful to have been given that opportunity. This is a play that will make you both cry and laugh and move you in all the ways in between. Jessie is a masterful writer and performer. Tix here.

Jessie Ngaio performing in her play “Oh Yuck It’s Me”, by Teague Leigh

Jessie Ngaio performing in her play “Oh Yuck It’s Me”, by Teague Leigh

Jessie Ngaio performing in her play “Oh Yuck It’s Me”, by Teague Leigh

Still so much to do, but that will be in February's post!

I almost forgot the fall and how I see the Goddess as she keeps me grounded, despite my achievements. Two days after the Gala, @littleElfman tested positive for Covid. The gallery subsequently locked me out from attending and speaking about my exhibition, despite me consistently testing negative for Covid and never having Covid - ever.

Whilst angry at my treatment, setbacks like this keep me humble. The Gala has people talking about my intent and my vision for the world - this is the success I was after, but the Goddess sending me these hurdles keeps me from getting an inflated ego and I am thankful to be shown my place in the natural order of life. I am but one link in the cosmic chain of change. To be truly successful, we all must be united and experience equity, including all those nations and individuals suffering from ongoing genocide, oppression, murder, and destructive colonial and capitalist rule.

This blogs question: How do you celebrate your wins, whilst also maintaining humility?

Keep finding your peace and joy within and with others.

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

T.Leigh