I wrote a brief blog post a few weeks ago that some of my photography had been selected for inclusion in the  2011 Silvershotz Folio Journal. I have known for some time now that my work was being included in the journal but  it was  still exciting to finally receive my copies in the mail yesterday evening and to see the work in print.  The below is a scan of the text and leading photograph – ‘Selfoss Before Storm’. The folio also includes ‘Well of Life‘ and ‘Blue Berg‘. Silvershotz has a wonderfully diverse selection of photography represented throughout its pages and I would encourage anyone interested in fine art photography to check it out.

My new exhibition ‘Colours of Iceland‘ opens the 2nd of December at the Wilderness Gallery at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. ‘Colours of Iceland’ includes twenty four of my personal favourite photographs from Iceland as 20″ x 30″ inch Limited Edition Fine Art Photographic Prints. Each print is made on my absolute favourite paper – Moab Somerset Museum Rag and includes a certificate of authenticity on Moab Moenkopi Washi paper. Prints can also be ordered online directly from the Wilderness Gallery in a range of different sizes. Open Edition A4 prints will also be available for sale at the Gallery Gift Shop.

Unfortunately I will be unable to attend the opening as I am headed to Antarctica early next week on a three week photographic expedition; however, I am looking forward to visiting and seeing the accompanying shows when I get back at the end of the year. If you manage to visit the gallery please drop me a line and let me know if you enjoyed it! There are special room rates available at the Chalet – contact reception for details 03 6492 1404. The exhibition will also be coming to Melbourne early in the new year 2012 for a strictly limited time.

The International Loupe Awards for 2011 (formally known as the International Aperture Awards) seem to have snuck up on me this year and I was not aware that images were already in the stages of being judged until early this morning when I was notified via email that my personal favourite photograph from Iceland  (A photograph I titled ‘Well of Life’) had won a Gold Award in the Open Landscape Category. ‘Well of Life’ is a photograph near and dear to my heart for many reasons. For me it epitomises the unique geological features of Iceland in a truly alien landscape. And secondly, it came about through a combination of sheer determination, willingness to go the extra mile (literally) and of course a little bit of luck. You can read the full story on the making of this photograph HERE.

‘Well of Life’ was a finalist earlier this year in the World Extreme Environment Awards (Blue Berg won the People’s Choice Award in this competition) and won a coveted and prestigious Silver Award at the 2011 Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA) in the Landscape Non-Composite Category. The APPA awards are widely regarded as the toughest international photography competition out there and winning Silver with this photograph (which was judged in print) was a great honour. Winning Gold at the Loupe Awards this year is the icing on the very sweet cake.

The three other photographs I had entered into the Loupe Awards in the Open Landscape Category this year also received Highly Commended Bronze Awards including ‘Walls of China‘, ‘Molten Silver Torrent‘ and ‘Highway To Hell‘. ‘Highway To Hell’ has also previously been rewarded with Silver at the 2011 APPA awards and Travel Photograph of the Week at National Geographic. All in all this is a haul of awards I am delighted to hang over the proverbial mantle.

I am very excited to announce that I was recently awarded a Spotlight Portfolio Award in the prestiguous USA magazine B&W + Color. Issue number #87 of B&W + Color features a portfolio of my photography from Iceland and interview/article. Over 8000+ photographs were submitted to the magazine for entry into the competition and I am thrilled to have had my work selected for the Portfolio Spotlight Award.

B&W + Color magazine  is published in over fifty countries and is a highly respected photographic journal featuring fine art photography from international artists. Issue #87 including my Spotlight Portfolio can be purchased at all major book sellers and newsstands as well as online via B&W + Color magazine’s website. Please drop me a line and let me know if you enjoyed it.

Reminder – Registrations are now open for the 2013 Iceland Workshop and places are strictly limited on a first come, first served basis. Be sure to drop me an email if you are interested in attending as there are only a few places left.

Every year Capture Magazine (Australia’s top-selling Pro Photography Magazine) releases an Annual Edition with the some of the best professional photography for the year featured throughout its pages. Over 2100 photographs were submitted for potential inclusion in the annual this year and less than 130 made the final print edition. This year I am thrilled to have two of my photographs from Iceland included in the Special Annual on pages 30 and page 50. I am doubly thrilled that it is one of my personal favourite photographs from Iceland, ‘Well of Life’ that heads the landscape category.

Other categories in the 2011 Annual include Art, Advertising, Portrait, Documentary/Photojournalism, Editorial, Wedding, Fashion, Sport, Travel and a category for Emerging photographers. Also included are some very interesting surveys straight from the mouths of professional photographers on their favourite websites, blogs, software, studios, applications, equipment and more. Its a wonderful summary of some fabulous photography from throughout the year and a fascinating insight into the preferred tools, website hang outs and more of professional shooters. Capture magazine can be purchased at all good newsagents or subscribed to online at Yaffa Publishing.

My local newspaper – ‘The Manningham Leader’ interviewed me last week for the Silvershotz 2011 Annual Award and the edition came out today on Page eight – 3/4 page spread. Click HERE to download a higher resolution copy of the article.

Photo Plus Expo in New York, USA has now come and gone for another year. If you were fortunate enough to be able to attend I hope you were able to make it over to the Moab Stand where some of my photography was on display on my absolute favourite paper – Moab Somerset Museum Rag. My new exhibition ‘Colors of Iceland’, opening on the 2nd of December this year at the Wilderness Gallery at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania  is printed exclusively on this beautiful paper. I also recently talked about my printing and printing papers in an interview over at CPS Canon Australia; which may be of interest.

I am a few days late updating the photograph of the month as I have been both under the weather for the last few days with a rather nasty tummy bug and otherwise snowed under. With departure looming for my trip to Antarctica in only a few weeks I have been busy running around securing additional memory cards, bags, clothes, accessories etc. as well as attending to the usual office duties. I will endeavour to get up to date later this evening.

Edit – I have updated the Photo of the Month for November 2011.