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PHOTOGRAPHY
A very limited bit about me on photography...
If the photos here reach, touch or inform you somehow that's the important thing...
If not then who cares and we need say nothing.
I might actually say something about photography, but not here or now..
Near the Italian Gardens, Taradale 2007
Artists, Angels and other Visionaries
Andre Kertesz - left-hand bookend
Josef Koudelka - right hand bookend
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Boubat
Josef Sudek
Jacques Henri Lartigue
Man Ray
Max Dupain
Bill Brandt
Brassai
Luigi Ghirri
Sebastiao Salgado
Edward Weston
Eugene Atget
Robert Doisneau
Jan Saudek
Walker Evans
Paul Strand
Wim Wenders
William Eggleston
Robert Frank
Lee Miller
Gabriele Basilico
Edward Steichen
Alfred Stieglitz
Emmet Gowin
Sylvia Plachy
Munkacsi
Alexander Rodtchenko
Helmut Newton
Ans Westra
Cecil Beaton
Peter Dombrovskis
Ansel Adams
Max Pam
Robert Besanko
Christian Vogt
Willy Ronis
Manuel Alvarez Bravoall photographers, painters, film makers and creative people everwhere..
everyone who choses to construct, make and go forward
as opposed to those who chose to diminish and destroy
Photography is one aspect of my life, but wait... there are others.
That other world is often a colourful place, but not always!
From here on it's a scrapbook...
A Personal MODERN HISTORY
New & Old
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbMaternal Grandparents
Water-colours by grandfather William Henry Pearson Baker
The S.S.Waratah under steam
The S.S.Waratah at Port Adelaide
S.S.Waratah - a depiction of its demise
S.S.Waratah of Lund’s Blue Anchor Line was built in Scotland by Barclay Curle & Company in1908 is shown here at Port Adelaide.
After the second outward voyage from England my grandfather William Henry Pearson Baker left the Waratah in Sydney, 17th June1909 with concerns for the ship’s seaworthiness.
On the return voyage to Britain the Waratah disappeared off the South African coast during a severe storm on 27 July1909 with the loss of all 211 passengers and crew of 119 .
The circumstances of the ship’s demise and the location of the wreck remain a mystery.click on this link (WILLIAM HENRY PEARSON BAKER & S.S.Waratah) if interested in reading further.Without his excellent judgement neither this website nor its correspondent would exist..
Father Bill 1940
Mother May & sister Ilona 1948
with Sister Ilona
Father's family (Johnston) were at Merlynston, North Coburg whereas mother's (Baker)
were at Glenroy - both in Melbourne's north. Following Glenroy State School and Glenroy High Scchool
work began in 1967 as a Photo-lithographer (Lithographic Dot Etcher to be precise) at A.H.Enticott & Co Lt. Lonsdale St.
This of course facilitated later pursuits of photography as work involved hours in darkrooms many days.
The graphic industry was among the first to be digitalised - photoshop and computers replacing light tables and darkrooms.
It was great working in the heart of Melbourne in the latter part of the 60s and eventually took to Sydney and Oxford UK.
1980s
Music...
Before there was photography there was music - the music is always there!
Music and Photography, two loves..
A nod to Zorba and his thoughtful Boss - music is immediate, exciting and ephemeral hhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhh whereas photography is a process, considered and can be held. I love both..
Photos of music with friends, taking it seriously while playing around..
"THE SPIRITS OF INFINITY"
Around 1966... my first band - might have been terrible - but enthusiastic!
The group scored some bookings whilst trying to figure out the workings of a musical ensemble...
They carried on before and after I moved in and on. Richard Fairbanks (R.I.P.) was singer and tambourine man
A TEENAGE HEAVEN!
THE MELBOURNE 1960s CITY CLUB SCENE - the Tum, Biting Eye, Catcher, Sebastions, Berties
The queue at Sebastions (photographer unknown)
"PRIMITIVE CONFINED"
PRIMITIVE CONFINED 1966 -1971- A semi-professional working band that had been playing for a several years prior to myself being called on bass.
The group did quite well playing regularly for several years supporting the big names such as Max Merritt & the Meteors, Doug Parkinson in Focus,
Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, The Groove, Stevie Wright, Mike Furber, The Town Criers, The New Dream etc or holding down the whole night...PRIMITIVE CONFINED: ROD DOUGLAS: GUITAR & VOCALS, JOHN DALE: VOCALS & GUITAR, LJ: BASS , DENNIS KENEALLY (RIP): DRUMS
FUSION
1971: John Dale departed Primitive Confined. With the addition of two lead singers Sue and John Zachrisson
the group changed direction with a different line-up and sound and name - Fusion.
Alternatively Paul Brickhill and Chris joined on lead guitar whilst Rod chose to spend more time on Hammond and vocals.
The rhythm section of Dennis on drumsand self on bass remained.
The group received regular work for some time and carried on following my bass duties.
.
Counter-cultural daze...Following Fusion and the first (of three} VW Kombis
a pipe dream business idea with Claude (Lou)... jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj
T.F Much Ballroom and the later Much More Ballroom (photographer unknown)
"THE EXILES"
THE EXILES IN THE STUDIO,THE POWER PLANT, CARLTON 1991 recording of 12 songs penned by John Fraser.
"THE EXILES": John Fraser: Vocals and rhythm guitar(right), Peter Starkey(RIP): Lead Guitar (with Strat), LJ: Bass (top left), Louie Black: drums (top right)
.... rehearsed regularly, I loved 'em and a few gigs but not much live work probably thru lack of attempting to find an agent.
"WBP" AT THEATRE ROYAL CASTLEMAINE 2009
aaaaaaaaaaaaaPhotos: Andy Rigby
"WBP" AT THEATRE ROYAL CASTLEMAINE 2009 Geoff, Mathew, me, Team, Saul (absent that night)...
Trusty Fender bass... I have a few guitars, like everyone should! .
Malmsbury Streetscape Photo: LJMERCHANTS OF MALMSBURY CAFE Est.2002
Mk1 September 2002 - July 2011
Once upon a time there was a little cafe in Malmsbury.... It made lots of coffees and most people had a good time.
It was lots of work and paid its way - but really - it tried to be a bit beyond all that...
Whether it succeeded or not depends on your point of view. It was what it was never tried to pretend it was other than what you found
when you walked through the door from day one to day 2000 approx nine years later.
Thanks to all for making Merchants of Malmsbury the place that it was and being a part of it.It was nine years of everything!
Time to do other things. July 2011, customers to the end, the way to go - an unscripted ending! Best wishes to all who came...P.S. After two years off Merchants of Malmsbury reopened - the same in some ways and different in others.
It's another story, still a coffee shop plus retail and gallery..
Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Malmsbury Viaduct, 2010 jj Photo: LJ .
R.I.P. May at 96, 2011mmmbbbkkkkkkkbbbbbbb
Current... and there's work
MERCHANTS OF MALMSBURY MkII 2013 until now... again/reprieve/still
Johanna Sky 2020 .
Miscellaneous Links
William Henry Pearson Baker & the tale of S.S.Waratah
COPYRIGHT LEN JOHNSTON
leonardjohnston@bigpond.com
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