We've rebranded!
Hi folks!
After a bit of soul searching and nail biting, I've decided to rebrand to Jenny Wu Photography - moving on from Straight No Chaser Photography.
Straight No Chaser (from the super cool Thelonious Monk song) was the original name of my lifestyle/food/travel blog, and it made sense at the time but now it just seems a bit mismatched to my work and confusing.
New socials:
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/JennyWuPhotography and instagram.com/Jenny_Wu_Weddings
Facebook : facebook.com/JennyWuPhotography
My presets are still branded as Straight No Chaser Presets.
Homecoming - an editorial
In the 6 months before they fenced off and knocked down the Bega Flats in Canberra, I had noticed the building becoming gradually quieter as the tenants started vacating. It was on my regular jogging route, and for the first time I noticed what a cool building it was. I ended up doing an editorial shoot there with Gem (images from the shoot in this blog post)
Bega was part of the 'ABC' flats - Allawah, Bega, Currong, and they were all in the process of being cleared to make way for new buildings. This reminded me of Alphabet City in New York, as it was protrayed in 'Rent'- this suddenly made the demolition incredibly evocative and nostalgic. When I heard from Laura (from Lux & Us) that she spent the first year of her life there I knew that I had to take her portraits in that location.
In the 6 months before they fenced off and knocked down the Bega Flats in Canberra, I had noticed the building becoming gradually quieter as the tenants started vacating. It was on my regular jogging route, and for the first time I noticed what a cool building it was. I ended up doing an editorial shoot there with Gem (images from the shoot in this blog post)
Bega was part of the 'ABC' flats - Allawah, Bega, Currong, and they were all in the process of being cleared to make way for new buildings. This reminded me of Alphabet City in New York, as it was protrayed in 'Rent'- this suddenly made the demolition incredibly evocative and nostalgic. When I heard from Laura (from Lux & Us) that she spent the first year of her life there I knew that I had to take her portraits in that location.
Laura's words:
" Bega Court, or Bega flats, was an ACT Government Housing complex established in the 1950s, and, was the first place I lived.
Being only brief and in the first year of my life, I don’t remember anything and have viewed it only from the outside for the following 2-25 years. In more recent years, I’ve found myself admiring the buildings for their Post-War International style design and continued purpose, and perhaps also accepting my earlier connection to the dwellings - realising I shouldn’t be embarrassed for having lived there. Fun fact: over 80% of Singapore’s residents live in public housing, 90% of which own their homes.
After finding an appreciation for these flats and their cubist form, I had an urge to take photographs there but before I knew it the flats were vacated, fenced off and planned for demolition (which, by the way, I am not opposed to).
Although not behind the camera as I had imagined, my photographic dreams were granted by Jenny of Straight No Chaser photography. I met Jenny last year in Barcelona of all places after following and loving her work via social media.
Jenny’s lust for pink walls and my curiosity to return to my first home made for super chilled and fun afternoon.
Wearing my great grandmothers coat and being in front of the lens and photographer whose work inspires me, was pretty damn cool."
This set was edited with my ‘Blush’ Lightroom Preset (get it here)
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Wearable Art : Shooting for Australian Brand One Of Twelve
At the end of last year I was fortunately enough to be involved with the brand launch of Australian clothing company One Of Twelve. I was commissioned to create some product and editorial style photos with the founder and creative director of One Of Twelve- Anna Saboisky.
I absolutely love the aesthetic of the brand, the incredible artwork on the scarves, and the quality of the silk.
At the end of last year I was fortunately enough to be involved with the brand launch of Australian clothing company One Of Twelve. I was commissioned to create some product and editorial style photos with the founder and creative director of One Of Twelve- Anna Saboisky.
I absolutely love the aesthetic of the brand, the incredible artwork on the scarves, and the quality of the silk.
" One of Twelve is an Australian organisation that showcases the work of emerging and established artists from the Asia Pacific region. We are dedicated to celebrating and contributing to the art sector of this region in a tangible way, by the production of high quality, silk garments depicting collaborating artists work. These unique pieces are each accompanied by an artist card, detailing the maker’s work and practice. "
Team credits:
Creative direction // Anna Saboisky and Jenny Wu
Models // Georgia Rixon from Devojka Models, Mays Atti from Haus Models, Akelo Costa
Assist // Peita Davis
Only Forward / Open Fields - An Editorial for Big Ink Magazine
We shot this editorial for Big Ink magazine at the end of the summer. I keep coming back to the Virgin Suicides aesthetic in my inspiration boards, and I wanted to take advantage of Canberra's endless open fields before the cold weather started to set in.
Model // Alexandra Rayne
Hair and makeup // Stephanie Church
Styling // Jessica Di Scipio
Concept and photography // Jenny Wu
Soundtrack // Lana Del Rey 'Born To Die' album
Published // Big Ink Magazine issue #19
We shot this editorial for Big Ink magazine at the end of the summer. I keep coming back to the Virgin Suicides aesthetic in my inspiration boards, and I wanted to take advantage of Canberra's endless open fields of long grass before the cold weather started to set in.
Model // Alexandra Rayne
Hair and makeup // Stephanie Church
Styling // Jessica Di Scipio
Concept and photography // Jenny Wu
Soundtrack // Lana Del Rey 'Born To Die' album
Published // Big Ink Magazine issue #19
Behind the scenes...
BTS photos courtesy of Jessica Di Scipio
Portrait of an artist- Alec Morris
A couple of weeks ago I took some photos of a friend of mine- portrait photographer extraordinaire and all round great guy Alec Morris. Here's a little bit about his work:
"Alec’s work centres around documentary portraiture and fashion; on the one hand inspired by a good story and the power of the portrait, and on the other the creative freedom of building an image from the ground up. Some of his recent projects include an essay on femininity and womanhood in Central Java, and a study of education initiatives for remote and at-risk communities in Western Australia. He is also the photographer behind Forty-Two Cakes, and the current CSIRO Artist-in-Residence."
See his work at alecmorris.photo , and his work for Forty-Two Cakes at @fortytwocakes.
A couple of weeks ago I took some photos of a friend of mine- portrait photographer extraordinaire and all round great guy Alec Morris. Here's a little bit about his work:
"Alec’s work centres around documentary portraiture and fashion; on the one hand inspired by a good story and the power of the portrait, and on the other the creative freedom of building an image from the ground up. Some of his recent projects include an essay on femininity and womanhood in Central Java, and a study of education initiatives for remote and at-risk communities in Western Australia. He is also the photographer behind Forty-Two Cakes, and the current CSIRO Artist-in-Residence."
See his work at alecmorris.photo , and his work for Forty-Two Cakes at @fortytwocakes.
Leah & Rael: NGA Sculpture Garden Wedding
Leah and Rael had their wedding ceremony at National Gallery of Australia's Sculpture Garden. It was an intimate gathering of a small group of family from the UK - I felt honoured to be part of capturing such a special day.
I love the National Gallery of Australia because there are so many beautiful areas for portraits, some of them tucked away in secret little nooks. After the ceremony Leah, Rael, and I went for a bit of a walk and explore, with lots of portraits on the way.
Leah and Rael had their wedding ceremony at National Gallery of Australia's Sculpture Garden, in front of the Angel of the North sculpture. It was an intimate gathering of a small group of family from the UK - I felt honoured to be part of capturing such a special day.
I love the National Gallery of Australia because there are so many beautiful areas for portraits, some of them tucked away in secret little nooks. After the ceremony Leah, Rael, and I went for a bit of a walk and explore, with lots of portraits on the way.
James Turrell's Skyspace in the National Gallery of Australia explores the way light inhabits a space. Not surprisingly, the lighting inside is just magical for portraits.