The Future – Aran E

Good morning everyone,

I am Aran Easwaran, I have been running Andrew’s website for the last 3-4 years. With the very recent tragic news of the loss of Andrew, I have taken ownership of this website, my aim is to keep this website active as long as possible, a time capsule of what Andrew achieved and the amazing works he did, I also intend to use this website as a platform to console and comfort everyone as a community. My hope for the website is to be a platform to support the Andrew Follow’s Trust, maybe the official website, I will see what I can do. I know this is a tough time for everyone, I am not going to hide the fact that I am distraught and heartbroken about the passing of one of my one of my friends, a feeling I know that is shared amongst those around me and beyond, I refuse to let his legacy die.

I would personally like to make an album of Andrew and some of his works for the website, if you have photos that can be added, please email them to me at araneaswaran@yahoo.com.au

Rest easy Andrew, and I wish everyone peace during this hard time.

 

Tragic News

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Andrew Charles Follows on December 11th, 2019, at 8.41 pm in the Austin Hospital.

Followers of Andrew’s social media would have been aware that he had a bad night on December 10th.

An urgent transfer to the hospital the followed in the morning.

Andrew was determined to the end to have all things organised and in place.

His wish of being at home for his final hours was not possible, but he was fully aware but pain-free.

Andrew was surrounded by prayer and love by his close friends he had called.

Andrew had provided a ‘must contact’ list, and to respect his wishes, we have refrained from posting about his passing until this was achieved to the best of our abilities.

True to Andrew’s form, contact into the UK, Malta, USA, and China, as well as all points of the compass that is this land he loved, Australia has been made.

At this stage, there is to be a private cremation soon, followed by a public Thanksgiving service at St Margaret’s Eltham in early January.

To all of Andrew’s friends, acquaintances, helpers, professionals, fans and neighbours, thank you for your friendship with Andrew, your journeying with him not only during the past year but throughout his rather adventurous life.

In one of life’s little ironies, on Andrew’s private feed to his Facebook page was a photo entitled “a year ago today” which shows Andrew entering the PET scanner in the Austin.

I can hear him saying “Cooooool!”

Andrew’s exhibition at Magnet Galleries continues until December 21st.

If you wish to be in touch, please feel free to contact me on 0418 145 627 and leave your details.

May Andrew truly Rest In Peace

Fr Dennis Webster
Vicar of the Anglican Parish of Gisborne
Executor

Elements of Focus

Elements of Focus is a very important project that brings together my two passions – motor cars and photography. The cars in this project range from some of the rarest to even a few more common examples, but they are being photographed and presented in a way that has never been seen before.

Being a legally blind photographer, who has tunnel vision, my images offer the viewer a different perspective through my lens and take them on a visual journey. I have an eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a condition which has rendered one eye completely blind with ever diminishing tunnel vision in the other. I can see three metres to most people’s seventy metres, and that through a foggy haze.

My tunnel vision means that I can’t see the object as a whole when I’m photographing a car, I take shots of each individual element of the car, and then piece the final image together like a jigsaw puzzle.

For this very exciting photographic project, I have been mentored by Dishan Marikar, one of the best car photographers in Melbourne. I am very honoured and proud to have Dishan teach me new skills in the area of photography he is so well known for.

For those of you may not know, I have been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and Elements of Focus may be the last exhibition that I will be able to celebrate with you as I am not well. I’d love to share this important exhibition with my friends, peers and colleagues. Thankyou for being part of my journey in photography and life.

The Exhibition will open on Saturday 7th December at Magnet Gallery, a highly respected photography gallery in Melbourne and will be on until the 21st December 2019.

Exhibition Dates: 7th December – 21st December 2019

Opening of Exhibition: Saturday 7th December 2pm – 4pm

MAGNET GALLERIES MELBOURNE
SC G19, Wharf St, The District, Docklands
Melbourne, Victoria

http://magnet.org.au/contact

Magnet Gallery is Wheelchair Accessible

Beyond Our Boundaries – A collaboration between Andrew Follows and Bruce Rimell

Artists often seek to explore beyond the boundaries of what other people consider is possible, and while many people think the practice of art is ‘self-expression’, a more authentic way to think about artistic endeavours is as “beyond-the-self exploration.” This ‘beyond-the-self’ dynamic is certainly true of both Australian photographer Andrew Follows and British artist Bruce Rimell: both of them use their respective artforms as ways to extend the possibilities of their lives and move beyond their boundaries. 

Andrew’s use of digital photography acts as an expanded way of for him to see and experience the world, moving him beyond the bounds of his visual disability into vistas of stunning photography and remarkable adventures, which have included exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, a 2012 show in Edinburgh, Scotland, winning the Arts Access Australia Peoples Choice award for one of his photographs, meeting HRH Prince Charles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, and future opportunities at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.

Andrew has an eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a condition which has rendered one eye completely blind with ever diminishing tunnel vision in the other. What vision he has in this eye is hazy and limited, but this does not diminish his technical skills in photography, nor indeed his eye for a brilliant photo. He has a great partnership with his Guide Dog, and a deep passion for photography, exploring Melbourne, the city where they live, looking for great objects to investigate. He considers that digital photography, which he began learning in 2008, opened up a whole new world to him.

Bruce meanwhile uses painting and illustration in meditative and dreamlike ways to explore hidden vistas of the visionary human mind, as well as explorations of indigenous lifeways and cultural realities to move his audience beyond the contemporary conceits of Westernised thinking into experiential realms that re-connect us as people and which have been described as “beyond the everyday” and “more intimately human…”  His unique visual style has taken him all around the world, with both solo exhibitions and work in touring shows in the UK, Germany, France, USA, Mexico, Spain and the Philippines as well as community development projects in South Africa, and he considers his art has vastly expanded the boundaries and experiential possibilities of his own life.

Sportspeople also seek to break beyond the boundaries of what seems possible, pushing their bodies and minds through sustained physical and mental training to achieve goals which previously might have seemed unattainable. While this true of anyone who takes their sport seriously, it is particularly appropriate for elite Paralympic and Olympic athletes: in so many different ways, the break out beyond their boundaries and inspire millions to do the same.

To celebrate the coming of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to Birmingham, and Andrew’s attendance as an official photographer, Andrew and Bruce are working towards a collaboration in which Bruce’s responds to selected images of Andrew’s sport photography. Andrew’s capturing of inspiring moments in the midst of sporting action will be re-purposed as painted images of the supernatural, imaginary and fantastical to symbolise the boundary-breaking ‘movement beyond’ which acts as a fundamental current to Andrew’s photography, Bruce’s art, and the Paralympic and Olympic athletes who push themselves beyond their limits to achieve greatness.

Ready Kid, 2012 and 2018

In August 2012, after Andrew’s photography exhibition in that year’s Edinburgh Festival, he stayed with Bruce for eight days, during which time Bruce got to see Andrew’s working methods close-up and in detail, wandering the twin cities of Leeds and Bradford with his former guide dog Eamon. One day, we found some young parkouristas practising their acrobatics in front of the Leeds Art Gallery, and Andrew began to take lots of photographs of the action. However, the image that proved to be the most moving and remarkable was this photo of a parkourista deep in concentration just before a leap, preparing himself, getting ready. This image is the seed of our project – we called it ‘Ready Kid’ – and in 2018 Bruce produced a painting to demonstrate how the collaboration will work.

Ready Kid 2018 Bruce Rimell

Ready Kid Andrew Follows 2012

ELEMENTS of FOCUS

Elements of Focus is a new project where I will be exploring motor cars through photography. The cars in this project will range from some of the rarest to even a few more common examples, but they are being photographed in a way that has never been seen before.

Following my success at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, I will be heading to Japan in 2020 as an accredited Media Photographer. The Elements of Focus exhibition will be a fundraiser to enable me to go the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with my guide dog Leo, and a carer for the duration of the Games.

For this very exciting photographic project, I am being mentored by Dishan Marikar, one of the best car photographers in Melbourne. He will be mentoring me for the next 12 months to show me new techniques in car photography. I am very honoured and proud to have Dishan teach me new skills in this area of photography. This mentorship is proudly sponsored by the Pathways program at Arts Access Victoria and funded by NDIS under my plan.

I aim to raise $30,000 from this project, which will cover all costs for the Tokyo trip. I will need these funds for return flights from Melbourne to Japan, accommodation and transport for 3 weeks for myself, Leo and a carer for the duration of my trip to ensure my safety whilst in Japan. Details of the exhibition, to be held at the end of 2019, will be announced in the near future. Thank you to everyone who has already supported my goal for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

If you would like to be a sponsor for this exciting Arts Project please send me an email at andrew@blinkiephotography.com.au

Flying Blind

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to be taken up in a helicopter for an aerial photo shoot of Melbourne.

With the door off, we took to the skies on a perfect, sunny morning. The flight path we took was from Essendon airport, flying at 1000/1500 feet, to North Melbourne, then over to Yarraville, then back over the West/North Side of the city to go onto Kew, where we flew over Guide Dogs Victoria and the new works on the Chandler Highway Road Bridge along with the old Paper Mills at Fairfield. After that we went onto St Kilda Road, flying over the Shrine of Remembrance and Government House, also over the new Metro tunnel entrance which is next to Melbourne Grammar School on St Kilda Road. We then started to head back via Richmond, taking in the MCG and the Yarra River flying over Flemington to land back at Essendon Airport.

It was the fastest hour I have ever had as I took just over 900 images.

Below are some examples of the photos I took during the flight.

I would like to extend my huge thank you to Rans Electrical and Melbourne Helicopters for a fantastic experience. I can’t wait to get back up in the air again to do some more in the future.

(Please click on the images to enlarge)

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

I attended this years Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast which was a thrill and very exciting time for my photography journey.

After receiving my media access to the games venues I set out to photograph the Swimming Finals, Weight Lifting Finals and an afternoon at the Gymnastics.

The swimming finals were brilliant and I would have to say was my favourite events to photograph as the Australian Swimming team were amazing in the pool.

It was exciting to meet so many wonderful people and even did a little networking.

Some of the highlights of the trip was of course photographing the selected sporting events, getting an invitation to photograph Prince Charles on his arrival at the swimming venue, meeting Ian Thorpe and meeting management of Nikon Japan.

I would like to extend a massive thank you to the following for making my journey to the Commonwealth Games such a great honour for me and Leo my Guide Dog.

Delly Carr is one of Nikon Australia’s ambassadors and is also one of the worlds best award winning sports photographers. Delly was instrumental in getting me to the commonwealth Games and to get me access to the venues where I joined other world photographers. Meeting with venue managers was very warm and had no problems at all. Thank you so much Delly.

I would like to also extend my huge thank you to Nikon Australia for their great sponsorship in loaning me some amazing camera gear during my games stay. Using the Nikon D5 was stunning and amazing camera to use. As a Nikon owner myself with my D800 the D5 was super fast, capturing all the moments so I didn’t miss anything.

To the Commonwealth Games Management committee. Thank you so much for a life experience so I could be part of the games as a photographer. The 2018 Commonwealth Games were known as the inclusive games where I didn’t feel out of place at all. It was such a brilliant experience and I am so excited to be heading to Tokyo Olympics in 2020 then onto Birmingham Commonwealth games in 2022.

I’m really hooked on Sports Photography now because when I see the images at home, that’s when I get excited as it takes me back to that moment of capture.

In 2020 I am looking at going to Tokyo for the Olympic Games. I am seeking support in sponsorship and funding opportunities. If you can help, please email me at andrew@blinkiephotography.com.au I am hoping to get flights, accommodation and transportation support during the Tokyo games. Will be taking my guide dog Leo and a carer with me to ensure my safety while in Tokyo.

Thank you so much to all!

(Please click on the images below to enlarge)

Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

Thank you to the Australian Grand Pix Corporation for giving me a wonderful opportunity to have photography media pass for this years Australian Grand pix. It was amazing to photography the F1 cars on the track and to also capture the sporting classes over the GP weekend. Many thanks to Nikon Australia for their wonderful support and gear for this brilliant event in Melbourne.

Please click the images to expand.

 

Nikon Australia

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Nikon Australia for sponsoring me for this year’s F1 in Melbourne & the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast. With the D4S at the F1 in Melbourne & the D5 at the Commonwealth Games, I was so impressed with the camera’s functions and what they were capable of achieving. The D5 at the Commonwealth Games was sensational in capturing all the action of the swimming, weight lifting & gymnastics. Thanks again Nikon Australia, I am hoping to work with you again in the near future.

Sound & Vision

It was an honour and a thrill to be interviewed by The Guardian from London at the 2018 Commonwealth Games! Thank you for the story!

Click on the amazing image by Carly Earl to read the article!