Whether it’s a wedding or a documentary-style shoot like this one, I’m always amazed that I get to spend the day with gorgeous, cool people, indulge in my passion for photography…and get paid for it! These were taken at Albany Farmers Market and Ocean Beach as part of IGA Taste Great Southern 2013 for Dan and Poh’s BBQ on the beach.
Wow! These photos are amazing Nic. They’d make a great book 
absolutely fabulous i want to go love the clarity and simplicity, go nic
Brilliant! you must be so pleased.
Pooch.
These are all so awesome. I’m itching to get over there. Can’t wait.
[...] me right back. Some Solomon Islanders are naturally blond but not all. Click on part 1, part 2, part 3 to see all the amazing [...]
Sensational pictures! What a wonderful honeymoon with a difference! Thanks for sharing this. It really takes me to this wonderful place.
Now it is high time for the wedding present to be delivered or to be picked up. Just as well I could look after it while you were away.
A slideshow would be great with more personal stories…a thought
Cheers to you both, Gabi xx
Awesome pics……looked absolutely inspiring……a feast for the eyes, mind and soul. I love them!!!!
I want to run away to the Solomons! truly magical pictures, be very proud Nic.
WOW-O- WOW . Mindblowing Nic! Amazing images. I think you & Steve must have reached your nivarna !!!
beautiful images nic.. amazing. your images make me want to visit xo
Like I said in part 01 with bells on if there are any national geographic photography talent spotters out there that see this group of shot I would say your a 100% hired fab!
Pooch.
Spectacular Nic
truly the most amazing shots..love it!..
I’ve had these images ready to blog for a few days now, waiting to post them in the hope that I’d come up with some accompanying words that would even begin to describe what an incredible few weeks I’ve had.
A month ago Steve and I celebrated us – us as a couple, us as a family and us as part of this beautiful Denmark community – by getting married.
The first week of our ‘honeymoon’ coincided with Christmas and was spent at home surrounded by family from near and far.
Our real honeymoon began with 64 hours of travel in planes, ferries, backs of trucks and boats with half a dozen strangers to a remote village in the Solomon Islands.
I haven’t found the words yet and I’m hoping my photographs will explain themselves to a great extent. However I will give a bit of background info.
We always try to get away to destinations where Steve can surf clean waves and I can take photographs of the place, its people and its culture. This time it was to the island of Malaita in the Solomons. Actually it was a small island off Malaita in the Lau Lagoon and the surf camp of Surf Solomons. The island, covering around 150sqm, is home to 6 local families where kids seem to outnumber adults by 10:1! The only electricity on the island was generated by a little solar panel and was just enough to run a couple of lights and to charge camera batteries. Fresh water ran constantly through a pipe from a spring on the mainland.
The locals were the most beautiful people who welcomed us into their village and into their lives. They had heard that I was a new bride and as we approached the island by boat for the first time, there was a welcoming party of 16 dug-out canoes with flags flying and women chanting. They dressed me in traditional ‘bride-price’ shell money beads and a dolphin-teeth headpiece, and paddled me the rest of the way to our island home. (Thanks to Steve for those couple of photos.) The wedding theme continued on the trip and on our last day on the island I was invited to photograph a traditional wedding in a nearby village across the lagoon, which was such a thrill. Steve and I had never seen anything like it with the negotiations and exchange of the bride-price shell money, and the absence of the groom who was waiting for his new wife to be brought to him in his own village upon completion of the payment.
But it wasn’t only was the experience of the Solomons people and culture, it was the people we were travelling with who made the adventure all the more remarkable.
We happened to be on the trip with pro surf photographer and documentary-maker Joel Coleman of Saltmotion. His photographs in the surf were amazing but what made this so special was that he had collected around 50 old surfboards which he’d had shipped to our village, along with school supplies and bibles (in this country of strong Christian beliefs), as his way of giving something back to the islanders. We were lucky enough to accompany Joel as he ventured into several remote villages along the coast to give away the boards and the books. Like Surf Solomons, Joel feels this is part of developing a sustainable surfing future and tourism-based industry for the locals, particularly the children. Joel…what you did was overwhelming and inspiring.
Also along for the ride was Aussie pro tour surfer Bec Woods who was there to do promo shots with Joel for The Perfect Wave. What can I say about Bec…again, lost for words but we fell in love with her and she really showed the boys how to surf!
Accompanying Bec and Joel was Bec’s manager, Kim, and Kev from Dee Why. Sometimes it’s not the destination but your travelling companions who really make the trip – I want to take these guys away with us on every holiday. (Although Steve’s friendship was pushed to its limits the morning that Kev broke the only coffee plunger in Malaita.) And finally South Australian, Frosty – an all-round good guy who spent an afternoon running a masterclass for the locals in splicing rope.
For the first time ever I’m having to do a blog in 3 parts as I couldn’t narrow the photos down any more than this. It was truly the trip of a lifetime with everything and everyone coming together as it did – we could never have planned it this way. I hope the photos speak the words that I couldn’t find…
Amazing pics Nic. Looks like a beautiful place for a honeymoon surrounded by beautiful people with so much laughter and vivid colour!
Such a rich tapestry of colour, people and culture…….so delicious Nic
What a fantastic travel photographer you are Nic I’m so impressed with these images they are wonderful and congrats to you both. xxx Pooch.
[...] Solomons. They take me right back. Some Solomon Islanders are naturally blond but not all. Click on part 1, part 2, part 3 to see all the amazing [...]
Your photo are making me homesick. I first travelled to that part of Malaita in 1991, and have a home on an artificial island, but only get there every year or so.
I’ve been looking at the faces to find familiar ones. I’m so glad you got to a wedding.
Wow, what an amazing place, and such beautiful people, absolutely love the portraits Nic.
I usually try and let my photographs tell the stories, tending not to write too many accompanying words. Occasionally though I feel words are needed.
This is a photo shoot that I’ve been looking forward to since April when I first found out that Xave and Eve were expecting a baby. Xave is one of my dearest friends, even living with us for quite a while a few years ago. I’ve photographed Xave many, many times over the years and designed his album artwork; he’s played at my exhibition openings (one of them featuring the pix from his CD to coincide with its launch), turned up at restaurants to sing Happy Birthday to my Mum, and sung lullabys to my daughter as she’s fallen asleep. Two years ago, Xave was involved in a serious car accident that left him in a coma in ICU for many weeks. His injuries were extensive and his rehabilitation his biggest challenge. When he finally left hospital and returned to his family on the south coast, I witnessed his gentle strength and determination firsthand when he stayed with us for a few nights. I’m lucky to count Eve as a lovely friend too so when Xave told me that they were spending lots of time together I was so thrilled for both of them.
These images were taken over 2 days. The first session was last week and involved a sleep-over, a yummy meal, chocolate, an early start, lots of emotional moments…and the worst November day on record weatherwise. We had to grab what we could between the hail storms, taking refuge in the car on several occasions. We aimed for better weather for the second session although there was a brief shower when we first arrived at the inlet at 6 o’clock this morning.
Thanks Xave and Eve – I love you guys xx
These photos are beautiful! I was lucky enough to spend a few months in a the same class as Xave as part of the GSIT music program and what a pleasure that was to have his gentle presence in the background, and sharing very generous spirit.
Wow, Nic! Such beautiful photos of two very special people. Absolutely gorgeous. So good to see these pics!
Some of the best ever Nic….. and I think that dreadful weather was a blessing in disguise…. such wonderful light!!
Well done Nic. These photos are treasures. You’ve captured a very special time in their lives.
Wow beautiful photos great work !!
Beautiful! They really capture the special blessedness of love when a baby is coming, two gorgeous people, too!
Nic, you’ve captured the beauty of these two (three!) so perfectly. Made me cry!
I love it when I make you cry Vali xx
Nic, thank you so much. I cried again when i looked at the photos from the second day. I feel utterly blessed to have some amazing photos of my baby bump and of the beautiful Xave Brown. The way you capture a moment is just incredible. And i’d be happy to to follow your direction when you have an idea for a photo anytime. Lots of love to you. xxxxxx
It’s been an absolute joy Eve. So lovely to share laughter and tears (and chocolate) with you and Xave xxx
Thank you for sharing these images Nic, they are all very very lovely…and some are outstanding…sooooooo grateful to see them…they inspire solace for the heart and
hope for the future of this world… when one knows a baby will come on to the planet filled with joy and love…well done all xxx Michele Mora
Wow, aren’t they just beautiful together!! So excited and happy for them, after everything Xave has gone through and endured…there was obviously more blessings for Xave to experience in this life and he has been rewarded GREATLY…Love these shots…xxx
Love
beautiful xx
by Nic
Krysta Guille - Love them Nic – I feel like I was there looking at them!
Elizabeth Sharp - Nic I’m in tears – the last photo put me in tears. You just capture everything so well. Well done.
Nicole Scott - Wow Nic I agree with Krysta – you feel like you are there with them…Poh and Dan look like they are having a ball…
Maggie van Santen - Awesome pics…great job. Loved watching you move around the markets
Rebecca - What a wonderful set of photos ~ I wasn’t there, but this is the next best thing!