“If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.” – Marc Chagall 

Above: Image by Gina Milicia I can still remember exactly where I was when I first experienced the amazing raw file processing software called Lightroom. Like most new trends, I wasn’t an early adopter. I’d heard many of my colleagues rave about Lightroom like it was the greatest thing since Nutella on bread, but I still had some reservations… I didn’t have time to learn a whole new system. Lightroom looked complicated and Photoshop did everything I needed just fine. Then I tried it and life as I knew it changed forever *cue epic movie soundtrack*. That was a defining moment in my life that will be played in my highlights reel, in between first kiss and first jar of Nutella. I was hooked within minutes of using it. Using Lightroom felt like home. Lightroom understood me. Lightroom had me at “hello.” The thing that made Lightroom so revolutionary was the...

Above: I photographed actor, Kate Jenkinson, for Foxtel Magazine July issue  Three minutes is a very long time. If you don’t believe me, then try holding your breath for three minutes. Go ahead; I’ll wait for you… See what I mean? Holding your breath isn’t the only incredible feat you can achieve in three minutes. You can also: take 134 selfies, which is a world record achieved by two UK schoolboys in April 2017 eat an entire jar of Nutella. (Relax people I’m not talking about the 5kg tub, just the small 500gm/1lb size.) Most importantly, taking just three minutes before you press the shutter to check exposure, composition, lighting and cosmetic details will not only improve your images but save you hours of “I’ll just fix that in post”. Life is short, Netflix is awesome, and you don’t have time to waste hours fixing avoidable mistakes in post-production. Wouldn’t...

Above: Image by Gina Milicia “Take up one idea and make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. “Let the brain, muscles, nerves and every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. “This is the way to success.” – Swami Vivekananda

Above: Image by Gina Milicia I once knew a photographer, Richard Barrett (not his real name), whose work was absolutely perfect. Every single image was perfectly composed and sharp as a tack. Every pixel was exposed precisely and the post-production was flawless. Technically I could not fault his work. He was also a nice guy and yet his photography struggled to get noticed. Why? I believe it had to do with the way he ordered his wine… An artist and a scientist walk into a bar. The scientist carefully studies the wine list and chooses a wine based on all the data he is given, including the region the grapes are grown in, the history of the wineries and the reviews of each bottle. The artist orders the same bottle the people on a nearby table are drinking because that’s exactly what he feels like. I believe the way a...

Above: Image by Gina Milicia “The one who falls and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” – Roy T. Bennett

Above: Image by Gina Milicia impostor syndrome noun noun: imposter syndrome the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. My first day of art school was the best and worst day of my life. I was so excited to be in a room full of students who shared my love of art. I’d finally found my people! This joy soon turned to despair when I discovered how talented everyone was. I was surrounded by the artistic equivalents of 10’s and I felt like a -50. I had just graduated from high school where I was a big fish in a small pond. I was the only art student in my graduating year and my confidence as an artist was sky-high. The swagger and smugness were quickly replaced by a new emotion, imposter syndrome. I didn’t...

Above: Image by Gina Milicia “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and creation). There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” – Goethe  

Above: Image by Gina Milicia “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin

Gregory Crewdson A fascinating profile of Gregory Crewdson, whose riveting photographs are elaborately staged, elegant narratives compressed into a single, large-scale image, set in small towns or meticulously recreated interior spaces, built on the kind of sound stages associated with big-budget movies. For more information visit http://www.gregorycrewdsonmovie.com. The Bang Bang Club The Bang Bang Club is the real life story of a group of four young combat photographers – Greg Marinovich, Joao Silva, Kevin Carter and Ken Oosterbroek – bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth. They risked their lives and used their camera lenses to tell the world of the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post Apartheid South Africa in the early 90s. This intense political period brought out their best work (two won Pulitzers during the period) but cost them a heavy price. Based on the book of...