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Diamonds

Diamonds in the sky. Castor Bay beach after a New Year storm. Hello 2016! 

Hope you had a happy Christmas

Well here we are on December 26th. Christmas has been and gone for another year. I hope you all had lovely days with family and friend, good food and a beverage or two! Loving this gorgeous weather we are having here in the southern hemisphere. As I sink on into summer hols mode. A little bit of an afternoon in the sun selfie...

A new Light

When our lecturers taught us how to develop our own photographs in the colour dark room they said you are going to either love it or hate it. Turns out I loved it and so spent most of my time either in the studio (with a  couple of soft boxes and behind a macro lens of a Mamiya, medium format camera) or the colour dark room for hours on end (in pitch black, trying to fight any urge to sleep - as nature would persist with producing melatonin in such conditions). And so four years past and my journey had well and truly began with photography establishing a style that evoked a sense of nostalgia and took you back to your childhood. I used toys, flowers, colour and a play on scale to achieve this. Of course everything was still film - and the Mamiya such a work-horse would offer big colour and sharp focus where needed to achieve the feel and bright lights of consumer advertising.

Hybrid

Tea for Me & Alice in Wonderland

Clockwise from top left: Put em Up, Red Lips, Noodle Soup & Lucky Strike

As most New Zealanders do - I found myself now living and working in London. I had a photography itch but did not know quite how to scratch it. I have to admit it was travel, visits back home and the work of well known photographers such as Alicia Bock that influenced my style. Being able to sell through the likes of etsy that gave me a reason.

On visits home to New Zealand I would spend hours at the beach with my Digital SLR and an old viewfinder Argus trying to perfect the unperfected look of a TTV image. This would require digitally shooting down the old viewfinder through a homemade paper funnel as such to block out any light. I would use this effect at home also - using the natural light of my Maida Vale apartment to capture the vintage effect of the kitchen or a vase of flowers - with scratches and dust all adding to the effect (once my worst nightmare).

Sometime Ago

Lust

Without use of the studio, natural light soon became my friend and a room with white walls and big bright windows that would bring a sea of warmth and clarity to my photography would be my home. I would take photos morning, noon and late afternoon in search of the best light. Being able to instantly see the image with digital cameras was fantastic and led to a whole new level of experimentation to then achieve an effortless look. Photoshop was now my new dark room. I like to think some of the effects I learnt in the darkroom have influenced my later work. I like to enhance an image in photoshop but are aware of possibly taking it too far. I like to stay true to the original image. That said I do enjoy playing with papers and textures and again colours and grain to offer a vintage feel. 

Peony Pink

Find me in New York -

As seen on the book cover for Random House novel 'Other Words for Love'. 

I am now living back in New Zealand and have taken my love of the beach and rugged landscapes further. Setting up studio at home and whiling away the afternoon with my 6D and a 50mm f/1.8 lens to let in light, with small focus. Vintage toys a few peony stems or roses. Light and their new camera technology is something I have come across recently and is very clever and exciting. I feel taking photographic technology that one step further in ultimately achieving amazing imagery with convenience and ease.  I can't wait to start a whole new journey with what is to come. 

Be Free

 Fawn

Peony No. 3

www.hilaryupton.com

Have you seen

Christmas is coming, don't miss out on awesome deals for the best gifts. On now at Society6 15% off all Wall Art! 

More Ohope

Ohope Beach

A simple panorama of a lovely landscape that I miss. Every night I would like to step on in for an evening stroll. Still it's not too bad having this on your doorstep either...

Castor Bay, Auckland

Summer is here. Nineteen sleeps until Christmas.

Happy place

Evening Stroll in Ohope

Three Posies

Taking new photos!  On holiday after a simple yet unforgettable wedding. Flowers from the day. 

Society6 Sales

Cyber Monday followed by Home Decor Sale... Plus lots more coming up soon at Society6 and just in time for Christmas. Artwork created by hundreds of thousands of artists from across the world. Don't forget to check out my range here!

Out for breakfast

Only three choices on the menu - pictured is toasted muesli
with rhubarb and natural yoghurt. 

Usually up way too early with a toddler itching to get down the park to entertain the idea of going out for breakfast. A real treat to have breakfast in town this morning and at a civil hour. New fav The Depot!

Cuteness

Love this shot taken on Mother's Day. Thinking of ways I can have it printed. This shot taken with the good old iPhone 4S. Looking at a wee upgrade though soon. Hello iPhone 6! 

Weekend Noir

Love the contrast in this shot. 

Weekend shoot

A little shoot and we get to eat it too. Bakeworks Turkish/Pide Pizza. Yum!

My little model / Alpaca knitwear for baby

A few shots from my latest shoot for Alpaca Yarn. Cute baby garments - soft and luxurious for the precious little one in your life.

The Market NZ

Hilary Upton Photography can now be found at The Market NZ. Be sure to visit their pop up shop in Ponsonby before Christmas for Art Prints, Photo blocks & Cushion covers!

Now booking

Hilary Upton Photography is pleased to present Newborn & Infant Photography Sessions. Mini sessions are available from just $100 for a 40min session. Includes an 8x10" print and 5 digital files. Email hilary@hilaryupton.com to book and for more details. 

Baking frenzy

I'm no master chef but motherhood seems to have brought out the baker in me. Pictured up top is a nod to my grandma with traditional bread & butter pud. Below is a shot of my sons 6 month birthday cake. A double layered choc cake with buttercream frosting and pebbles - of course! 

Another week

Taking selfies with my 5 month old (soon to be 6) if only he would look at the camera long enough. Will have to do another photo session with him again soon as he grows and changes so fast! Managed to visit an old haunt Ripe cafe last week. Colour of the walls has changed but the coffee is still good. 

Stroll

Monday morning stroll into Milford with my baby boy for company. We had a lovely coffee at Little King cafe and picked up some beautiful spring blooms on the walk home. A steel at $1.50 a bunch! 

Me and mine

A few more shots of my little one. Coming up to 5 months he can nearly push himself up on his tummy but is more interested in having his hands in his mouth at the moment. 

Caffeine

First coffee today in 12 months with caffeine in it. I have to say it was pretty weak so I couldn't really tell the difference. Tasty though. 

I have been taking a few shots of my workspace today for The Market NZ. Heres a sneak peek...

I spend a lot of time on my laptop, editing files and further creating artworks once the photograph has been taken. Each Art Print comes signed and dated and is packaged carefully in a clear archival sleeve, with a hard board backing to further protect it. Photo blocks are also pictured. The finished photo block is created by hand with the photograph of choice mounted onto the light weight block. The photo block is then ready to hang or can sit freely on a shelf or mantle.