New Location..

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Please click here to be directed to our 'new look' blog and website! 

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

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. 

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. 

Another Peony + Duvets

A new peony image entitled 'Lush; now available as a fine art print. Float away in the bright, bold yet soft petals. 

Cover yourself in creativity with our ultra soft microfiber duvet covers. Hand sewn and meticulously crafted, these lightweight duvet covers vividly feature your favorite designs ('Lush' and 'Fawn' pictured above) with a light cream reverse side. A durable and hidden zipper offers simple assembly for easy care. Available for queen and king duvets. 

Sunny bays

First day of sunshine since moving back to Auckland in June. Nice to be out with my boys enjoying the bays. This panorama taken between Mairangi bay and Murrys bay with my iPhone. 

Baby Photography

Can't resist posting a few photographs taken of my little one. Such a precious time as they grow so fast. If you are interested in having a session for your baby or infant please get in touch on hilary@hilaryupton.com. 

Homestyle December/January issue

So excited to see 'Be Free' Art Print featured in the latest issue of Homestyle. This print is now available as 24 x 36" with or without the 'Be Free' text. Bringing the sun, sand and sea to you, at anytime of year.

Coffee love

Life's too short to drink bad coffee!

New Tote Bags

Now available in three sizes and featuring artwork that runs right to the edge of the bag. These totes are hand cut and sewn in America using lightweight, durable and washable poly poplin fabric. 

Lazy Saturday

Lazy Kitten. 

New Acacia Bay

Acacia Bay, Lake Taupo now available as an Art Print, Cushion Cover, iPhone Case. Visit my Society6 Store here.