Hello Deviant friends!

I've been awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy from here for so long. I find it difficult to keep up here...it takes so long to post images.

If you want to see my recent work check out [link] or [link] (My brand spanking new updated website!)

With love and gratitude!

Also - if your interested in my other ventures apart from photography. I've got another business called Soul Tree. [link]


x
Rae

Since coming back from Perth, I've been organising a photography exhibition [link] to put my money where my mouth is and take some action in the name of saving the whales and dolphins.

The exhibition is being held upstairs of Grind Cafe on Darby Street in Newcastle from August 10th.

All of the pieces on display will be for sale, with part proceeds of all sales going directly to the Surfers For Cetaceans organization. As well as sales of the images, all money raised on the night through donation will be going straight into the pockets of Surfers For Cetaceans.

View Exhibition Website here. [link]

Ever since watching the footage of David Rastovich (Pro surfer and Co-creator of Surfers For Cetaceans) and celebrities form a paddle out ceremony in the bloody waters of Toji Japan to honour the thousands of dolphins and whales which had been slaughtered there, I knew that it was time for ne to take action and shine some light on the situation.

Surfers for Cetaceans Website here:
[link]

One of the main reasons that the killing continues is that very few people - in Japan and around the world - even know it is happening! Many of my surfing friends had no idea to what extreme these animals are being wiped out.

Surfing with dolphins is something we are privileged to do, sometimes daily in Newcastle with pods of dolphins surfacing only meters away from us to play in the waves and share in the activity that we enjoy so much, yet they do so much better than we do. I thought that if no one in my circle of friends had much of an idea of how bad this situation is, then there must be many more people in our community also unaware of this tragedy - it is time to act.

Over 20 000 dolphins are killed every year in Japan, along with thousands of whales killed by Norway and Iceland despite an international ban on commercial whaling.

Not only is this an outrageous act, but the high level of toxins in dolphin meat, makes it dangerous for human consumption and is being sold to school children for lunches right now!

By gathering the surfing community of Newcastle together in a positive environment and bringing awareness to this important cause, I hope to cause a butterfly effect throughout the entire coastal community to bring about worldwide change in the treatment of these people of the oceans. The time is now to stop the pointless slaughter of Dolphins and Whales.

Hi everyone - well DA has been far far away from me of lately. But I've stil been doing ALOT of photography and some new stuff too so check out my other websites.

~~~~~~Most Recent News is I'm holding an exhibition in 5 weeks so I'm in major organisation stages!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check out this link for more info about what I'm doing and why!

[link]


I have my own website [link]

I'm on flickr mostly
[link]

My images are for sale at Redbubble
[link]

I do the online surf report and photography for a newcastle local website
[link]

I'm one of the contributers to the new magazine going nation wide
[link]

So if you wanna check out what I've been up to - theres a heap!!

xxx
Rae

Well it's been a good three months since I last wrote in this blog.. and alot has happened and alot has changed in that time.

Thank you to everyone who has faved me and added me to their watch list in the past 1/4 of a year.. I'm sorry I haven't been able to thank you all individually but it means alot to me. Especially as I haven't been very inspired or motivated of late to take photos.

I've often thought of giving an update of whats going on with me but hesitated due to many reasons. Mostly due to the fear of other's opinions.. something that I've spent a lot of time working on within myself and have come to the realisation that no matter what I do or say, people are going to think what they think and i've learnt that thats all external from me and beyond my control. I've been learning to be myself no matter what circumstances or who I am around.. that is internal and something I can control.

The massive sea change wasnt the romantic life changing event that was once believed, although if I'd listened to my intuition rather than ego a few wks before I moved then I would've known that but based on prior experiences in this town of newcastle and certain people in it, i felt for me it was something I wanted to do and either way I'll come out the other side a better person which i feel I have.

For a while there I was ashamed and embarrassed of the initial outcome of the move. I felt naive to have believed what I did.. but I realise that feeling that way was basically fear of how others would view the situation and judge me, based on what they'd been told. Lies, Perspective and the truth. Something also external to me and beyond my control. I soon learned that all I could/can do was pull myself together and completely be myself (try to remember exactly what that was) and let other people make up their minds as to what their opinion of me was.

In a way, all of my lessons and spiritual understanding from a life time of thinking I had all the answers was put to the test and required me to walk the talk in order to grow rather than dwell in the "drama" and blame other people for what they did or didnt do. I'm one to know that I am the "creator of my universe" and to lookin within rather than without. From being hurt and ego bruised - instead of lashing out at others Ive been looking at my life and beliefs to find what works and what no longer serves me.. and just let it go and trust that "out of this situation only good will come for the highest good of all concerned".

Gosh - even as I type things like this I wonder what people will think about me and my spiritual beliefs and how they will then view me!? Either way I am who I am regardless of other peoples opinions.

Living over here away from my family and friends has been very testing, educational, emotional as well as exciting, new and fun! I feel like the sun has come out over newcastle. For a couple of months (and I've only been here 3)... I've been kind of living by default. everything was happening around me and to me. Don't get me wrong, I've been going out meeting people, partying and having fun - by no means have I been depressed or anything of the sorts but I dont think i've been who I want to be.. or know myself to be.

I have met person after person here in Newie who have welcomed with me open arms completely. From my housemate helping me from the impact zone, to new friends constantly inviting me places, camping, surfing, partying. I am so so grateful for a certain few people who I can truly call my friends. People lend me their car, their washing machine and give me there food!! Thank you to those people - you've made my transition so much smoother and shown me once again the light in people.

Now i'm sure this all sounds very melodramatic and over the top but I think that being some what isolated from my support team and going through so many lessons and changes on my own, that such a situation kind of escalated within me. It also meant that I had to toughen up and be a tough bitch instantly because I didn't have my best friends here with me to help me on that level that I had taken for granted in the past... I kind of shut things away within myself and got on with it rather than dealing with the truth of the situation straight away.

It wasn't until I got back from my holiday in Queensland with my best friends that I realised how lucky I am to have such people surround me with their loving, nurturing and supporting energy and how we allow each other to be completely who we are without judgment. And its so good to have people in your life who can snap you out of it when you start feeling sorry for yourself. Since bein back from qld, I've spent a bit more time on my own and in contemplation. I feel like I'm reading, learning and growing alot more now from a more positive stand point rather than an emotional or desperate place where I was needing to learn so I could cope.

Gosh it sounds like its been the end of the world, reading back over what I've written but that's been my truth so you may as well hear about it.

Recently I've been loving seeing positive changes and synchronicities within life. I've started earning money again and I am soooooooooo excited to spend some of it on the people i love over the festive season to show my love and appreciation for all of the guidance, love, support and friendship which has been sent my way in abundance!

So now... looking forward I am loving me. As of early next year I will have my diploma in remedial massage, new friends, new experiences and I'm planning on travelling the coast a bit before returning perthward bound. From Perth, I am going to be working with massage and photography and seeing where that can take me... if that happens to be on the other side of the world so be it. I know that I am a strong, independent and confident woman and I'm constantly learning and growing so bring it on!!

love, light and peaceful vibrations
xxx

Well there you have it - I'm off jet setting across the country once again but this time I'll be over there for a minimum of 4 months.

It's hard to know what to say except that I'm following my heart, being spontaneous and adventurous and trusting in the flow of life.

I'm booked in to study anatomy & physiology as a prerequisite to do my cert IV massage. It's something that I've been wanting to do for many years and the fact that I'm doing it some where new is exciting! I'm on track to where I want to be in life!! Healing & Photography.

This is going to be the first time I've lived out of home, so while it's very exciting .. I'm learning alot and just taking it as it comes! The house I'll be living in is 2 minutes from the beach & 10 minutes from a gorgeous man. The same beach that's featured in my Gallery for the past million images! It's so beautiful and I know that this place is going to help me in many ways. I can't wait to have my own space.

I've been focusing on organising my new life that It hasn't been until last night that it's hit home for me that I'm leaving my best friends. Over the weekend I realised what an amazing group of people I'm surrounded by. Sarah, Steph, Little Steph & Glenn. They love me, accept me and support me and I'm so grateful for them. At the same time - it's scary to know that I'll be on the opposite side of the country and will miss out on what goes on here in Perth in their lives. I trust and know that only love is real and what will be will be!!

So... in honor of new life experiences, new friends and romance here are some of my favorite photos from other Deviants! Please visit their galleries, comment and fav! While your in the mood for that feel free to do the same to my Gallery