Toni Jordan is a very talented musician. The music you hear on the Three Words website is actually written and performed by her. If I had a dollar for every time I have had someone contact me asking me how they might be able to purchase Toni’s music, I would be a rich man. You can find Toni on iTunes by searching for Toni Jordan. The songs are called “Three Words” and “Always and Forever”. Three Words was written by Toni for this website and includes the line “Three Words, Two People, One Love”, which was my input!

There’s more photos coming, but for now, enjoy this little teaser.

Also, take the time to check out Toni’s myspace.

***WARNING***

Below, there are some iPhone images and words in this post which may cause offense or anguish. I attended a local fijian wedding in the local village where I witnessed the killing of a few animals in preparation for the wedding feast. The images I have included are some of the more tame ones, but still, be warned.

***END OF WARNING***

Ok, you tough nuts. Let’s get into it.
While on my honeymoon in fiji with my new wife Catherine, we met a local who invited us to his friends wedding in the local village. It was an experience to say the least. I had to visit the village the day before the wedding to be welcomed into the community… this involved a Kava ceremony and let’s just say that the water in the village made me feel a little unwell. Let’s say that was an understatement.

Every image you see here was shot with my iPhone 4, edited in photoshop finished with Alien Skin Exposure 3. The camera in that thing is unreal.

As I walked into the village, this was what greeted me.

These ladies were actually super friendly.

and by the beach, they were playing a game of beach volleyball. Just behind from where they were, there was a bull being killed for tomorrows dinner. It was horrific. I watched it all. I wish I didn’t.

This was the bull and pig before they were killed.

The local kids were strangely familiar with animal killing and this girl was just moments before spitting on the dead pig.

Dead fish = less scary.

After they killed the pig, they hung it up and burnt the hair off it.

This guy, John, was super cool. He followed me every where I went. He also followed me into the door to the church and went on to tell me that I lead him through the door that only the pastor should use.

Smoke through the trees from burning the pig.

Everyone was up for having their photo taken. It was awesome actually.

It was encouraged actually… the adults would always get the kids to cooperate for the camera.

Then everyone arrived.. this was the brides family arriving to the grooms village where the wedding was held.

Peace!

This is the groom before he got changed into his wedding attire. Notice the shirt. Straight after the church ceremony he changed back into this shirt.

Not sure?

Neither was this guy.. he wasn’t too keen on the stuff his mum was putting on his head!

All the kids were friendly.

Here’s my mate John again. I told him I’d fly him over to Australia when he turns 18. I won’t forget!

It was important that they looked cool.

After this photo was taken, the kids asked me If I could put the photo on facebook. They asked me what my username was and they preceeded to scratch my user name (James.R.Day) into the dirt.

The kids shower outside!

The only shot of the bride. I barely saw her. The men and women were segregated the whole day.

Each village has their own church and pastor. Pretty much everyone that lives in the village are Christian. I think that rocks.

So does he.

I offered to help them move the cushions outside, and they said no.. only the women were allowed

On friday, I photographed Richard & Kelly’s wedding. There was a kid there that caught my eye. I was then showing Catherine the photos of the wedding and she asked me who took this certain frame. I said, “I did”. Cath looked again and realised it wasn’t me but from a distance she thought it was. That day I was wearin a pink button up shirt and a blue vest. Look familiar?

JD

Photo by Michael Gray when we photographed a wedding in Noosa together a few weeks back www.mdgray.com
1 month from today, I’ll be a married man. I have a new found understanding and respect for my clients who are planning their weddings. It’s hectic to say the least.

What I’ve discovered:

1. People don’t mean to, but they put a lot of pressure on you as to how “impressive” the wedding will be. Maybe this is just me, but if I hear “You’ve been to so many weddings, you must have so many great ideas and your wedding will be amazing…” once more, I think i’ll scream. It’s not just up to me.

2. You need people around you that can just bring you back to normality and remind you that it doesn’t really matter! What matters is that you are preparing for a life long marriage.

3. You need to prioritise your time.

4. Choosing a wedding photographer is a hard decision. For me, it came down to who I thought would go the extra mile and not just turn up and do the bare minimum.

5. Letting go is usually the best option. I found that I was a bit of a groomzilla at the beginning and tried to take control over everything. Some would disagree, but I’d say that recently I’ve been able to let most things go and let other people jump in and help.

6. However, it’s your wedding and remember it’s the people around you who are there to put into action your dreams and wishes.

7. Guests list are difficult! Choosing 50 friends & family? I could have chosen 500. You’ll never be able to have everyone there!

8. Spending time with Cath reminds me of what is important.

Can’t wait to share more about my wedding with you guys.

JD

I couldn’t help but be fascinated by this lady at yesterdays wedding. She reminded me of my grandmother whom I miss dearly. My grandmother was half aboriginal and was only a part of my life for a few short years. All my grandparents have passed and the family present at my wedding in 6 weeks and 6 days time will be far too few. I have lost many, but hold them close in my heart.

I photograph, so that you may have reminders of those you hold close.

Thank you for allowing me to do this.

I was out to dinner last week, with a few friends Susan Wall & Liz. We went to Uccello at the Ivy. It’s a meal that I will never forget. We sat down for an amazing 4 course meal, Ok they had 1 course… I had 4. What happened next, I will never forget. In walks Jesinta Campbell, Miss Universe Australia. In an instant, I became the worst ever dinner date that Susan & Liz could have.

They had precisely 0% of my attention.

Jesinta, had all of it.

Being the wonderful fiancee to Cath that I am, I updated my facebook status to say, “Miss universe Australia is sitting just over from me at dinner. Wow. Almost as beautiful as cath.”

I then found the guts to be a total jerk and interrupt her meal and go and talk to her. I stuttered over my words and probably made a total fool of myself. What greeted me however was a bright, bubbly, other person focussed, beautiful young woman! Even though she was sitting there with a group of noteworthy people, when I was in her presense, I had 100% of her attention. That’s how it felt anyhow.

Jesinta absolutely made my week. I could say my month, or year, but I may get in trouble from Cath. I probably will anyhow.

This post is my way of saying thanks to Jesinta for being so wonderful, to let others know what a wonderful ambassador she is for our country and also to get behind her and encourage her in her charity work. Such an inspiration! Thank you Jesinta!

I’ve been asked time and time again to put on some sort of a photography workshop! I’ve put it off for years. I don’t even know if people were serious when they asked me? Maybe it’s all a big joke and no one wants to actually learn from me? Or maybe we can find 10 people who would like to do it?

If we can find 10 people that are available on Sunday the 26th of September (& can get to tamworth) then I will teach a workshop there! Please send an invite to this event to anyone who you think might be interested.

Who’s this for? People who would like to:
1. Learn to take photos with more power and meaning.
2. Learn to master their camera so they can concentrate on what is happening in front of them.
3. Learn how to do basic photoshop to simplify their images and bring out the message the photograph is telling.

Who am I? I’m a multi award winning photographer who stands behind the camera to create these images: www.3words.com.au

Here’s a random photo of me! Photo courtesy of Jesh De Rox.

Cost: $150 for the day.

Other areas will be covered and I will do my best to answer everyone’s questions.

If we can’t find 10 people who are available short notice, then the workshop will possibly be rescheduled for sometime later in 2011.

If you’re interested, rsvp to this event and I’ll send a message out to all interested parties late on friday the 17th of September.

You can rsvp on facebook here :http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114686741921691

But I kinda want to post it on monday. Here’s a teaser of some of the landscape images.

I’ve been interested in photography since I was around 7 years old. In that time, I have never felt inspired to create landscape imagery. Today however, something felt different. I took the afternoon off to create images without people!

I created this beautiful sequence of images lying face down on a rock in Cronulla. The 3 images are presented together and will be sold this way as a 10 x 24 inch print. There’s a catch though, there’s only 10 and it’s first come first served. The print will be selling for $185 (postage included) and will be individually signed & numbered. This is a perfect gift!

To purchase, email me at james@3words.com.au and I will forward you the payment instructions.

James.

Dear Alyce,
Today is a special day because it’s your birthday! So, happy Birthday Alyce!
I’m excited to be a part of the celebrations and sharing your engagement pictures with you today Alyce. I hope these images serve as a reminder of the Love that is inside of you for Pete
Thank you for coming to Sydney to have your engagement pictures taken! I loved hanging out with you guys.
James.