General Posts – John McRae Photography & Studio

April 1, 2025April 1, 2025

Blanche d’Alpuget launches her latest novel, “The Bunny Club”.

Acclaimed author Blanche d’Alpuget recently stepped into my Sydney studio to create new imagery for promotion aligned to the release of her latest novel, “The Bunny Club”.

What an absolute joy it was to work with this gorgeous and intelligent lady. We were shooting a variety of portraits and basic head-shots, so we concentrated on changing what she was wearing, alternating the colours of her outfits.

Blanche arrived having had her hair already styled by Ivan Chircop, owner of “La Libertine Hair Salon” in the CBD. The next step was for David Cranson (MUA) to take care of her makeup.

Left to right: Ivan (Hair), Blanche and David (Makeup)

Before long we were ready to set about shooting under the lights. Blanche was a wonderful model … professional and willing to duplicate any suggestion I had in terms of pose and mood. Time passed quickly and soon we had a number of looks and configurations from which to choose.

Blanche’s literary repertoire is extensive. There have been biographies, novels, essays and numerous awards. Her best-selling 1982 book Robert J Hawke: A Biography, researched and written after they were no longer a couple, won the New South Wales Premier’s literary award and it remains the definitive work on the former Australian Prime Minister. Her novels Monkeys in the Dark, Turtle Beach, Winter in Jerusalem and White Eye have won the Pen Golden Jubilee award, the Age novel of the year award and the South Australian Premier’s award. She has also written historical novels about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

The Bunny Club is something a bit different: a racy detective novel set in the harbourside glass castles of Sydney’s eastern suburbs and at the equestrian estates of the southern highlands. It opens when an ageing morning television host who is fighting to keep her job, Evelyn Sinclair, is found dead at an astoundingly grisly crime scene: hanging upside down from the ceiling, tied-up using shibari, the Japanese art of rope bondage.

I have almost finished reading my copy of Blanche’s book. The novel was launched at the Manly Writers Festival on the last weekend in March. It is available in most bookstores or can be ordered on-line at this link:

Review: The Guardian

Promotional image of Blanche d'Alpuget for the release of her new novel, The Bunny Club

March 13, 2025March 17, 2025

Y-Suites on Margaret – Opening

With the increase in the need for housing for both local and overseas students, Sydney is seeing the proliferation of dedicated developments for our academic youth. One such initiative is Y-Suites. This company has recently opened its third tower in Redfern, called Y-Suites on Margaret. Previously, they have opened Y-Suites on Gibbons and Y-Suites on Regent, in close proximity. They have also developed similar accommodation facilities in Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne.

I was commissioned by the company, based in Singapore, to cover the opening activities at this latest downtown complex. Over the period of a day, I captured images of students arriving for the first time to check in to what will be their new homes for the duration of the scholastic year

While many of the students had recently arrived from overseas, there was also a collection of local students who had decided, for reasons of convenience, to move into accommodation close to the institution in which they had enrolled.

There was an air of excitement and expectation as these young people navigated their way with their suitcases from reception, where they checked in then collected their keys, to the first sight of their new homes after they opened the door to their apartment.

I photographed an enthusiastic young man from China who arrived with his colleague. His smile radiated the joy he felt as he entered the foyer and anticipated entering his apartment. I photographed him opening the door to his room for the first time. Some of the rooms had balloons tied to the door-handle so that the students could “cut” the string of the balloon in a ceremonious gesture when “coming home” for the first time.

I also photographed a young girl from out of town who spoke fluent French. Her father and mother had driven from rural NSW to accompany their daughter to help her settle into her new home. Her mother was in fact French and although they now lived in Australia, French was often spoken at home. I understood this once I realised that the girl’s Australian father had lived for many years in France and also spoke fluent French. They were all having such fun creating a new sense of community.

My day was filled with photographing these joyful comings and goings. I also managed to capture some of the communal spaces in the building for documentation purposes, as well as shooting the exterior of the building from various angles.

I wish all the students a wonderful time in their new home while they pursue their studies. I fondly remember my own time as a student in the halls of residence at Monash University in Melbourne. It was such fun and I made wonderful friendships and long-lasting bonds. It was also a time of great growth as I ventured out from my safe family environment to be totally independent for the first time.

Video footage was also required for this project. Y-Suites wanted a 60-second reel of the day’s events. I worked with Nick Jones from “Grip Shoot Boom”, an excellent videographer, pictured below.

The following is an overview of the day’s events at Y-Suites on Margaret, as filmed and edited by Nick.

March 13, 2025March 16, 2025

View from an apartment building in Parramatta

I was on a job the other day and I looked out from the balcony to what I discovered was an impressive and unusual view. It was an elevated impression of the city of Parramatta that I hadn’t previously seen. I am sharing this because I found it visually intriguing … and so I felt like including it in a blog post.

I was taken by the way the city skyline looked somehow “unreal” in the light, almost surreal as if some AI program had created it. I think it was merely a result of the soft afternoon light and the fact that I was using a telephoto lens, which has the tendency to compress imagery.

I also liked the tall residential building constructed directly opposite where I was positioned. I couldn’t help looking directly into the stack of neighbouring, domestic boxes and wonder about the inhabitants. It reminded me of when you used to fly into the old airport in Hong Kong, past all the high-rise apartment buildings, looking at the laundry hanging out to dry, with various other signs of inner city living.

It was also intriguing to look down to see that just below me was one of the old cemeteries of Parramatta, with gravestones covering a large area adjacent to the residential towers. This contrast and juxtaposition fascinated me.

March 5, 2025March 9, 2025

Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, 2025

While photographing the parade entry for Positive Life NSW I managed to snap images of some of the other entrants. Here is a smiling selection of the other people marching and cheering, having a good time, sharing the love, dressing up, and adding extra “bling” to their lives for the night.

Mardi Gras is a well known celebration of “all shapes and sizes”, inclusion, diversity in all its flavours and simply a wonderful feeling of good will to your community. It was easy to feel that generous mood amongst the participants. It gave me a feeling of hope for the future.

February 2, 2025February 3, 2025

Exhibition in Melbourne for the Lunar New Year

Yashian Schauble (Australia China Art Foundation, ACAF) and Christina Zhao (Melbourne Chinese Business Association, MCBA) have collaborated on staging a wonderful event in Melbourne that features several art exhibitions as part of the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival in Melbourne.

As stated on the press release:

This year, as we celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake, Melbourne Chinatown will come alive with the city’s premier cultural event. Highlights of the festival include the iconic Millennium Dragon Parade, spectacular lion and dragon dances, dazzling lantern displays, and a feast of live performances ranging from traditional music to contemporary art showcases.

Themed around wisdom, intuition, and transformation, A Round Square Banquet explores personal identity and cultural inclusion through a stunning collection of over 30 works by artists from around the globe.

I am happy to say that a number of my photographs are represented in the exhibition at the Chinese Museum in Melbourne (through February 9). Information about three of my works is listed below.

***Ali & Osso Buco,*** 2012
Pigment inkjet on cotton rag, 60 x 90cm
Edition 1 of 9, (3AP)

Ali sits at the dinner table, an embodiment of indulgence fused with a certain effortless refinement. A glass of red wine rests beside him, its rich colour, a perfect match for the Italian speciality of Osso Buco before him. His presence radiates a raw, unapologetic masculinity, sensuality, and sexuality, infusing the vast dining hall with an almost palpable energy that contrasts sharply with conventional notions of fine dining. A single yellow tulip, vibrant and unpretentious, symbolizes his joy—an outward expression of his unrestrained pleasure as he savours each bite, completely immersed in the moment.

Winner of the critics choice award at the 2013 “Shoot the Chef” competition held by the Sydney Morning Herald

***Portrait of Margaret Olley in her Paddington Studio***, 2011
Pigment inkjet on cotton rag, 66cm x 154cm
Edition of 6 (1AP) (Signed lower right)

In mid-2011, had the great pleasure of photographing renowned Australian artist Margaret Olley in her Paddington studio, a place well known for its colourful clutter and referred to by some friends as ʻThe Dolls Houseʼ. In my portrait, Margaret is seated in her painting chair, confronting the lens with her particular sense of candour and an uncommon frailty. As far as I know, this may well be the last photo taken of her before her death the following
month in July. Christine France – art critic, author of Margaret Olley (1990), commented, “It is a wonderful photo in that it captures both the vulnerability and sense of enquiry which entered her face in the last months of her life”.

The Portrait was a selected finalist in the 2012 National Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. It won the inaugural People Choice Award at the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

The Tweed River Art Gallery purchased the work as part of their permanent collection with the intention of displaying the portrait as part of the Margaret Olley Art Centre, Murwillumbah.

***Amirah I***, Sydney 2017
Pigment inkjet on cotton rag 92cm x 63cm
Edition of 9 (AP)
(from the series “Spot the Arab”)

This striking portrait of Amirah forms part of the “Spot the Arab” series of photographs. The project engages with portraiture as a vehicle for exploring complex themes of identity, including religion, race, gender, orientation, nationality, and freedom.

Presented initially in a game-like format, Spot the Arab invites viewers to question whether the subject of each image self-identifies as Arab, thus prompting reflection on assumptions and societal constructs.

For the series, the artist imposes a Middle Eastern costume on each subject, using it as a tool to both veil and reveal aspects of cultural identity. Each subject is then asked to articulate their own sense of identity, a process that challenges preconceptions, stigma, and prejudice.

At the time of this photograph, Amirah was a social worker in Sydney’s western suburbs and identified as an Egyptian Arab woman.

Pictured from left: Yashian Schauble (ACAF) and Christina Zhao (MCBA)

January 9, 2025January 13, 2025

UFC Redfern – Cope Street Opening

United for Care is an independent living provider, working in partnership with Vertika, to make appealing accommodation available for their clients

On the morning of October 30, 2024 (a date I particularly remember because it was also my birthday), people gathered at the newly completed Redfern facility to celebrate its grand opening.

A diverse group of attendees came together to listen to speeches, participate in a traditional smoking ceremony, mingle, and enjoy the refreshments offered, which included a much-appreciated coffee barista service

The traditional smoking ceremony is part of an ancient Indigenous practice that involves the burning of native plants to create smoke. This smoke is believed to have cleansing properties and is used to purify the space and those people present. During the ceremony, participants often share stories, songs and rituals, fostering a sense of community and connection to the land and ancestors. The specific plants used can vary by region, but commonly they include eucalyptus, sage and other native herbs.

Guests in Sydney were warmly welcomed to the Cope Street inauguration and encouraged to explore the state-of-the-art accommodation facility, which is located within walking distance to the transport services and shops along Redfern’s main street.

November 25, 2024December 2, 2024

Kristina’s Christening

It was a perfect day for a Christening at the St George Serbian Orthodox Church in Cabramatta. The youngest daughter of Tania and Ray Duricic was about to be christened.

Many of Tania’s and Ray’s friends and family were present to witness this joyous and celebratory event. It is always at events such as these that you realise how important it is for people to come together and socialise and interact…no matter what the occasion.

Since I am not accustomed to witnessing an Orthodox Christian ceremony, I was fascinated to see the traditional proceedings and rituals. The interior of the church has many murals, paintings of religious figures, gilded objects and is rich with colour and gold.

At this christening, the role of the godparents is to attend to the person being christened, to present Kristina and to repeat the vows given by the priest. The parents stand in the background, supporting their child from a distance.

Once the service was completed, everyone moved to a nearby reception centre where the festivities continued, complete with musicians including a very enthusiastic piano accordionist and keyboard player, as well as a delicious feast.

It also happened to be Kristina’s first birthday. Obviously you can’t have a birthday without a cake and the obligatory blowing-out of the candles. It was a most fantastic day, not only for Kristina but also for all those who attended.

August 21, 2024August 22, 2024

Tripping the light fantastic

Although I rarely post images of myself, a friend of mine, Connor, managed to snap this shot of me and my ballroom dancing partner, Janelle, at a recent grading event in Cronulla, Sydney. I thought the image was worthy of a post….so here it is. Me pictured on the dance floor during our foxtrot routine.

August 20, 2024October 17, 2024

Composer and music educator, Margaret Brandman, updates her portrait

Margaret Brandman is an accomplished pianist, composer, accredited piano teacher, arranger and music educator who has performed and lectured in Australia and abroad. Margaret has composed music for voice and a variety of instrumental combinations. Her publications incorporate a complete range of music education materials including Accent on Music (High School text) and the Contemporary Piano Method.

Margaret came to my studio to update the imagery she requires for promotional purposes, including new headshots.

To remain current, these images need to be regularly re-photographed, so that public presence in the media remains credible. Margaret is a lovely, talented woman and we spent a great moment together.

By the way, check out her music…it’s on youtube at this link: Margaret’s Music

To listen to a recent interview with Margaret (9th October, 2024 on 89.7 FM)…..click on this link: She speaks about half an hour into the program

August 14, 2024August 15, 2024

Warehouses and the colours of the Australian landscape

The zone around Eastern Creek and beyond has become the “home of the warehouse” … a broad stretch of land covered with severely functional, industrial buildings, reminding us of our need to supply, store and coordinate the comings and goings of products for the daily requirements of our urban populations.

I imagine that most people are unaware of the enormous scale of this area of infrastructure, perched on the out-skirts of Sydney. It’s not really a destination …”let’s take the kids to see the warehouses at Eastern Creek”. If you live in residential enclaves in the vicinity, you may only see the warehouses in passing. But most inner-city, latte-sipping urbanites have no idea of the alternate “cities of large boxes” that inhabit the periphery of our cities.

This warehouse complex was built by Prime Constructions for ISPT, the developer, by whom I was commissioned to make these images. I like this type of shoot, since it allows me time to walk around these enormous structures, completely alone in the industrial landscape, capturing the sharp angles of these dislocated icons as the sun starts setting. I usually keep shooting into the twilight, for about half an hour once the sun has gone down. I then pack up my equipment, hop in my car and drive 40kms back towards the inner city.

June 24, 2024June 29, 2024

Elevating the impact of your stories: introducing Drone Photography & Video!

I’m thrilled to share an exciting update from my studio, set to elevate your visual storytelling to new heights.

Introducing Drone Photography & Video Services

Together with the expertise provided by my “in-flight” technical colleagues, I’m taking to the skies to offer you the impact of breathtaking aerial shots and videos, adding a striking perspective to your marketing potential. Whether you’re looking to captivate your audience with aerial views as part of your company’s promotional content, bring a new dimension to customer stories, or add an unforgettable touch to your special events like weddings or performances, we’ve got you covered.

Why drone photography

– Unique perspectives: Capture angles and vistas which can’t be achieved through traditional photography.

– Engaging content: Elevate your social media and marketing clout with captivating aerial footage and stand-out imagery.

– Dynamic versatility: Perfect for real estate showcases, plotting construction progress, documenting event highlights, and scenic backdrops for many occasions.

Stay tuned for our portfolio update, where we’ll be showcasing some of our spectacular drone captures.

If you are interested in adding a sky-high perspective to your next project or event, let’s chat about how we can integrate drone photography and video into your vision.

Elevate your story with John McRae Photography.

June 20, 2024June 24, 2024

Sydney AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2024

I was recently asked to photograph the events of the Sydney AIDS Candlelight Memorial by Positive Life NSW.

This emotional event provides an opportunity for members of the community to come together to reflect on and remember all those who have passed away from HIV/AIDS.

It was a moving experience to be a part of this solemn moment where people together remember and mark the passing of friends, partners, family and colleagues, often from the ravages of the early years of the AIDS epidemic. It reminded me about the importance of such rituals in our fast-paced society, where we take a moment out of our busy lives to reflect on such matters

After people arrived at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst, everyone gathered in the main auditorium to hear speakers including Yvonne Weldon, Stephen Lunny and Lyle Chan. Community members read the names of people who had passed, from a long, sad list. The proceedings finished with a rousing song performed by Mary Kiani, before attendees reminisced with each other over refreshments at the front-of-house.

June 20, 2024June 24, 2024

United For Care – new independent living facility opens in Merrylands

It was a festive morning at the grand opening of the newly completed Merrylands facility of United For Care, in partnership with Vertika to provide supported independent living (SIL).

United For Care is an organisation that provides many kinds of support and assistance within the disability sector. It has partnered with Vertika, a company specialised in the development of vertical integrated specialist accommodation within the same sector

Nick Jones (video) and I (still photographs) covered the event, and recorded many of the morning’s activities. We even managed to include a number of voice-to-camera interviews with selected participants.

We toured the newly created apartments, hearing from some of the executive team as well as listening to a speech from Jacob, the very first resident of the complex. DJ Dylan from Wollongong was spinning on the turn-table – not to mention the amazing coffee cart out the front of the building with a wonderful array of cup-cakes. There was also a heart-felt “welcome to country” performed on the upper terrace.

June 19, 2024June 24, 2024

New fragrances – ESNC opens new store in Bankstown

I’ve long had an interest in perfumes. I remember arriving in Paris after I first started traveling in my early 20’s and loving to try all the various fragrances at the large Parisian department stores. Through the years, I have sampled many … and subsequently I’ve spent heaps on purchasing these very expensive bottles of, essentially, scented water.

While my interest in perfume has continued, I look for new fragrances and in particular alternatives to the costly luxury brands. So I responded with great interest when I was approached to create imagery for ESNC, a new in-store boutique at the Bankstown Shopping Centre, for a brand which sells perfumes designed and manufactured in Turkey.

I set out to take images of the newly-built retail installation. The counter/shop has been built by Alishan Yucel from Feature Point Constructions. I have shot projects before for Ali in Melbourne (see previous post here). Ali completes beautiful work … his finishes in particular are amazing. Based in Melbourne, he created modular pieces of the ESNC counter at his workshop. He then transported the units to Sydney, to be assembled on site at Bankstown.

I spent time with Sam (owner of ESNC), his wife and the sales crew during one Saturday morning, and captured both stills and video of some of their interaction with the general public. I’ve posted some of the results as part of this post and the images speak for themselves…..dropping in to the ESNC store in Bankstown will definitely be a lot of fun.

June 19, 2024June 24, 2024

Xenia Constructions upgrade shopping centre entrance in Forster

The other week I made a trip into rural NSW to photograph the recent upgrade by Xenia Constructions to the entrance to the Stocklands Shopping Centre in Forster.

Originally coming from Victoria, having grown up on a dairy farm in the Wimmera Mallee region, I am not so aware of the life-style in country NSW. Hence I enjoyed the chance to be able to travel beyond Sydney and its urban perimeters.

For this project, I ventured to Forster on the NSW coast, approximately two hours drive north of Newcastle. I had rarely been to this part of the state, so it was a new working experience for me. It did not disappoint. You honestly can’t complain about the coastline of this beautiful country where we live.

I arrived early to capture the site with the softer light of the morning. Luckily I set up a bit earlier than originally planned, since the light quickly became harsh after the sun rose higher. Sydney had been experiencing an exceptionally wet and overcast week, putting a question mark over whether I should risk hitting bad weather in Forster. But I decided to trust the weather forecast for that area (not that you can always rely on the forecast) and to make the journey. I had a feeling that it would be OK … and it was.

I am certainly ready for more jaunts into the country, organising a new project or two to shoot … while I expand my familiarity with rural NSW.

June 19, 2024June 25, 2024

Chérie Désirée returns to Kings Cross

Chérie Désirée is a truly glamorous woman who is one of the luminaries you may meet along the streets of Rozelle. She absolutely captures my attention to the point that I asked her one day if she would pose for me. I wanted to capture her wonderful silhouette on film.

I first brought Cherie to my studio in Lilyfield to complete a studio shoot and capture a series of portraits. During this session, while we chatted, I learned about Cherie’s remarkable dancing career and her life on the stage. She worked for many years touring in notable theatres around the country as a dancer and chorus performer. Originally from a small dairy farm in Queensland, this slender, good-looking woman left behind the rural life for a life under the spotlights. Once she told me that she had been a dancer, the rest made sense … the way Cherie held herself, those slender legs, her shimmering dress, her costume jewellery and her sense of style.

El Bongo, Darlinghurst Rd, King Cross, 1962

I also learnt that she fell in love with and married a handsome Italian singer called Filippo. Together they were the owners of several restaurant/nightclubs in Darlinghurst. One such club was called “El Bongo”, later known as “The Pink Pussycat”. This was situated on Darlinghurst Road in King Cross and was part of the infamous “Golden Mile” that people still talk so much about.

I thought it would be a good idea to take a couple of shots of Cherie in front of what was once one of her regular dancing venues. So we ventured to Kings Cross. I asked Cherie to pose in front of what was once El Bongo … sadly now just a vacant shop space, devoid of the dynamism and vibrancy it once had back in the day. This sad reality of a once vivid club-and-restaurant circuit now replaced by an empty and half-dead street, is extreme.

Cherie told me about how she would earn extra money to help pay for her sisters’ schooling, often dancing at three different clubs along the strip, all on the same night, moving from one stage to the next, covering up her costume with a coat as she hailed a cab or ran through the streets. I imagined her doing exactly that, her long legs running down the busy street as she made her way to the next venue. I also thought to myself what amazing stories this woman has in her kit bag, having spent so much time in a place which was notoriously “happening” during a period people still reminisce about.

The vacant space (now for lease) which was once the vibrant “El Bongo Restaurant”

Cherie added that she and her husband also owned another club in the area. They ran a restaurant/club on Oxford Street at the location which is now known as “Palms”. So I feel another shoot may happen soon not far from Taylors Square … maybe when the weather warms up.

June 18, 2024June 19, 2024

A touch of Mad Max in Rozelle

It might be a tad cold at the moment in Sydney but on the positive side, I find that the light is fantastic. I do prefer the winter light as it seems to give a much crisper definition to my images. Also you don’t have to wait for quite as long for the end of the day to come, when the light becomes softer and more forgiving – although the days are shorter and the sunsets and sunrises happen very rapidly.

I am using this period of the year to get out and take a few shots of my greater environment … buildings, street scenes, things that interest me, whenever I find some free time, as happened the other evening on the way home from the swimming pool. I saw the western side of the city lit up with the last rays of the sun. Luckily I had my camera with me in the car, so I stopped and snapped a few frames.

I did marvel at the unusual, futuristic looking cylinders that border the park. They are the exhaust stacks emerging from the tunnels that extends beneath the Rozelle Parklands, newly excavated as part of the WestConnex interchange. In my mind, they look like they belong on the set of one of George Miller’s Mad Max movies.

March 26, 2024May 2, 2024

New profile images for Bentley Estate Agents

The team at Bentley Estate Agents came into the studio recently to update their professional profile images.

The agency has recently expanded by moving into new premises in Elizabeth Bay.

It was a pleasure to meet Tanya (Director), Francesco (Director) and Costa (Property Manager) during the shoot. I am always reminded how lucky I am to be a photographer and have the continuing opportunity to meet great people in relation to my work.

March 14, 2024March 22, 2024

Through the streets of Rozelle

One recent summer evening I decided to wander down Darling Street with my camera, to capture some images of the streets of Rozelle and Lilyfield as the skies turned to dusk.

It was a great exercise because not only did the light have an almost surreal quality, but it was fascinating to see how the corner shops, pubs and buildings which I pass by almost every-day are able to take on another dimension.

So every now and then, as I have done so in the past, I will continue to document my local area … it’s worthwhile to record the changes over time, to highlight what stays the same and also to get some fresh air at sunset.