I had a stand alone photo and caption published on Page Two today.

It's a very big deal to me because it means a few things:


1) I chose a good angle (as in, the way I told the story)


2) The photo was good enough


3) The caption was good enough





So here is the photo (Blogger.com won't let me copy-paste the caption and it was a but much to type-out here).

The original was a better res. but for publishing we have to crop to be 4in X 6in and 300 Px per Inch so the result is a bit grainy.

So happy =)

Check this out, it's great guys:

http://circusindonesia.blogspot.com/2007/12/blog-post.html

Go show them your support =)

PMI Volunteers (Indonesian Red Cross)

Cheeeeese!

This young lady spoke amazing English =)

One week down, three to go: Internship

Yep, I just finished my first six-day week at the Jakarta Post as a photojournalist and it was AWESOME! They have already published a photo I took! I have already learnt so much and that was just over a few days! My mentor, Pak* Arief, looks at my daily photos and tells me what he likes about them or how I can improve, and I cann already see an improvement, from the photos I took on my forst day to the photos I took yesterday. This is really exciting! I spent two days with Pak. Berto driving around in his car, looking for news. We kept the live news station on (radio) and at one stage we rushed-off to a fire at a big gallery. Yesterday I tagged along with Nunu, another photographer for the Jakarta Post. She introduced me to her friends who are photojournalists for the major and minor media here in Jakarta. They were really welcoming and appreciated that I tried to speak some Bahasa.







I couldn't have dreamed of a better internship; This is perfect for me =)







*Pak means Mister in Bahasa Indonesia

My first photo has been published in print and online!

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/11/social-service-agency-pushes-ahead-with-street-kid-tests.html

And I'm thrilled =)

So today I spent the day searching for stories with Berto... and we found some. I was about to retire for the evening when Arief, my Editor, asked me if I liked my photo in the paper, and I did a double-take in surprise and he whipped-out a copy of today's paper and, sure enough, in the City section, is my pic of some street kids.

=) I'm absolutely thrilled... and still a bit in shock.

On the streets of Jakarta with Pak Berto.

Random vendor >>>>

"Photo?" >>>>
She's only about four and she was wandering around alone.

Some muslim women from a charity just gave her that little

bag with, I think, lollies in. We had a little chat and a smile

spread across her face. I wish I could have brought her home

and fed her ice cream and given her a big hug.
>>>>

Street boy. Random guys who came over to talk to us while we were chatting with some sources =) PEople here are very friendly.

>>>>

Looks like a tough job. People here actually work hard, makes me think twice before I bitch about being tired.
>>>>

Assorted Jakartan media =) Mostly photographers. They're all friends, we ran into them several times today =)
>>>>

Nit picking.
>>>>

"The fire's up here guys!"

>>>>

Chillaxing
>>>>

Firey
>>>>

Searching for a fire

>>>>

The boss >>>>

Well, I'm doing photojournalism for the Jakarta Post and every day I learn more great tips.

Today I hit the streets with Pak Berto (Mr. Berto). Nothing's been published yet so I can't say anything but I have a couple of unused photos and some quick snaps so please don't look at these and go "oh what crap", because some were even shot down low where I couldn't see the image... namely because the subjects weren't sure about having their photos taken... but I learnt today that it doesn't matter, under these circumstances you print it anyway...

Anyway, I had a really interesting day and I hope one of the photos I submitted this evening t the JP gets published =)

In other news, I'm going to an Australia Day event at the embassy on the 26th. I rekon it'll be fun =)

So that's pretty much that.

I had a killer headache this evening. I couldn't think straight and I though I was going to throw up.

Somehow I found a taxi and got home then downed some painkillers and a litre of water and still feeling crappy, stood in the shower for ages...

...Much better now =)

Great News!

Yes, I made the photos work, and also, I get to be a photojournalist at the Jakarta Post for a while! =) Basically I go out in Jakarta in search of interesting, human interest photos and rock up to the Jakarta Post in time to send them off before the 3pm deadline =) I'm stoked =)

Flooded Plans

Ok, well it hasn't actually flooded but I was planning to go to Bandung (3 hours away by train) for the weekend to do a load of photography. This morning I got ready, packed and locked my backpack (don't laugh, if I don't I'll get to my destination and find zips undone and things missing) and walked down stairs. It was raining pretty heavily and I asked the guy at the door if it might be raining in Bandung and he grinned and said, "Bandung is known as the City of Rain." So that was that, there's no point going somewhere to take photos if it's raining heavily. So I went back up stairs, unpacked my bag and spent a while researching a possible story idea. Next I spent an hour reading the Jakarta Post online and face book-ing and now, well... now I'm reading a book about journalism that has practacle tips from practicing journalists, it's really funny with anecdotes and so on =)

So yeah, that was my exciting day.

Have a great weekend =)

Evenings in Jakarta

The air is thick and muggy and the light is fading. It already feels surreal walking up the street wishing everyone you pass "Malam", when the mosque prayers start-up. They happen five times a day and they are broadcast over very loud speakers. The air is so thick on this particular night that the prayers are somewhat muffled, amking them less abrupt than usual and quite pleasant to listen to.

****

I over-shopped today after uni so instead of catching an ojeck I had to take a taxi (don't worry mum, it only costs $3AUD for the 30 trip which saw me caught in a macet (traffick jam) that let us move 200 metres in 10 mins). Everyone works together here. The road was completely blocked up with motorcycles and a few cars and a number of locals took it upon themselves to direct the traffick. First one direction had a turn, then they were halted which the vehicles coming from the other direction were given a turn and so on. They have thir own hand signals. Despite this city being so busy, I haven't experieced any road rage. Horns are generally used to let cars know that motorcycles are coming along side them. It's quite beautiful to watch.

****

I had my Bahasa Indonesia test this morning and I MAY have passed!!!!! (I hope.)

I'm heading-off to Bandung tomorrow morning on (hopefully) the 5am train and I won't be back until Sunday evening. I'm going purely to take lots of photos. Very much looking forward to it..

Today the Indonesian correspondant for the Australian came in and had a chat to us about how to snag his job. I'm convinced it won't be easy but I'm dead set going to be one oneday.

I now have a few story ideas, not inspired by today but I was thinking back to conversations I've had with various locals.

Anywho, I'm going to go do some research then have an early night so I'm ready in the morning =)

Take care guys =)

-Av

Why yes, you are meant to tip the Indonesian Taxi drivers...

And I'm so freakin' sick of people saying, "Oh no, it's okay, you don't tip them." Because if you think you shouldn't tip them, you haven't done your frikkin' research! It's just one of those things, unless you go for a 6,000 Rp trip and they charge you the 25,000 Rp, you should frikkin' tip them. And really, how petty are you, not wanting to give them an extra 2,000 Rp?! (for those who don't know the exchange rate, that's like 25c AUD).

In other news, I visited the SoS and the Doc gave me medicine for a sinus infection.

We had a great lecture today about Media in Indonesia and how much it has improved =)

I found a socks store with great knee-highs like the pair I bought 5 years ago... they might even be the same brand, and they were $2AUD each! Yuss!

I also bought some very awesome pressies for all my lil' nieces... I have ideas on what the nephews will be scoring.

For the siblings, I'm afraid I'm waiting to visit outside of Jakarta to pick you up some nice traditional things.

We had a mini flood this arvo, the water was about 9cm from my knees and I discovered a funky way to wear my pants.

And last of all, a shout-out to the Love of My Life, Rex (check out his animations and art at www.dojang.deviantart.com). I miss you Babe <3

P.S. Tip the frikkin taxi drivers!

Avril OUT! ;-)

Sick, am going to the SoS

It isn't as bad as it sounds! The SoS is an international thingy, a doctor surgery, with English speaking doctors. We think I have AC Flu from the coach ride the other day plus I have an ulser on my top gum ='(

So stay tuned for the good or bad news in about 8 hrs ;-)

MTV Asia

Yep. With the death of my lap top came the temporary loss of my COD4 stats and my music, so I discovered MTV Asia, ans the following are the main clips that are repeated too many times each day:

*Imogene Heap - 'Hide and Seek' is the song sampled in Jason Durelo's 'Watcha Say'. Thank you to my great mate Glenn for telling me about her =) *

Now on teh TV we have:

'Watcha Say' - Jason Durelo
'Seoul' -
'Hot Mess' - Cobra Starship
'Rain' - Mika
'Fireflies' - Owl City

Blogger.com won't let me paste their links and I'm too lazy to type them out so go hit youtube. Also, I particularly like the Owl City song ^__^


Erm, nothing new to report except I went for an evening ojeck ride to Plaza Semanggi to buy a few groceries and I still love how friendly everyone is as we weave through the neighbourhood alleys =)

Hey All! =)

It has been a while since my last update and I only have the time to do this because I'm in bed sick instead of at Atma Jaya learning Bahasa Indonesa (and believe me, I wish I was there because the language test is on Friday and I don't feel prepared).

First of all, my lap top died so I was offline for maybe a week. I had to buy a new one because the guy at the ACER service centre opened the other one up and showed me that there was a very small bit of moisture on a chip inside and I guess it must have fried it, but I can slavage the harddrive when I get home =)

In the time since my last post...

1) I've bought many pairs of Connies because they're like $20 here compared to $100+ in Hobart!

2) I've visited the distros to buy pressies for my wonderful mates back home =) The distros are like Dangerfield; they sell clothing and accessories by local young designers and most of which are punk or taking the piss at pop fashion. And I dragged my poor ojeck driver around so I bought him a t-shirt with Darth Vader on as a thankyou. Then I had to educate him about Star Wars because he's never seen it, poor guy!

3) I was sick over the weekend. On Sunday morning I walked up the road to give bananas to the monkeys and one of them was sick and I had to hold the mini banana while he nibbled it. I hope he doesn't die :'(

Anyway, my ojeck driver "Boy" asked if I like monkeys and of course I said yes so he said he had a surprise and we jumped on his ojeck. I was assuming he was going to show me more of the monkeys in our neighbourhood, and I wasn't feeling well and just wanted to go back to bed. However 40 minutes later we arrived at a zoo outside of Jakarta, in Java (yes, the whole island is Java, but there's actually a distinction between being in Java or being in Jakarta). So we walked through it and I took a lot of photos of Orang Utans, Komodo Dragons, Elephants and so on, then when it was home time Boy couldn't find his ojeck, which lead to us walking right around the outside of the zoo's boundary fence to the other parking lot, which was, I would guess, at least a 1km walk (remember, I haven't had a chance to walk pretty much anywhere for the last fortnight so 1km was unpleasant in the humid 34C). Then, when we got there, wewalked straight past his motorcycle (there were hundreds parked there) and it was me who pointed it out to him hehe. So I was really tired for Monday =(

4) I've visited Monas, the National Monument. It's pretty cool and you can take a lift up too the top for an amazing view.

5) I visited the Jakarta Post and met my mentor, which was nerve wraking and I really hope I have what it takes. I feel more comfortable in radio but hey, print media will be cool =) Plus it's what I did first =)

6) I'm contemplating going to Bandung for the weekend, if I'm feeling 100%

7) Yesterday we went to CIFOR, the forrest conservation place. The HQ is in Bogor, a beautiful placeoutside of Jakarta.

Also, I'm having difficulty posting photos so be patient please =) Look for me on Flikr: Avril Holderness-Roddam Photography. Not many because it keeps playing up :'(

I hope you're all well!

Cheers,

Av =)