52 Suburbs Around the World is imminent!

Apologies for the break in transmission. It has been full-on around here ever since a few weeks ago when
the Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for 52 Suburbs Around the World successfully reached its goal.
The funds played a vital role in getting the project over the line - which meant I was suddenly very 
busy doing all the stuff you have to do when you exit your life in one country and prepare to start new lives
in a number of other countries.

So first things first, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the Kickstarter campaign, either by
making a pledge or just spreading the word. Many many thanks. I love yous all.

Next on the agenda is to let you know of a few changes to the itinerary of the project. We were all going
to be nosing around the suburbs of Shanghai and Tokyo first, until I discovered that Shanghai's icy
winter can be debilitating for wandering photographers (let alone the eight year old 'assistant'), 
and Tokyo, well, Tokyo is just a little too iffy for my liking in terms of the radiation factor (and my budget
doesn't extend to buying imported food when we're there). So, after much mind-swirling, I settled on the
following for the first three months of 2012: January, Hong Kong; February, New Delhi; March, Istanbul.

I know it's a little disappointing not to be going to Tokyo in particular (I've never been but hear it's amazing).
But I reckon the new choices are going to be pretty amazing too. And they're all cities that received a lot
of votes from followers of this blog when I put the question of where to visit some time ago - so I hope you
approve.

Then after March, it stays the same as it was: Paris, Berlin, Rome and ending in New York. All famous, 
over-photographed cities that I hope to be able to show another less famous side of - and in an imaginative
way, care of my diptych, double-image obsession.

Lastly, the new blog is moments away from being ready to show you - so hopefully next time I post, 
it will be on the new blog. Very exciting.

Well, that's all for now. I am knee-deep in lists and packing boxes, and Coco is busy ticking off the days on
the calendar - we leave Sydney on December 30, precisely 37 days away.

Before I go, can I just say that, of course, I'm totally stoked about this upcoming adventure. Thrilled at the 
same time as being a little sick in the guts with excitement and nerves.

Yet despite all this, Sydney has never seemed more appealing, with purple carpets everywhere, fair-minded
people strolling about and until these last few cold and rainy days, a particular type of blue sky and quality
of light that I adore, especially around the 'golden hour' of 7-8pm. As if I needed any more convincing 
after exploring the place for a year and finding so much to be proud of. But really, what a city. 



the purple carpets of Sydney




I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new cities by the way (and of course anything else you care to share). 
Good, bad, indifferent?

NEWS! 52 Suburbs prints now part of Kickstarter rewards

The 52 Suburbs Around the World Kickstarter campaign is looking pretty hopeful - we're 78% of the way
to the goal! But there's only eight days to go - and if I don't reach my goal, I won't receive a single penny.

So I thought I'd do a quick post to let you know about some NEW rewards on Kickstarter - prints from
52 Suburbs rather than the new project. Unlike prints from the new project, these ones can be delivered
this month or latest, early December. Just in time for you know what.

Plus you can choose ANY image you like from the blog, book and exhibition. 

So, if the idea of a 52 Suburbs print and supporting the next project at the same time appeals to you,
head over here to Kickstarter and have a look at the new rewards - they're on the right-hand side,
at $165, $275 and $425.(Framing costs extra but I can point you in the right direction there too - the white
box frames like the ones in these photos are really good value, about a third of the cost of the print.)

Of course, any pledge, as little as $10, will help too. 

Thanks.

progress report

I thought I'd check in to let you know how the 52 Suburbs ATW Kickstarter campaign is shaping up.

As the nifty little Kickstarter widget shows, we are 32% of the way to our goal. 71 fabulous backers have made
pledges to the tune of $6,499. Everything from $1 to $1,000. In return for their generosity they'll receive
various rewards, everything from most excellent stickers to limited edition prints and a limited edition
book of the project.

Many thanks if you've already made a pledge. But if you haven't, can I be bold and say this: If everyone
who subscribes to this blog forgoes one cheap(ish) bottle of red or one non-fancy pants pizza, and
instead contributes that $15 to the Kickstarter campaign, this project will happen! That's all it will
take.

Meanwhile, I'm still flat out exploring every avenue to get this project off the ground.

In fact, I've been so consumed that I can't think of much else. Everywhere I look I see the world, even
when I'm doing my shopping down Marrickville way...

buying lemongrass I see Asia

buying meat for spag bol I see Italy

buying a croissant for Coco I see Paris

looking at tiles I see New York (why I'm not sure)







chatting to Life (yes, that's his name) I see a funny man!




I guess you could say I'm a little obsessed. But there doesn't seem to be any other way than obsession to get
this project up and running.

If you'd like to make a pledge please click here. Arigato. Merci. Danke. Etc.

Kickstarter has started! Help make 52 Suburbs ATW a reality!

In the words of Steve Jobs: "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid
the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

And so I begin my Kickstarter fund raising campaign for 52 Suburbs Around the World. Nothing
to lose, maybe lots to gain.

The video above is the one I made for my Kickstarter page. If you're interested in helping to make
52 Suburbs Around the World a reality, please head over and check it out. If you're not familiar
with the concept of crowd funding, it's basically a way to raise funds for creative projects by asking
supporters to give some moola in exchange for various rewards.

A note about the cities I've ended up choosing. You know how I was going to visit 12 cities? Well, 
having given it some serious thought, I've reduced the number of cities to between 4-6. Why?
Because that way we can spend 2-3 months in each city and really get a feel for the place, exploring
8-12 suburbs in each. A month might just have been rushing it. Plus I'm keen to try and get as many
locals in these cities to interact on the blog and the longer we're there, the more chance there is
of that happening.


When it comes down to it, the rewards you'll see are hopefully pleasing, but in my mind, the
reason to give will ultimately be, if you enjoyed my first project, 52 Suburbs, and want to help
make this second project happen so that you can enjoy another year of weekly installments of
virtual travel.

Anyway, I don't want to say too much - all the details are on my Kickstarter page. 

I have butterflies just posting this. But, nothing to lose.