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I'm an Australian management consultant and have been a keen photographer since the age of 16 and took up medium format photography in about 1982, seeking superior resolution and creative freedom offered by Hasselblad's V series equipment and its Carl Zeiss lenses.
The first time I saw a 6x6 slide shot with Hasselblad equipment excited me - the viisual impact was nothing like I had ever seen beofre!
The industrial design, engineering quality and overall form of the V series equipment ensures my commitment to it. The range of lenses I use are all those from 50mm to 250mm plus the 1.4 extender.
I also regularly shoot panoramas with the XPan II as an ideal partner to my V series system.
In recent years I had the priviledge to receive Victor Hasselblad's first commercial camera and Zeiss lenses - the 1600F. It is now in regular use simply because of the beautiful image qualities.
My conversion to medium format digital capture will be achieved with a Hasselblad CFV digital back. I intend to retain the functional characteristics of the V series system and optical characteristics of the Carl Zeiss lenses regardless of film or digital capture.
My photography is less "studied" than it is "opportunistic" - I enjoy the surprise and discovery rather than a sought out studied subject.
While something of a generalist photographer, my greatest interest lies in city and streetscapes capturing objects and architectural details in particular. I seek out the details often overlooked as we go about our ordinary daily activities - especially the unusual.
In Australia we have a remarkably unique and diverse landscape combined with unusual townships. It's a compelling attraction to regularly travel into the different outback regions and experience their differences and the varying types of light and its visual effect on the environment. This is when square and panorama formats are totally compelling tools. To my eyes the square format is ideal for framing our vast spaces, which to many seems counter-inuitive.
My current photographic goals include; the completion of significant photo-essays about: 1) the details of our harsher and more unusual rural/outback environments; 2) the hidden treasures of my home city and the finer details that elude most.
Specifically, my purpose is to avoid the "chockolate box"/"coffee table" style images that so often only demonstrate technique and image manipulation that often hide the natural beauty and interest.
Simon Galbally
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