Out to Space

The official Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras has to wrap up with the party. This is a big dose for an excessive life of modern world.

This is it, another year of Mardi Gras. This year it celebrates 30th anniversary. On the second time I am involved as a photographer, it intrigues my thoughts in many ways. I will sum up what I have experienced the festival later.

A rainbow flag of a boat flying with Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the background.

Another major event of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival and the last key party before the final Mardi Gras Dance Party rolls in, Mardi Gras Harbour Party, Sol Y Luna.

The simple concept is just having fun while watching sunset in Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens with Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the background. Moreover, it is special this year when two cruise liners, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth 2, rendezvous. And this is the last time that QE2 cruises in the Harbour before her retirement.

My little project on Sleaze Ball is being exhibited as a part of Sleaze Slide Show nightly from 7pm onward from 4-14 October at Darlinghurst PhotoArt Space, 76 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.

This is another exposure on the commercial gay street of Sydney. I am very pleased with my nine-minute slice of over-half-an-show slide show amongst other talented photographer:

• Viteck Skonieczny
• Kristen Elsby
• George Voulgaropoulos
• Markham Lane

One interesting thing, even though night event photography is not my strength because my gears are not the best for low light situation, the producer, Robert McGrath, edits my shots differently from my selection. For example, it comes to my surprise that he prefers to put this blurry take on the slide show in stead of the sharp one.

He actually asked me at the media meeting that my style still involved shaky movement and I confidently nodded. I still do not regret deleting that image when I was being criticised in the party, though.

Sleaze Ball is a major fund raiser event for Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Each year has its theme for everyone to dress up with. This year is about being a freak in Zirkus. Entertainment Quarter is ready for a long night of self-indulgence.

Party goers are superficially fabulous. They come to me and ask if I want to take a photo of them. Posers are the least I am interested in but I just cannot say no to them. Then, a young man sees his photo on my camera display and comments “I don’t think it’s good, not sharp enough”. What a constructive criticism from someone who I have met for 30 seconds! I just shrug, walk away and delete the photo.

However, I decide to pursue my approach by getting intimate on the dance floor and stepping back in a distance in order to see in the different perspectives. It works. I find that it is the most enjoyable gay dance party I have been involved in.

What a surreal morning! I have been to two completely different planets. After 8 hours of intense photo shoot of Sleaze Ball, I get home, refresh and go to Champagne Breakfast at Petersham RSL.

From techno rave to electone muzak, from the sea of half-naked men to the stream of immaculate housewives, and from the action of cruising around the dance floors to the stagnation in the middle of the hall room. Yes, I freeze with culture crash and have to tell Stilgherrian not to leave me by myself, not when I have no sleep.

Then we pick the table that appears to be the least bitter, considered by my hunch. Five women at the table look out-of-place, like us. Few Champagne is sipped while we are making the conversation. It turns out that the woman next to me, Lizzie, is a best mate of Professor Maria Bashir, the Governor of NSW and more of her nursing life comes out very intriguing.

We exchange our numbers for catching up later. Hopefully, we will be hearing from her soon.