So I was the proud owner of a Big Love Ball.
I discovered this loveable ball when I was in Vancouver last year. My friend Melissa - who I was staying with - introduced me to it. Her husbands family friend Wendy had created it a couple months earlier and was doing exceptional things with it.
It was love at first sight, I experienced an instant connection to it and I vowed to purchase one upon my return to Australia. 9 months later, I did exactly that. I purchased one for my brothers wedding. Sadly it poured down the entire wedding and never got the attention it deserved, but it was still a great laugh and talking point nonetheless. I think South Perth Yacht Club gained more from it than the happy couple.
Rather than pack it away I decided to do my own little pro-bono community project with it around Perth where I would take a photo of a local identity and get their thoughts on love.
There are 3 reasons why I decided to undertake this labour of love.
- I've never experienced true deep love; Sure, I've adored people but I've never been in love. I have no idea what real love is and I wanted to learn more about it and what it meant to different people.
- I am bored of photography; Every Tom, Dick and Harriet is a "photographer" these days shooting the same old stuff. Being a film purist, I yawn when I see HDR images and over processed shots make me feel dirty all over. I wanted to shoot something different to everyone else which was fun, community based, had meaning and rejuvenated my creative mojo.
- I wanted to bring people joy; I'm a positive person and have experienced so many wonderful, random acts of kindness around the world in my life. I thought it was time I paid it back.
Over the past 8 weeks, I've lost it out to sea from Port Beach, rolled it down South Terrace in Fremantle, rolled it up St Georges Terrace in the CBD, squeezed it through difficult access ways, rolled it through wetlands in Gwelup, had a pint with it at The Court Hotel, shot a handful of friends with it and finally watched one of Perth Zoo's elephants joyfully have its way with it before popping it.
Numerous strangers have smiled, laughed, played with it and had their photo taken with it when they encountered it along the way.
Its been an amazing project and I think the photos speak for themselves, big thanks to everyone involved.