The Ones That Got Away

  

So many photos end up the cutting room floor when making a book. There are many different reasons why an image doesn't make it. Sometimes it is simply they can't find a home or jar with the rest of the images. These four images were taking during the making of French Essence and they all hit the cutting room floor.  I photographed them all on film (T64) and then cross processed them by developing the postive film in a negative developer instead of the usual positive or trannie developer. The result is always unpredictable but often makes for beautiful images. The contrast becomes dramatic and the colours are pushed to new levels. I have always been a fan of cross processing and love this effect for fashion. These guys didn't find a home because the colours jarred with the rest of the photography but I didnt' take it personally. After all you can't have them all. I famously sent 1000 images to my publisher when making Italian Joy and over 700 hit the cutting room floor. I just couldn't decide!! Carla x

Three Generations - Naples

Copyright Carla Coulson Italian Joy

I took this pic on my first trip to Naples back in 2001. Naples was 'love at first sight' for me and a photographer's dream come true. I stayed in a small pensione (Italian B & B) in the heart of Spaccanapoli and found these women on my first day. I later got to know them and took them a copy of the photo. They were always so kind to me on every trip to Naples filling my pockets full of oranges and apples. Years later I returned to find the old lady had died, her daughter was still so heartbroken she could hardly tell me the news. She was part of special generation of Italians that had seen so much, worked so hard and treasured the small things in life. I remember her with fondness. The pic was taken on my old Nikon FE with Ilford 400 black and white film.

Italian Train Stations - Inspire Emotion

Copyright Carla Coulson Italian Joy

This is an old photo I took at the train station in Florence. There is always so much emotion at a train station in Europe. Loved ones departing and those precious last minutes together lost in an embrace. I hope you are with your loved one this weekend. Carla x

Eat, Pray, Love and Moi

Last night I went to see Eat, Pray and Love. I adored Elizabeth Gilbert's book of the same name and was looking forward to seeing the film with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. I was also looking forward to it because it paralleled my life when I left Australia for Italy in the year 2000.

I couldn't hold back the tears when she put her packed boxes into storage (mine are still there) and sped across the Brooklyn Bridge. That was moi eleven years ago as I left Sydney searching for a new life and happiness.

I related to so much, those wonderful friendships with Italians, their important lessons of  life like 'dolce far niente' enjoying doing nothing and simply being together!

Every fork full of food that Julia Roberts put in her mouth then closed her eyes savouring the flavour I have done over and over again savouring every ounce of Italy. Italy taught me lessons that even a lifetime of   therapy could never have taught me.

And to top it off there is the delectable Javier Bardem. I could gaze at him all day because in many ways its like gazing at the gorgeous Francesco who I met seven years ago in Italy.

I shed so many tears during the film especially when they boated into the sunset on a simple boat going to a beautiful island. I know my film friend blogger Zazie would pan it as a chick flick but it is a strange sensation watching your life (almost) on the big screen.

Elizabeth Gilbert left because she was in an unhappy marriage. I left because I was single, unsatisfied with my career and I won the best client of the year at my local Thai takeway! That would be enough to make anyone leave.

It is without a doubt a chick flick but if you feel like changing your life or just day dreaming about it go and see it.

My 'Javier' Francesco!!

Italian Joy Give-away

All images from Italian Joy

Some more pics from Italian Joy. Italian Joy was published in 2005 and is a photo journal. It is my visual love-letter to Italy mixed with tales of my journey swapping my career to become a photographer in a foreign land.

See post below for give-away information. Carla x