ZAC PATSALIDES PHOTOGRAPHY

Harmony - Double Exposure Photo - Buy Prints

Honourable Mention - Chromatic Awards 2018

Wat Arun Temple, Bangkok, with an exposure of a Bonsai Tree in the foreground. Wat Arun is also known as the Temple of Dawn, aptly named as this was the time of day King Taksin arrived at the temple in 1768. I chose to photograph a Buddhist Temple because Buddhism advocates ‘The Middle Path’, or in other words, a life of moderation -something which is absolutely crucial for the survival of future generations on Planet Earth. Quoting the Dalai Lama: “In the present circumstances, no one can afford to assume that someone else will solve their problems. Every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes are not sufficient; we must become actively engaged”. I decided to use the Bonsai tree as the secondary shot because it is largely known to be symbolic of harmony, balance and simplicity, which ties in perfectly with the ‘moderation’ message.

Fire - Double Exposure Photo - Buy Prints

Honourable Mention - Chromatic Awards 2018

A non-native species of plant exposed over the Sydney Opera House. Utzon’s design of the Sydney Opera House was considered a groundbreaking piece of modern architecture. His inspiration came from nature; walnuts, palm trees, shells, bird wings and the form of clouds. For me, the image depicts the idea that everything comes from nature, and one day everything will be returned to nature. I chose the red plants (Aloe and Red Hot Poker) as a metaphor for fire. Over the last century, Australian bush fires have increased threefold, primarily due to unstable atmospheric conditions allowing fire plumes to develop higher than they normally would, meaning there are more severe fires at ground level. As Jacques-Yves Cousteau said “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realise that, in order to survive, he must protect it”.

Queen Victoria Memorial - Kolkata, India

Hawa Mahal - Jaipur, India

Galle Lighthouse

Tibetan Monastery - Gantok, India

Church Of Good Shepherd - Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Knowledge - Double Exposure Photo

The University of Sydney, captured through a window, with an image of an Agave plant as the secondary shot. I decided to photograph the University because “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress.” - Kofi Annan. In today’s world, the age of information, ignorance is a choice. Education is key to the survival of future generations. I chose to shoot from the perspective of looking through the window to signify bright hopes and vast possibilities for our future generations. I chose the Agave plant because it is symbolic of endurance - and it is “to the one who endures that the final victory comes”. Endurance is key to the survival of our Planet.

Jaswant Thanda - Jodhpur, India

Jaswant Thanda - Jodhpur, India

Overflow - Double Exposure Photo

Three Sydney icons can be seen within this double-exposure. The first at the forefront of the frame: Bondi Beach. I decided to overlay Bondi on top of the harbour (Sydney Opera House in the foreground, Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background) as a metaphor for the rising sea levels globally. If you look closely you can see ‘drowning’ tourists in the bottom left hand corner. Over the last century sea levels are estimated to have risen between 4-8 centimetres, and this figure is only going up.

The Clock Tower - Jodhpur - India

By The Lake - Jaisalmer 

Reclaim - Double Exposure

Prior to 1788 when the first European settlers arrived in Australia, the country was inhabited by Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people lived largely in temporary shelters or ‘Gunya’, and stone houses have also been found. All materials used were natural - wood, clay and rocks. Post 1788, buildings were erected quickly, with the Government House on Norfolk Island being built the very same year. If you stand in any Australian city, it is almost impossible to imagine the country 230 years ago. I decided to double expose Sydney’s most famous landmark, the Harbour Bridge, with a native species, the Eucalyptus tree. I aligned the Eucalyptus tree seamlessly with the bridge to create the illusion of nature reclaiming itself. Given the chance, nature will always win - something the world has forgotten. Photo

Life - Double Exposure Photo

A Dragon Blood Tree exposed over the Sydney Opera House. I chose the Dragon Blood Tree,as to me it symbolises life. This life-giving tree itself grows in harsh, arid area, and can survive for hundreds of years in optimal conditions. The tree itself gives in many way; the fruit of the tree is food for birds, and the leaves for goats. The resin of the tree has various medicinal purposes, from treating dysentery to stemming bleeding. The wood of the tree is used in the manufacture of beehives - and as we know bees are the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. Sadly, due to climate change, habitat destruction and over exploitation by humans, it is currently classified as vulnerable.

Eternal - Double Exposure Photo

One of the seven world wonders, the Taj Mahal was completed by Shah Jahan in 1653, and was dedicated to his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away during the birth of their 14th child. After her death, Jahan went into mourning, with some saying he aged considerably, his hair greying and his eyesight failing. He poured his grief into the construction of one of the most exquisite, elegant buildings in the world. The Taj Mahal is symbolic of eternal love - and I thought it was fitting to photograph the colour red for the second exposure. The gardens surrounding the Taj Mahal also represent Jannah - the paradisiacal garden of the afterlife in Islam. Personally, this image embodies the everlasting cycle of love and nature, and how both are intertwined throughout the world.

The Taj Magal - Agra, India

Interconnected - Double Exposure Photo

Wat Traimit in the background, with an image of a pink blossom tree in the foreground. Wat Traimit is home to The Golden Buddha. Buddhism is intrinsically entwined with nature, and this image depicts this message. When Buddha gained enlightenment, he came to the realisation that we are interconnected to everything in this universe - not just other humans, but all beings, Mother Nature and Earth itself.Therefore, the severing of this interconnectedness means death for all beings. When we abuse nature, deplete Earth’s resources and disregard key environmental issues, we are slowly severing these connections. “Since this exists, that exists, and, since this does not exist, that does not exist. That is created because this is created, so if this disappears, that disappears” - Buddha. Essentially, we are one. If we harm the environment, we are harming ourselves.

Paradise - Double Exposure Photo

Often overshadowed by Agra’s better known Tomb - The Taj Mahal - The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah was actually finished five years prior to the construction of The Taj, and is often said to be one of its biggest architectural influences. This image was shot from the inside of the Tomb, through the archway, looking out to the Eastern gate that sits on the Yamuna Riverside. My decision to photograph from the inside looking out was largely influenced by the Islamic belief that after death if you have done good deeds, you will go to Jannah, or paradise. Jannah is often described as the “garden of everlasting bliss”. The Quran also references “flowing rivers” and there are eight separate gates to enter Jannah, hence I thought it was fitting to photograph the gate that overlooks the Yamuna River.

The Taj Mahal - Agra, India

Alien - Double Exposure Photo

Australia’s ecosystem is one of the most unique and diverse in the world, and its distinctive flora and fauna species began evolving around 140 million years ago when Australia split from the super-continent Gondwana. Since the first European settlers set foot on Australia in 1788, Australia has struggled with alien and invasive species, from Willow trees to European rabbits. Thankfully nowadays this is something that is tightly controlled. This was my inspiration for this particular image, where I have double exposed a Japanese Cherry Blossom tree over the Sydney skyline. My aim was to depict an alternative reality, or an alien-landscape - possibly what the landscape would look like without Australia’s strict Quarantine regulations. The overriding message is perhaps more a statement on modern globalisation - something that is both a blessing and curse for Earth and Mother Nature.

Umaid Bhawan - Jodhpur, India