James McCafferty, Wilderness Defender

Melbourne - JDM Media

The first thing I do whenever I get to a new city is figure out which way is West so I can watch the sun go down. My ex girlfriend loves sunsets more than anything and she got me into them too. The colors in the sky are always picture perfect. 

Speaking of perfect, I have a new job now. I work at the Wilderness Society, the biggest independent environmental organisation in Australia. I'm a fundraiser. My job title is Wilderness Defender Campaigner. Stop laughing.

Basically what I do all day is stand around talking to people trying to gain members to help fund campaigns. Right now were trying to save the Leadbeater Possum (which I like to call the Steelstrangler Possum) from extinction, conserve Australia's native forests and save the Kimberly from having the 2nd biggest gas refinery in the world build on it. So, as you can see, they're one of those lets-not-do-much organisations.

So fundraising tactics are pretty simple. You've got to stop people in the street. That's it. As long as people stop the rest just takes care of itself. So how do you stop someone in the street?

Well, my first day I tried just saying "Hi, how are you?" to see if I could cox anyone in with my lullying voice and body language. 90% said no, 9% said nothing and one guy just told me to fuck off. A new strategy was in order, so I stole some of my friend Cameron's tactics. 

I asked, "If you had a 100 year old tree, would you sell it for $6?" This worked better, mainly because the question is so out of the blue that they didn't hear. People would say what, I'd repeat, then they'd walk off angry that I would even consider talking to them about something as useless as the environment. I mean it's not like trees actually do anything other than block the sky. 

Today, I was determined to get a sign up. So I tried my new tactic, the absurd tactic. Now the point of this approach is to say something so ridiculous that if someone doesn't stop, they'll at least laugh. So if your in Melbourne ever and some weird enviro-guy asks you something like, "Excuse me, have you heard of nature before?" It's probably me. I got one sign up today!

Speaking of nature, my main concern with the environment is wildlife. I'm here to photograph animals, I don't want species becoming extinct when it is completely unnecessary. 

Cassowary - JDM Media

This is a Cassowary, a large ostrich like bird native to Papua New Guinea, Seram, Aru Islands and Northeastern Australia. In Queensland, the population is declining with population estimated at 1,500 - 2,500 (says Wikipedia). We saw one of them. It just walked through the garden.

They are vicious unless they're eating, which is lucky for me because I was about 5 feet away from a wild one taking this picture. If it had attacked, it would have kung-fu kicked me with one of its 3 inch dagger like claws. These things are dangerous. 

I really hope that my new job can take me to some amazing places to do some amazing things. I want to move up and become active in the movement. 

What I'd really like to know is what are your environmental concerns? Comment if you care. 

- James

My new home

I haven't had much time to take awesome pictures of the place yet, but here's a shot of my new home.

Front of house

I moved in today and I'm super stoked to have my own place. I mean, come on. A room in here is MY room. A room that I'm paying for myself. It's great and I can do whatever I want with it. I think I'm going to print pictures out in a grid and make some art along the walls.

Anyways here's the room. 

Ma room

Again, not the greatest picture but better ones are coming.

Me and my friends have two rooms, one is a double and the other a single. To decide who gets what we decided to play a game of Settlers of Catan. For anyone who doesn't know, Catan is a game where you basically need to make your civilization of settlers the best on the map. This is a relativity normal way for us to resolve issues.

Since I haven't been writing the blog as much as I should have, I have stock pile of pictures built up for the picture of the post. This is today's:

Face on the wall - JDM Media

One of the coolest things about Melbourne is that there are little alleyways everywhere full of either cafes or graffiti. All though tags get really annoying, when you see something as cool as this you can't help but stop and take it in. There are so many times we've just turned a corner and been thrown off guard by a mural of an elephant or an intricate line artwork that creates multiple images depending on where you look.

Not many other cities can say that. 

 I can see myself staying here for a while. There's plenty to see, plenty to do and a million things to photograph. I'm going to be making a 2012 portfolio, and I need a good name for it. Any suggestions. 

- James

Time to get serious

When I first decided to come to Australia one of the things I said I would do was start a blog. A week after landing I did, then 2 posts later I just kinda forgot. This is not a good start to my blogging career.

All is not lost however because I have decided right now that I AM going to start blogging. I don't care how annoying it will get to to get myself to some internet everyday and rant about my life. I WILL DO IT.

So I'm continuing this blog and keeping the name. However, I'm done with the whole Asian accent thing. It was funny at one point and now it is not. I am not Family Guy. When things stop being funny, I stop using them to try and make jokes.

Instead I'm going to use this as a bit of a James news type thing. Anyone who knows me well knows I'm always up to something. Normally photo, graphic or music related but I've always got a project in mind. So right now I'm starting something. Photo of the post.

Rules:
 - It's a photo I've taken
 - There's something interesting about it
 - Will be edited, and does not need to look realistic

A dance in the dark - JDM Media

This is a picture of my friend Cameron. I knew him from high school when he came over on exchange from New Zealand. We were both foreign in a French school so we both gravitated towards each other. We once walked from Ste Annes to Les Cedres after a party. He has long hair, says tin instead of ten and smells when he doesn't shower.

Cameron busks doing the coolest thing ever - Fire Poi. Basically he takes two ball on the end of chains, lights them on fire ans swings them around. It's quite awesome to watch and even more awesome to photograph.

It's so sick I felt like making some graphics with it. This is what I came up with as a logo.

Imaginary logo

I think it's cool.

I'm going to be producing a little fire poi video of the next 2 or 3 weeks. If anyone wants to know anything specific about the are, post your questions in the comments and I'll throw the answers in the video.

Until next time
- James

Trip to normal colored mountains

Konichiwa

Yeasterday me and Ericsan take two hour bus all the way to Blue Mountains. We get there and see mountains and see that mountains are not blue they just normal color! Why name mountain blue if they normal color? It make no sense. ?-(   (Question mark face)

It like in China. Silly Chinese name river Yellow river and it not even Yellow!

Anyway, on the mountain we visit the three sisters. In the three sisters we see Ōsutoraria animal in it's natural habit.

 





Billabong hat in natural habitat

We not get near Billabong for fear of venemous bite. They live all over Ōsutoraria.

Also, on our trip we begin descent of Great Stairs, but stairs go on forever! So we turn round and watch sunset.



Sun over not-blue mountains

Thats all from our trip to brown mountains. We have many more adventures to come. We hope Japan gains much knowledge from our trip.

 

 

FIrst day in Ōsutoraria (Australia)

Konichiwa

My name James and my friend name Eric. We start life in Ōsutoraria where Koaras live.

Heres story so far:

Sept. 5 me and friend Eric fly from Montreal airport to New York airport where we miss flight to Shanghai. So instead we given flight to Sydney another way with free Arukōru. Good time for all!

After we land in Sydney we go see garden and strange bird and lots animals that we not have in Japan. Like Koara bear and Kangarū.

So now we take photo all round Ōsutoraria. It is our mission. If we fail, seppuku will be had by all :(

Sayōnara friends

XD

In bathroom of Koara house