Photographer Discovers COVID Friendly Way to Take Family and Friends on A Virtual Tour Across the Globe with Photography Project “40 Years Around The Sun”
Sydney Photographer, Kate Branch, has found a novel way of celebrating her upcoming 40th birthday, despite not having the big bash or travel adventures she’d originally envisaged, by creating a visual compilation of her favourite sunrises and sunsets from around the globe.
The video art project, entitled 40 Years Around The Sun, features 40 photos, all taken on her Leica camera, and will be donated to the Wikimedia Commons Project https://common- s.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kate_Branch_Photography, so that anyone, anywhere in the world, will be able to access and utilise these photos freely. It will be available to download from October 10th 2020.
Although international travel is still largely off the cards for most of us this year, Kate realised that she could bring to life her old travel memories by creating, in video form, a selection of her best photographic work throughout the years, featuring the burning orb that connects us all; the sun.
Using the medium of photography shown in video format, she realised she could take her friends, family and fans of her work on a virtual tour back through time to enjoy scenic moments from across the Earth.
40 Years Around The Sun, features photographs taken from an array of countries. Some feature sunrises and others sunsets, and each one shows how Ms Branch’s photography has evolved throughout the years. The video takes us on a journey of her work, starting with her first sunset photo captured in Assisi, Italy, with a disposable camera when she was just 18 in 1998, through to her signature Leica landscape style she is known for today.
Kate says of the unique photography project that she wanted to turn a negative into posi- tive, “I decided to bring this video project to life as a celebration of my own experience of forty years around the sun, especially in lieu of the fact that due to the current pandemic a travel trip or big party was out of the question.
“I realised, however, I could celebrate my birthday milestone, and pay homage to my huge appetite for travel, by pulling together a collection of some of my most treasured sunrises and sunsets from around the globe, all within one visual video, for family, friends and the wider public to enjoy. A keepsake, which is COVID-19 friendly, and a reminder that we are always connected (wherever we are in the world) by our biggest star – the sun.”
Branch continues on her ‘why’ for creating the project, “When I completed my Masters in Art Therapy at University, I worked with adults with dementia who were often confined to their rooms but what really struck me was that we would spend long periods poring over their life photo albums, which seemed to trigger happy memories. Although I am in very different circumstances, I’ve found a parallel here in the fact that during a tougher year, with lockdown restrictions in play for many of us, I too have found solace in reliving my own photographic memories. My photos have helped me transcend the current situation and take me to another place. This project therefore came about in the hope that perhaps I can also help take others away on a virtual travel journey with me. In fact, the quote that came to mind for me over and again whilst I was working on this project was – “Some- times you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory” –
Dr. Seuss.
“In my life to date, I have been lucky enough to bear witness to 14,600 sunrises and sun- sets, as our marbled planet orbits this awe inspiring star. As a professional photographer, I have always had a huge fascination for this burning bright orb, which has been reflected through my ongoing compulsion to capture the moments at dawn and dusk where we see it in all its fiery glory rise and lower before our eyes. Through the lens I aim to catch and savour a moment in time, showcasing the beauty of this celestial body; an integral part of all our lives.”
40 Years Around The Sun, featuring 40 sunrises and sunsets captured across the globe over time, by Mosman photographer Kate Branch, will be available to download for free from October 10th 2020 via: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kate_Branch_Photogra- phy
About:
Kate Branch is a life-long photographer and travel lover who currently resides in Mosman, Sydney, with her husband and two children. She holds two University degrees, a Bachelor (BFA) of Fine Art, of which she majored in Photography, and a Master (MA) of Art Therapy (Fine Art and Psychodynamics). Alongside her academic background, Kate credits travel for being her ultimate teacher in aiding her appreciation and understanding of art, photography and life. Find out more at katebranch.com
For further information, imagery, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Kate Branch on kbranch@photographer or 0410663797
