Here in Penrith we're pretty spoilt when you think about it - we're a stones throw away from the world heritage listed bushland of the Blue Mountains, and to the other side we've got one of the most diverse and culturally rich cities in the country! But how often do we actually take the time to slow down and fully appreciate all that Sydney has to offer?
One person who has done that is photographer Louise Hawson, with her 52 Suburbs project. "My blog, 52 Suburbs came about when I was scouting for a new photographic project. I have always thought it odd that many people regard the world as fascinating but shut down when it comes to their own backyards, regarding them as ho hum and not particularly interesting. When I applied this thinking to my own city, Sydney, I realised I was just as guilty as anyone else — I had been drawn to many places overseas and constantly fantasised about travelling far away — but I was not very interested in Sydney. It felt like I’d stopped exploring it a long time ago and had been stuck instead in my own little patch for years."
Louise decided to visit a new suburb each week for a year (hence the 52 Suburbs name), and document the images of her visits on her blog at www.52suburbs.com. Originally just a pet project, word spread about her amazing images and more and more people started to hear about it. This has resulted in a book titled 52 Suburbs (pictured below), and there is also an exhibition of her photos on display at the Museum of Sydney until 9 October (details here). And yes, if you're wondering she did visit Penrith, see that post here.
52 Suburbs is a great reminder to all of us to open up our own eyes and appreciate the beauty and diversity of our own backyards. It's also a great example of the kind of great things that can happen when you follow your passion.
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