BEN MARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY bio picture
  • Random facts about me…

    I was born at a very young age and have become one of the most dynamic people I know.

    I nearly won the high jump at primary school when I was 8. I try to limit my blinking in case I miss something. With nothing but a cheap plastic garden rake and an iPod loaded with 70's Disco, I once stopped a raging bush fire. Several times I have come up with the meaning of life but can’t quite put it into words. My friends love me. I had a pet duck when I was 6, called Alexander, and he died when I was 7... I still don't eat duck.

    I am an accomplished baritone and can play the banjo with my toes. Even though I'm older now, sometimes, just sometimes, I still enjoy eating sand. I like shopping trolleys with one bad wheel. At night I like to drive very fast- with my lights turned off, in reverse.

    In my whole life, I've never dropped an egg on the floor. Reading technical articles upside down helps with my retention of the facts. My favourite colour is blue. I manage my time efficiently, without even knowing it and all my bills are paid on time. I have a passion for restoring broken cane baskets. Dolphins, cows and snakes never bite me. When I grow up I want to be a fireman or maybe an astronaut, what ever pays the best.

My life…

Apparently my “life style” on the NSW South Coast near Bega is a little different…I really do love where I live & the surrounding area. I live a very simple life in a converted shearing shed with; solar power, gas fridge, wood heating, pit toilet, no TV, one bar of mobile service, tank water, outdoor shower etc. I never set out to be “alternative” just kind of happened I suppose! At the same time I am not a staunch “greenie” or anything but I do try to tread lightly on the earth.

One day I dream of fixing up the the old house on the hill (in the 2nd last photo) with fancy stuff like an indoor shower:o

I find trying to fold fitted sheets extremely dissatisfying…

AUSTRALIA DAY

AUSTRALIA DAY
You know you’re Australian if …
• You believe that stubbies can be either drunk or worn.
• You’re liable to burst out laughing whenever you hear of Americans “rooting” for something.
• You pronounce Melbourne as ‘Mel-bin’. You believe the ‘L’ in the word ‘Australia’ is optional.
• You abbreviate our countries towns and cities, ‘BRISSY’, ‘NEWY’, ‘COFFS’, ‘SURFERS’, ‘ROCKY’ and ‘THE GONG’
• You can translate: ‘Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas.’
• You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep.
• You call your best friend ‘a total bastard’ but someone you really, truly despise is just ‘a bit of a bastard’.
• You think ‘Woolloomooloo’ is a perfectly reasonable name for a place.
• You’re secretly proud of our killer wildlife.
• You believe it makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that’s twice as big as its $2 coin.
• You understand that ‘Wagga Wagga’ can be abbreviated to ‘Wagga’ but ‘Woy Woy’ can’t be called ‘Woy’.
• You believe that cooked-down axle grease makes a good breakfast spread. You’ve also squeezed it through Vita Wheats to make little Vegemite worms.
• You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis.
• Beetroot with your Hamburger… Of course.
• You know that certain words must, by law, be shouted out during any rendition of the ANGELS’ song ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ And “Living next door to Alice”.
• You believe that the confectionery known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year.
• You believe that every important discovery in the world was made by an Australian but then sold off to the Yanks for a pittance.
• You believe that the more you shorten someone’s name the more you like them.
• Whatever your linguistic skills, you find yourself able to order takeaway fluently in every Asian language.
• You understand that ‘excuse me’ can sound rude, While ‘scuse me’ is always polite.
• You know what it’s like to swallow a fly, on occasion via your nose.
• You know it’s not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle and a seat belt buckle becomes a pretty good branding iron.
• Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules for beach cricket.
• You shake your head in horror when companies try to market what they call ‘ANZAC BISCUITS’.
• You still think of Kylie as ‘that girl off Neighbours’.
• When working on a bar, you understand male customers will feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer.
• You know how to abbreviate every word, all of which usually end in -o: arvo, combo, garbo, kero, metho, milko, muso, rego, servo, smoko, speedo, righto, goodo etc.
• You know that there is a universal place called “WHOOP-WHOOP” located in the middle of nowhere…no matter where you actually are.
• You know that none of us actually drink Fosters beer, because it tastes like shit. But we let the world think we do. Because we can.
• You have some time in your life slept with Aeroguard on in the summer. Maybe even as perfume.
• You’ve only ever used the words – tops, ripper, sick, mad, rad, sweet – to mean good. And then you place ‘bloody’ in front of it when you REALLY mean it.
• You know that the barbecue is a political arena; the person holding the tongs is always the boss and usually a man. And the women make the Salad.
• You say ‘no worries’ quite often, whether you realise it or not.
• You understand what no wucking furries means.
• You’ve drank your tea/coffee/milo through a Tim Tam.
• You own a Bond’s chesty. In several different colours.
• You know that roo meat tastes pretty good, But not as good as barra. Or a meat pie.
• You know that some people pronounce Australia like “Straya” and that’s ok.

  1. • And you will forward this list to other Australians, here and overseas, realising that only they will understand!!!

Al & Cherie’s wedding photography, Cobargo South Coast NSW (my favourites)

I don’t think I will ever get another wedding like this;
* 5 minutes from home!
* Closest friends & family about 20 people
* Intimate reception at my favourite cafe in Cobargo “Valley Edge Cafe”.
* Cherie had decided I would be her wedding photographer years before she even met Al, what a huge compliment.
THANKS so much Al & Cherie
Much love Ben

You know your a real man when; you have to put on your own Bandaid’s and there is blood on the box afterwards…

“First of all accept yourself” – Swami Pranjnanpad

“there are three levels of knowledge, there is what you know, there is what you know you don’t know, and then there’s what you don’t know what you don’t know” …. hmmmmm

Nawww!

Hi Ben,

Michael and I both just wanted to say thank you!!
We are yet to see the finished product, or a photo but know that they are going to be amazing!! We found out about your talent through liz and we chose you because of the love and dedication you show towards whats not just a job to you but what is your passion, you see through that camera lens a different outlook on life! your an amazing photographer ben and an amazing person that we are both so glad to of crossed paths and had the pleasure to share our special and most amazing day of our lives and will continue to spread the word on how amazingly awesome you are and when new and exciting things happen in whats yet to come in our new life we will be sure to call you to capture every moment that matters 

big love and thanks
Tegan&Michael

One Day Intensive Workshop,Shepparton VIC

Had a brilliant day with a group of 8 for my first One Day Intensive Workshop, held in Shepparton VIC. Oh boy did we cover some info, too much I am thinking! So if “guys” if your heads are hurting this morning I am sorry…

Yep…

Stuart & Raine’s wedding photography (my favourites) Tuross River near Cobargo South Coast NSW

Wow, wow, wow…I just love my couples!

It’s so funny the most memorable weddings are the ones where everything goes “wrong”.

A beautiful river setting, 1km walk from the house where Raine was born and raised, mild sunshiny day. Then during the heart felt ceremony, rumble, rumble, rumble…dark clouds roll in…”you may kiss the bride”…& down came the rain. And not just a light shower, torrential rain! (soooooo glad I had a $2 poncho with me, saved my cameras!)

An instant wave of sheer delight exploded, no fussing about dresses/hair/make up/shoes/suits, just pure romantic joy.

The lovely outdoor dining area, upended & soaked, no problems we will just move it all inside!

I don’t often get to stay for “speeches” & these where something very special, what a wonderful, loving family, inspiring to share in.

Stu & Raine, thank you so much for including me in you’r amazing wedding day, I was deeply moved, inspired & come away a better person.

Ripley…

Stu & Raine, sneek peak…

O-M-G what a wedding! The heavens opened just after “you may kiss the bride”… If I took only one photo, this would sum up the whole day. I just love all that is going on; that amazing embrace, the videographer under the brolly, one of “the boys” just loving it, people using chairs for umbrellas…

I like that my cameras have a smooth patina and a few battle scars.

Nick & Jilda’s wedding photography, Mossy Point, Broulee NSW South Coast (my favourites).

“what can I say, said Jilda with a coy smile, I’m lucky” as the heavy rain stopped just before the ceremony!

“A few kind words can warm three winter months.” – Japanese proverb