Environments – creative workspaces photographed by Olga Bennett, with text by Sarah Caldwell
Images and layouts from Olga’s book, Environments. These photos document the workspaces of Amber Wallis and Kim Kneipp
Olga Bennett is a Melbourne-based, self taught photographer. She loves to shoot portraits and creative workspaces, and this passion has inspired her to create a beautiful little self-published book entitled ‘Environments‘.
“Environments started as a little self-indulgent project.” Olga explains… “I decided to get in touch with a few creative people whose work I’ve been admiring for ages, and asked if I could come around and take some images of their studios…. While focusing on the details of the space and behind the scenes moments, I was hoping to capture the person who works in the space, without necessarily pointing my camera at them directly. I’ve been always inspired by documentary photography in my work and I tried to document those spaces as they are: messy, ordered, casual.”
Environments features the creative spaces of many talented local favourites (and previous TDF interviewees!) including graphic designer / illustrator Marc Martin, artists Miso and Ghostpatrol, graphic designer Suzy Tuxen, artist Amber Wallis and graphic designer / illustrator Luci Everett (who also did the beautiful hand-drawn lettering for the book). Each chapter features a different workspace accompanied by a short interview with each creative, written by Olga’s friend and collaborator Sarah Caldwell.
Olga has printed only 150 copies of the book, and all of them are numbered and signed. At just $34.00 they’re bound to sell out super quick! Pop over to Olga’s Bigcartel store to nab a copy and support this lovely local project!
OF COURSE, in keeping with a recurrent theme around here, Olga has also kindly offered one copy of her book as a giveaway for one lucky Design Files reader! To be in the running, simply leave your comment on this post today, Monday May 16th, before 10.00pm Melbourne time! A winner will be selected at random and contacted by email tomorrow.
*UPDATE – thanks so much for all your comments and support for Olga’s project! A winner has now been drawn at random – comment #68 – congratulations Laura!
ps. Olga has a lovely blog too!
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I love looking at people’s “environments.” It looks like a lovely book!
beautiful photos! very talented Olga Bennett…
This book looks absolutely stunning!
Oh what a wonderful book – great images! I’d love a copy of my own, especially one I don’t have to justify as I won it :)
Thank you for introducing us to a great new blogger.
Another fantastic post.
Niki @ http://little-quaint-moments-and-memories.blogspot.com/
Beautiful book! Thank you for the giveaway :)
Looks like a truly inspiring book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy :)
Stunning photography (love the one of the cat!) and it looks like its a lovely inspirational read.
Beautiful images! Good luck selling it! I am sure buyers will be very happy of adding this book tiotheir collection… Thank you fir the give away….
Ohh I absoloutley love Olgas work, i have been followling her for a year now, her photographs are always capturing the sense of place within.
thankyou.
x
Great looking book..Will be buying it if I don’t win. I love getting an idea of how creative people create!
I just brought myself the book! Thanks for the link!! :)
What a beautiful idea! Capturing the space of another with such beautiful photos… I cannot wait to see the rest of the book!
love the image of the potted succulents… di
just sublime…!
I love good sticky- beak so this book looks great!
What a gorgeous coffee table book! Would love it!
oh how beautiful! what an inspiration, or a way to dream away a few hours with a cup of tea.
lovely! x
inspiring photos :)
Beautiful photos and artistic compositions. a lovely book.
Olga’s work looks great, keen to see more ;)
simply lovely.
beautiful !
I’m in! It’s def my turn to win, gotta convert this tiny desk with a Mac and a few bits and bobs into something a lil more inspiring like Olga’s pics. Hurrah for being self taught!
wow. how lovely and inspiring.
jfaasssgdgghhhaaahhh more giveaways how excitement!
Very inspiring photographs. Beautiful book. x
A path to discovering more talent.
Beautiful images by Olga, just stunning!
How very lovely.
What a fantastic idea. Fingers crossed
Inspiring!
I wish I had a studio that looked so creative.
Gorgeous pics – great idea
Such beautiful photos, I love seeing other peoples work spaces!
Looks beautiful :)
there is nothing better to inspire you to go to work than looking at creative workspaces. Thanks for putting together such a beautiful book
Looks fantastic would love to win.
Beautiful book, I want one!
Wow…what a beautiful book!. I have just started learning about photography and this would be such a great source of inspiration….magic!
would be very inspired with this book…
Definitely need to get my hands on a copy of Environments!
Stunning – and very inspiring! Fingers crossed.
Thank you for introducing us to another fine blogger :)
Inspiring . I love Olga’s photographs. I am sure these books wont last long
I am always so amazed at how a skilled photographer can make the presentation of an idea so much more appealing… my photographs just don’t cut it… Looking at Olga’s work is sublime.
Beautiful, what fantastic photos
The images look fantastic..
fingers crossed!
amazing book. love love love
Great photos!
myfingersarecrossed…toocrossedtospacebar.
Oooh how exciting, I love sticky beaking at other peoples spaces and what gorgeous imagery.
Gorgeous pics!
Gorgeous – A visual treat
I’m always inspired by anybody who takes creativity into their own hands.
Wow, gorgeous! I love having a squiz at creative spaces (don’t we all?). And yay for Luci! Her work is also amazing.
So pretty. Thank you
Oh such a pretty scene! And beautiful airy photos : )
One for the coffee table – gorgeous and inspiring! Thanks for introducing us to a wonder new blog too! x
The creatvity & inspiration is just amazing,
Ohh I absoloutley love Olgas work, her photographs are always capturing the sense of place within.
thank you xxx
beautiful & inspiring, and the book is great too!
That looks really inspiring…
Great book. If I don’t win one I’ll buy one.
Lovely photography, Olga seems like a nice lady!
This is beautiful and I had never heard of Olga Bennett. Thanks for the e-intro. And great to finally meet you at the L&F Hotel Room launch, I hope we run into each other again.
Great book, beautiful!!
Oh I love getting a lookin at what others are doing! What a fabulous book.
absolutely gorgeous! beautiful photos! X
wow, more hugely inspiring work to look at, who wouldn’t want this book? Thanks!
oh wow, yes please! x
gorgeous and inspiring. And nice to indulge our voyeuristic streaks!
I love seeing other people’s work spaces, where they think, create, dream, very inspiring thankyou for sharing xxx
what an inspiring book. thanks for the lovely giveaway! crossing fingers.. have a nice week <3
The book looks fantastic.. It is already on my wish list.
fingers crossed xxx
I love having a stickybeak into the creative world – thanks Olga!
there is nothing more wonderful than seeing creatives’ workspaces. absolutely lovely.
A beautiful book! I would love to win it!
Inspiring, beautiful book.
Beautiful photo’s, looks like a gorgeous book x
utterly gorgeous. great work.
I’m going to cross my fingers for the giveaway but buy the book if I don’t – can’t wait either way!
Beautiful; she makes the ordinary look extraordinary.
Lovely to see these creative workspaces – gives me lots of ideas for making over my own!
many thanks for another great giveaway
Oooh another book of creative inspirations! The photos look amazing. Thanks again DF for another wonderful giveaway
Such a gorgeous inspirational book… crossing fingers now :)
On my wishlist…(birthday coming up soon, otherwise Christmas)!
A great reflection of life imitating art. Beautiful.
I have one empty coffee table looking to be filled..
Very inspiring both the creator and artists involved
Nice work!
Love love a beautiful “wish I’d done that, been there, saw that” book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh lovely and so local! Thanks for again presenting Australian design, so many blogs out there who don’t.
what a book!
so nice!
If I dont win I am going to buy a copy anyway. Looks fabulous and inspiring.
Simply Stunning.. Pick me pick me ;)
Beautiful work :)
A nice way to indulge the voyeur in me…
gorgeous …yes please
p.r.e.t.t.y (i like it very muchly)
I was just looking at this book on her blog the other day! Would love to go in the draw.
Thanks!
Oh, I’ve been lusting after this book since I first heard about it. It look gorgeous and inspiring.
lovely to nosy into people’s spaces, is the cat real?
I’m into week three of my new photography course and was just thinking how I needed to start collecting some great ref books….what a way to start!
Thanks for the chance to win such an amazing insight into the lives of those creative people who make a difference to me just by admiring …!!
Gorgeous, thanks for sharing. :)
This book looks beautiful!
A great idea for a book, I love seeing how creative people live and work.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity :) The book looks gorgeous and very inspiring, and would make my coffee table environment ever so more lovely!
I love Olga’s work! I wrote an article for Extra Curricular magazine about Melbourne-based ceramic artist Belinda Kennedy recently, and Olga’s pics of Belinda’s work and studio accompanied the piece. Ever since, she has popped up and I am consistently impressed by her pics. Would LOVE to win a copy of her special book!
Thank you for your great blog, which I read all the time, it is so inspirational and your pics and fantastic too!
Ike
Would love her book, I’m sure she’ll be an inspiration to the landscapes I work with.
what a divine read! Yes please!!
Would love to be inspired by this!
It’s always inspiring to see how the creatives live…..
Lovely work Olga!!
simply beautiful.
Thanks for sharing. Olga’s stuff looks great!
I too am such a voyeur of creative works spaces ………. not quite sure what the allure is??? the birth place of creation ????
How lucky we are to see these hidden spaces!
self taught, self published – way to go grrrrrl!!
Oh wow, I’d love to have this one!
Those muted colours are incredible! It would put a finishing touch on a wonderful birthday haha x
Congratulations on your book Olga and thanks for the giveaway
So inspiring :)
that is my kind of book – one full of inspiration to be creative
Just gorgeous!
cute book! would be a nice one to add to my collection…
i love books
Olga is so talented, isn’t she? She made great clothes for a short while too – I was lucky to get my hands on a piece. She is just great at everything she does.
wow, love the font used in those headings!
Looks earthy and inspiring.
What great inspiration!
I now have a new idol!!!! I’m studying photography and am inspired by these photographs! xxx pretty please with a cherry on top!
Very Inspiring
This book is absolutely stunning. Her photography skills are are so perfect and dreamy. I could live inside that book!
A superb concept for a photography book. Sharing self-created environments that facilitate creativity is just a brilliant idea and one that I would love to explore further.
Such peaceful meditations. Imagine if everyone produced something as lush as this…
I love Olga Bennett and her beautiful Hasselblad photos. Yum! Medium format film!
Just stunning and so special!
Olga’s work is great and I love Suzy Tuxen’s design work for AFOM as well. Yes please…
Beautiful – and another lovely blog to enjoy.
Lovely, lovely. Certainly a book to draw inspiration from! xx
Dying at that Jielde Signal lamp. I’ve had one on my wishlist for ever…
Count me in for the giveaway!
pick me! pick me!
What a wonderful book, I’m always inspired by artists working spaces and the messy/organised conumdrum each resolves in their own way. congrats on the book and a great give away….
beautiful!
Crossing my fingers!
Wow, looks like a great read. Fingers crossed!
would love to read this in my warm bed with a cuppa and a biscuit….bliss
Pickmepickmepickme
oh i would love to look into other people’s studio spaces…
oh so lovely!!!
I hope I win. :)
Lovely photos. I love photographs that don’t look as though they are ‘too done’ . Beautiful.
The photos look gorgeous!
Beautiful photos, and it’s great to see the natural beauty that surrounds the creative mind at work!
If only my workspace looked half as good as these!
Always inspiring to see how others choose to express their creativity in their personal space.
Beautiful pictures. Love the colors. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Oh I’ve been keeping an eye on Olga’s book for awhile now..so glad it’s now printed and ready for purchase!!
Looks like a pretty good book, very inspiring… Really cool. Congrats
I just popped over to her website and it’s beautiful. Very inspiring stuff. I love seeing creative people in their work enviornments as well, and I’d love to own the book.
What an amazing book. I think I might pop over to here website and see if there are any books still available. Thanks for sharing this.