I absolutely love taking pictures.

I’m no photographer for sure, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to capture a moment on lens/film, where possible. Thing is, in trying to capture the moment, I often forget to actually relish the moment without worrying about how to take the best photo that will capture the sunset/sunrise/mist floating in/fun I’m having on a Friday night.

Today with the ubiquity of cameras, there’s no end to pictures posted on facebook of somebody’s trip to South America, of somebody’s night out in the town, of somebody attending some gig, which is fair enough – we all want to share our favourite moments with our friends and to relive them for some time to come and yes, we all want to facebook stalk know what’s going on with our friends and what they did in New York on their massive backpacking trip last summer.

However, let’s not forget that in front of that camera lens, there is a moment waiting to be lived. Soak it in and revel in it for as long as you can, for no photograph will ever be able to take you back to that moment again.

The sky looked just like a painting from the ceiling of one of those wealthy mansions. The ones you only see in movies, with clouds as perfect as puffs of cotton wool placed onto a backdrop of flawlessly blended periwinkle blue and pale coral.

The air had that sweet summer smell and swirled around me with the lightness of feathers dancing across my skin. The paddocks surrounding me were bathed in a brilliant wash of faded, burnt orange.

I breathed the fresh, untainted, country air deeply into my lungs trying desperately to forever imprint the image of the sun disappearing behind the western hills, over the Tamar River, into my mind.

Sometimes the simple beauty of these moments reminds you that magic lies in your own backyard. Smiling to myself I realised that this sunset is home and will forever be a reminder of my summer nights in Launceston, Tasmania.

By Markeeta Waddington.

Kirbee Lee Lawler is this amazing artist, that I happened to stumble across whilst searching through Red Bubble. She kindly supplied me with her latest works inspired by the Wizard of Oz and answered a couple of quick prying questions :)

DOROTHY

Something special about me... I share my name with a round pink nintendo character!

The most spontaneous thing I have ever done... I am actually not a very spontaneous person as a whole! I am not a huge planner either, but i like to take things as they come! I guess i am the sort of person that can find a little bit of spontaneity in most things i do, just to keep things interesting, like stopping off at a book store, just browsing through an op shop to see what i can find or having my camera with me incase i find something unusual to snap!

SCARECROW

Character I love most in the Wizard of Oz... I think my favourite would have to be Dorothy. I think she is a great character because she overcomes so many obstacles and still maintains a good outlook on her journey through Oz.

I am inspired by...  Everything around me! I get my inspiration from lots of different places, the park, books, magazines, other art and artists, antique shops, markets..the list goes on really. I also love old photos...for some reason after looking through snapshots of the past i get so inspired!

The most important lesson I have ever learnt... No matter what people tell you, if you believe enough in what you are doing other people will believe in you too...it really does start with you..and if you don't try you don't know!

TINMAN

You can purchase Kirbee's work at www.kirbeeart.etsy.com find her on facebook her www.facebook.com/sugarsweetdreams and visit her site to see more of her beautiful work www.kirbee.net

Until next time, Ez x

Coriander Zoe Navarro is an American artist living in Chicago; she contacted REAL to share her powerful and inspiring story, artworks and writing. She claims that her camera keeps her from indulging in anti-social, murderous and possibly illegal behavior. It keeps her sane.

(I spose we all have something keeping us sane)

I began taking self-portraits six years ago when I was in an accident which injured my spine. 

During this time my son, then 12, and I had recently gone into hiding from his abusive father while living in Hawaii.  We left in the middle of the day while he was at work.  As you may imagine, this was difficult considering the circumstances. 

For about two years I walked with a cane.  I had to send my son to the mainland to stay with my mother until I healed enough to endure a long plane flight; it was safer for my son to be off the island where his father still lived.  Eventually we were reunited, after about a year.

I still wear a back brace on occasion, but these days have worked to the point where I can dance again (I've been trained in Modern Ballet), within reason, and no longer need the cane. I refused the archaic spinal fusion surgery and instead went on a campaign to fix myself, as it were. 

I went through many hours of physical therapy, forced myself (still do) to exercise, do yoga, dance, Pilates, weightlifting, and when the pain is at its worst, just walking for as long as I can stand it.  I was supposed to be in a wheelchair by now, but 'they' were wrong. 

My art reflects the journey I undertook to take my body - and our lives - back.  Some of it is a bit hard to look at, perhaps - and some of my writing I suppose may be hard to read.  But I believe that my art is what kept me sane throughout the ordeal. 

We recommend checking out Thirteen, a short story written by Coriander at you guessed it, 13 xxx