Pumping Iron – Billy Law
Pumping Iron
For this photographic essay, I’ve followed the NABBA/WFF Amateur Bodybuilding Championship in Melbourne in September 2006. Bodybuilders in different shapes and sizes, from all over Australia, came together to test their strength, to compete against each other, in desperation to bring home the national championship title.
Bodybuilding is arguably one of the most controversial yet comical sports in history. But for participants, bodybuilding has become a lifestyle, considered an extreme sport where they can test their strength, courage and will, and yet not be afraid to show their feminine side throughout the whole competition. The juxtaposition between masculinity and vanity has made this larger than life sport a truly fascinating event for both participants and observers.
Billy Law
Billy Law, originally from Malaysia, now resides in Sydney, Australia. Billy has recently become a freelance digital interactive designer and photographer. A self taught photographer, Billy has been taking his passion in photography increasingly seriously over the last two years, with a fast growing portfolio.
Because of his oriental background and western influences, Law is able to provide a unique insight into the world around him and share it with an international audience.
Billy’s talent and determination in photography has won him a few major awards including DCMag Photographer of the Year 2006 (Animal Category), 1st runner up in Shutterbug 07 projection. He is also in the finalist of Head On Contemporary Portrait Prize 2008.
Email: figuromo@gmail.com
Website: www.billylaw.com.au
Journey of the Cross – Billy Law
Journey of the Cross
World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and was held in Sydney, Australia in 2008. From 1 July 2008, the WYD Cross and icon followed a fifteen day walking pilgrimage through Greater Sydney, encompassing Wollongong, Parramatta, Broken Bay and Sydney CBD, culminating in the WYD Cross being carried into the Opening Mass of WYD08.
I wanted to experience this event from a non-Catholic perspective without prejudice and unbiased point of view. I gained their trust and was allowed to spend three days following the pilgrims on the last haul of this journey, trying to understand the true meaning of Catholicism. The spirit and devotion of the prayers are undoubtedly admirable.
What happens on the big day is not important because from this experience, I understand the only one thing that can unite everyone in this world as one is to ‘Believe’.
Billy Law
Billy Lawwas born in 1976 in Malaysia and now resides in Sydney, Australia. After many years as an art director in advertising, Billy has decided to pursue photography full time. Billy uses photography as the medium to record the extraordinary from the ordinary. His fast growing portfolio within the last few years has earned him a solid base of clients and projects.
Billys photographs have gained recognition through major awards and have also featured in exhibitions including ACMP Trampoline Projections 07 and Head On Contemporary Portrait Prize 2008. He is currently working on his first solo exhibition.
