Field Notes: Bray

Bray is a photographer and one half of the creative direction at Goods Department. It’s the funniest thing because I met Bray on a FB Marketplace deal, a couple weeks later he jerried I was a Chef and on a similar pursuit to him so he hit me up wanting to shoot one morning. And honestly, that meant a lot. I’ve never tried to make Merak look bigger than it is. I just do my thing, properly and in my own time. So when someone reaches out because they see what I do whether it’s professionally or creatively - it means a lot.

What got me was the curiosity behind it. Bray’s not a chef. He’s not from kitchens and food culture. But he wanted to understand it. He wanted to actually learn what’s happening when someone cooks — the intention, the rhythm, the feeling behind the movement. Not just “that looks cool,” but why it’s cool.

I respect that a lot.

We spent the morning just talking and working. No “content day,” no fake energy. Just two people learning about each other’s craft. I was cooking how I normally cook. He was shooting how he normally shoots. And somewhere in the middle, it made sense. And for me it was a bit of a reminder that I should keep persisting with Merak. Quietly. Slowly.

When someone from outside your world sees what you’re trying to say without you having to explain it

Bray didn’t come in trying to copy the aesthetic or pretend he “got it.” He just paid attention. He asked questions. He let things be what they are. I literally crammed the hours into my work schedule because I was so rapt that we were doing this, we hit the Footscray market, grabbed some shit for steak sandwiches and chucked it all together at the kitchen in Coburg

Bray’s got a sincere demeanor and strong urge to create and learn, I admire that in people. And honestly, it made me feel good. So yeah — appreciate you, bro.
Thanks for that morning.
It meant something.

Some of Bray’s shots below