Every year, Photographers and Santa Claus visit hospitals around the world to create magical portraits for hundreds of sick children and create incredible Christmas Wonderland Photoshopped artworks as gifts to these families.
This year visited locations across Australia and the USA. We were able to fly Santa to some of these regions, and when he couldn't be there in person, virtual Santa appeared using augmented reality technology.
The purpose of Christmas Wish is to bring a little Christmas joy to families that are doing it tough due to childhood health challenges. For some of these families, this was their first professional photo of their child, for others, this may be their last as we cater to some gravely ill young people.
The Christmas Wish team is made up of a couple of hundred volunteers including team members, photographers, Photoshop Artists, and Santa Claus. Each year our reach grows, and more families receive the gift of an imaginative artwork by our artists from all corners of the globe. Each of these works of art contain many layers and hours of work. Word-class editors donate their time to craft a personalised piece for each child that incorporates their interests through information gathered by the team during the photoshoot.
James - Hummingbird House, Brisbane
James from Hummingbird House Brisbane, whose love of planes saw him transported with the power of Photoshop, to ride on a Virgin Australia plane wing with Santa Claus.
Karen Alsop Photographing James
Capturing the images to the Wacom
James and Santa at Hummingbird House
You will find video footage and photos in the Media Centre links provided for each child
James posing for his plane image
Santa posing for his plane image
Photography and Artwork by Karen Alsop
Santa traveling Virgin Australia
@Aussie_Santa is the heart and soul of the Christmas Wish Project. He has volunteered since the very first one at Monash Children's Hospital in 2016. He is unable to fly the sleigh until Christmas Eve due to the rules of the civil aviation authority, so instead, he flies domestic to visit as many children and teams as he can during his busy schedule. Santa certainly creates a stir walking through the airport!
Santa has said that "Apart from marrying Mrs Claus, this is the best thing he's ever done".
Amelia - Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide
Amelia 14 (Adelaide) was was very active in sports and dance prior to being admitted to hospital in July. Amelia was unable to move her body from the neck down. However, In just a few short months with determination and a bubbly personality, she has come such a long way and now has an artwork of her dancing with Santa.
Amelia dancing
Santa dancing
Amelia teaching Santa to dance
Artwork by Kelly Clark
Isabel (Bella) - Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne
Bella (Monash Children’s Hospital) was born with Hirschsprung’s disease, a chronic bowel condition. Bella has been in and out of hospital her whole life and when we visited she was extremely unwell. Bella comes from a family of renowned singers and musicians. Her green screen photo was transformed, just like a Hollywood movie, and Bella and her sister Millie can be seen performing on the Puffing Billy Railway platform with Santa joining in.
Bella arriving for her photo
Bella meeting Santa
Santa encouring Bella
Santa thanking Bella
Tracey (Bella's mum) seing the artwork for the first time (pictured with Karen Alsop (Project founder) and Basem Kerbage (Monash Children's Hospital)
Tracey, Bella and Millie seeing the canvas print for the first time with Karen Alsop
Photography and Artwork by Karen Alsop
Grace - Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide
Grace who suffers with an autoimmune disease has been in and out of hospital for the last couple of years. In 2021 the team were unable to photograph Grace in person as she was too sick, so Nicole, her mum, was guided by the team to take some phone photos of Grace. These were sent to our remote editors to turn into works of art
Artwork by Kate Mudge 2021
Artwork by Rowena Cherry 2021
Artwork by Corey Mudge 2021
Grace was able to meet Santa in person this year, and the magic was real! Grace's image was sent to one of the leading Photoshop Masters in the world, Jesús Ramirez who has 1.9 million subscribers on his Photoshop Training Channel on Youtube. After going through a significant health challenge himself in 2021, Ramirez is even more connected with the project. He created a masterpiece for Grace who shared about how much she loves dogs.
Grace - Before
Artwork by Jesús Ramirez
Nicole, Grace's mum, was also surprised with a top secret image of her older son, taken by the team while Nicole and Grace had an interview with Karen (Interview included in Media Asset Folder).
Nicole shared "I had no idea about Kynans !! How did they convince him? He has lots of anxiety being poked and prodded his whole life. I can not tell you how much I love them."
Kynan, Grace's Brother. Edit by Jodie Williams. Background by Karen Alsop
lncluded in Grace's Media Folder is a full-length interview with Nicole, Grace's mother detailing their journey.
Provided in 720p but available in 1080p upon request.
Photoshop Master Editors
Christmas Wish editors are experienced Photoshop artists that volunteer their time for 3 weeks of each year to edit artwork for families that are photographed by the in-person teams. Many of these artists have undertaken Karen Alsop's Story Art Masterclass which takes place over 8 weeks and teaches the fundamentals of Photoshop Compositing. Karen Alsop is the founder of Christmas Wish, a dream that was birthed back in 2016 with a small team at Monash Children's hospital. The project has now expanded across the globe and is supported by some of the most regarded Photoshop Masters. These masters of Photoshop take on one special edit each year. This year our list of masters include: Colin Smith (Photoshop Cafe), Jesús Ramirez (Photoshop Training Channel), Mark Heaps, Kelly Clark, Joel Robison, Ben Shirk, Bren Slade, Angelo van der Klift, and Founder, Karen Alsop
Arianna - Idaho
The Media link for Arianna includes the story behind the image and information about her condition. For further detail about Arianna please contact Idaho Team Leader and Artist Bren Slade: EMAIL
Isaiah - Perth Children's Hospital
Edited by Ben Shirk
Ben Shirk has included a speed edit video file of his process creating this artwork for Isaiah
More Photoshop Master Edits
Visit the Media Centre for more assets on each
Nathaniel Adelaide Before
Nathaniel - Artwork by Joel Robison
Alexander Adelaide Before
Alexander - Artwork by Colin Smith
Max Adelaide Before
Max - Artwork by Mark Heaps
Olivia - Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne
When the team visited Olivia's hospital room they were awestruck by her artistic talent. Olivia's room was filled with art, from hand-constructed balls then illustrated by Olivia, to a large, almost finished painting of a stunning mountain lake landscape.
Karen Alsop Photographing Olivia with Santa
Olivia and Santa (Before Photo)
Olivia seeing her artwork for the first time
Karen Alsop photographed Olivia's art creations and in Photoshop placed Santa and Olivia into her own work of art.
Olivia's incredible artwork. Olivia and Santa are Photoshopped into the scene by Karen Alsop
Media assets include video clips. A reveal of the artwork video and an interview with Olivia's mum can be provided upon request.
Mason - Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide
Angelo van der klift from the Netherlands has been a Christmas Wish editor for several years now. This year he had an idea for a very special child. He shared the concept and sketch with Karen Alsop who was on the look out for the right match. She found it in Mason - Adelaide. As soon as he walked through the door he was full of exuberance and spunk. He got right into imagining that he was spraying snow onto the earth.
Angelo's sketch idea
Mason having some fun with Santa
Karen Alsop photographing Mason for Angelo
Karen Alsop working with Mason
Mason getting into the role of 'Snowmaker'
A collaboration between Netherlands photographic artist Angelo van der Klift and Australian photographer and artist Karen Alsop
For more behind-the-scenes video and photos visit Mason's Media Folder. There is also a speed edit of Angelo's edit process.
This year the Bright Festival of Photography contributed to the cause by hosting a silent auction with artworks from world renowned photographers and products from many generous imaging companies, raising thousands of dollars to help cover the operation costs of the project sees hundreds of families receive a priceless gift each year.
The Heart Project’s founder Karen Alsop says “Our mission has always been to put a smile on the face of families who are doing it tough at Christmas by making them escape reality – even for a day – thanks to the power of photography and Photoshop”. This year is no different, some families returned to have their photos taken again and many new families were introduced to the magic the team provides.
This would not be possible without the support of our partners including Nikon and Kayell Australia, who send staff and product to assist our Australian teams on site. And Team Digital who look after our Perth contingent. And software companies Adobe, Hoverlay, Canson Infinity, Wacom, Epson, Tether Tools, Deepetch, Virgin Australia and Pixelsquid who provide the resources to help make the digital magic happen.
MEDIA CONTACT
Media Liason:
David Evans
Project Director: Karen Alsop
Ph. 0416 233 451
TV/VIDEO MEDIA
Please credit www.theheartproject.com.au when using footage provided in the media centre.
If sharing on social media please tag @heartprojectofficial (Instagram) or https://www.facebook.com/theheartproject.com.au
PRINT AND ONLINE MEDIA
Media may access any of the artwork, photos and video provided in the media centre as long as the following terms are met: Image Credits (details included in file names), Link back to www.theheartproject.com.au