I could never grasp the significance of 'Brownie' in the name Kodak Box Brownie. It’s an unusual name, but it likely sparked my appreciation for black and white images. I vividly recall some fantastic shots of the Franklin River in South Gippsland, captured before the whispering willows were removed. Perhaps my memory is fading, but I was around eight years old and found it strange that none of my siblings seemed particularly enthusiastic about the photos. In hindsight, the results may not have been all that impressive—I was just a bit obsessed.
After graduating from university, I moved to King Island for work and realized I needed a hobby to fill what I assumed would be excessive free time. I managed to get my hands on Dad’s manual Hanimex, which was not well cared for, prompting me to buy my own camera. My first TTL was a second-hand Pentax 35mm film camera. What began as spare time quickly vanished as photography took over, resulting in a regular influx of camera gear.
To occupy my evenings, I invested in darkroom equipment and began developing and printing black and white photos. My place resembled a laundry, with prints hanging on overhead lines to dry.
Years Later
Vibe is King
When we launched a hawking business in South Australia and Western Australia, traveling with an 8-tonne truck and children enrolled in school-of-the-air, I became enchanted by the vibrant colors of Kodachrome. To keep my mind sharp on the dusty roads of outback Australia, I continually sought the perfect sunset, faces that could tell stories without words, and the striking landscapes brought to life by the crisp, parched air of the interior.
My photographic income soared when I secured a job shooting industrial photos in the oil industry at Bass Strait and the North West Shelf. It was a stark contrast to my previous work in wedding photography in Byron Bay, but the emphasis frustratingly leaned toward quantity over creativity.
In 2010, when my wife decided to embark on a new path as a Wedding Celebrant, she required a website, which meant I needed to provide wedding photos. I was struck by how relaxed people became in front of a camera, while the main subjects basked in the spotlight.
It was the perfect moment for me to pursue formal education and enhance my understanding of photography, especially its technical aspects. I completed a diploma that launched me into a rewarding career in wedding photography.
