Free Treasure

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
I typically don’t think about my work in terms of projects. My approach to photography has always been to keep my camera on me and see what comes up. I do seek out and visit places that I think will look interesting on camera, but my favourite images are often those I come across while doing something else. I don’t often plan ahead.

This approach has benefitted from the fact that I’ve been to a lot of interesting places in the last few years. I’ve visited Scandinavia, been to weddings in places I’d never been, and I’ve been exploring my city through the lens of a new camera. Now that I’m home a little more often and I’ve photographed most of my regular spots, I don’t have as many opportunities to be inspired by new places and subjects.

In that context, I guess my current "project" is to seek out subjects in my local area and be a little more deliberate about how I photograph them. I’m trying to rely less on stumbling on something I’ve never seen and instead capture the things I see all the time but haven’t noticed before.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
I think primarily I’m learning to be more conscious of the possible subjects in my daily life. When I’m running errands or commuting home from work, I’m looking around for places and objects that I can return to later. Planning to take photos of certain things has also led me to picturing the image I want to make before I make it. This process is teaching me to search for new angles and frames because I can’t always rely on being struck by subjects that immediately give an idea for the image I want.

What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
I’ve always found that in creative work I experience a cycle. I make some images that I’m really happy with and then I trap myself into trying to recreate them, or at least to match their quality. So in that context, I’d say that the main ‘idea’ that I have in my head over the last few months is to free myself of the expectations that I’ve built up for myself about what makes a "good" or "interesting" photo.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
I’m always thinking about a book I bought in 2024 about Saul Leiter’s work, The Centennial Retrospective. This is especially relevant at the moment as I discovered whilst reading it that most of Leiter’s photographs were taken within a few blocks of his home. His work makes great use of foregrounds and blocking to create interesting images out of daily life.

I often find myself inspired by the cinematography in the films I watch. Recently, I was really moved by the cinematography in Kelly Reichardt 's film Meek’s Cutoff. The film is set in the desert east of Oregon, but the characters are positioned in the barren landscape in a way that makes for compelling frames. I’ve also been enjoying Abbas Kiarostami 's filmography for the way he is similarly able to move me with quite simple subjects. Taste of Cherry and Where is the Friend’s House? are two films of his that I’ve loved in the last month or so.

What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?
Creating the motivation to go out and work rather than relying on spontaneous inspiration. It’s hard to make time for photography at the moment and so it’s been a challenge to find the energy to go and create images that might not turn out. I’ve been working on consciously acknowledging the value in experimentation even when it doesn’t work as intended.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?
My favourite restaurant would have to be Happy Boy, in Brisbane. I’ve been more times than I can remember and I’m always excited to go back. It might sound basic, but their green beans are spectacular.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
I think I’d name the movie after Free Treasure, a song by Adrienne Lenker. I feel like that song captures the essence of what I’m always hoping to do more of with my photography.

As for the score, I’d like Jeff Grace, who composed the score for Meek’s Cutoff, which I’ve been listening to on repeat. Either him, or Talk Talk in their Spirit of Eden-era.

Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
I’ve always loved the work of my friend Riley Dent. His willingness to experiment with new ideas and to challenge himself and his abilities is inspiring. Recently I discovered Kyle McDougall on YouTube and have been religiously watching his vlogs to see him describe the process and thinking behind his projects. He has taken some of the most stunning photographs I’ve ever seen.