For several years now I have been travelling the world taking photos. I have embarked on some of the most incredible adventures and enjoyed a multitude of unique experiences. I have progressively been seeking more wild and remote locations; venturing to harsher extremes and further off the beaten track. I have challenged my physical and mental capabilities; at the same time pushing my creative boundaries. And all throughout I have been constantly learning and endeavouring to hone my photographic skills. The learning curve has been steep at times but not insurmountable. There has been progression in my photographic journey but progress never stops.
I have amassed a substantial image library of digital images. Digital files are easy to store, easy to work with and easy to share. The emergence of image-led social media has opened up a whole new realm of display for photographers. Unlike in a gallery or print publication, photographic work published on these platforms reaches a much larger audience. I have often shared images on social media and I have collections posted on my website and online. I have received many "likes" and positive, complimentary comments. I have gathered followers on my social networks. However, in more recent times I have wanted to "progress" my photography even further and for me that meant to venture in to the world of print.
It is estimated that 1.2 trillion photos were taken in 2017. With the prevalance of social media a substantial number of these would have been shared and viewed across Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, 500PX and the list goes on. But even with the dominance of social media it isn't the end of printed photos; rather it marks the golden age for printed work.
Ask any professional photographer and the ultimate goal is to print. Photography is ultimately about taking photos and printing them; producing large format books, adorning the pages of magazines, producing postcards, billboards or posters or getting them up on the wall of someone's home or office. It is about making the transition from the digital world to the physical world; images becoming the perfect coalescence of ink on paper, canvas, wood or metal to create a print. And people still love prints. Nothing quite compares to viewing a beautiful image, fine art printed large on high quality archival paper and custom framed hanging on a wall. For the photographer this is the ultimate goal and the true test of the quality of an image. Digital imagery is not the opponent of the print but rather the exponent of the print giving new technology and avenues for producing even better quality prints than ever before. When done correctly, seeing a high-quality print of an image is mesmerizing; there is something about a finished print that is infinitely more satisfying than seeing a photo on a screen.
With the desire to showcase my photography in printed form, I made the decision to fine art print and custom frame a selection of my favourite images and to present them in an exhibition. Thus, SELECTUS ("The Select") opened on Tuesday 12 June 2018 with 38 of my images on display.
The location for my exhibition was The Essoign Club in Melbourne's CBD. A private club for members of Melbourne's Judiciary and the Bar, there was something special about hosting my first exhibition at the Club. My profession as a lawyer has provided me with the means to travel and pursue my passion for photography and therefore to showcase my photography in a venue that is so central to the Melbourne legal profession was quite apt. I was grateful to be offered a six-week period to display my work. *
An extensive amount of planning and work is required to prepare for such an Exhibition and to execute the opening but to see the results on opening night, when it all comes together, is very rewarding and fulfilling. But it doesn't all happen without the assistance, encouragement and support of many people. I acknowledged the assistance of all of those involved at the opening; I am very grateful to those people.
I haven’t had any formal photography training; just a great passion. And in the last five years I have been fortunate to meet and tour with a number of very generous professional photographers who have become my mentors and friends. Each have played a role in my photography journey and I was grateful to have a few attending the opening of Selectus. Josh Holko, one of the world’s leading polar photographers, named Victorian Professional Photographer of the Year in 2014 and Global Arctic Photographer of the Year in 2015 joined me on the night, as did Tom Putt an extraordinary, highly awarded landscape and aerial photographer with over 150 National and International Awards including International Landscape Photographer of the Year runner up.
I was also honoured to have Richard I’Anson, unquestionably one of the World’s leading travel photographers, formally open my Exhibition. Richard who is a Master of Photography awarded by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, Canon Master Photographer, World Nomads Travel Photography Scholarship Mentor and one of the five photographers featured in Season 1 of National Geographic Channel's television series "Tales by Light" now showing on Netflix, has been my greatest influence and a wonderful mentor. His guidance and instruction over several years have been instrumental in my photography journey.
I am very grateful to Richard and all the photographers who have inspired me.
Whilst capturing the images is a fundamental step in a very involved and intense process, it is only the first step. Preparing the prints for an exhibition is by no means an easy feat and printing and framing them for presentation requires the skill of some very talented and professional people. My printer David Michael and framer Greg Mahoney played a pivotal role in bringing everything to fruition.
It was amazing for me to see my work adorning the walls of the Club and to see my guests moving from print to print taking time to absorb the imagery represented by each; being enthralled by the moment in time that had been captured in each. For all the work that was involved, the hours and hours of planning and preparation, it couldn't have been more worthwhile.
* As at the time of writing "Selectus" is continuing with the exhibition concluding on 20 July 2018