After a cold front passed, I took advantage of the warmer weather to explore a new walking route up to the university, camera in hand. While the trail itself wasn’t especially photogenic, being out in the sun, and finding a plastic chair scene that felt distinctly urban Australia, made it worthwhile. The day wrapped up at the Uralla winter solstice celebrations, arriving just in time to catch the lighting of an impressively massive bonfire.

It felt like the right time for a photo walk around town to see what had changed, and which new shopping trolleys had made an appearance. Shooting in black and white for the first time in a while added a fresh constraint, even if only a few images really stood out. Still, it was good to take a long walk with the camera again, with bonus points for discovering a few street couches along the way.

June’s first adventure took us to New England National Park, just ahead of a cold front that signalled the true start of winter. Arriving late and underprepared turned the shoot into a learning experience, quickly highlighting the need for a long-overdue ND filter. Mediocre photos aside, it was a reminder that the journey matters more than the results, and we still had a great half-day exploring the park together.

The Big Chill Festival once again returns to Armidale, and while I was only able to make it to one night, it was a night to remember.