On Anzac Day, Evelyn from Peacock Photography and I covered the Uralla parade for a documentary project before taking the scenic route home via Thunderbolts Way. We stopped to scout Yarrowyck Crossing Reserve as a potential future shoot location and found a few promising spots. Along the way, Evelyn befriended an inchworm, which of course became a photo opportunity in itself.

We spent the Easter long weekend in Lennox Head with family, kicking things off with a sunrise at Pat Morton Lookout and some of my favourite photos of the year so far. Between coastal hikes, black-and-white family moments, and a 13km walk to Ballina, the weekend was equal parts creative and restorative. We wrapped it up with one last beach sunrise, a farewell photo of my grandmother, and a scenic drive home via the Gwydir Highway.

I was invited to help Amy from Temptations Boudoirs at the New England Wedding Expo, my first time attending the event. While I brought my camera along, my biggest takeaway was just how great the venue at the Armidale Showgrounds is. It sparked a heap of ideas for future shoots that I’m keen to explore.

I try to get out at least once a month for a slow, sunny walk around town, usually to photograph trolleys and whatever else grabs my attention. This time, I set myself the added challenge of composing shots to be cropped into a 2.7:1 XPan aspect ratio. It’s incredible how much impact a heavy crop can give an otherwise ordinary image, and I’m keen to explore it further.

Armidale’s annual Autumn Festival returned with perfect weather after last year’s rainout, and I managed to grab some sneaky black-and-white street shots before the parade and Freedom Flyover. Shooting planes proved more challenging than expected, even with a 300mm lens, but it was a fun challenge nonetheless. The streets were packed for the parade, with plenty of colourful, creative floats bringing the town to life.

8 spectacular performances by Armidale’s Stars and their incredibly talented dance partners.