A return visit to My Hippy Shop to capture the new arrivals for winter.

I finally made it back to the Armidale Markets in the Mall for the first time this year, and this time I was shooting on a Nikon for a change. Getting used to the new system—and its menus—was a bit of a challenge, but the 105mm lens should be perfect for the upcoming Australian Celtic Festival in Glen Innes. Even with more misses than hits, it felt great to be back out at the markets shooting again.

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.