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.

We had an absolute blast at The Great Nundle Dog Races this year, pure country chaos in the best possible way, even if George chose the exit over the finish line. On the way home, we stopped at Gostwyck Chapel just in time to catch the last of the autumn leaves (and, of course, the sheep). A spontaneous detour along a back road has now sparked a new project idea: walking the 27 km from Uralla to Armidale with a camera in spring.

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.