Campus to City Canter 2026
Covering the Campus to City Canter pushed me well outside my comfort zone, trading my usual work for fast-paced event photography along the 5km route from SportUNE to Civic Park. Despite my best efforts (and literally racing the winner), I still missed the key shot—but it was a fun, worthwhile experience, and I’m keen to give it another crack next year.
Armidale Autumn Festival 2026
Another Autumn Festival has come and gone, but despite the great atmosphere, I wasn’t quite feeling it photographically—possibly due to the harsh light or just general burnout. I still came away with a small handful of decent shots, and I’ll no doubt be back to try again next year.
When the river runs dry
A recent visit to Yarrowyck Crossing Reserve revealed just how quickly drought conditions are setting in, with the once-flowing Gwydir River reduced to a sandy bed and scattered pools of algae. The unexpected change meant fewer photos than hoped, but it offered a rare chance to walk far downstream and observe the shifting landscape. It’s an interesting transformation to witness, though not an encouraging sign for the summer ahead.
Armidale Show 2026
This year I decided to enter the Armidale Show photography competition, submitting 10 images across 10 themes, an experience that involved a lot more trimming, mounting, and trial-and-error than expected. Even though I was running on fumes after a hectic couple of days, I still managed to capture a few moments from the show that I really liked. Despite only taking home one win, it was a valuable experience, and it was great to see others in my circle do so well.
Minerama Fossicking, Gem & Jewellery Show 2026
Working in event coverage often leads to experiences I wouldn’t normally seek out, like photographing Minerama in Glen Innes. What started as a simple media job turned into several hours of conversations, photos, and learning about the craft behind gemstones. I left with a heap of images and a newfound respect for the artisans who make it all possible.
Sticky Date Pudding
I revisited my long-dormant “Home Movies” project over the weekend while also taking the chance to practise some portraits with family. A little too much sticky date pudding made the creative process harder than expected, proving photography is sometimes easier on an empty stomach. Even if the results weren’t perfect, it was a fun and valuable return to experimenting.
THE CASCADE PROJECT: VOL I
With Morning Chorus wrapped, I kicked off an untitled autumn project with a test shoot on the Cascade Trail in New England National Park, and it quickly turned into one of my favourite shoots of the past two years. Shot wide open on the Canon R8 with a vintage Nikkor 85mm, the dreamlike forest light and an incredible first-time model have me convinced this project is going to be something special.
Another Trip to the Armidale Greyhound Track
After months of waiting, Evelyn and I finally caught the Armidale Greyhound tracks in the exact light we’d been hoping for, with the sun pouring through the old Mill Bar and Grill windows. The mood completely transformed, even if we ended up winning on lighting and losing on subjects.
Summer House Concert III
Mike’s annual house concert returned with great music from Jhana Allan, Alice Cotton, and newcomer Anousha Victoire, and I was lucky enough to bring my camera along. Shot on the Canon R8 with a vintage Nikon Nikkor 85mm f/1.8, mosquitoes aside, it was absolutely worth it.