My first professional position was in research; writing, creating and telling stories. I also founded two startup companies, but looking back I was only ever interested in their artistic merit. My interest was continually reverting back to the human story and I had a growing frustration that there was more I wanted to say that couldn’t be achieved with the written word or technology alone.
I travelled. I lived in Sydney, Australia, but before I left my parents bought me a Digital SLR camera. This was the moment when it all changed.
I was hooked, grappling with all the switches and buttons, knowing that I could achieve something that communicated, something that would live with people forever, but the digital images left me feeling a little cold so I returned home and spent time working with other photographers, learning all about the darkroom, shooting film and making prints. I was introduced to the work of photographers past & present – James Nachtwey, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Vivian Maier, W. Eugene Smith, Ansel Adams, Burtynsky, Atget … all the giants of the industry.
I was a photographer. There was no way back this time and I was blessed to meet Anita who gave me the resolve to see it through. She told me to trust those closest to me and to pursue the work I believed in.