As I sit back and reflect on my year as a senior photographer for the News, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for the incredible experiences I’ve had, the stories I’ve told and the challenges I’ve faced. It’s been a year full of variety, creativity and growth, and to be honest, this year has pushed me to do some of the most rewarding work of my career.
This is my sixth year photographing for the News, and I’m always continuously struck by the sheer diversity of subjects I’ve photographed, even in the past 12 months.
From portraits to fast-paced sport, breaking news to magazine shoots and photographing purple-lid bins, every day never ceases to bring something different.
Sports photography has been a major focus for me this year. I’ve spent countless hours on the sidelines, documenting everything from local footy and netball, to soccer matches and basketball games. There’s an art to capturing that perfect moment of intensity, when the action peaks, the emotion is raw and the atmosphere is charged with excitement. It’s a process I’ve fell in love with over the years, the way it combines technical skill with the need to anticipate and react in an instant.
This year, however, I did something that I’ve never done before, and it turned out to be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career.
I co-produced a documentary with journalist Jay Bryce that followed the Shepparton Gators basketball team throughout the 2024 season. This was the team’s first time competing in the Big V Championship in two decades, and the story of their journey —from the highs of victory to the lows of defeat.
Documentary filmmaking was completely outside my comfort zone, but when the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t pass it up. I had the chance to not only photograph but film, edit and piece together the narrative of the Gators’ season.
The lessons I’ve learned, the relationships I’ve built and the stories I’ve been privileged to capture will continue to shape my work for years to come. I know there will be more challenges, more opportunities to step outside my comfort zone and more moments of creative growth.
It’s been a year of hard work, dedication and a whole lot of passion. But most importantly, it’s been a year of connection, connecting with the community, with the people whose stories I get to tell, and with my own craft in ways I never expected.