CromartyWetlands

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Monday, September 5, 2011 | 5 photos

After a seventeen-year career in the Australian Defence Force I discharged to pursue my passion for writing. Two years later I had self-published a fiction novel based on the 1942 attack on Australia by Japanese Forces. A local newspaper reviewed the novel and it was stocked by a regional bookstore.
I enjoyed researching the historical facts surrounding that moment in time and recognised by continuing my search for knowledge my writing would improve.
I began a Degree in Journalism at James Cook University, Townsville. The course was base on traditional broadsheet but my studies led me to believe photography would enhance my storytelling.
I have always been aware that photography was a means of expression. While on active service in East Timor I travelled extensively with my Pentax SLR. While others took pictures of friends posing alongside landmarks, my photos expressed emotion – a solitary figure fishing on a deserted jetty or the burnt out shell of a cathedral.
Wanting to embrace a move towards photography I purchased a Cannon EOS 1000D and enrolled in an elective titled ‘photojournalism’. The subject introduced photography concepts and post-imagery using Photoshop. My story was based on comments from the Mayor of Townsville who stated a local cattle station rivalled Kakadu, Northern Territory, in beauty and significance. The cattle station was for sale and it was feared a developer would buy it.
The images used for this competition were taken two years ago as part of that story. I have since changed degrees to focus on photography. The cattle station is still for sale and it is hoped that by working with National Geographic future images will be given authority to persuade officials that the area should be declared a National Park.