My work has always kept me constantly on the move, taking me across vast stretches of the Australian landscape, from the bustling city, to quiet, charming country towns that sometimes feel like a step back in time. This ever-changing backdrop is one of the things I love most about my job. Being on the road offers a front-row seat to the rhythm of everyday life, allowing me to observe the world in a way that many people overlook.
Even in the most routine sights, I seem to always find a certain intrigue. Simple things like the colours in the sky, the cars on the street, people going about their day, the shopfronts in a small town, or an old building weathered by time, every scene has details waiting to be dissected. No matter how mundane it may seem, there’s always something for me to take in, and each location tells its own story through people, atmosphere, and architecture.
Architecture has always fascinated me, in all its forms, office buildings; new or old, charming heritage homes, a small country store, or sprawling industrial spaces. This deep appreciation for architecture is likely what led me to my work in real estate and architectural photography.
What I find most captivating is the facade of a building. A facade refers to the outward-facing exterior of a building, typically the front that faces the street. More than just a structural element, the facade serves as a defining feature that shapes the building’s identity, showcases its architectural style, and creates the first impression of a building. Every facade tells its own story, and I love to document it.
Australian architecture is a mix of international styles. It’s a blend of colonial influences, modern design, and a growing focus on sustainable practices. I get to see this vast range every day, and I find homes just as interesting as all other forms of architecture, perhaps even more so as each home is individually styled to reflect the occupants at the time.
Photography, for me, goes beyond the demands of work. It’s a genuine passion that leads me to capture homes purely for the joy of it. Some houses demand attention not simply because of their architectural qualities but because of the life lived within them. A well-worn doorway, a garden bursting with personality, or the subtle interplay between light and shadow inside a space can be just as compelling as the structure itself.
It’s these things, the way a home interacts with the people who inhabit it, that often inspire me to stop and take a photo. Architecture provides the foundation, but the essence of a home is shaped by the stories unfolding within its boundaries. Whether it’s a grand residence or a modest dwelling with undeniable character, every home has something unique to say, and I find immense satisfaction in preserving those narratives through photography.
But more than that, photography, for me, feels like more than just capturing homes and scenes, it’s an outlet for creativity and a way to preserve the small yet meaningful moments of life. Sometimes, it’s just about creating an image because I like the process of making photos, playing with composition, light, and texture to shape something unique. Other times, it’s simply the act of documenting a moment that has made an impression. Each photograph, for me, becomes a bookmark in time, a way to revisit not just the visual, but the thoughts and emotions tied to that instant. Whether it’s an intentional artistic endeavor or a spontaneous capture, it’s always about connection.
I get around a lot, and my scenery is constantly changing…
‘On The Road’ is a collection of those works, not my real estate or architecture work, but my attempt to capture everyday Australian life – even if it’s just my own life – in photography form, like a creative journal if you will. It’s a bit of a blend between the architecture, everyday life, and some of the mundane sights I come across in my daily life. I call it ‘On The Road’ as it’s mostly captured while I’m on the road for work, or when I take a drive out to explore. This is a small sample of my 2023 stuff. I started doing this over a decade ago, but I only started to put it in a way that was easy to organise and sort, a couple of years ago.
I love studying old homes. There’s so much character in them, not only in the architecture itself, but also in the way people live, decorate or style their homes. Or sometimes it’s the absence of, that makes it interesting…
Sometimes, I get to drive past childhood memories, like this house on a street I used to live in over 30 years ago…
And this milk bar, that I used to frequent with my 1 dollar coin to buy 100 little sour lollies, back when they were 1 cent each.
I love being on the road…
I will be uploading a few more posts in this series, but I’ll probably try to keep it to a monthly update, rather than a yearly one.
