I’m Gillian, a photographer based in Sydney Australia. I have a deep passion for “slow photography” that captures depth of feeling to create emotive images that go beyond the predictable. This, for me has been an ongoing process in the joyful  “slow lane” of creating magic in the camera, using vintage style manual lenses or optics and hand held tools to create special effects. It was during the  beginning of the pandemic in 2020 that I discovered the true joy of photographing in this way.

My personal journey began with a humble “Kodak Instamatic” when I was just 8 years old. During my young adult years of study in Teachers’ College, I had the opportunity to do some film photography with black and white darkroom development. It was by far, my favourite subject.  After graduating, all my focus was on travel photography. When I became a mum, the years of  motherhood meant capturing those  precious family moments we never want to forget, but over time, film photography became less popular as the digital era grew and I very reluctantly made the switch to digital with a simple pocket “point and shoot” while still clinging to the analog “real gear”.

It wasn’t until 2015 that I finally decided to invest in a digital SLR camera and a year later, I joined a photography team of local volunteers shooting community events. Despite having undertaken various photography courses, this new team venture was by far, my fastest learning curve. It was fast photography that documented moments and stories in all kinds of environments and I loved it so much!

Sadly, the lockdowns of the pandemic made my world shrink. It was during this time that I discovered a love of Lensbaby lenses, optics and creative tools that create unique images in the camera with endless possibilities.

I found great solace in capturing the beauty of flowers and plants in every stage of their life. The enforced travel restrictions of those “locked down years” motivated me to plant my own seeds and bulbs throughout the seasons, while chasing the light for images with a unique ethereal quality and an emotive look that I have never found with mainstream lenses.

This artistic style of photography has been a game changer for my creative heart and soul. It’s about intrinsically creating a depth of feeling right in the camera, where “ethereal softness meets soul” all while being immersed in a flower bed or a peaceful rainforest. While I still continue to love my fast-paced photography shoots for my local community, an afternoon with a camera and a creative lens, amongst a bed of flowers is my happiest place. It’s a soulful therapy that’s priceless and without any restrictions on personal creativity.

My images have been regularly featured by the very innovative Lensbaby Company. I have had several images selected for publication in four of the annual photography yearbooks for “Click Love Grow”. It has also been a pleasure to be a successful contributor to the charitable work of the Incognito Art Show since 2024.

My love of nature and its conservation has motivated me to pursue supporting wildlife conservation projects through the production of greeting cards, calendars and wall art.

When I’m not capturing botanicals, I enjoy joining with other photographers for photo walks in my city and surrounds. I love to capture anything that showcases the unique culture and history of Australia.

~~ Gillian