Go with the flow? Our chosen pathway should reflect our heart’s desire.  – Steve Parish When I consider a project has reached expectations, I always get an endorphin rush and a “Yes!” even if it’s a single image. The more clearly the work expresses my emotions in the moment of creation, the bigger the rush and the louder the “Yes!”. It’s the drug that keeps me going. It’s also how I KNOW that I’ve finished – it comes from the heart/gut. Most creatives would agree that the more they exercise their creativity, the better their outcomes are, especially when their processes are free ..read more

Australian Natural History: Kangaroos & Wallabies Text and Photography & text Steve Parish – Profiles Karin Cox Even while I was working with macropod experts in the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, kangaroos and wallabies didn’t capture my imagination the way they do today. Of course, I had photographed the big red roos sprinting across Queensland’s western plains. Sure, agile, red-necked and whiptail wallabies had been recorded when the chance arose, but it was more opportunistic than deliberate. Although I had plenty of colleagues who were researching kangar ..read more

Black & WhiteFine Art Photography My very early fascination with photography was entirely black and white. I loved the darkroom, which, in those days of shooting film, every serious photographer did. My initial introduction was through street photography. Later, I took my black-and-white film underwater. As the submarine world began to interest me more, I was drawn to colour film. Now, all these decades later, I’m magnetically drawn back to the world of black and white as a creative expression. I find many images have a louder voice when expressed in black and white. In a decor setting ..read more

Art at my Feet ‘As soon as I let go of my obsession with results,I’m transported to a world of pure fun and delight. It’s a state of being where happiness reigns supreme, and I feel truly alive.’   – Steve Parish When it comes to fine art photography, as opposed to representational photography, I have always regarded traditional physical art as soul food. There have been many artists who have inspired me, but my primary motivator was Desiderius Orban. Having spent time in Paris, Orban was influenced by Henri Matisse, Paul Cezanne, and Vincent van Gogh, although he also spent t ..read more

Photographing Australia: The World of Frogs An extract from Photography Australia: The Ultimate Travel Guide Approximately 240 frog species inhabit Australia and many are struggling as they are ultra-sensitive to pollution, habitat destruction, and predation from introduced pests such as the cane toad. As amphibians, frogs have “two ways of living” – in water and on land. Their moist, soft skin acts as a breathing organ and is therefore fragile and very sensitive to touch. Many frog species also change their colour when handled, so it is best to avoid touching these animals during pho ..read more

An Ode to Trees There are choices on life’s journey to that never-ending place outside my mind. One would be to meet with you again where sunshine drenches conversation and feelings flow in all directions. I dream that you will briefly cross my path once more, to interrupt me on my never-ending journey beyond this space, beyond this time, where branches meet way out there on other planes beyond my human mind. Finding a tree that stands alone, a tree that speaks to your soul is something all of us need to do. When you have found ‘your tree’ the next step is to develop a personal relati ..read more

Australian Bats Text Dr Les Hall – Photography Steve Parish Bats are one of the fascinating mammal groups and are easily recognised because they are the only mammals with wings. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most misunderstood, feared and persecuted groups of mammals. The mention of bats frequently elicits labels such as “dirty” and “dangerous”. These negative attitudes result from a lack of understanding of the biology of bats and the critical role they play in our environment. Bats belong to the order Chiroptera (chiro = hand, patera = wing), one of the most diverse and widespre ..read more

Photographing Landscape An extract in pert from Volume 1 Photographing Australia:The Ultimate Travel Guide Australia is a wondrous land of ever-changing landscapes. From vast, open, arid dunes and grasslands with dead-flat horizons to craggy alpine peaks. These extremes are often only a short drive from urban centres, and with a camera in hand, it is easy to get lost in landscape magic. Regardless of the type of camera or lens, the most crucial factor to remember in landscape photography is content, mood, and design. The initials “CMD” are a helpful reminder of these three primary elements ..read more

Photographing Australians OUTBACK An extract from Photography Australia: The Ultimate Travel Guide My connection with photographing people in streets, towns, and rural settings goes back to my years spent wandering Asia in the early 1960s while serving in the Royal Australian Navy. We had a darkroom in the photography department onboard, so cruising the street markets, waterfront, and the backstreets of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Manilla – and later down the east coast of the US – provided me with considerable pleasure. Later, back in Australia, photographing people at work and p ..read more

Fine Art Photography A Personal Journey ‘When my mind ceases to think of outcomes  I enter a state-of-play, a special place inside where true joy resides.’ Looking back over the past 50 years as a natural history photographer, I have always felt a deep emotional connection with Australian nature. However, in the early to late ’60s, no Australian natural history books were available, so I initially tried to paint and draw what I saw. Fortunately, I was later introduced to underwater photography through the South Australian Museum, which immediately caught my attention. I became obse ..read more