GRV-visuals2024-005

Visuals 2024

by Blog

A Year of Adventure, Exploration, and Creative Growth

From travel and adventure racing to 4WD, MTB, hiking, cycling, wildlife, and the great outdoors—I’ve had an incredible year of shooting for some fantastic clients and diving into loads of personal projects. My top 40 photos of the year were tough to narrow down. The experiences I had outdoors, capturing lifestyle imagery, are memories I’ll hold onto for years.

I’ve always enjoyed doing these year-in-review reflections. Looking back on trips, whether to new places or revisiting favorite events, it’s incredible to see how much content is created—but also how quickly it gets buried under the constant flow of new work. The pursuit of fresh ideas can sometimes overshadow what’s already been captured.


This year, I’ve taken the review process a step further. Not only am I critiquing what worked and what didn’t, but I’m also printing many of my favorites to hang in the office. These images will serve as weekly reminders, pushing me to start the new year with fresh ideas. My goal is to avoid repeating past work and instead dive deeper into what inspires me—to really examine why I shoot what I do and how I do it.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of repeating what works, but that rarely leads to creative growth. This review is about exploring what I don’t shoot, taking on new projects, and challenging myself to create something different. To that end, I’m already pushing into new territories for 2025. I’ve recently added a fisheye lens to my gear bag—a simple change, but one I’ve always wanted to try. It’s not groundbreaking, but it will definitely shake things up. I’ve also launched a new personal project, Rideavel—a vlog focused on bike touring, bikepacking, and gravel riding. It’s an opportunity for more time on the bike and in nature, two things that are bound to inspire new visuals.

Looking back at the nearly 50,000 images I shot in 2024, I see plenty of similarities in subject matter and style, but also plenty of a-ha moments that sparked new ideas. Focusing on a niche and becoming deeply familiar with it has its advantages, but I also believe in giving myself permission to refocus and explore other subjects. With years of experience behind me, I’m ready to bring fresh perspectives to new projects and industries.

So, why the change? Why not? It doesn’t mean abandoning past subjects or work, just a deliberate shift toward igniting new ideas. I’m excited to see which ones will catch fire and lead to something exciting.

Here’s to a successful, creative 2025! If you’re looking for fresh ideas to push your business forward in this ever-changing media landscape, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s see what we can create together.

All the best.

Gilbert

THCAODH24-3191

Scratching the 7 Year Itch

by Blog

In the world of photography, there’s an invisible barrier that many of us encounter—the “7 Year Itch.” It’s that feeling of staleness, of déjà vu, that creeps in when shooting familiar events or subjects for the umpteenth time. I’ll admit, I’ve been there. But as I’ve evolved in my craft, I’ve learned to scratch that itch in the most creative and fulfilling ways.

When I first started out, returning to shoot events for the second or third time felt like treading old ground. I found myself trapped in the mindset of “been there, done that.” But then I realized something crucial: the magic of photography lies not only in capturing what’s in front of you but in discovering new perspectives, even in the familiar.

Take, for instance, my experience at the Thredbo MTB Cannonball Festival. This year marked my seventh consecutive attendance, and initially, I found myself wondering how I could breathe fresh life into my shots. It was then that I adopted a new mantra: “How did I shoot this last year, and how can I shoot it differently this time?”

THCAM24-0064
THCAM24-0231
THCAM24-0255
THCAM24-0491
THCAM24-0593

What ensued was a journey of exploration and experimentation. Armed with my trusty Nikon Z8 cameras, I delved into new techniques and angles. From high frame rates to playing with natural light, I challenged myself to push the boundaries of my creativity.

THCFMC24-0813
THCFMC24-0841
THCFMC24-0914
THCFMC24-0981
THCFMC24-1081
THCFMC24-1160
THCFMC24-1315
THCFMC24-1331
THCFMC24-1527
THCFMC24-1637

One of the highlights was the introduction of the Dual Slalom event by Thredbo—a refreshing addition that injected a burst of excitement into the festival. Engaging with fellow riders and enthusiasts, I gleaned insights and ideas that fueled my passion for capturing the essence of the event in innovative ways.

But the evolution didn’t stop there. With each click of the shutter, I found myself refining my craft, honing in on the nuances of timing and composition. And while berms shots may not be my favorite, I embraced the challenge, determined to capture the dynamic energy of the riders in motion.

As I reflect on this experience, I’m reminded that growth in photography is not linear. It’s about embracing the journey, embracing the evolution. And as I look ahead to future endeavors—like the upcoming Thredbo Interschools—I’m filled with anticipation, eager to continue pushing the boundaries of my creativity and discovering new perspectives.

So, to my fellow photographers grappling with the “7 Year Itch,” I say this: don’t let familiarity breed complacency. Embrace the challenge, seize the opportunity to see the world through a new lens, and let your creativity soar.

The itch may linger, but with a sprinkle of curiosity and a dash of creativity, it can be transformed into a catalyst for growth and innovation. After all, in the ever-changing landscape of photography, the possibilities are endless.

* If you raced Cannonball, you can find all the images over on my event photography website Outer Image Collective.

Reflecting on Visuals: Why 2023 Sucked and How 2024 Will Shine

by Blog

Yep, you heard me right – 2023 sucked. Well, at least from my perspective as a visual artist. Let me explain. As someone who likes to review my work at the end of each year to assess progress and set goals for improvement, skipping this routine in 2022 left me feeling adrift in 2023. Personal and logistical factors, like moving house after over two decades, consumed my attention and left little room for creative growth.

As I sat down to review my shots from 2023, I noticed a pattern: a stagnation in my work. While there was nothing inherently wrong with my photographs, they lacked innovation and novelty. After over a decade in the field, falling into the trap of repetition dealt a heavy blow to my creativity and left me feeling stuck in a rut.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge that 2023 wasn’t devoid of highlights. I had the opportunity to capture new events for fresh clients, such as Bicycle Network’s Orange Newcrest Orange Challenge and Quad Crown’s The Black Pearl stage race.  Plus regular commercial work for OzTent had me shooting lifestyle and studio product images for their new product ranges with occasional videos in the mix.  Despite these successes, complacency crept in, reminding me that coasting along without actively seeking growth can lead to stagnation.

Looking ahead to 2024, I’m determined to break free from this rut. Plans for travel photography adventures with my partner on touring bikes, exciting new roles with longstanding clients like Rocky Trail Entertainment, and a plethora of fresh projects signal a revitalization of my creative spirit. While event numbers may be on the decline compared to the hectic pace of 2023, I see this as an opportunity rather than a setback. Having some breathing room in my schedule will allow for deeper exploration, experimentation, and ultimately, more meaningful artistic output.

So here’s to 2024 – a year of renewed creativity, growth, and adventure in the world of visual storytelling. Let’s Go.

Visuals 2020

by Blog
GRV-visuals2020-0003

2020 as we all know was a year that made us bend and hopefully not break.  It threw many challenges at us all but I am thankful for many of the changes it forced upon myself and how it created opportunities to look into new work.  Predominantly work for me is photographing sports events in particular MTB and trail running but that all changed very suddenly.

I wanted to branch out a little when I could and try some new genres.  Yoga was the first one to fill the frame but not long after that started was shut down.

Thats OK as much of the work I had in mind could be carried out during the week and did not necessarily mean loads of travel to the event locations which seems to be ever expanding as the calendar nears full.  With events at a complete standstill for a period I did what many did and pottered about the office tidying up stuff I had on the back burner.  Not knowing how long we would actually be restricted a few months passed and then I knew an event of 500 people was not going to happen again any time soon.   

Luckily I have a good network of clients and people and thankful that OzTent needed some studio and outdoor work for their camping outdoor products.  This filled many months and taught me not to have so many eggs in one basket.  Once life returned to a little normal I reached out to a local gym that interested me and shortly after we started creating content, Fitness Boxx has been a great saviour both health wise and my creativity.  The gym was a double edge sword, needing to get back some fitness from my younger years but also to start shooting ideas that did not need to happen on a weekend.  Weekends are a premium for me and when things are running normally I don’t seem to have any free ones to shoot new work. 

Events eventually kicked off again especially with Rocky Trail Entertainment as they are smaller scale and could quite smartly adapt to what was permitted running 1-day events over 3.  This meant some extended time on  the trails when many others where still left twiddling their thumbs.  Thankful is a word that does not even come close to describing this work.   2021 will be the 10th year that I have been shooting for Martin and Juliane, I feel it’s going to be something special.  

Some gear wasn’t being used as often and bringing in income so I figured it was time to sell off a few items and with their proceeds invest in some new kit.  With Nikon entering the mirrorless world with the Z series, I knew it was time to give that a go.  This would predominantly be for video work as I still had a couple DSLR bodies that are too good and new to just sell on and take a financial hit.  Thankfully the FTZ adapter gives me full access to all the Nikkor lenses I already have and start using some of the new Z series glass too.  Wow.  Impressed indeed.  It wont be very long before all the kit is changed over I am sure.  

As part of my annual visuals review I look at what I shot, how I shot it and mostly why.  What for me in 2020 was a little limiting as I could not chase projects as much as I would normally like to but that did mean I had time to shoot some images that I normally wouldn’t have.  One key benefit to my annual review especially of this crazy year just gone, is to look at new ways to find work not just relying upon the same old ones.  Something every photographer should be doing whether in difficult times or thriving ones.  I will admit that towards the end of 2020 I was getting pretty flat, felt I was shooting the same images at the same events.  First world problems I know but we all need to feel inspired in what we do and for me new always inspires me even if I apply back to my regular work.   So with every struggle, challenge or obstacle we face we can learn and become better so I actually say “thank you” 2020 but step aside now as I’ve got some ideas for 2021 I need to get cracking on. 

Tassie 50

by BlogcameraGearlensOutdoor LifestyleTravel
Tassie50-0022

I have a great affinity for travel especially to new places and sharing that journey with people who have a like-minded kinship for the outdoors.  Whether on holidays or travelling for work, my eyes hardly ever stop looking even if it does mean making more work for myself when maybe I could be relaxing.  The process of looking, planning and retracing steps all to be at a location for the good light or when the crowds are all at the pub is all part of the journey and adventure.  Recent extended trips over the last two years throughout Europe I picked up some tips and lessons along the way to make such trips simpler, more about that in a future article “VanLife Lessons”.

Simplicity.  So, what does this look to a photographer who enjoys all aspects of the outdoors and capturing lifestyle visuals?  It generally means less gear, no laptop, one tripod, no editing images or a VLOG on top of some lookout until 3am so it can be released the next day before we roll on.  Yes the Terrazza panoramica di Sardagna lookout over Trento, Italy is such a place and the views were great, you can see it in my Return to the Mtns VLOG I made late one night while travelling in Europe.

But no, this was not what I had in mind for this trip.  How did I achieve this and still provide myself a challenge to create and possibly find new ways to shoot subjects? Restrict myself to one camera, one lens and see what I can create.  Now what lens, normally I would grab a wide angle as it’s my favourite perspective, but I am too familiar with that lens and as I said I want a challenge.  Our eyes see equivalent to about 50mm so everyone knows what that looks like so creating interesting images will be a challenge.

The Tassie 50 project was born.  One camera, one lens (50mm) and 50 images from 10days of travelling around the island.  

Tasmania is an amazing place, so nice I was thinking of moving there a few years back.  An idea that still lingers in the back of my brain somewhere waiting for a more opportune time to resurface.  With amazing beaches and coast lines, great mountains and rives to explore and quiet city streets, well quieter than the hustle of Sydney, it’s hard not to love Tassie.   New places was the agenda so a hire car in Hobart with a big clockwise loop saw us travel through Mt Field national park, across the centre to the west coast to the township of Strahan.  After some exploring the coast, we headed north to Cradle Mountain for the summit hike missing it two years ago when we did the full Overland Track.   After enjoying the views from atop we headed to the north coast to enjoy the warm weather and water.   Along the top we took in walks near Port Sorell in hope to see some penguins but only discovered quiet beaches and no crowds something Tasmanians seem to enjoy everywhere.   Then to the east coast for a wedding in Binalong Bay before cruising south to Triabunna taking the ferry over to Maria Island for a night.  Maria Island is treasure chest of beauty and adventure with great camping, mountain bike riding, hiking and plenty of wildlife.  Lastly was some time spent in the Tasman national park especially Cape Hauy checking out Totem Pole and Candlestick two popular rock-climbing pinnacles that jut out of the sea taking shape as their names describe while little sight seeing boats buzz around below in the water. 

So how did the project go?  Well I captured some images that caught my attention.   Some simply for the beauty of the land in front of me and some because I had to work for them.  Some I had to walk away from logging the location into my database of locations hoping to return one day soon and capture an image how I imagined it at that time.  Did I capture anything stellar?  I always reserve my feelings until I return home and look at my images later to see if they still invoke the sense of excitement as when I took them.  Some images do, some don’t which usually is an indication that I should have spent more time with the subject at hand.  But the simplistic ease of just grabbing my camera and not having to think about lenses only to try and capture what I am seeing made me consider what it is that I like in front of me a bit more.  This was a great revision for my creativity and keeping me from going flat in my work shooting the same old ways as always.    It’s all about what you leave out of the frame and not just what is in it that makes great photos something a single lens makes you very aware of.    

Visuals 2019

by BlogVisuals Annual

It’s that time. We all like to sit and reflect on the year that has just passed past us and recall the laughs, the challenges and the victories. Never is it an even balance for me with some years being a home run hit smashing it out of the park, others feel like they pass so quick that my list of goals feels neglected. 2019, feels a little of the latter but when I take the time to sit and do a proper review I always find that actually, the camera trigger button got quite a workout.

So after spending the best part of two days going through my Lightroom catalogue and the 44,580 images within the 2019 folder, I feel the number is low. This number feels low but is comparable to previous years, counting only the final “keepers” minus the countless rejects, timelapse images and test shots. Low as I felt I shot so much more than that, especially as I needed to do some big overhauls in my NAS storage and acquiring new USB drives to house all the content.

What I have not included in this number are all the video clips that I shot this year, as it was one of my main goals for 2019. Shooting four videos for one of my long-standing photographic clients allowed me to scratch an itch and I will be continuing that in 2020 but more on that in an upcoming post.

Lightroom offers a lot of info using the metadata captured in each frame, not very informative with a single frame but multiplied 44,580 times and some patterns start to appear. I won’t bore you with the details but I’ve seen a swing in my chosen focal length and a resounding consistency for one aperture. Little pieces of gold like this are a quick way to see new ways to mix up my style for the coming year.

More interestingly, for me anyway, even though I consciously made some decisions to shoot differently in 2019 my final 20+ images have one distinctive pattern to them, something I have always done and obviously appeals to my eyes. This creates a few questions in my head “Can I change my style, what means change and should I?”

This year saw less travel and more focus on local events with a resounding tilt to MTB racing. Each image has it’s own story to tell, click on any of the thumbnails to view it full screen and read the description about why it made my final selection. So without further ado here they are.

Capturing Lifestyle Visuals

by BlogOutdoor Lifestyle
Best way to start your working morning.

You know it’s going to be a fun weekend when the morning kicks off at 5am and you’re shooting a timelapse sunrise. Was a busy week of planning and preparing for two events, both trail running, here in Sydney. The 10th annual Maximum Adventure Coastal Classic in the Royal National Park and Run Forest Run for Bare Events.

With any job it all comes down to planning, knowing your locations and working with a great team of organizers, photographers and the support of the local government in the form of National Parks Wildlife Services. Even when weather doesn’t play along with your plans with 50km+ winds.

Getting to film a video for Maximum Adventure in the planet’s second oldest national park was an honour, flying a drone for some great coastal views once all the appropriate red tape requirements were met. A big thanks to NPWS for letting me shoot in the park and show off this great trail running event and location.

Thankfully, Sunday’s weather was a little calmer so the families and fun runners could have their turn at Run Forest Run. Shooting stills with the photography team of my event photography business, Outer Image Collective, was a great way to explore some new trails and witness many families enjoying the outdoors in a healthy lifestyle of activity.

Capturing lifestyle visuals never gets boring and always provides a challenge to create new and exciting content. Watch for the full video promoting Sydney’s best trail running event.

Different Week Different Light

by BlogMTB

What a difference one week makes. Same trails but different riders and wheels but same track plus throw in some hectic weather during the week and it all makes for some exciting new images.

Last week the XC racers had their go on the dusty and dark forest of Ourimbah, this week the Enduro racers were treated to mud and more open, fast gravity fed trails. Thankfully Ourimbah’s aquaphobia allowed the crazy amount of rain to shed in time for Sunday’s racing. With three tracks to choose from and not having shot Enduro here for 2 years, I knew the main race track, Fox, would be my pick as it was situated in a more sunny position and probably the driest.

So many great riders in all categories showed up to race, from the young gun, ladies in abundance and of course the elites racing for glory. Few unexpected riders from interstate and some BMXers racing MTB.

Features were easy to find, some hard to shoot as the skill levels were a mixed bag, some capable of gapping features others, taking the safer lines. The light was on song, being warm and predominantly side lighting created some nice shape on the subjects. As always photography is about light, lack of it or its position will always make or break a photo. Flash still used here to help ensure no dark faces under helmet visors or just make the rider pop a little more. Carefully placed and you don’t even know it is there.

Thanks to everyone for such a great weekend and see you again soon track side.