On the road with Sophie Matterson
When I got the call from Australian Geographic to track down Sophie Matterson and...
A lot of my work around Australia is classified as pro bono.
This gives me the opportunity to work with communities, organisations, families and individuals who don’t have the means to afford professional services. This doesn’t negate the fact that they require and more importantly deserve to have access.
Pro bono work is really rewarding in the sense that I can give back, when I can, and I know everyone says that they get back more than they give and it sounds clique and spin like but it’s true. Back in June I was approached by the directors of the South Australian Aboriginal Womens Football Team to photograph the captains at the Adelaide Oval. There are a lot of talented photographers out there especially within the First Nations family so to be chosen was quite an honour. This assignment came about from the pro bono work in Amata and from working closely with the Coober Pedy Saints.
I’ve travelled to some really remarkable areas of Australia, even within the limitation of owning a small front wheel drive Corolla, engaging with some amazing families and communities along the way. There is nothing wrong with pro bono I suppose i’m learning that to be true to the work commercial work needs to push the infrastructure forward allowing more of these unique and impossible creations.