Active – Evolving Picture

Photography of all things that move and the people who move them

Marlboro McLaren Formula One car. Donnington, UK

Marlboro McLaren

Paraglider takes off from the ski resort of Verbier in the Swiss Alps.

Paraglider

Matt pine, health and fitness coach for the Sydney Swans. Photographed here at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Matt is a graduate of UTS's Sport, Leisure & Tourism Course.

Swans Coach

odie Thomas is a graduate of UTS's Sport Leisure & Tourism course and is seen here working with Sydney's surf lifesavers on Newport Beach.

Lifesaver

Pioneering Australian balloonist Ruth E Wilson with her crew and passengers before the flight. Northern NSW.

Balloon Crew

A magic moment between a mother and her baby on the merry-go-round. Loughborough UK.

Merry-go-round

Liz Galloping her horse on Belongil Beach, North of Byron Bay.

Gallop

I was to photograph this skater for a magazine ad. On the day it was raining so the outdoor park was out of the question. We had to shoot in a converted factory. Although it was a great place for skaters, the scenery wasn't great. I needed to make it go away. I knew blur was a solution but normal pan blur wouldn't suit the subject. I came up with the idea of twisting the camera in the opposite direction of the skater's top turn to exaggerate his motion and disguise the dull background. The flash froze the skater. I was really pleased with the result and flattered years later when a surf photographer told me that that particular ad had started a trend in twist blur in surf and skate photography. It pays to experiment.

Ramp Twist

I hadn't hitch hiked for years but it seemed like a good idea when I had to get from Napier to Aukland on New Zealand's North island. For over an hour I hardly saw a car . . . until this one stopped. It is a vintage Austin racing car from the 1920s. Even though it was huge there was only room for me and not my backpack. That was kindly driven to Aukland by the driver's friend in a tiny Austin Seven from the same touring club. It was a remarkable driving experience that I will never forget.

Vintage Austin

While I was living in Northern NSW a friend of mine was lucky enough to get a job with renowned Autralian Balloonist, Ruth E Wilson. One day he came to the building site I was working on. They needed one more person for ballast. I didn't need any encouragement. My boss let me leave work an hour early. I owe them both! It is an amazing way to travel and see the landscape.

Balooning

This was actually commissioned as an architectural photograph by the constructors of Sydney Olympic Park's Millennium Dome, Thiess. By the time access was organised, understandable with the complicated red tape, the Olympics had already started. I arrived at the dome during the semi-final of the olympic handball tournament. The official near me was confused by my huge 5"x4" view camera and asked me if I was a sports photographer. I said "kind of, I'll be quick". I set up the camera on its even bigger tripod, quickly set the exposure and clicked the shutter. It worked, nobody got angry and I am very grateful I got more than your everyday architectural photo. Nothing beats an architectural photo showing a building used for its intended purpose.

Millennium Dome

A photo taken up close and personal during the Byron Bay leg of the Commonwealth Cycle Classic in 1989, a time when Eastern Bloc riders dominated the sport.

Bike Race

Cycle trials rider at Manly Corso. It is amazing to watch the skills of these incredible riders.

Cycle Trials

Swimmers, Baulkham Hills NSW

Swimmers

Athlete at the NSW Institute of Sport.

Institute of Sport

I was with a group of people sheltering in a shop doorway during a torrential downpour. This boy decided to make a run for it. I took this photo as he set off.

Run for it

Morning workout at Rushcutters Bay. Photographed for City of Sydney

Boot Camp

Many years ago I worked for the owner of this beautiful gaff rig sailing boat which was built in Ireland in 1895. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong about those details, it is what I was told. We had sailed down from Palm beach and arriving back at Sydney Harbour.

Sailing to Bridge