How My Photography Journey Changed Direction

When people see my landscape photographs today, they often assume that I always wanted to photograph mountains, coastlines, sunrises, and the night sky.

The truth is very different.

My photography journey began much closer to home.

It Started with Basketball

Like many parents, I wanted to capture memories of my son playing basketball.

I quickly discovered that photographing indoor sport isn't as easy as pointing a camera and pressing the shutter.

Secondary school basketball courts are surprisingly dark. Players move incredibly fast, changing direction in a split second. My first photos were often blurry, noisy, or simply missed the action altogether.

Instead of giving up, I treated it as a challenge.

I began learning about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, autofocus modes, burst shooting, and how to anticipate the play rather than simply react to it. Every game became an opportunity to improve.

Looking back, those basketball games taught me some of the most valuable photography lessons I've ever learned.

Discovering a Whole New World

As my interest in photography grew, I joined a Facebook photography group.

That turned out to be one of the best decisions I made.

Suddenly I was surrounded by photographers who were sharing incredible sunrise and sunset images, cityscapes, wildlife, event photography, and breathtaking photos of the Milky Way.

Every day I saw something that made me think, "I'd love to learn how to do that."

The group didn't just inspire me—it gave me the confidence to try new subjects that I had never considered before.

Soon I was setting early alarms to chase the sunrise, staying out after sunset to capture city lights, attending local events with my camera, and even venturing into astrophotography under dark Australian skies.

Photography had become much more than taking family photos.

It had become an adventure.

Learning Never Stops

The more I photographed, the more I realised how much there was still to learn.

I started reading photography books, watching countless YouTube tutorials, and spending far too much time researching camera gear and lenses. I discovered new techniques through online courses, Instagram Reels, and photography Shorts, often picking up small tips that made a big difference in the field.

Some lessons came from experienced professionals. Others came from trial and error.

Sometimes I'd drive before dawn to a location, only to discover there wasn't a spectacular sunrise after all.

Sometimes I'd come home with hundreds of photos and not keep a single one.

And that's perfectly okay.

Every outing taught me something new.

The Journey Continues

Today my photography includes landscapes, wildlife, city scenes, long exposures, events, astrophotography, and many of Australia's beautiful places.

But none of that was part of the original plan.

It all started with wanting to take better photos of my son playing basketball.

Looking back, I'm grateful that those dimly lit basketball courts challenged me. They pushed me to learn, experiment, and eventually discover a passion that continues to grow with every sunrise, every road trip, and every new place I visit.

Photography has taught me that learning never really ends.

There's always another technique to master, another location to explore, another sunrise to chase, and another story waiting to be captured.

And that's exactly what makes this journey so exciting.