I have just returned from the Dreaming Festival in Woodford. I was lucky enough to get a media pass through a friend so I was able to get a good insight into the photo journalism industry. I was allowed into the media room and was allowed to attend a few interviews and photograph some amazing people. It was interesting to see some professionals at work with their massive cameras and photo gear. I was asked to hand some images into the local paper ‘The Byron Shire Echo’ so I had to upload my photos everyday and edit them so I can send them to the paper before they go to press. I haven’t heard yet if they will include them but I am hoping they will. It would be great to get my name out there.

Photographing at the festival was amazing, there was so many interesting performers and dancers that photographed so well. I brought my long lens with me so I was able to get some nice shots of dancers without being intrusive. As most of the performers were Indigenous people I had to ask the stage manager before I photographer every performance so as not to be culturally insensitive. All the performers were fine with being photographed which was great.

I was lucky enough to photograph Professor Mick Dodson, Australian of the year 2009 whilst he was getting interviewed by journalists from SBS and other film and radio crews. he was really great to photograph and a few times he looked right down the lens of my camera, he was clearly very media savvy. I could totally see myself working as some sort of journalist in the future. It was so fun and interesting.

The above photo is one I took of the Burundian dance group from Africa.