Photos: Dan Hillier.
Redland Camera Club member Dan Hillier shares his photography journey, and his inspiration to capture people and places on film.
“It wasn’t until my early 30s that I realised that photography could be more than taking snapshots of family, friends and special occasions. Driving home one evening, I listened to a radio interview with a landscape photographer who described in detail the difficulties and dangers he faced to capture the perfect photograph. It was the most interesting interview I had ever heard. The idea of going out with the sole intention of just taking a photo was completely foreign to me at the time, but from that moment I was hooked.
“I immersed myself into the world of film photography and darkroom techniques for a couple of years before buying my first digital camera in 2009. A few years later, I heard about the Redlands Camera Club and decided to take a look.
“Not really knowing what to expect, I was actually surprised to learn that our local club was extremely active, attracting speakers from all over Australia and even from overseas. Every month, there is a different presenter discussing a topic that they are passionate about. Through being involved, my understanding and knowledge about photography has grown dramatically, and continues to do so.
“Perhaps the aspect of photography I enjoy most is the endless range of genres and subjects – there is always something new to attract my attention. And while I have an interest in the history of photography, and still use some film and chemical processes, I really enjoy the freedom and greater ability to experiment that digital cameras have given us.”
