Embark was a truly transformative experience for me. It pushed me to dig deep within myself and confront the areas where I needed to grow as a photographer. The feedback I received was both challenging and invaluable, as it often picked up on tiny details that forced me to improve exponentially.

Some challenges were harder than others, of course (Colourific and Soul Searcher come to mind there), but each one was an opportunity for me to push myself beyond my comfort zone and into uncharted territory. And, in those moments of discomfort and uncertainty, I found a creative calmness that I hadn’t experienced before.

Dogs have always held a special place in my heart, and it was a joy to capture their unique personalities and quirks through my camera. Each photo was a testament to the deep bond and relationship between humans and animals, and the memories we create together. This was especially true of the reactive dogs I photographed as part of this who previously hadn’t had the opportunity to get such beautiful portraits due to their reactivity.

As I reflect on my personal journey and growth in the field of photography, I am reminded of the importance of staying true to myself and my vision. It is through authenticity and vulnerability that I am able to create images that are not only visually stunning, but also rich and soulful.

This was clearly evident in a portfolio review I had with Craig where he commented that the colour blue only showed up in two of my photos, and even then, my photos had a consistently rich and subdued feeling that demonstrated a clear style you can expect in my work.

While I came into this challenge hoping to get at least one photo in the Top 20, I ended the challenge with four Top 10s, and one Top 20. Beyond anything I thought to expect or hope to achieve!

And yet, in the Awards call I was shocked to find out that not only was Craig impressed with my work and confident I could continue on to the Emerge challenge. I’d won the City Slicker challenge, and my entire portfolio was considered good enough to receive a Highly Commended award (that means I was in the running to be ranked in the top 3 of over 70 full portfolios!).

So, as I continue to develop my skills as a photographer, I am grateful for the challenges that push me to be better, the relationships that inspire me, and the memories that I am privileged to capture. And, above all, I am grateful for the opportunity to create art that speaks to the heart and soul.