Dusk Dreams

 Photography: Bronwyn Townsend

HMUA: Rose Mossman

Model: Zoe Penman at Viviens Model Management

Stylist: Gee Hermiz

Why I do what I do.

The sunlight broke through the low lying clouds that crisp autumn morning. As the sky illuminated with hues of vibrant pinks and reds, the occasional click of a shutter could be heard over the rock pools. A solitary silhouette perched on the horizon, poised and ready with tripod and camera in hand…

Capturing the beauty that is the world that surrounds us is what captivates my photographers’ eye. Despite beginning my early days in the art with shooting portraits of friends at social events or the way light cast a new outlook on an object I pass by every day, usually unenthused by its presence, I developed a taste for that which I truly felt a passion for.

Gradually I turned my interests toward a new form of subject, the fast paced and ever changing realm that is fashion photography. There is nothing quite as intense as the bold stare that the audience is drawn in by from the images’ subject. Striking poses and bold colours, obscure outfits and hours of editing are what I thrive for. Fashion photography offers that which is not too dissimilar to a new lease on life, its strong and gives you a sense of freedom unlike anything else. You can create something so uniquely your own, that thousands of others love and appreciate. It is not the praise you receive for your work, but the sense of accomplishment you achieve yourself. It feels as though nothing could be quite so invigorating, seeing this tiny glimpse of any idea formulate into something beautiful and spectacular.

I view my surroundings differently. I see this infinite potential. Whilst I may photograph naturally beautiful people, they are so very much the essence of natural art, and are sometimes beyond belief. You slowly begin to notice things you’d never seen before, although they had always been there. The way the light filters through leaves as the sun slips into a slumber for the evening, or the way pain flitters across your sitters eyes before they prepare themselves for the day ahead. You read people, not only externally, but internally. You have the power to make the subject connect with themselves in a way they never have before. But most of all, you are an artist. You are the representative of beauty and pain all at once. A paradox of what fashion and beauty is supposed to be; you are the truth in the lies.

Who Am I?

In Short, I am a twenty-one year old with some big dreams, several yet to be completed studies and a general sense of wanderlust.

However if you dare to delve deeper, you will discover a writer, poet and photographer who views their world with eyes more focused like the lens of a camera, than the mindset of a typical Gen Y. Those big dreams are slowly becoming reality as my photography work is splashed across pages of magazines, and I’m never comfortable if I’m not learning. Living in Sydney far from satisfies my hunger to explore, and I don’t expect to be settled for long.

My avatar has been selected as I feel it depicts the very essence of who I am. It’s simple, and shows my followers exactly who I am. As a photographer, and someone who follows a myriad of other photographers in the industry, I find our own image gets lost in the mix as people are more familiar with our work, than us. Yes, this is the classic “selfie” from Instagram, and that’s exactly what I want, a true representation of me, not a logo or one of the images of my work. It’s a personal touch, for a personal art.