This Jump Is Enormous... Pro MTB Rider Testing

When Sam Frazer invites you to come shoot the gang at young legend Dane Folpp’s place you know I’m there! The afternoon session was a final test for the group before they each head off to different comps around the world.

Sam sending a massive front flip as well as working on his backflip no hander’s.

Eight time mountain bike world champ and olympian Caroline Buchanan with a no hander.

Dane sending a massive triple tail whip 180… and he in only 16 🤯.

Baxter Maiwald with a 360 front flip.

Watching these guys and girls was truly breathtaking to watch. Multiple times in the session my mouth was on the floor. I can not wait to get out for the next one.

Be sure to check out their instagrams for some videos of them sending the noise 🤘.

Luke

That Time Up North

In the crispness of my morning walk I found myself day dreaming of this little town at the foot hills of the Eungella range in North QLD, Finch Hatton. On our December holidays last year my girlfriend and I spend the morning exploring this growing hamlet.

This historic little town from the early 1900’s is peppered with relics form a bi gone age and the early morning light was glorious to walk through.

Making our way up the Eunngella range the view from the steep road of the gnawing hillside is spectacular under the mist.

Hidden away down ‘The Diggings’ track is a secret cafe called Eden. Which is easy to see why its named for the amazing countryside surrounding 😍.

Enjoying a coffee and breakfast burger we then played on the giant swing and watched the other adventures play some of the games on the hill.

Some of the iconic buildings in Finch Hatton are the old general store, Criterion Hotel and RSL buildings.

If you are ever up that way the Finch Hatton and Eungella area are worth a day trip with other attractions like Finch Hatton Gorge, Pinnacle Pies, Mt Dalrymple hike and the newly built Finch Hatton MTB track.

Bold . Raw . Minimal - Harsh Lighting Technique

Earlier this year, I embarked on an exciting test shoot in the studio with model Jamie Verster. I experimented with harsh lighting techniques to capture jewelry images, which are typically shot with soft lighting. My aim was to infuse these images with a bold, harsh lighting setup to make them really pop. This shoot served as a creative exploration that I then referenced for ICONS project.

I am particularly drawn to the crisp shadows and vibrant, contrast-rich colours that this technique produces, all while maintaining flattering skin tones. To achieve this effect, I used a bare bulb strobe directed straight at the model.

Although this strobe method can be intimidating to some creatives, mastering its nuances can yield stunning results.

I love how this type of lighting commands attention and distinguishes itself from the conventional 'soft fashion' lighting prevalent in the industry.

Don't forget to follow Jamie — she's an incredible personal trainer, emerging model, and a talented UGC creator!

Mt Coot Tha Trails - MTB

Hitting the trails testing this week with fellow creative Nick Ravn and mountain bike athletes Bergen O’Neill and Noah Davidson.

We hit the trails in the dense bushland of MT Coot Tha which provided some challenging conditions to test our skills against a busy backdrop and fast riders.

Through the bush we found some great framing between peep holes and speckled light creeping through the canopy.

Noah and Bergen are both competitive MTB riders who spend their time racing between Brisbane and the iconic Tasmanian bike park Maydena.

The wooden bridge shot is one of my favourites from the afternoon, especially with Nick laying down and putting it on the line to get the shot! Committed to the craft.

I am also a sucker for back lit photos and especially this one with the evening sun shining through the forrest.

I look forward to creating with these guys again and please be sure to give them all all follow on their socials.

Life Outside - ANZAC Day

As a veteran myself I have a special place in my heart for fellow ex defence members who may be struggling as civilians in ‘Life Outside’ the military.

During the interviews I conducted with veterans I wanted to gain their perspective on what are some of their struggles, triumphs and things they think the community can do to help support our soldiers when they leave the military.

A key take away from Jake who was an infantry soldier and sniper, is that, ‘it can be as small as someone talking to us that can make a huge difference in our lives. We are not psychos, we just might be having a ruff time.’

Brendan has gone onto become a helicopter pilot after leaving defence and he thinks that having a clear purpose once you leave the military is key to success on the outside. Finding or creating your own purpose will help you have direction when you are the now master of your own ship.

For Angus, finding a community is key to dealing with struggles on the outside. Having a group of like minded people that you can lean on in hard times and hold you accountable when building your new life.

For this Anzac Day please take the time to just say hello to a veteran. Because you never know what they may be dealing with and this small act of kindness can make all the difference.

Thank you for your service.

Luke


Winter Is Coming...

Winter is still over 2 months away but I’m already excited.

I LOVE cold places. I often catch myself day dreaming of snow, mountains, lakes and frozen forests.

These are some of my favourite images from adventures to cold places.

Out the back of a small set of trees at the peak of Iwatake mountain is a bakery with a deck off the side of the ski resort. This is the view from that deck while I enjoyed my coffee and cinnamon scroll.

Zac and I hiking up Lotte Arai Hokkaido before one of the best runs of our life.

Outside a small burger joint in the Hakuba lives a converted old school bus where you can enjoy a beer and a burger after a day on the slopes. Pitvipers, beers, snowboarding 🏂

One of my favourite days boarding was actually on a day of average snow. We hit the park and I set up one of the jumps. Once the park rats worked out that that dude standing on the side of the jump was holding a camera… they began to send it. This guy was super cool.

The open plains in between the mountains of the Mt Cook, Aoraki area New Zealand. We wish we were going on that chopper.

White out in back country Hokkaido Japan.

You can find a vending machine on almost every street in Japan.

Horse riding in Glenorchy New Zealand is up there with one of my favourite experiences. Also Glenorchy is one of my favourite places to visit. It feels like your in last settlement on the edge of the world. It is absolutely gorgeous.

Evergreen Content Workshop

A common theme amongst some of the professionals and brands I work with is you guys are struggling to come up with original content ideas that resinate with your audiences.

Iv’e partnered with Allied Magazine to release my first workshop teaching you how to create Evergreen content that will be relevant today, in a month, next year and forever.

THE AUDIENCE IS THE ASSET and we teach you how to create value that builds the die hard fans that love you, jam with your message and when you are ready to sell, will buy from you.

The curriculum includes:

  • Why Giving Free Value Makes You More Money

  • How to Come Up With Original EverGreen Ideas

  • Using AI to Your Advantage

  • The Gear You Need (and Don’t Need) and How to Use It

  • Free (or very cheep) Software/Apps You Can Use

  • 1 Day a Month Content Days For Bulk Content

  • How to Overcome Camera Anxiety

  • Which Social Media Platforms to Use

  • Hosting Your Own Content on Your Website

  • Content for 2 Types of Leads: Clients and Business Partners

  • Q&A

  • We Make Some Content!

I have packed this with as much knowledge as I can so that all you have to do after the workshop… is start.

I hope to see you there.

Luke

Send It!!! - MTB

Sitting there ‘ready’ to take the shot, my mouth dropped as Sam Frazer sends an enormous back flip over a massive jump. Needless to say I wasn’t ready for him to send it like that after only being at the park for 5 minutes 😅. ‘Send it again please’

These are some of my favourite images form my session at Boomerang Farm MTB with professional riders Sam Frazer and Ted Oakley.

The intention of the day was to show the scale, speed and size of the tricks you can throw at this park.

Some of the jumps were absolutely massive for us mere mortals and these guys made them look like play.

Shooting conditions were tuff as there was a lot of distractions in the back ground with the forrest and these guys were ripping some serious speed to keep up with.

Im stoked with the set we were able to come away with, be sure to check out the full set here and Sam and Ted’s instagrams to see more of what these guys can do.

Wandering Warriors - Fight For A Cause

During my time in the army as a Riflemen in the 1st Royal Australian Regiment I formed the closest bonds with men that are now family.

When I left defence I was very fortunate that I also had a close family and friend network on the outside to help my transition to civilian life. Unfortunately some veterans don’t have this luxury and the transition can be scary, complicated and lonely.

Thats why I am fighting in this years Fight For A Cause charity boxing match to help raise money and awareness for my veteran brothers and sisters who need that support when they leave defence.

I would appreciate your support by donating or buying a ticket or table for the fight night on the 20th April at the Fortitude Music Hall.

Attila - New Talent

I love the creative collaboration between photographers and models when we set out with no fixed goals but to just see where our creativity takes us.

Greeted by this tall, charming and enthusiastic young man in my lobby, I was taken back by his energy and keenness to try different ideas and modify on the fly.

We worked between a ‘paparazzi interview’, outdoor formal wear (failed haha) and portrait sitting to create some great portfolio pieces.

Very keen to see what we are able to create in the future. Check out the full set in my blog post and give Attila a follow @attila.mbe

Hidden Trail Riding With Sam Fraser - MTB

At the crack of dawn professional mountain bike athlete Sam Fraser and I crept our way through the bush at Brisbanes Mt Coot-Tha to a hidden bike track he knew to rip some lines.

Sam is a sponsored DHARCO athlete and also has his own company assembling top of the line MtBike tyre assemblies Gibson Components.

In preparation for an up coming pitch Sam an I ran through some close up wides, telephoto key hole hole and lifestyle shots. Im super excited to the image library I’m assembling this weekend when we head to the famed Boomerang Park MTB.

Be sure to check out Sam’s Instagram reels to see him sending some wild back flips and monster whips!

Kelly Dixon & Graeme Connors

They may be a little more seasoned from the outback sun but these country music legends still have as much creativity in them as ever.

I have worked with GC on a few projects before so when he rung me with the opportunity for another I was already there.

For a new project he is working on he has brought in acclaimed song writer and poet Kelly Dixon, who has penned over 160 songs including 40 for Slim Dusty.

Kelly is 96 but as sharp as a tack, and listening to these two artists stories and watching them work was truly inspirational.

Good Morning Vietnam

On my latest trip I headed to the rich cultural realm of Vietnam.

My journey started in the wet north experiencing the street food of Hanoi, the still waters of Hạ Long Bay and the cultural streams of Ninh Bình. Although we had inclement weather while we were in the north, this only added to the ancient feeling of cultural Vietnam.

Our trip then took us to the tropical island paradise of Phú Quốc where we enjoyed dinner on the beach, drinking Vietnamese coffee while riding around on scooters and the amazing European inspired Sunshine Town.

Finally our journey ended in the nations capital Ho Chi Minh City known to the locals as Saigon. Where the highlight was the historic war museum and Củ Chi tunnels.

Although there was ample scenic vistas to photograph I really wanted to capture the human element of Vietnam. I hope you enjoyed this snippet from my trip and you can see the full gallery here or my travel portfolio on my website.

Fire Fire Fire

I had the privilege of capturing portraits of the legendary members of D Crew from my home fire department. These individuals are true heroes, yet their humility and down-to-earth Aussie spirit shine through.

Working with them on these portraits was an absolute pleasure, and I am thrilled with the final results. To view the complete set, be sure to click into the blog post.

IRONMAN - Ride

Part 2/3 of my IRONMAN - Swim, Ride, Run series ‘Ride’.

Banging out 60km to over 90km sessions a couple times a week when in prep for an IRONMAN is an incredible amount of volume for normies like us but athlete Zac Dunn froths them with ease.

This set was shot at a gorgeous spot in my home town Mackay and I really enjoy the back lighting coming through the pine trees making it look like it could of been shot in the hills somewhere else in the world.

Keep an eye out for my final set ‘Run’.

IRONMAN - Swim

Part 1 of 3 for my Ironman Swim, Ride, Run series.

Athlete Zac Dunn on his morning training session. An absolute mountain of a man, Zac’s morning swims are minimum 3km and consist of a combination of long slow swims and interval sessions.

The half in half out of the water shots are a favourite of mine and make Zac look more like a super hero. Keep an eye out for the next set in the series ‘Ride’.

Speed - Pain - Adrenaline!

I LOVE ADRENALINE. Always have and always will. I have loved riding motorbikes, flying in choppers, combat sports, and snowboarding my brains out ever since I was young child… and nothing has changed 😅.

It excites me to no end to bring my passion of photography to my love of adrenalin sports and capturing those intense split second moments, that if you blink you’ll miss them.

Adding sport back into the portfolio I am excited for some shoots I have in the pipeline for next year including Trophy Truck off-road racing, Surfing, and Freestyle Motocross.