Dianne Galbraith and Bernie Shore are Adelaide Hills photographers whose works were recently short-listed for this year’s Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year prize.
Their works were selected from more than 2100 entries by 501 photographers across
17 countries and feature in the South Australian Museum’s Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition. While Bernie’s work has been short-listed for the prize three times in a row,
Dianne’s has been short-listed five times and she is a past winner of the Interpretive category.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Dianne: I was born in Adelaide with my twin sister Janet. I trained at the Australian Ballet School for two years before embarking on a professional career. Leaving Australia and joining Scottish Ballet for five years was a highlight. The company at that time performed with the likes of Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev, so those times are certainly etched in my memory. Returning to Australia I performed with the Queensland Ballet Company for eight years. There I met my husband Paul and we have two sons and two granddaughters. We are now retired and living in Kangarilla on a small acreage.
Bernie: I grew up in Littlehampton in the Adelaide Hills and have always felt most at home outdoors.
Nature and wildlife have been lifelong passions. I spent almost a decade living in NZ, where its incredible landscapes and wildlife helped shape me as a photographer, tramper and hiker. After the birth of our first child, my family and I recently returned to SA.
When and how did you first become interested in photography?Dianne: I remember a very close friend in Scottish Ballet was passionate about photography, his name was Bill Cooper, (he is now recognised as a renowned ballet photographer in London) so when I returned to Australia, I bought a Pentax camera and started to “just-snap-away” at anything. It eventually became a wonderful way to document family life. Since then, photography has crept into my life as a creative outlet and a way to see the world through a lens.
Bernie: Football was a huge part of my life growing up, but after a serious foot injury and later a car accident, I was forced to give it up. Photography gradually filled that void. I started with landscapes before studying a Diploma of Photoimaging, where my passion shifted towards wildlife and nature photography.
What are your favourite subjects?Dianne: That is a hard question. I will try anything that my eye finds interesting. Dandelions, rusty buildings, reflections in a dam…
Bernie: While landscape photography was where I started, wildlife is now my main focus,
particularly birds. Their behaviour, movement and personalities make them endlessly fascinating to photograph. I also enjoy capturing animals within their habitats to tell a broader story about their lives and environment.
How would you describe your style of photography?Dianne: Instinctive.
Bernie: My style is constantly evolving, but I’m always looking for fresh ways to photograph wildlife.
I draw inspiration from portraiture, landscape and documentary photography, aiming to create images that reveal an animal’s character rather than simply documenting it.
Lately, I’ve been exploring more portrait-driven bird photography, with an emphasis on light, eye contact and behaviour.
Which work are you most proud of to date, and why?Dianne: In 2016 I entered the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year with an image called Swaying. Lo and behold it won the Interpretive category that year which was a very proud moment.
Bernie: Gannets Over Muriwai, my first Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year finalist image, remains my proudest photograph.
It was one of the first times I set out with a clear creative vision, using a wide-angle perspective from beneath a flying gannet to produce something different from a traditional wildlife image.
It changed the way I approach photography and reinforced the importance of intention and storytelling.
How did it feel to have you photo short-listed for the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year?Dianne: To receive an email saying an image has been short-listed is such a thrill.
The exhibition at the South Australian Museum is beautifully presented and curated. To be part of nearly 100 selected images and to see one of your own images on the wall is a humbling experience.
Bernie: It’s a real honour, especially to be selected for the third consecutive year.
The standard is incredibly high, so it’s always a surprise and something I never take for granted.
Beyond the recognition, I love the sense of community the competition creates and the way it celebrates both outstanding photography and the importance of conservation.
What’s your top advice for beginner photographers?Dianne: Whether you are young or old, using a camera or a phone, photography is a wonderful way to document your own surroundings. With nature, it can be in your own backyard. Enjoy the moment and the experience of photographing our amazing planet.
Bernie: Spend as much time outdoors as you can. Patience and observation are just as important as camera skills. I’d also encourage photographers to look beyond wildlife photography for inspiration – portraiture, art and cinema can all help shape your creative vision. Most importantly, enjoy the experience and build a genuine connection with the natural world.
