Peter Aitchison Dooy Holmes AG 7, 1987
86 Australian Geographic
T
HE COHORT OF photographers commissioned
to shoot a major feature story for AUSTRALIAN
GEOGRAPHIC still remains a small one, despite
30 years of publishing. Until recent times, the
journal was a quarterly publication and even
the change in frequency to bi-monthly in 2012
still leaves a full set of all 130 issues taking up not much more
than 1.5m on any foundation subscriber’s bookshelf.
It’s a rarified group of talent that has forged and maintained the
journal’s reputation for excellence in photography. Our commitment
to using the best people and sending them into the field to gather
original material, rather than relying on desk research or stock
imagery, remains very much at the core of how we create stories.
Photographers relish the opportunity to become immersed in a
particular subject – or to spend time in a remote location – and,
ultimately, are thrilled to see their work reproduced with care
and respect across the pages of AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC.
Many of the photographers who shot features for the early
editions are still shooting for us today, including the likes of Bill
Bachman, who has covered more major stories for us than any
other snapper. For this article, Bill revisited King Island in Bass
Strait in October 2015 to reconnect with the close-knit com-
munity there on a special day of celebration (see page 89).
Colin Beard’s classic images also coloured the pages of many
of our early issues, including his beautiful portrait of the northern
NSW town of Moree (AG 1), and his engaging photos of the
Birdsville Track (AG 12). We asked Dean Saffron, a more recent
recruit to AG’s ranks, to visit Colin at his home on Queensland’s
Sunshine Coast, to photograph the veteran shutterbug and find
out more about his famous swagman image (see previous page).
On the following pages, some of our best-known contributors
share moments and photos from their most memorable assign-
ments, and reveal something of what it’s like to be an AG feature
photographer in the field.
CHRISSIE GOLDRICK
EDITOR-IN-CHIEFWHEN AG ASKED me to shoot a story on the alternative
residents of Nimbin, in northern NSW, I didn’t think it was a
good idea. There was a tropical cyclone blowing off the
WA coast, which I knew would bring heavy rain across the
continent. I requested a four-wheel-drive, but the car-hire
company at Ballina only had a little red Ford Laser.
I attended a meeting with one of the communes to
obtain their cooperation; the men were quite defensive but
the women were easier to deal with. I assured them that
they wouldn’t feel like fish in a fish tank and that I’d explore
how all the communities were working alongside each
other – from the older-generation farmers to the newer
alternative ones that established themselves after the
1973 Aquarius Festival. As the meeting finished,
thunderclouds moved in and I didn’t see the sun for
the next week and a half.I spent a lot of time pushing the little red car out of mud
or driving across country creeks and flooded roads, hoping
not to get swept away. Sometimes I just abandoned it and
hiked cross-country with my heavy camera pack on my
back. The assignment had all the ingredients of a true
adventure. I got around and visited many communities.
I photographed Dooy Holmes and baby Jemima in poor
light during a short break in the weather. I asked AG for
extra time to wait for better weather, but they needed
the photos quickly. Then, when I tried to leave, I couldn’t.
I was stranded. I had to organise a helicopter to get me to
Coolangatta Airport because I had another big assignment
waiting back in Sydney. The flight was rough and even the
co-pilot was airsick. My cameras and I were subjected to
extreme conditions and I was worried about what I had
shot, but when I finally saw this photo, I knew I had a winner.30 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC