Pro Photo WA Featured Member
A big shout out to Pro Photography WA. Thank you for highlighting me as this month’s featured member.
FEATURED MEMBER - Julie Kenny
1. How did you start in photography?
My photography journey began when my Dad handed down his old Pentax K1000 35mm film camera. Around the same time, I started studying darkroom photography in Year 9, and I was instantly hooked. Watching an image slowly appear in the developer tray felt like pure magic. I continued studying photography through Year 12, then completed an Advanced Diploma in Applied Science (Photography) at the old Mount Lawley TAFE campus. After that, I completed a Bachelor of Communications and a Diploma of Education, which led me into teaching Photography and Media. I spent 17 years in education before deciding to step away from teaching and focus my energy back on my own photographic practice.
2. What is your genre and how did you fall into that genre?
Landscape photography has always been my passion. I grew up in a number of outback Australian towns, which sparked a deep love of wide-open spaces and remote landscapes. That early connection to Country shaped the way I see the world and continues to influence my work today. A strong respect for place and the stories embedded in the land sits at the heart of my practice.
5. What has been one of the most memorable moments in your career so far?
There have been plenty of memorable moments over the years, especially during my teaching career. One of my favourites was building a camera obscura in the studio for my students. Watching their reactions as they saw a live, inverted image of the outside world projected onto the studio wall, was priceless. Many were convinced I was hiding a digital projector somewhere. It sparked so many questions and led to some wonderful “light bulb” moments—exactly the kind of experience that makes photography so exciting.
6. What is your favourite piece of equipment?
I have to say my drone. There’s something incredibly exciting about seeing the landscape from above. The aerial perspective reveals patterns, textures and colours that simply aren’t visible from the ground, and it continues to inspire me every time I fly.
7. Are personal projects a part of your journey, and where do you find inspiration?
Absolutely. I’m fascinated by the transient nature of the Australian environment, especially salt lakes. The colours, lines, patterns and textures in these ever-changing landscapes never cease to amaze me. From ground level, many of these places can appear flat and understated, but from the air they reveal an entirely different world.
8. What do you feel has been your biggest achievement so far?
Leaving education after nearly two decades was one of the toughest decisions I have had to make. It was challenging because teaching was something I genuinely loved, and it offered a great sense of security. While it was scary taking a leap into a different career, I knew it was time to devote myself to my own creative practice. Looking back, it was absolutely the right decision. Within a year, my work began gaining recognition in international competitions, which ultimately led to being published in National Geographic.
9. Do you feel your photography style has changed over the span of your career?
Yes and no. A strong focus on graphic elements and detail has always been central to my work. That visual language has remained fairly consistent over time. As drone technology has evolved aerial perspectives have become more accessible. I feel this has influenced the subject matter I am able to capture and has helped me to I grow creatively as I explore new ways of seeing.