Flinders Island

I left the newsroom at 6pm but I couldn’t stop thinking about the early start tomorrow where I was boarding a light plane to an island I never knew existed. 

Was it going to be like.. those crazy political visits where I need to be in front all the time.. shooting everything and anything that happens… being strictly focused on any expressions or hand movements that might offer a different photo… 

Was I over thinking it again?

Actually it was not this at all, well it was great, except the fact that I had lost sleep thinking about this light plane. I had never done the light plane transport thing and didn’t really like big ones! Did I mention that I was in a space probably no larger than half my bedroom with a pilot, a pollie, a journo, a nice media advisor and a guy in a suit.

We arrived on Flinders Island, a place with only a couple of towns, you can have a beach to yourself and a population of approx 800 people.  (I'm happy to be corrected) There it was.. our hire car and the reality we all had to cram into this old sedan.

God I loved it, driving around with Labour Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne and her people, at the start it was intimidating.. why because I was a young news photographer in Tassie for only a few days, I didn’t know them or there policies and promises .. these people were all dressed and ready for business.

But I knew I had to relax get to know them, talk, be human and have fun! 

After all the official visits to the hospital, school and the local butcher who sells wallaby burgers we had a quick look at the beaches before jumping back on the plane, a placeworth exploring again for sure.  Im so lucky to sent to an island, to photograph the health minister, have lunch on the beach and experiencing something others wouldn’t for work.

Swanny

I got in on a Sunday and started work on the Monday, no rest for the wicked.. 

A brand new Nikon in hand, an ipad and bag full of lenses and of course a few trusty cold speedlights, I was handed my job sheet and reminded how all this gear once was once used by a guy called Swanny,  Who was he, what was his story and why did he have this reputation for being a lovely guy with a good sense of humour who took amazing pictures.. sounds like I have big shoes to fill.

Day one pressure was on, I was introduced to my new journo friends, who would soon learn of my skills as a singer on work road trips. 

Launceston City, had a nice ring to it, until you realise your going the wrong, way up a one way street.. Something I was going to need to learn very quickly,  

I had my pick-up line ‘I’ve only been here for a week’ over used in the first two weeks (behind the camera not in front of the bar)… I was stretching it out till I had to photograph the mayor for the second time.. caught out, but welcomed to his city. 

The locals were the first with the two headed jokes, the mainland jokes and getting people to smile down here is easy! Front page in the first week and talks of a road trip to Hobart, plane trip to some island and an game of AFL at Auroa Stadium where trams use to operate from.. 

Walking down the stairs at the end of the day and I was smiling, Tasmania is truly amazing there are so many opportunities down here, it is truly a secret, one I look forward to sharing