Before COVID, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time shooting in Hong Kong. The energy of the streets, the density of life, and the contrast to my home city of Brisbane created an extraordinary sense of visual tension. Where Brisbane is spacious and open, Hong Kong is layered, intimate, and overflowing with character. Over time, I found myself drawn again and again to its small shops and the people who ran them, craftsmen, traders, makers, and keepers of a rapidly changing world.

The inspiration for Raven was born from the idea of contrasts—light and shadow, strength and fragility, mystery and openness. The black dress, delicate and sleek, echoing the grace of its namesake bird. Against the pale sand and driftwood, the styling created a natural monochrome palette that allowed the textures of fabric, wood, and water to shine through the lens.

Photographing Pete, a master jeweller in Brisbane, was a study in contrast and concentration. His well-worn bench, scattered with fragments of gold and tools polished smooth by years of use, told its own story. The black dermographism on his fingers spoke of long hours at the bench, a tactile record of dedication and repetition. Against this rawness, the elegance of the pieces he creates feels almost ethereal: delicate forms shaped by practiced precision and an instinctive understanding of balance.