Hi, I’m John Russell. I’m a formally trained, multi-award winning photographer with a career spanning more than 20 years.

A selection of publications my photos have appeared in:

BOOKS

Photos that changes the worldThe 20th Century. Prestel Publications.

The Unthinkable. Amanda Ripley

Tsunami – The worlds most terrifying natural disaster. Geoff Tibballs

The Faces and the Streets. Charles Sturt University

Aonami Collections. Veronique Sergrais-Saita

NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES

Time Magazine

Australian Geographic

Inside Sport

The Age

Herald Sun

The Border Mail

Stern Magazine (Germany)

U.S. News & World report

Australian Financial Review

The Australian Woman’s Weekly

Kansai Scene

Japanzine

Some of the more prominent achievements I am proud of include:

Charles Sturt University logo
  • Bachelor of Arts – Photography
  • Border Morning Mail Scholarship
Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association logo
  • News Photograph of the Year
The Border Mail logo
  • Photographer of the Year
  • Best News Photograph
LEAD Awards logo
  • Photo of the Year
Australian of the Year Awards logo
  • Young Australian of the Year Awards 1999

Nominee for Outstanding Achievement – Arts.

Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance logo
  • South East Regional Media Awards

Excellence in Regional & Rural Photography

South East Australia Basketball League logo
  • Best Action Photograph

I have been in love with photography all my life. I developed my first black and white print in a makeshift lab in my parents’ laundry way back in primary school, about 35 years ago. Back then digital photography was a concept that no one had even thought of.

I had an old, beaten up Canon A1 35mm camera with a slightly dodgy lens, but it was enough to get me hooked forever.

Fast forward a decade or so and I found myself traveling around the world with a camera permanently attached to my arm, shooting everything from kids playing in the dusty streets of Luxor in Egypt to yaks grazing in the dizzy heights of the Himalayan mountains. I returned home after several years to bolster my practical knowledge with formal training in the shape of a Bachelor of Arts in Photography. I wanted to know more.

The landscape has changed dramatically since then. Digital images are now the industry standard and computers have long since replaced the darkroom. I loved watching black and white prints materialise as if by magic in the deep red glow of a developing bath; however, new technology, with all the possibilities and challenges it provides, keeps me excited to see what’s around the next corner.

I consider myself fortunate to have worked as a professional photographer for an extremely diverse range of clients. I have worked with everyone from international brands to the bloke next door, from small and large businesses to community and sporting organizations, and spent almost a decade as a staff photographer at one of Australia’s most successful and respected daily newspapers.

I think I’m pretty lucky – I have the best job in the world…