The Surfer, 1993 Ed. 1 of 10

I made this image when I had just started working on a suburban newspaper in Sydney. It's taken at McKenzies beach in the eastern Suburbs of Sydney. I had taken a friend down there to watch the dogs surfing, yes that was a thing, when I saw some people sitting, silhouetted on a rock ledge. I aimed my 200mm lens and hoped the surfer would walk into the frame. He turned to walk away and I thought the moment may pass, but then he turned back and walked right into my frame. To me, this image is quintessentially Australian - the free and easy lifestyle of coastal living.

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Belinda Pratten grew up in Gadigal Land/Sydney and has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney. After studying photography at Sydney Technical College (1993/1994), Belinda joined Fairfax Newspapers as a photojournalist and Deputy Picture Editor in 1994. In 1998 she moved to Canberra to work in the Press Gallery, Parliament House, and since 2001 has been working as a freelance photographer, filmmaker and teacher.

Belinda's work has been collected by The National Portrait Gallery, Canberra Museum and Gallery, The Australian War Memorial, ACT Legislative Assembly Art Collection, The National Library as well as private collectors. Belinda has been exhibiting her work since 1996, with solo shows at The Sydney Opera House (1996), Brewarrina Council Chambers (1998), Corelli’s Cafe Newtown (1999), Belconnen Arts Centre (2008), Tap Gallery Sydney (2011), Bleeding Heart Gallery Brisbane (2011), Kindness House Melbourne (2011), PhotoAccess Canberra (2010/2012), and The Photography Room (2016).

Belinda has also been involved in many group shows in Australia and overseas, including Animals in Focus an exhibition held by The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in 2006 - which toured the United Kingdom, Denmark, NZ, Tanzania, Brazil, CostaRica and Canada; and East Timor: through the eye of the lens 2001- touring Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Dili, Timor-Leste.

https://www.auswip.com.au/directory/profile/belindamorganpratten?rq=belinda%20pratten

Belinda is currently based on Wurundjeri Land.