Werribee resident Kim Wallis has been taking photographs since she was a child. Now one of her images will be on display at the Louvre in Paris next month as part of a three-week exhibition. She talks to Laura Michell
What is your photo of?
It was taken a couple of months ago, during one of the stunning sunsets we are luckily enough to see in the west. It is of local architecture in the Wyndham area (pictured).
How did your photo end up being part of the exhibition?
See Me, which is the largest online international art community, has run an annual fine art photography competition for the past five years called The Exposure Awards.
After watching the magnificent work that’s entered, I thought I’d submit my work this year. It’s one of 10 images I submitted for consideration.
When does it go on display and for how long?
My photograph will be displayed in the Louvre in Paris from July 13. It will be a part of the Ultra-Colour Exhibit for three weeks. It will also be printed in the annual Exposure Awards book, which captures the work that’s exhibited.
How long have you been a photographer?
Thanks to my father, I learnt how to use a camera as a child and he introduced me to the love of a darkroom. I’ve been taking photos ever since, and was lucky enough to study in Queensland under Doug Spowart, who is one of Australia’s best fine-art landscape photographers.
In recent years, I have been focusing more on my art and the love of capturing “the beauty of the inconsequential”, that most people don’t notice in their everyday lives.
What’s your connection to Wyndham?
Wyndham is the home of myself and my family. It’s a wonderful blend of cultures and has the blessing of being close to everything, the beach, the bush and the city.
I’ve loved watching my children grow in a place where you can still see the sky and run around in large parks.
How long have you lived here?
I have lived in Wyndham about seven years.
What’s your favourite thing about Wyndham?
It has to be the birds. I love the fact that lorikeets and cockatoos visit my garden each day. You don’t need to go far to see spectacular wildlife.
There’s even a platypus living in town. Not many places have that privilege.
What’s one thing about Wyndham that you would change?
The public transport is one thing if I had an opportunity, although that has been upgraded in recent days.
If anything Wyndham just needs to continue to change with the tide as it is growing so quickly. I just hope that with that growth it continues to focus on community.
That support network of community will ensure that our children have access to opportunities where they feel anything is possible, where dreaming big and then working hard for those dreams is a reality.
