My Wyndham: Justin Sloan, 31, is a landscape photographer from Manor Lakes.
What do you like about Manor Lakes?
I have lived in Manor Lakes for about five years now. I have watched the growth of Manor Lakes and really enjoy living here. It reminds me of the small country town I grew up in, Echuca.
Manor Lakes gives me a great home ground between the city and the nature of You Yangs Regional Park and the Great Ocean Road. Being close to the Great Ocean Road gives me a beautiful stretch of Victoria to continually travel down and shoot amazing locations.
I am thankful to have been mentored by some art coaches in Wyndham.
What is one thing you would change about the area, if you could?
There are a large number of talented artists in the Wyndham area, it would be great to see more of an artistic culture in Werribee and surrounds.
Is there anywhere in Melbourne where you particularly enjoy taking photos?
Otways National Park for sure, the park is home to Hopetoun Falls, Californian Redwoods, Rye River and many more amazing places.
What do you enjoy most about photography?
I like everything to do with landscape photography, there is much more involved than first thought! Location planning, matching locations with weather and times, scouting a location for suitable compositions, using weather to capture a mood, travelling and hiking to locations.
Being outside of my comfort zone, I am often waking up at 4am to travel two hours to catch a sunrise at a location, which I have to hike to in pitch-black darkness in the middle of a forest on my own.
[Then] Patiently waiting for the right light before taking the shot, the technical aspect of operating the camera and knowing its capabilities, often calculating light differences to ensure it’s within the camera’s range. Photo processing and then of course sharing what I have captured via social media and exhibits!
Have you ever had your photos exhibited locally or sold your images locally?
Yes, I have exhibited locally in Point Cook and have also sold work in multiple stores within Pacific Werribee shopping centre.
Currently I have three pieces of work in Qdos Fine Art Gallery in Lorne, I will also have an exhibit at 4Kings Café/Gallery in Anglesea in October and I am currently discussing an exhibit with Lu Lu Café/Gallery in North Melbourne for September.
I’ve recently also launched my online gallery www.justinsloan.com.au.
