Just wrapped a week on the road with ARIA Award–winning @dobbyau as his tour photographer. We hit regional NSW, visiting Wellington, Brewarrina, Dubbo, Lithgow and Warilla, where he was joined by the @syorchestras Sydney Youth Orchestra to perform WARRANGU: River Story.
The work carries deep cultural knowledge, mapping the three rivers that shape Brewarrina’s tribal boundaries: the Bogan to the south, the Culgoa to the north, and the Barwon to the east. It also shines a light on over-irrigation and water theft in the region.
I’ve known this brother for 12 years and he never ceases to amaze me. I’ve seen him perform this album solo with just his SPD, with a pianist, with a DJ, and now with an eight-piece orchestra. Each time the show evolves and grows. It doesn’t matter if he’s performing at a community event with 20-50 people or in front of hundreds or thousands of people, his energy stays the same because “everyone deserves the same show”
When I asked what’s next, he told me the dream is a full orchestra on the Opera House stage. Imagine that. What’s it gonna take to make it happen?
Luke Currie-Richardson is an artist of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, known for his multifaceted contributions as a dancer, photographer, writer, performer, and actor. He began his storytelling journey in 2000, learning and performing traditional dance with the Gerib Sik Torres Strait Islander Dance Group alongside his family in Canberra. His initial exposure to contemporary arts was with the youth dance ensemble QL2 in their 2007 production “Unspeakable.” 
Luke pursued formal dance education at NAISDA Dance College and, in 2010, commenced a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In 2012, he performed in Wesley Enoch’s “I Am Eora” for the Sydney Festival and subsequently joined Bangarra Dance Theatre, where he was a company dancer from 2012 to 2018, showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary culture globally. 
Beyond dance, Luke is an accomplished photographer, capturing images that reflect his cultural heritage and community. He shares his photographic work on his Instagram account, @bl_snaps .  In 2024, he received the People’s Choice Award at the National Photographic Portrait Prize, underscoring his talent in visual storytelling. 
Luke’s artistic endeavors extend to writing, performing, and acting. He has appeared in productions such as “Spear” (2015) and “Bala” (2021), further showcasing his versatility as an artist. 
Currently based in Naarm (Melbourne), Luke continues to be a prominent figure in the Australian arts scene, using his diverse talents to share stories and celebrate his cultural heritage.
When I picked up my camera, I never envisioned l’d be a @portraitau National Photographic Portrait Prize finalist but here we are...
My goal still to this day is to document and capture Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander existence in contemporary so-called australia but along the way, ! found myself capturing other communities and marginalised groups that align with my values and belief system who have also been under or misrepresented in western media.
99% of my photography is community based and almost 90% of it is pro-bono work which has seen over 1000s of my images and video footage distributed to grassroots orgs, movements, activists, supporters and allies for free.
I want to thank any community and people in my images that have allowed me to photograph them, I don’t take that for granted, your energy and existence is half of my art, we are collaborators.
To the family of the little girl, THANK YOU for finding me and allowing me to enter this image of your daughter, it’s possibly one of the best images l’ve ever captured to date.
If you haven’t yet, the PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD is up and you can vote for mine or any other image you like, it would go along way to help me continue what I do in this crazy climate that is not suitable for independent artists like me. A share, a vote and a comment helps us more than you can imagine. LINK IN THE BIO
I’m constantly in awe with the sis @barkaa__ and how she keeps levelling up on her craft. I’ve had the pleasure of capturing the tidda many times, but this last @dark_mofo set was one of the best sets I’ve EVER seen by ANY musician I know. Her vulnerability, connection to the crowd and all round presence on stage is so infectious and the crew she has on stage adds to that power.
This one was tricky to shoot with no media pit and PACKED shoulder to shoulder, access to certain areas was had to get to. Concert photography is definitely niche I haven’t gotten use to just yet but hey, blessed for every opportunity. Thanks @vyvaent for having me 🙏🏾
#Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #FirstNations #Indigenous #DarkMofo
#Nipaluna
Had the privilege to capture the Treaty Day Out concert, thanks @firstpeoplesvic for slinging me a media pass to capture some of the best storytellers of our generation! Such a privilege to watch these mob up close, do what they do!
#Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #Indigenous #firstnations #ancestors #photography #Naarm #blackexcellence #Protest #JessMauboy #DanSultan #Nooky #ThelmaPlum #ElectricFields
PART 2 - The tactics of colonisation might differ from country to country, but the end goal is the same!
FREE FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸
Pictures taken 13/05/2023
State Library of Victoria
#FreeFreePalestine #Fromtherivertothesea #Palestine #Indigenous #Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #indigenouslands
The tactics of colonisation might differ from country to country, but the end goal is the same!
FREE FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸
Pictures taken 13/05/2023
State Library of Victoria
#FreeFreePalestine #Fromtherivertothesea #Palestine #Indigenous #Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #IndigenousLands
INVASION DAY RALLY 2023
It has always been on my bucket list to attend a Naarm Invasion Day protest. I remember seeing on the news their HUGE numbers every year and it looks like it’s just getting bigger. Change is coming, I can feel it, I can see it, I can hear it!
It’s been a while since I got behind the lens to capture a protest so found myself a bit rusty and rediscovering what it is I like to capture but if you see anyone you know in the images please tag them.
#Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #Indigenous #firstnations #ancestors #photography #Naarm #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #26thJan #BlakLens
I try to be a fly on the wall when I’m taking pictures, I hate being a hindrance! If I’ve missed the shot I will not try to recreate it, the moment is gone, let it be, and move on.
In the chaos of the opening ceremony of The Freedom Day Festival, I tried my best to be that fly on the wall again, stand as far away from the horde of media and away from the speakers, talent and performers. Naturally, I miss some of the more standard shots which I’m okay about as there are at least 5 other official photographs capturing the same thing 🤷🏾♂️ you’ll be right. Then I see the cameras stampede to an area like the buffalo in The Lion King and of course, I wonder what I’m missing. AHHH the traditional paint up, always an iconic photo opportunity especially for gubbas and the media outlets they represent.
I felt off as I can only see the women painting up and wonder if any of the white male photographers asked permission before snapping away? “Excuse me Aunty am I allowed to be here and am I allowed to take photos at this moment,” I ask, “yes yes yes go go” as she waves in the direction of the performers. As a performer myself, I hate cameras in my face before a performance, I want to focus on what I’m about to showcase and sit with my nerves, I’m not here to pose for you, so again I step back and try to give everyone space.
As I look down the barrel my 70-200mm (the zoom lens for those that don’t know) I’m shaken by this young (but old spirit) girl's eyes staring directly at me! She didn’t break eye contact till I lowered my camera. No matter where I moved, when I raised my camera, she would sense me, even if I wasn’t taking pictures of her. It gives me intense, calmness type of vibes like she’s been here before, like she’s protecting her crew that are about to go on and perform, like she’s saying “hey I’m about to perform and I don’t want to pose for you and these cameras”
#FirstNations #Indigenous #photography #photography2022 #picoftheday #photographer #SonyA7iii #Protest #IndigenousRights #B&W #concertphotography #kalkarindji
The sun was setting and everyone was leaving the oval to head to the concert (see previous post), the red dust being kicked up by cars, kids and the out-of-town crowds as everyone left, I find myself in the middle of an empty oval with my camera in hand.
The gaggle of media gone, it’s the last day and everyone’s exhausted. Funnily enough, this was the first time of peace in 3 (4 including travel day) jam-packed days. As I look around I witness the kids playing football as they’re no longer relegated to the sidelines watching the older mob muck around. The talent of our kids is phenomenal, it’s something that blows my mind and continues to inspire me every time I'm blessed to witness it. This lad sees me and asks “Mister Mister, can you take a picture of me?” I take a shitty portrait as it’s super dark and to be honest, that was the 65,000th “can I get a picture” that weekend. I show him the unedited, super underexposed portrait, “wow Mister that’s a good one hey” he proclaims. I wish adults were more like kids!!! As he walks off into the dust, the car lights hit him making him look like the poster boy of the AFL, I m in awe. Could this be our next AFL superstar in the making?
Damn, I wish he could see this picture to see what he thinks.
#FirstNations #Indigenous #photography #photography2022 #picoftheday #photographer #SonyA7iii #Protest #IndigenousRights #B&W #concertphotography #kalkarindji
I had the pleasure of being invited out to The Freedom Day Festival on Gurindji country to see if some of the kids in the community would be interested in photography along with @nicolezicchino . It was a full on, but rewarding gig and I even managed to take some snaps from the concert that saw the likes of @paulkelly , Frank Yamma, @jemcassardaley , @denni_lutruwita & @greeleythc and many many more do their thing for the mob. Head over to @freedomdayfestival to see some of the snaps the kids took as well.
#Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #People #FirstNations #Indigenous #photography #photography2022 #picoftheday #photographer #SonyA7iii #Protest #IndigenousRights #B&W #concertphotography #kalkarindji
There ain’t nothing as
fierce and as loving
as the Blak Matriarchy!!!
#Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #People #Firstnations #photography #photography2022 #picoftheday #photographer #SonyA7iii #Protest #IndigenousRights
