During the day, Ben is part of our IT team, working on software improvements that are vital for our entire workforce. What many people don’t know about Ben is that he is also multi-award-winning nature and astro photographer!

In 2017, Ben moved to Tasmania. The breathtaking natural landscapes of our island state captured his heart and redirected his focus toward nature photography.

“[The island] captivates me, so I’m always trying to see that magic,” says Ben.

"While I would like to have a really exciting story to it, the genuine truth is it just sort of happened that I fell into photography,” says Ben. “I started taking photos in school using film SLRs and a darkroom, and it grew into whatever it is now. I was documenting storms in my native Queensland out of my bedroom, which grew into storm chasing, which grew into astrophotography… I didn’t really take it seriously for a long time, but I moved to Tasmania in 2017, the nature side really took over and I haven’t looked back.”

In recent years Ben suffered a back injury, meaning the biggest obstacle with nature photography is accessing those spaces in Tasmania. “Most of my work has been taken within a few hundred metres of my car, and I think that’s probably the most remarkable part of it.”

“People have this notion that you have to trek for days into the wilderness to capture compelling imagery… but it’s definitely not mandatory.”

"Wherever you are, it is probably a lot more interesting than you think… Look deeper and you’ll be amazed what you find,” says Ben.
 

Ben is no stranger to awards for his works, most recently winning the Landscape category of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the year award for his photo Aurum! “Every new accolade only adds to my shock… Being that this [award] is one of the largest and most respected in the southern hemisphere, it still hasn’t quite hit me yet!”

Aurum was captured in 2019 during a trip to see the turning Fagus trees. “The snow just happened to arrive at the opportune moment. I went back four times over two days with some of my best friends, admiring this beautiful tree draped in a blanket of fresh snow…”

“Seeing the pool of light surrounding the glowing tree really grabbed me in the moment.”
 

Looking ahead, Banjamin’s plans in landscape photography are as unpredictable as the journey that brought him here. “A significant part of my motivation stems from the thrill of exploring new places, with my camera serving as a convenient excuse to justify my travels!”
 

“Being out in nature with my camera is a therapeutic experience for me… I often find myself feeling agitated when I haven’t spent time in nature, underscoring the importance of this connection in my life and work.”

Once again, we’d like to congratulate Ben on his recent win as the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the year in the Landscape category! If you would like to see more of Ben’s work, visit www.benjaminalldridge.com
 

If you’d like to learn more about our policies and working at Hydro Tasmania, visit www.hydro.com.au/careers