Making connections through photography

For Lucky Frawley, getting back into photography has come at just the right time.

Dabbling in photography on and off between the ages of 12 and 28, only to stop and take on other activities, it is at the age of 36 that Lucky has truly found his way back.

“It is something I have kept coming back to through my whole life,” Lucky said.

“I would try other things and then keep coming back to it before I finally decided to just get on with it. I then fell in love with it really hard and fast and stayed with it.”

Beginning his journey at the Photography Studies College (PSC) this year, Lucky said his diagnosis of ADHD had encouraged him to continue with photography.

“I was diagnosed six or so years ago and finding a career to suit my brain has really been important to me and photography works so well,” he said.

“I can always switch up what style or genre of photography I’m working in and who and what I’m working with. Photography also helps me find stillness and be in the moment.”

Considering himself a reasonably “new” photographer, Lucky is determined to remain open to change – a choice that has surprisingly seen him gravitate more towards art for the time being.

But, despite it being too early for him to pinpoint exactly what he wants to do, Lucky said “backstage photography is my jam.”

“My favourite thing up to this course was shooting backstage at theatre shows and cabaret shows, because you really get to see the raw emotion and everything that isn’t put in front of the audience,” Lucky said.

“I do want to get more into art and storytelling though because storytelling is a big thing for me.”

While Lucky’s previous work has focused on drawing on his varied experiences to make connections with the people he photographs, his latest series of work encapsulates the exploration of self.

Using the opportunity of PSC’s latest exhibition Queer Pride, Lucky is exploring, in an artistic and investigawtive way, self-acceptance and self-context and how this impacts his relationship with his non-binary partner.

“In The Way We Love I invite the viewer to witness the unseen everyday domestic life and love of a gender queer couple,” Lucky said.

“I hope to challenge the perpetuated – and often misrepresented – ideas of transgender and queer people, and their values.”

Lucky’s series of photos that centre around the familiar and relatable side of home life and domestic comfort can be seen at the exhibition until June 30.  •

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Caption: Images from Lucky’s The Way We Love series at the PSC exhibition.