Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Josh Brnjac, I am a 14 year old photographer based on the majestic and awe- inspiring mornington peninsula originally from Durban, South Africa. I focus mainly on Landscape, Portraits & Lifestyle photography, also recently covering events for the Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Westernport Chamber of Commerce. I aim on capturing the beauty that surrounds me ‘through the eyes of the young’, exhibiting and selling the landscape sector of my work on modern and unique mediums such as glass, metal and wall murals, also more traditional mediums such as canvas and framed prints.
Why do you do what you do?
The downside to living life at an extremely fast pace, is that we start to forget and wander away from the beauty that surrounds us. Living in such an amazing area of Australia- the Mornington peninsula, we are constantly surrounded by the magnificence of nature, architecture and everyday life. Even though I can’t even seem to recall what got me into photography, I now think it’s my way of purely and artistically showing the beauty that I see- through the eyes of the young. Whether it be stars lighting up a clear night sky or a sunset while walking along the iconic Peninsula coastline- it’s an image to be appreciated and never be forgotten. It’s my way of basically appreciating life and the beauty that I see.
Through the business I have also been able to support a youth upliftment and development project in Uganda, Africa. We have recently built the starting base of an early learning school, and am helping the charity develop plans and raise funds for expanding the school- so that children of all ages can have free access to desperately needed education and schooling.
How do you work?
I like to think I am an “organised” artist although at times it becomes an interesting challenge balancing my photography, schooling and business- so I do find it as a kind of motivation when I am working under pressure with the business side of my photography. Although the main and most important part of my photography is my artistic expression- which means I can spend hours on end at one location admiring, and capturing every different view.
What’s your background?
I was born in Durban South Africa, and at age 7 my family and I immigrated to Melbourne. I love everything about African culture but find the Melbourne culture so unique and amazing- j love it.
What work do you most enjoying doing?
although I focus and enjoy landscape based photography, I also love capturing people and families. Hearing someone’s story and life and being able to capture that in a photograph to me, is one of the biggest privileges in photography.
Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
While staying in the Grampians, Victoria, I decided to embark and take on the challenge of capturing a sunrise from one of the highest points in the mountain range- the Pinnacle. After getting up at 3AM and a 4 kilometre walk one way (and sprinting the last 500m) I sat down and was greeted with one of the most glorious sunrises, I have ever and will ever see. That’s when I knew photography was my calling.
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
When photographing landscapes, especially if it’s an area I’ve never seen before- I always separate myself from the world and my current stresses and pay attention to the beauty that is in front of me. I feel when I’m capturing in situations like these, I have to be lonely in a sense. It helps me clear my mind and connect with the landscape.
Though the business, I am able to make many connections and powerful partnerships which means I have some awesome people that support me immensely, but also challenge me creatively. I try to have a balance of both the lonely and extremely sociable side of my art and business.
What is your dream project?
I am excited to say that I am working on one of my first projects that I have been dreaming about for a long time since the start of my business. It is a rarely seen product throughout Melbourne and the art / homewares industry, even though I strongly believe it’s one of the most beautiful mediums ever seen. I have worked with many amazing people on the concept and cannot wait to release it throughout 2016.