Photographer: Josephine Roberte

From when I was a little girl I had a camera - a box brownie. Then, when I was 16 years old, I studied Life Drawing at Julian Ashton Art School. Around that time, I was employed in an advertising agency - the art director would give me a Hasselblad camera to photograph all the displays rather than employing a professional photographer. Through this position, I also gained considerable darkroom experience. Two years later, I studied Design at the Shillito Design School, which was shortly followed by a sales position in the furniture showroom of Knoll International, where I was advising architects.
 When I was 22, my mother, who was a painter, died. My life was disturbed and I put my camera aside for a while. My father, an architect, stayed in Australia and I left for Europe. Living in Paris, whose multicultural aspects inspired me greatly, I became fascinated by the contrast between European and African Art. I got married to a student of architecture and lived with him in Cameroon. The colours and textures were so alive in this place - I was inspired to concentrate on photography all the more.
 Back in Australia, I seek beauty even in chaos or in sadness. My talent lies in the fact that I can transform and bring out the character of a person. Whether travelling in a BMW or taking the bus or sitting on the step of an old pub - there is always something to examine, to question or to savour. I will continue to be stimulated and passionate about my surroundings