My First BFOP
When tickets for BFOP (Bright Festival of Photography) 2026 sold out, I figured my chance to go was gone. I put my name down on the waitlist with zero expectations. Months later, an email landed in my inbox mentioning a handful of cancellations and that I was next in line. My immediate reaction was suspicion—Is this spam? What even is BFOP? A quick search jogged my memory, the excitement kicked back in, and I replied immediately to lock in my ticket.
Going into my first Bright Festival of Photography, I only knew what a friend and festival veteran had shared through past stories. Honestly, I’ve historically been a leaned away from workshops - partly the cost, but mostly the inner monologue asking, “What can someone teach me that I can’t figure out myself for free?”
Three days in the Victorian High Country completely flipped that mindset.
Every single workshop taught me something fresh, reassured me that my instincts behind the lens are often right on the money, and gave me direct access to working pros who are absolute masters of their craft. Beyond the technical tips, workshops are just plain fun. The shared energy of so many creatives bouncing around the region is something you can't get from a video tutorial.
I’m already locked in for BFOP 2027. My only tactical adjustment for next year: arriving on Thursday instead of making the frantic Friday morning dash to check in and race to the opening ceremony.
Here is how my three festival workshops unfolded across the weekend.
Workshop 1: Automotive Masterclass with Chris Benny
Location: Dannys Lookout, Mount Hotham | Friday, Oct 9 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Subject: Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé
Up on Mount Hotham, the elements wasted no time reminding us where we were. It was freezing and relentlessly windy. True to form, I stubbornly stayed in shorts, pairing them with a hoodie and a rain jacket zipped tight to fight off the alpine gusts.
The heavy cloud cover dampened our hopes for a fiery alpine sunset, but the moody atmosphere suited our subject—a striking Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé—perfectly. As dusk faded into dark, Chris walked us through composite light-painting techniques. We captured multiple exposures illuminated with handheld light wands, watching the final car image come to life through a live composite build on Chris’s laptop right there on the mountain edge.
Quick walk around the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé just before sunset
Workshop 2: The Action Photography Playground: BMX Edition with Scott Stramyk
Location: Myrtleford Skate Park | Saturday, Oct 10 · 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Riders: Mitch Brown & Jai Larsen
Saturday morning took us down to Myrtleford Skate Park for high-speed action. Scott had our group drop straight into the bottom of the concrete bowl, shooting up as Mitch Brown and Jai Larsen carved lines, pulled air, and hit tricks right over our heads.
After shooting the initial rounds, I climbed back into the bowl to hunt down a more aggressive angle just as both riders lined up synchronised backflips launching out of the transition. The session wasn't without battle scars—one wheel took some rim damage that required a quick park-side fix, and another lost a spoke—bringing true skatepark grit to the frames.
Workshop 3: Black and white portraits with Zeeshan Zafar
Location: Porepunkah Community Hall | Sunday, Oct 11 · 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
This was the session I was most hesitant about booking. Despite having shot three weddings—including two this past August—pointing a camera at people still triggers a bit of personal anxiety. A studio-style setup is slightly more comforting because you know the model is specifically there to perform, but portraiture still pulls me out of my usual comfort zone.
It turned out to be my absolute favourite workshop of the festival. Zee was phenomenal at breaking down directional light and emotional connection, and our model brought incredible presence to every frame. Stepping outside my comfort zone paid off: one image from this morning ended up being my single favourite photograph from the entire weekend.
Looking back through the events from the weekend, taking that last-minute spot off the waitlist was easily one of the best photography decisions I’ve made this year.
BFOP wasn’t just about camera settings or walkaway shots, it was about getting pushed into unfamiliar situations, trading ideas with instructors who love what they do, and being surrounded by people who share the exact same obsession. If you’ve ever sat on the fence about attending a festival or committing to a workshop because you weren't sure what you'd get out of it, take it from a former hesitant workshop participant: back yourself and go!
Bright, I’ll see you next year. (Just with an extra day up my sleeve this time.)
