Ep 111 - Trent Mitchell: Award-Winning Photography, Australian Lustre & The Art of Seeing Differently

What makes a photograph endure?Is it the light, the composition, the moment or is it something deeper?In this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Trent Mitchell, one of Australia's most respected photographers, authors, and visual storytellers.For more than two decades, Trent has been creating work that explores the relationship between people, landscape, culture, and the environments we shape and that shape us. Whether working in black and white or color, film or digital, his photography reveals the beauty, complexity, humor, and contradictions of the modern world with a style that is instantly recognizable.His work has earned international acclaim, including winning the prestigious Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, recognition from the International Photography Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, Head On, Australian Life Photography Awards, and exhibitions spanning Australia and Europe. In 2025, his celebrated project Australian Lustre was showcased in a solo exhibition at the Australian Embassy in Paris.Beyond the gallery walls, Trent's photography has attracted an impressive client list including Patagonia, Leica, Red Bull, Google, Tourism Australia, Mercedes-Benz, Uber, Nikon, Rip Curl, and many more.In this conversation, we dive deep into the creative process behind his photography, his approach to visual storytelling, and why developing a genuine connection to place is essential for meaningful work. We discuss photobooks, long-term projects, documentary photography, environmental storytelling, and the lessons learned from spending decades observing the world through a camera.We also explore the evolution of Australian Lustre, the importance of curiosity, finding stories in ordinary places, and how photography can help us better understand the landscapes and cultures around us.This episode is packed with wisdom for photographers, artists, filmmakers, writers, and anyone interested in building a creative life rooted in observation, patience, and purpose.In This Episode We Discuss:• Landscape photography and environmental storytelling• Documentary photography and visual narratives• Creating meaningful photobooks• The making of Australian Lustre• Leica cameras and photographic philosophy• Film photography vs digital photography• Long-term creative projects• Photography exhibitions and publishing• Australian culture and landscapes• Creativity, observation, and finding your voiceBooks by Trent Mitchell:• Australian Lustre• Inner Atlas• Chasing the Curve: A Portrait of the Sea• Above/BelowVisit Trent:Instagram: @trentmitchelleditionsWeb: www.trentmitchell.comVisit The Show: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PHYS_Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PHYS_Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@phys_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Web: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thelifeofphys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support The Show:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Affiliate Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠