CHRISTIAN FLETCHER PHOTO
IMAGES
By Dave Roberts
You can't help but be impressed when someone
just picks up a skill because they like doing it,
and keeps on plugging until they understand how to
be really good at it and then make it into a business.
Christian Fletcher is a photographer based
in Dunsborough. He has four galleries which
sell his own images and they go some way to
achieving the real wonder of the landscape that
we moved here to be part of.
As a young bloke, Christian Fletcher knew well
enough that the South West is a great place.
Being from Perth, he came here surfing on a
pretty regular basis. He'd already taken to
photography, but there were waves out there
and you can only do so many things at a time.
As for making money, young Christian had finished
school and headed for the public service, the
refuge of those who don't know what they want
to do. At least on the weekend there was the
surf.
Then a stroke of luck, a great big gash to
the leg. Ross Wilson from Mondo Rock (and Daddy
Cool if you're old enough to remember) reports
that he got into music and didn't get into the
Vietnam war because he broke his leg. Christian
had an accident of slightly less magnitude,
but it was enough of a gash to keep him out
of the water. So what to do while the guys are surfing?
He took a few photos. Some of them were alright,
and he really enjoyed the process, so his interest
in photography had a hold on him.
First appointment was unofficial staff photographer
for the Department of Community Services. There were
staff photos required and bits and pieces, and Christian
got the feel for taking photos to order. Sooner or
later though, a lot of people get the suspicion that
they are not cut out for clerical work, and the realisation
was dawning. Christian and his sister bought a video
shop in Mount Pleasant which kept them busy for about
4 years. The video shop idea played itself out at
about the time that the folks were reaching retirement
age and moving to - you guessed it- Dunsborough.
The four years had been spent taking some black and
white photos, getting to grips with using his own
dark room, reading some books, reading some more books,
taking some more black and whites, and just developing
his craft. Even though Christian had no real plan
of what to do, who'd pass up the chance to shift to
Dunsborough. The surf is good, and the family is there,
making a dollar something you can figure out as you
go.
A brother with a restaurant is a mixed blessing.
On the one hand it is a place where people are going
and it provides an outlet for a photographer to sell
his stuff. On the other hand there's.... dishes. Well
we all have to earn our way somehow. The black and
white was working out, and things expanded to colour.
Commercial photography, weddings, and eventually some
pretty fine landscapes.
Christian has developed the photography to the point
where it is meeting his needs. Look at the web site
at www.christianfletcher.com.au and it's not
hard to see how, I'm a philistine and I want some.
Christian says the industry is one that'll support
a person who knows their stuff and is diligent, and
does good work. Partner Jenny pays her way with Real
Estate and Architectural photography, indicating that
there's work to be had if you do it well.
It's one more example of someone wanting to be in
the South West, wanting to do something they like,
and doing it, paying the price as they go but winning
by their commitment. Makes you proud to be here.
April 2003
