“I respectfully acknowledge the Bunurong and Gunaikurnai People and their Elders past and present who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work. Our stories form part of a larger story of Country that must be told by our First Nations People.”

Photograph: Candace Hughes 2023

Moving to South Gippsland and building a new life here has found me longing to tell stories through images.

My name is Karli Duckett and I am a photographer lucky enough to live and work in the lush rolling green hills of Gippsland. My first camera was a hot pink 110. I had rolls of film and I wasn’t afraid to fill them with mundane images of an everyday teenager’s life. Luckily I was pushed to put more thought into my photographic process by an eccentric high school media and history teacher who allowed us to ignore most of the standard curriculum in favour of a darkroom class every lesson. He encouraged a spirit of adventure and was generous in sharing his own, hence an inquisitive photographer was born.

Later on, I found myself juggling a wedding photography gig and study at Photography Studies College in Melbourne. I had also managed to find a career in healthcare (making images in a different kind of way) and I spent many years focusing on work as a sonographer. I continued to shoot during this time of my life, but properly reclaimed my love of the camera upon moving to a place I consider my spiritual home.

Gippsland has stolen my heart. My love for this area and its people has translated easily into my work and I now don’t make images by choice, it is simply a need in my day-to-day life. Years of working with people from all walks of life and at every stage of life has defined the way I work. Weaving a narrative into my photographic work allows me to tell your story honestly and in a way that celebrates your life, work and environment.

Thank you for welcoming me into your world.

Karli

+61407539531

karli.duckett@gmail.com