Photographer, Media Team
Julie is an award-winning photographer specialising in sport, events, street, travel, and family portraiture. She loves working with people and prefers a more ‘photojournalistic’ style of photography, capturing natural, spontaneous moments showing real human emotions. Photography gives Julie an amazing opportunity to step inside people’s spaces to tell their story. Julie was a member of the 2017 Maccabiah Media Team and the 2019 Pan American Media Team.
I am the son that my father never had, and I grew up playing, watching, and enjoying pretty much all sports, so it was inevitable, when I started my business, Julie K Photography, that I would venture into sports photography.
I was bitten by the sports photography bug back in 2010 and have never looked back. I have had some wonderful career opportunities come my way, including photographing the Super Rugby series, Australian Cricket games (including the Ashes series and the Big Bash series), a few international rugby games, PGA golf, the AFL, marathons, triathlons and more.
I love nothing more than capturing athletes pushing themselves to the limits - displaying physical strength, drive and determination. Being able to freeze all of that in motion, as well as the emotions that go with it is incredible.
Maccabiah 2017 was the most exhilarating and exhausting three weeks of my life and I absolutely loved every minute of it! I got to photograph over twenty different sports and every day was a new adventure. Some days, I was in five cities in a day, and it was insane. I felt like I was on a series of the TV show ‘Survivor,’ but with really great food along the way.
Our media team, under the amazing leadership of David Weiner, worked tirelessly, on average 18 hours a day, to deliver news and images - so that Australia would wake up to the latest results and it was so incredibly rewarding to have worked with such a dedicated team of people.
The management, team captains, coaches and athletes were all brilliant and an absolute joy to be around and the international photographers and videographers that I met along the way were fantastic too. It is an experience that I will never forget!
The moments that really stood out for me were not necessarily the medal winning moments, but the in-between moments, the highs and the lows, the encouragement and camaraderie, the bonds and friendships that were formed and the tenacity, strength and courage shown by many.
Some of these moments included attending the 20th anniversary of the bridge collapse and the solidarity and collective grief felt by all; team Australia being the first of 80 countries to march into a packed Teddy Stadium together and feeling such immense pride; the moment one of our junior soccer players was injured in pre-camp, his teammates carrying him off the field assuring him he was still a valued member of the team, whether he played or not; our relay swimmers willing their last swimmer in to take the silver medal; our futsal team beating Brazil 3-2 in the dying seconds of the game and the exuberant celebration that followed; one of our swimmers, Amanda Penkin, who had just finished countless rounds of chemotherapy before the games, competing in the masters relay and being willed on by her team of supporters wearing ‘Best of the Breast’ t- shirts to win gold; our junior track and field girls, who were underdogs, huddling on the field before their relay and going on to win silver; the moment when a very experienced Israeli archer, who beat one of our youngsters, put his arm around him and told him that he had amazing potential to go far; our cyclists taking out gold, silver and bronze… these are some of the memories that really stand out for me - and there are too many to count.
I also loved the fact that both young and old bonded together, dancing side by side at both the opening and closing ceremonies. Generations of Australians making unforgettable memories together, memories difficult to express in words. It made me feel incredibly proud to be both Australian and Jewish and part of the Maccabiah family.
The Israeli people were nothing but warm and welcoming and they made us feel very much at home. Israel is such a beautiful, vibrant country and I feel so grateful to be afforded this opportunity again.
Commentaires