We caught up with Julia Coddington, a street photographer based on the NSW South Coast and co-founder of the Unexposed Collective, an online platform featuring Australian women and non-binary street photographers. Julia is also an administrator of Women in Street, an international community of women street photographers, and has been widely published in Australia and overseas, with features in street photography magazines and photography podcasts.

How long have you been shooting?

"I have been photographing since I was a kid but have taken it more seriously in the last 10 years, particularly since my interest in street photography has grown."

Tell us a bit about your work.

"My work has a street photography focus and is almost always candid. My style has changed over the years but is very much dependent on and influenced by the environment in which I am working. Some of my images are very clean, without clutter that stand out for their colour, shapes and movement. Others are very full and alive. In places like India I love the challenge of capturing emotion and filling the frame with as many faces and hands as possible. Some of my images play with perspective to create weirdness and to perplex the viewer. I love the challenge of creating layered images which are well composed and have a story to tell. In street photography it is always a difficult challenge to create a story or capture a soulful, emotional moment in a single image. If you're looking to develop these skills yourself, our street photography guide covering tips, gear and getting started is a great place to begin. This is something I hope to achieve more and more in my work over time."

Where do you create most of your work?

"When I am at home, the local sea pool and beach is where I create most of my work. My main photographic project, 'The Pool', is focused on the Austinmer pool, which is a focal point of our little community. I also shoot in Sydney regularly — the light is beautiful in the Sydney CBD and I often meet up with my other street photographer friends there. My partner Gerry and I also try to travel as often as we can, especially to India, where we have many friends and a strong connection to the place. For anyone looking to bring their photography on the road, our travel photography tips and gear guide covers everything you need to plan and shoot well away from home."

What are the essential bits of gear in your kit?

"As a street photographer I like to keep my kit as simple and as light as possible. My kit has included the Fujifilm X-T2 with the 18mm and 16mm lenses, the Fujifilm X100V with a conversion lens, and the Fujifilm X70 — a small, discreet and powerful camera that's carried most of the images from my Austinmer Pool project. Curious about the Fujifilm range? Our guide to Fujifilm cameras breaks down which model might suit your style of shooting. I use a Godox TT350F for flash work, and for film, my favourite companion is the Noblex Prosport, a German-made panoramic camera which I just adore."

What inspires you?

"Inspiration comes in many different forms. Of course, photographically we are inspired by other photographers — those who are great and well known, but also the ones immediately around us, our contemporaries on social media and in real life. I'm fortunate to have a partner who is also a photographer, and a close circle of street photography friends in Australia and overseas who are a constant source of inspiration. My background as a design professional certainly has an influence on the way I see and compose images. But I think inspiration also comes from deep within — a person's photographic style is shaped by everything that has shaped them as a human being."

Any tips for aspiring photographers starting out?

"Listen to and look at as much photography and art as you can. It's okay to copy the work of others while you are learning and growing as a photographer — in time, your own voice will come through in your work. And get out and shoot as frequently as you can, because in street photography, the more you shoot, the more confidence you gain. Confidence is an essential ingredient in street photography."

You can see more of Julia's work on her website — www.juliacoddington.com. You can also read more inspiring stories from photographers across Australia in our photographer interviews and community spotlights.