Life is a Big Rollercoaster

Hey! My name is Maria, I’m a Film Photographer and Disability Support Worker. I am currently based in Fremantle, Western Australia, but I am originally from Chile. I am the second oldest of 7 and the only one living overseas. I grew up in a catholic and conservative environment, which I never felt I belonged to. Eventually, life brought me here, a place pretty much the opposite.

I have been living in Australia for the last several years, and after exploring a few different areas, I found the one for me. Fremantle is a place I am incredibly lucky to call home. It is a suburb, south of Perth, near the ocean, full of life, art, and music. At the same time, it is nurturing, grounding, and with a deep sense of community. Where we all get to be who we want to be, without fear of judgment, and the most important bit, where I get to call my friends and neighbours family.

While in Uni, I had my first film class, where we learned everything from scratch. I remember being in the darkroom and just being absolutely in love. This was it; I don’t think I ever went back. I shot digital here now and again until I fully stopped a few years ago. I started shooting film more often, and I loved the fact you had to be so precise. The colours were alive, and the grain was spectacular. I had so much fun trying to figure out film and all it provides; I think, in a way, it made me feel alive. I would mainly do this when I was away on holidays and eventually started getting more playful and challenged myself a bit more.