“Tom takes spectacular photos and films which really capture the essence of people and places and tell compelling visual stories.
Tom is very personable and makes his subjects feel at ease. He is very respectful of community members and interested in their lives and culture.
He takes the time to ensure he gets good shots, is easy to work with, responsive, adaptable and conscientious.”
Kirrily Johns, Communications Manager, WaterAid Australia
As a photographer and former journalist, the move into video was a natural progression for me (admittedly with a heap of new gear and plenty to learn). I find it a hugely rewarding way of telling a story. As well as shooting 4K and HD video on Panasonic and Canon cameras, I record audio and handle graphics, source music, write/develop scripts, edit footage on Adobe Premiere Pro, and do voice-over.
My video clients include CSIRO, AMP Foundation, Oxfam, ChildFund, Care, WaterAid, Mission Australia and Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
Thorndale Foundation
I’m very happy to announce a new favourite client. The Thorndale Foundation is a non-profit that caters for adults with disabilities in the Nepean region of New South Wales. It provides a range of services including accommodation, day programmes and work. This video showcases those supports in light of the soon-to-be-rolled-out National Disability Insurance Scheme.
I shot the clip over two days. I came away with a powerful sense of what a warm, caring community Thorndale is. I hope that comes across in the video.
AMP Tomorrow Makers 2015
AMP Tomorrow Makers are an impressive bunch. Among the 2015 grant winners are artists, musicians, film-makers, athletes, entrepreneurs, scientists, medical researchers and community workers, to name a few, each seeking to achieve something special. For the second year, I’ve had the privilege of shooting and editing more than a dozen video clips telling the stories of these remarkable individuals. Here’s Ravi, Lakeisha and Peter. You can see more videos here.
Sea cucumbers in Torres Strait
I’ve produced my first DVD! This project is part of a drive to grow a sustainable, community-based sea cucumber fishery in the Torres Strait, initiated by My Pathway, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
The DVD is essentially an instructional video, informing Torres Strait islanders on how to identify species, handle and harvest, cut, gut and process the animals. But it also goes a little deeper, looking at the market for beche-de-mer as well as how sustainability lessons can be learnt from the history of sea cucumber fishing in the Strait.
This was a big project for me. I wrote the script, shot and edited the video, as well as designed the DVD art. I also did the voice over.
Big thanks to executive producer and Torres Strait fisheries chief and Erub councillor Kenny Bedford and the Erub community, not to mention CSIRO’s Tim Skewes and Independent Seafood Producer’s Shawn McAtamney.
Below is just the introduction. If you’d like to see the whole video, please get in touch.
WaterAid in Papua New Guinea
A look at the challenges for Papua New Guineans who lack access to safe water and sanitation – and the wide-ranging benefits that these most fundamentals requirements bring.
AMP Tomorrow Makers 2014
In 2014 I was fortunate to be asked to produce a series of one-minute clips showcasing the winners of the AMP Tomorrow Fund. Grants were given to individuals with dreams that make a difference – inventors, medical researchers, designers, adventurers, academics, artists, sports folk… a truly inspiring bunch. Here’s Raschelle with her knee to the tar and Will with his ‘sci-fi come-to-life’ projector. Click here to view more of the clips.
AMP Tomorrow Maker Raschelle Sherwood from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
AMP Tomorrow Maker Will Tamblyn from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
Every girl
This was a really fun clip to edit – not least because it was a chance to make it funky. It’s part of a WaterAid campaign to give girls in the developing world better access to toilets and safe water. It uses footage I shot on a recent trip to Papua New Guinea. WaterAid has struck up a partnership with the Melbourne Vixens netball team and I’m proud to say the clip will play before their matches.
WaterAid Everygirl from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
Wanem you see the future for Torres Strait?
This is a video I shot and edited as part of a joint CSIRO/Torres Strait Regional Authority project. It looks at the economic and environmental threats and opportunities the island communities are likely to face between now and the end of the century. Aimed at communities themselves, it has a Creole/English voice-over by Councillor Fraser Nai of Masig. It also includes my first attempt at sketch-animation.
Wanem you see the future for Torres Strait? from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
Life as a street child – Thura’s story
In Myanmar, street children are at high risk of trafficking and other forms of abuse and exploitation. In this video, Thura tells his story of living on the streets since the age of five.
A refuge for street children in Myanmar
A ChildFund-supported program helping street children heal after a life of abuse and exploitation.
Fisheries under threat – PNG’s Torres Strait
A CSIRO project explores the importance of traditional fisheries just over Australia’s northern border, and the myriad threats that they face.
Fisheries under threat – PNG’s Torres Strait. from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
Timor Leste WaterAid appeal
Timor Leste is a small nation finding its feet. One of its many challenges is a lack of access to safe water in rural areas. This means vulnerability to avoidable diseases, especially for children, and, for women and girls, hours spent collecting water that could be used for education or income generation.
Timor Leste’s water crisis – WaterAid from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
After the typhoon – ActionAid in the Philippines
Following Typhoon Yolanda, three determined Filipina women talk about the recovery and how Actionaid has helped them to help themselves.
After the typhoon – ActionAid in the Philippines from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
Balan’s story – an asylum seeker in western Sydney
Shot in August 2013, this is the story of Balan, a Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker living in western Sydney.
In his own words he describes the persecution that drove him from his homeland, his boat journey to Australia and his time in detention. He also talks about the uncertainties of his current existence, separated from his family and barred from work by the conditions of his visa. It ends with an emotional plea to the Australian government.
Balan’s story – an asylum seeker in western Sydney* from Tom Greenwood on Vimeo.
Livelihood Futures – Papua New Guinea (CSIRO)
Coastal Papua New Guinea, with its low-lying coastlines and reliance upon natural resources, is particularly vulnerable to global trends such as climate change, demographic shifts and economic uncertainty.
Focusing on the province of Western New Britain, CSIRO helps to predict the potential impacts and works with communities to plan effectively for whatever the future holds.
Click here to read more about it – and see some of my still images.
Oxfam Trailwalker – Timelapse!
Trailwalker is a gruelling 100km hike through the bush, undertaken by groups of four over 48 hours – all in the name of raising funds to overcome poverty and injustice around the world.
It was my second Trailwalker and once again I had nothing but admiration for the 2000 or so walkers. Not least as night was falling and I was heading home to dinner, a glass of wine and a soft bed, while they were turning on their head torches and trudging back into the dark, forbidding bush.
Stop Hunger, Start Growing – Chandrani’s Story
With the help of Oxfam Australia’s Grow program, Chandrani went from underpaid agricultural labourer struggling to feed her family, to successful, self-sufficient home gardener. Here, she describes how her life has changed since becoming involved with Oxfam.
I must thank Chandrani and her family not only for being charming – and patient – subjects but also for giving us a delicious lunch. We ate the cassava she’s preparing in the video along with the freshest and tastiest coconut sambol that I tasted in Sri Lanka (and I tasted a lot).
Mission Australia – Youth Survey 2012
Each year Mission Australia conducts a nationwide survey of Australians between the ages of 15 and 19. Last year some 15,351 youngsters were asked about what they value, who they turn to for advice and what concerns them, both personally and for the country as a whole.
Mission Australia asked me to spend a gorgeous afternoon on Bondi beach shooting – and later editing – three videos asking older people how they thought young people see the world. There were some interesting responses.
