A self-taught photographer, James Smart describes his studying methodology as being a digital sponge. Smart has found his own place in the world of photography and continues to sharpen his technique with every shoot he does.

Recovering from hand surgery, Jennifere Thompson made the decision to retire from her job with Victoria Police in 2011. Since graduating from photography studies, Thompson says she never dreamed she'd be in the position she now finds herself.

Katherine Williams' self-confessed obsession with portrait photography began on a road trip from Adelaide to Darwin; planning to focus on landscape photography, the connections she made with interesting characters along the way could not be ignored.

For Chrissie Francis, it was a love of music that sparked her love of photography. At the age of fourteen, armed with a Nikon FE2 smuggled into a concert of her favourite up-and-coming band (INXS), Francis had only one goal: to make pictures

New Zealand-based documentary photographer, Niki Boon found her voice through her camera when she began to document the lives of people around her.

While he recognises the limitations of photojournalism, Ron Haviv also knows its strengths. The veteran conflict photographer tells Capture magazine how he finds his balance and stops himself minding when cat videos get more clicks than wars.

Jai Long’s initial introduction to photography was when he picked up a camera to curb his boredom while working in the mines in Western Australia in 2010.

New Zealand photographer Troy Goodall has featured in Lürzer's Archive biennial 200 Best Ad Photographers worldwide, as well as received some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Is he NZ's best kept secret?

A television and radio journalist with 15 years’ experience, Jane Cowan now prefers to let pictures tell the story. "Photography puts the subject at the centre, rather than a reporter.”

Freelance documentary photographer Stephanie Simcox started out in photography by shooting film in high school on her mum’s old Pentax. After high school, she was accepted into the National Art School.

Perth photographer Chris Gurney links his work inextricably to the ocean and surf culture. “I like looking at the whole picture; focusing not just on the surfing, but the people, the places, and how they interact,” he says.

A Melbourne-based photographer with a signature style and way of working, Sarah Hatton is a long exposure-focused landscape and adventure photographer.

Former landscape architect, Greg Briggs likes to take a fresh look at things through the lens.

Nicola Bernardi claims to resemble a thumb with a goatee. If that’s not enough to make him interesting, he is currently working on translating, from Italian, a book about cycling the length of Japan, narrated partly with photos and comics.

The overall winner of the 2016 Australia's Top Emerging Photographers is John Feely.

Kelly Tyack is the runner up in the 2016 Australia's Top Emerging Photographers awards.