I thought I knew this place.

For nearly two decades, my life had structure, purpose and an identity. I worked in aviation maintenance with the Royal Australian Navy, in a world where responsibility, precision and getting the job done were simply part of who I was.

When that chapter ended, I struggled more than I expected. Like many people, I was dealing with my mental health quietly. I reached a point where I realised I needed to slow my mind down and find myself again.

My psychologist recognised that I was most grounded when I was at the beach. Her advice was simple: go to the beach, watch the sunrise, and use those quiet moments as an exercise in mindfulness.

I headed to the beaches around Jervis Bay before sunrise, often while it was still dark, and simply watched the first light of the day appear. At first, there was no camera. I was just learning to be present.

I grew up in Jervis Bay. I thought I knew this place. It turned out I had never really stopped long enough to see it. Eventually I started sharing the photographs. People recognised the places, but more importantly, they recognised the feeling.

That is where LensScape began. Somewhere along the way, I started finding myself again too.