Into the Black
It’s that time of year again.
The buzz around Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB is building—and for good reason.
Here in the Blue Mountains, it’s more than just an event. It’s part of the landscape. With distances that challenge every level of runner, it pulls people in. And every year, the stories that come out of it are just as powerful as the race itself.
I’ve photographed the event before. It’s something I always keep an eye on, checking the calendar to see if I can carve out time to get there. But last year felt different.
Living just 15 minutes from the start line, I didn’t want to just show up and take a few photos. I wanted to go deeper.
A friend of mine, Jaime Black, was lining up for the inaugural UTAMiler—100 miles. That alone was enough to spark something. But instead of creating another highlight reel, I felt pulled toward something more layered. Something more honest.
Something that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
I decided to follow Jaime’s journey in a documentary style. Not just the race, but everything around it—the why, the preparation, the doubts, the ambition. What drives someone to take on 100 miles? What keeps them moving when things inevitably get hard?
Spending that time on the trails, getting to understand his mindset, his process, and his story—that’s the part that stayed with me.
Because this is what I’m drawn to:
the stories athletes don’t always get the chance to tell.
I’ll be honest—this project challenged me more than I expected.
There’s always a level of doubt that comes with creative work. You question whether the story lands, whether it connects, whether it’s worth people’s time. I moved past a lot of that years ago with photography and shorter client work.
But this felt different.
This felt closer to the edge.
Not fear in the dramatic sense—but that quieter kind. The kind that makes you question whether you’re doing the story justice. Whether you’re capturing something real, something meaningful.
In a way, it mirrored exactly what Jaime was doing.
Stepping into something unknown.
Something uncomfortable.
Something that matters.
And that’s the space I want to keep working in.
Because the truth is, I’m not just interested in documenting events. I’m interested in telling the stories behind them—the ones built on effort, uncertainty, and the pursuit of something bigger.
There were parts of this project I loved. Parts I struggled with. But at some point, you have to let it go. Put it out into the world, take what you’ve learned, and carry it forward.
So with that said—
We’re both stepping Into the Black.