Breed of Their Own

Breed of Their Own ~ Australia is a black-and-white photographic documentary I Tanya Friend, capturing in Black and white characters, battlers and larrikins who embody the Australian spirit, preserving their stories and a piece of our living history.

Tanya Friend – Photographer, Breed of Their Own ~ Australia

I am an Australian photographer fascinated by people who are unapologetically themselves. I am drawn to the characters, the battlers, the larrikins and the everyday people whose faces tell a thousand stories.

For me, it’s about more than taking a photograph. It’s about capturing a moment in time, a glimpse into someone’s world, and the little details that reveal who they really are. These people carry beauty, humour, hardship, and history, and I believe their stories are worth preserving.

Through Breed of Their Own ~ Australia, she celebrates the wonderfully diverse characters who make this country what it is — real people, real lives and real Australian spirit. Because sometimes, the most extraordinary stories belong to the people living the most ordinary lives.

I can see myself doing this all over the world; the more unique and original, the more I love it. These faces of wisdom are everywhere. It's not just about taking a photo; you have to earn their trust. Most of them are proud and humble. They should all be shown to today's generation, perhaps to inspire the generations to come. I believe a good photographer can capture all of this, and that, for me, is a gift I have been given.

My captions are names only in this portfolio, because it's fun to figure out their stories; however, I do have short stories for each of these wonderful people.