Donna has been a leader in contemporary photography worldwide for around three degades. She has earned over 200 major International photographic awards for her work. Her pictures, written word and personal story have been published in scores of magazines, books and exhibitions around the world. She has vast experience in the photography industry, including photo journalism, portraiture, fashion, publicity and corporate branding.
She explains her work, "Its about creating empathy, connection, the greatest thing a photographer can do is extract the extraordinary from the ordinary. What an amazing privilege it is to be able to see inside the world of those lives where I don't necessarily belong and to show beauty in whatever the situation. I'm passionate about documenting humanity and showing the diversity that exists within our world. A good photo captures real emotions recognisable by anyone. What always remains most important, to each the individual picture, is that some ‘soul’ is peeking through". She is passionate about anthropology, particularly animist belief systems. She has travelled to around 60 countries, and some of the most remote regions of the planet.
Donna was the first westerner to meet a tribe of people that have been domesticating reindeer for around 4000 years in the mountain's bordering Siberia and Mongolia, living with them and documenting their lives for months. She undertook a long term photographic study of Shamanism, based in Ullan Baatar, Mongolia. Travelling extensively throughout the country capturing their lifestyles, characters and families .
She has spent years chronicling the poorest of the poor in India, particularly in partnership with NGO’s. Such at Calcutta rescue, street medical doctors and nurses in Kolkatta who treat the people who fall under the governments medical system, who would otherwise be completely without resources for any type of health care. She has documented the lives and cultures of indigenous people in Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, Mexico, Cambodia, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, Africa, Mongolia, China, Siberia, Pacific Islands and outback Australia. She has travelled worldwide documenting people that volunteer with various non government agencies helping the poor. Along the way these photos have been published widely along with her written stories, there have been many exhibitions of the work . Importantly these photos have also been donated to the various NGO’s helping to raise awareness of their important causes within down trodden communities and being an aid to raising massive funds through various fund raising activities..
Born in Melbourne Australia Donna began her career as a staff photographer on daily newspapers, in Australia, covering sport, hard news, fashion. Later being represented worldwide by agencies, her work published in magazine, books ect. She recently returned to Australia after being based in Hollywood, USA for several years where she photographed, models and actors for publicity.
Donna is currently enjoying her time on her farm in rural Australia, where she adores her horses and dogs and the country life. While in Australia she focuses on creating photographic art of horses and dogs . And is always planning the next adventure and investigation into culture and lifestyle throughout the planet.