Nikki Bingham
Inside the Mind.
Below the Surface.
[or Under the Surface.]
…with the volume at 11
CCP asks Nikki Bingham the questions about her craft
1. What gets you out of bed every day?
The possibility of a beautiful sunrise to capture.
2. Who is the photographer that has inspired you the most?
Probably William Patino. He is an Australian landscape photographer now based in New Zealand. His work is always phenomenal and he is a lovely person also. I have been on a photography trip with him to Iceland and learned a lot from him.
3. What camera are you currently shooting with?
Nikon Z8 and a variety of Nikkor Z lenses. I absolutely love it. Amazing specs in a light body.
4. When you’re on a shoot, do you play music? What other essentials do you have with you?
No, I don’t play music as I have the sound of the ocean when I shoot and what is more beautiful than that.
5. In the digital world, how important is the print?
Very important. A screen just can't do justice to a large format landscape image. There's a scale and a presence to a good print that you can't replicate digitally.
6. B/W – Colour – Analogue – Digital. Put these in order of preference and tell us why.
Colour – I shoot sunrise and sunset. That's where all the drama lives, and stripping the colour out defeats the purpose for me.
Digital – It's all I've ever known, and honestly the technology is so good there's very little I feel I'm missing.
B&W – Sometimes the mood of an image just calls for it, and when it does, it can be really powerful.
Analogue – I respect it enormously and wish I had more patience for it. Maybe one day.
7. Have you exhibited your work, and how important was the framing process?
I've exhibited a couple of times in partnership with Nikon Australia. The framing process matters more than people realise. The right frame doesn't just protect the print, it completes it. Get that wrong and you're underselling the image regardless of how good the shot is.
8. What defines a great image?
For me it's whether it stops you. You can't always explain why, but a great image pulls you in and holds you there. If I'm still noticing new things in a shot after looking at it a dozen times, that's usually a good sign.
9. What is your favourite photo you’ve taken? Why?
The full moon setting behind the Westfield Tower Eye. It was four years in the making. It involved a lot of prep in terms of managing the alignment, and then once I had the alignment, I had to rely on the weather playing ball. It took so long for it all to align. It might not be the most artistic image, but I am proud of the persistence I needed to get it.
10. What’s the best photography advice you’ve been given?
Shoot what makes you happy, not what you think people want to see. I can't remember exactly who said it to me, but it stuck. It's easy to get caught up chasing social media metrics or following whatever's trending, but that's a fast way to lose the plot. The real satisfaction comes from seeing something in your mind and then actually pulling it off through the camera.
11. When you’re not taking photos, what are you doing?
I’m not a full-time photographer so sadly I am probably managing my corporate career!
High point in your career?
Being chosen as a Nikon Australia Creator. I have been a Nikon shooter all my life and it is an honour to be working with them. They are such a lovely team
Low point in your career?
Slipping on a rock whilst shooting sunrise and doing serious damage to both my tailbone and my camera..
Nikki Bingham - June 2026