By Chenxiao Ding
Every morning, while most people are still asleep, David Mullins plunges into the cold waters of the ocean. “If I can handle the shock of cold water, then whatever else the day throws at me doesn’t feel so hard,” he says. The focus and clarity that swimming brings also flow into his art.
“Swimming gives me peace of mind; photography is how I express myself. One grounds me, the other lets me share what I feel and see with the world.”
For David, photography isn’t just about technical skill — it’s about collaboration. “When someone can look at their portrait and feel proud of it, that’s when I know we’ve created something meaningful.”
This passion led David to spend years on his community project, Faces of Wyndham. The collection of 100 portraits captures the extraordinary diversity of the region.
One of the most memorable stories for him is Mon, a woman from Punjab. She was nervous when she first entered the studio, hesitant about stepping into the home of a male photographer she didn’t know. But she wanted to share her story. David took the time to talk with her until she felt at ease, and together they created a portrait that made her proud. “That experience reminded me again that trust and connection are at the heart of portraiture,” he says.
Asked to define what Wyndham “feels like” in a single image, David shakes his head. “It wouldn’t be one picture, but all one hundred.”
“Different faces, different cultures — but the same hopes: peace, security, and belonging.”
David admits he was once shy himself, nervous to approach strangers. Now he encourages young photography students: “Gear matters far less than human connection. If you listen with genuine interest, even ordinary people — especially those who have never been in a studio before — can make the most powerful subjects.”
His proudest moments come not just in the studio, but in the ocean too: the smile of someone overcoming their fear of deep water, or the tears of joy when a family sees a portrait of a loved one. “What makes me smile,” he says, “is watching people discover something in themselves they didn’t know was there.”
Looking back, David recalls the camera first gifted to him by a friend who believed he had the eye for photography. Today, what drives him forward is a restless desire to create. “Every day I want to make something new. Photography is just one string to my bow, but it’s the one that lets me connect with people and create something meaningful together.”
Faces of Wyndham continues to grow, and David hopes more community members will take part. “Every story deserves to be heard, and every face deserves to be remembered.”
Faces of Wyndham can be seen at the Saltwater Community Centre, Tarneit Community Learning Centre, and Dianella Community Centre from the 27 th November 2025 to 22nd January 2026
*Chenxiao Ding is a journalism intern from the University of Melbourne
