About

Emma Schwenke is an Australian photographer working in the tradition of documentary storytelling. Emma’s photographs predominantly spotlight the relationship between environments and their human inhabitants as an exploration of how this relationship influences the construction of identity. In recent years, her work has also explored current social and political issues through investigating the effect Australia’s Coal Seam Gas industry has had on rural communities.

After completing high school in Brisbane in 2014, Emma moved straight into studying a Bachelor of Photography at Queensland College of Art (Southbank). Emma graduated with a Bachelor of Photography in 2017 majoring in Photojournalism and Documentary practice, and minoring in Art Practice. She then went on to complete her Honours year at QCA in 2018, graduating with second-class honours and an Award for Academic Excellence.

Emma has been a part of numerous exhibitions within Australia, as well as overseas. Her first exhibition was in the Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art, 2014 at Ipswich Gallery. Emma has also shown work in Nepal (2016), Winnipeg (2018) as well as several exhibitions hosted by QCA during her studies.

Emma is currently working for the Department of Defence as an Air Force Imagery Specialist, capturing military operations and exercises across Australia and overseas, as well as humanitarian support and government aid.