DVA TV looks at the veteran photo exhibition Point & Shoot

Veteran Mark Direen is behind an annual veteran photography exhibition called Point & Shoot.

Showcasing career imagery and accompanying stories from Australian veterans, this exhibition provides a rare glimpse into the life and experiences of fellow Australians who have served their country.

Covering military service from post the Second World War onwards, Point & Shoot commemorates a range of modern conflicts, peace operations and service. In 2022, the exhibition featured 60 veteran images taken within Australia or on overseas operations, with all images cleared by Defence media and approved for public display.

The purpose of the exhibition is not to display perfectly captured photos from professional photographers. Rather, it’s to share some of those moments frozen in time that those who serve our nation thought were worth remembering. 

Mark served in the Army for 16 years, ten of them in the Special Air Service Regiment. His interest in photography arose when he undertook photographic reconnaissance work.

‘When the situation allowed, I’d quite often find myself capturing a photo, just to remember the moment,’ he says in DVA TV’s latest video. ‘Later, I’d reflect on the photos and the stories that sat behind them. And I thought, I bet other veterans have photos from their deployments. I’d love to see them, I’d love to hear their stories, and I’d love to share them.’

‘I think it’s fantastic,’ says Repatriation Commissioner Don Spinks AM. ‘The opportunity to come together, to remember and talk through stories. They have similar lived experience and it’s really important for veterans to join in activities like this.’

‘I would encourage any veteran to consider submitting their photos,’ says DVA acting Deputy Secretary Stuart Smith AO DSC. ‘You might not at first think the story behind the image is worth telling, or that it’s commonplace, but the fact is that if that photo was taken on active service, there’s almost definitely something remarkable about it.

‘The exhibition was supported by a Saluting Their Service grant provided by DVA, which seeks to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage and highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women.’

Point & Shoot is open to all Australian veterans. An Australian veteran is defined as a person who has served in the Australian Defence Force for at least one day in either a regular or reserve capacity.

This event also encourages the commemoration of veterans no longer here. We invite families to share the experiences of their loved ones unable to tell and share their own stories.

Submissions for 2023 will open soon.

You can find more information on the Point and Shoot website.