Profile of a Serial Traveller

Reed International’s ‘Travel Today’ online newspaper is widely regarded as the Australian Travel industry’s go-to information source. Who better then to adjudicate on such a truly Australian photographic contest than Travel Today’s founding editor, Steve Jones. In his four years in the job, Steve has earned a reputation in travel circles as a hard-nosed, no-nonsense journalist who delivers and expects the very highest of standards.
He is sure to apply those same exacting standards to his judging duties … and the time when he runs his eye over the multitude of excellent photographic entries we have already received is drawing ever closer. Steve will be selecting the top six photos and a pubic vote will then determine the outright winner.
Although his job has taken him from the Cairo to the Christchurch and from London to Lima, Steve still instantly lists the Australian Outback as his favourite travel destination.
“It is a place that still excites me and intrigues me,” he says. “Whether I am chasing barramundi in the Northern Territory, marvelling at the wildlife and wilderness on Kangaroo Island, or 4WDing on Fraser ... I just get goosebumps each and every time I prepare for a trip.”
The theme of the photo competition is ‘water’ and, while Steve says he is a big fan of creativity and doesn’t necessarily expect oceans and rivers in all pics, he will draw the line at no physical evidence of H2O in the photo at all.
But apart from a drop or two of water, what will he be looking for in his winners? Steve says there are many elements that have to come together to make a great pic.
“Of course, technical skills are important but they are not always a necessity ... the subject, the mood, the lighting, the atmosphere, the moment ... they are all part of it,” he says. “And it’s a subjective medium ... I won’t know the stories behind each of the photos and that is often what makes them so extra special to the person behind the lens.”
It’s a tough job then but somebody’s got to do it. Our thanks to Steve for agreeing to step up to the plate. We are lucky to have him on board. Good luck everybody.
And remember, you can still enter. Click here to find out how.