For Kay, photography is more than a craft, it is a lifelong conversation between light, shadow, and memory.

Her journey began at just 15 years old, working in the darkroom at the Government Printing Office in the early 1960s. Those formative years ignited a curiosity that would evolve through decades, from intimate portraits of her children and friends in the 70s, to large-scale prints developed in a backyard darkroom built by her husband.

By the early 2000s, Kay embraced the digital revolution, experimenting with Photoshop and new creative possibilities… with retirement truly allowing her to transform a lifelong interest into an undeniable passion.

“My first love is taking landscapes, and I have been blessed to have travelled to some amazing locations around the world and in Australia,” she reflects.


(side note… when we recently contacted Kay, she was on a photographic tour of Sri Lanka, where she says it’s hot and sweaty 🥵! )


Her dedication to honing her craft led her to join a local camera club, where she continued to push her creativity and refine her skills.

Yet, it is Kay’s work that speaks to something deeper, perhaps a reflection on time, identity, and the nuances of ageing.

“As I am in my senior years, I have been thinking how to represent the ageing process in a positive light, but I wanted to do more than just a portrait with a wrinkled face,” she explains.

The breakthrough came in the form of an unexpected muse: a fine plastic drop sheet left behind by a painter. With this simple material, she created an evocative image, weathered arms in sharp relief, contrasted against the blurred, youthful figure beneath.

“While the photo accentuates the weather-beaten arms, there is the diffused image of the young body and lively spirit that is hidden from the world.”

Kay’s work challenges the conventional gaze on ageing.

She offers instead a layered perspective, one that acknowledges both the physical passage of time and the enduring vibrancy within. Through her lens, she captures more than moments; she captures the essence of a life well lived, continually seeking new ways to create, express, and inspire.

We are excited to share her photograph with you. Further… it won an award!

2017 PORTRAIT WINNER KAY CYPHER

‘Aged under wraps’ was the highest scoring image in the Portrait Category and proudly sponsored by Fujifilm Cameras Australia and michaels camera video digital

Here is what Kay had to say about her award winning image at the time –

“Today’s media often presents the over photoshoped and perfect images of the young and beautiful, but there is little discussion or exposure about the body image of the older person.”