Desert Light Foundation
The Desert Light Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides access, engagement, and mentoring in photography to disadvantaged and vulnerable young people, supporting their well-being and equipping them for future opportunities. Through the medium of photography, our mission is to foster creative capacity, promote inclusion and community connection, and support personal and professional growth.
Light is fundamental to photography
It is not just about illumination; it’s about how light interacts with the subject and how the camera and the photographer captures it.
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Our Support
Through the medium of photography, we support disadvantaged young Australians by offering access to creative mentoring, professional equipment, and pathways to education and employment in the field.
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Our Delivery
We deliver in-school photography programs that support the development of creative thinking, self-expression, and photography skills.
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Our Partnerships
We partner with schools and organisations to increase access to creativity and photography by bringing professionals to mentor and workshop with young people in metropolitan, regional and remote areas.
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Our Work
We work with partners and the community to improve social, cultural and economic well-being.
How do you see the world?
Photography can increase opportunities for young people to secure sustainable economic, health, cultural and social benefits for themselves and their communities.
It equips them with the skills needed to support their education and participate in further studies.
Photography gives a different perspective on the life, lived experiences and circumstances of young people.
Evidence shows that the creative process may cultivate resilience, develop self-expression skills and foster a sense of belonging and connection to self, community and place.
Photography promotes well-being and creativity by strengthening a young person’s sense of self and emotional well-being.
Desert Light Foundation was born from the experiences of our CEO, Russell Ord, during his time in the desert regions of Northwest Australia. With a background as a surf and ocean photographer primarily in the Southwest, Russell drew inspiration from the local communities and the unique desert light during the "golden hour" — a time known for its soft, flattering light that enhances photography.
Throughout his career, which spans over 18 years, Russell has supported his family through his talent and art, gaining valuable insights along the way. His natural ability to connect with young people through photography emerged as a powerful tool in supporting the educational initiatives within the communities he visited, laying the foundation for what Desert Light Foundation stands for today.
Today, Russell and his team work towards providing mentoring in photography to young people who otherwise would be limited or unable to access them due to location, financial, social, and health disadvantages. Believing that photography and creative industries can provide meaningful opportunities for positive engagement, young people demonstrate that they can be agents of change, overcome the hardships, and face adversity differently.
