Photography courtesy of David Diehm

Need a little feel-good story? What about something to perk you up about being a part of the incredible Newcastle community? Well, look no further because we’ve just uncovered this incredible offering by local photographer, David Diehm; a photographic dedication to Newcastle & Surrounding areas.

Adopted local, David Diehm, originally hailing from Griffith has called Newcastle home for the past 16 years and hasn’t looked back since. A qualified Chiropractor, photography has been a hobby of David’s since 2012, and since then has built up his own personal library of exquisite imagery.

“It was my father who had leant me his camera for a trip my wife and I were going on to New Zealand’s South Island back in 2012. We were doing a lot of trekking and overnight hut stays, so I was excited at the prospect of having his better-quality camera to take some good pictures.

“After we returned from that trip, photography just kept slowly bubbling away in the background,” David shared.

Launching his own photography page on Facebook in 2015, the page has organically grown from just a few shots of local landscapes to now quite the following. With requests for prints and other products coming in heavy, David was led down the path of exploring photography as more than just a hobby.

His newest venture, Capturing The Hunter, is a dedication to all things Newcastle. Capturing our iconic public spaces from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and the Hunter Valley.

“The book was a bit of a pipeline dream that had slowly been developing as an idea, but gained momentum quickly once I decided to just do it! The two main drivers were for my own personal enjoyment, in an era where most images exist only on a hard drive, I wanted something that displayed my work that was tactile and not on a computer screen.

“The other motivation was that Newcastle, and the greater Hunter did not have a photography book on the market that I could find that captured, promoted, and celebrated the sheer natural beauty of our region. I thought that this was something Newcastle should definitely have!”

The book is a collection of over nine years of photography work that includes over 100 images of both local iconic spots and some of our regions hidden gems. Throughout the book, you’ll be treated with facts and commentary on some of the location’s images.  

“I enjoy capturing many aspects of Newcastle. The history and natural charm of some of the aged buildings, the rustic charm of the Newcastle canoe pool and pavilion. The ever-changing coastline and natural green pockets like Glenrock.”

The book is currently available for pre-order through the website here, and for the month of September David is offering Corporate Newcastle discounted rates on bulk orders of the book. For a preview flick through of the book, click here!

“I hope people can connect with the images. So many people have a connection to the Hunter and I hope the book can help them celebrate and reminisce about the influence the Hunter has had on their life.”

Get your Christmas shopping started now and treat yourself to a Newcastle treasure or order a unique gift for your loved ones.