Former 60 Minutes reporter Ray Martin unveils his first solo photographic exhibition at Ken Duncan’s Central Coast gallery

BY his own admission, veteran journalist Ray Martin has come out of the closet. But only in terms of his passion for photography which he describes as his “private love affair”.

Ray Martin’s photo exhibition runs until July 23.

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BY his own admission, veteran journalist Ray Martin has come out of the closet.

But only in terms of his passion for photography which he describes as his “private love affair”.

The Waverton resident admits he has spent years quietly and apologetically taking photographs while on his many assignments with programs like Four Corners and 60 Minutes.

But now Martin openly brandishes a camera.

“Photography has always been a closet hobby for me but now I’ve finally come out of the closet,” he said.

“Now I am happy to approach people like David Attenborough for a shot.”

Ken Duncan and Ray Martin during one of their photographic expeditions.

The first major exhibition of Martin’s photography opens this week at the Central Coast gallery owned by photographer Ken Duncan.

While Martin said he has taken photographs in risky situations like war zones, the exhibition features more gentler images of landscapes and portraits.

“I am more of a story teller in my photographs — a poor man’s version of a street photographer,” he said.

One of Ray Martin’s images in the exhibition.

Among his favourites are a shot of a small child in Nepal, David Attenborough captured in a Sydney laneway and aerial shots, reminiscent of Aboriginal art.

“People get on planes, pull down the shade and watch a dodgy movie but miss out on these amazing landscapes,” he said.

Ray Martin with George Negus and Ian Leslie during the early days of 60 Minutes.

Martin said he first took a few photos when he was a young journalist in Perth and then in 1969 when he was posted to New York, photography became his “closet hobby”.

Martin said he more often carried a small camera on risky overseas assignments where producing a camera might induce people “to shoot you”.

He said when he photographed the child in Nepal, the child’s mother “went crazy” and he feared retribution.

“She took the child away and put a colourful jacket on him and did his hair,” he said.

“She was so proud of him that she just wanted him to look his best for the photograph.”

One of the images in Ray Martin’s exhibition.

Martin first met Ken Duncan on the set of The Midday Show almost 30 years ago.

Duncan was there to talk about a book but the pair soon discovered a mutual love for photography and the television interview was the beginning of an enduring friendship.

Last year, Duncan and Martin launched the Chasing the Light documentary, an award-winning film about their adventures in the remote Kimberley Region.

“What excites me most about Ray’s photography is that he doesn’t allow himself to get bound up by technicality. He keeps it simple and gets stunning shots,” Duncan said.

Another one of Ray Martin’s images.

Ray Martin explores Norfolk Island

During the exhibition, Martin is hosting several one-hour sessions in which he will share the stories behind his photographs.

“Most of my photos have been taken on the run. I’m not a professional photographer who will wait around for the light to change,” he said.

“My photographs are about stories. There’s an old cliche about a picture being worth a thousand words but there are stories behind my photographs and I’d probably need almost a newspaper column to tell each story.”

The exhibition Ray Martin’s World continues at the Ken Duncan Gallery at Erina Heights until July 23. Details: kenduncan.com