From lying in the dirt to get the right angle to walking in the rain to get that great weather shot to suffering through the humidity while lugging around at least 10kg worth of equipment, they work hard to show that a picture really can tell a thousand words.

Here are some of their favourites from 2016:

Carols by Candlelight

Photographer: Ivan Rachman

For the 2016 Carols by Candlelight preview image, I wanted to really show off some candles with children. By showing the 3 children how cool fire was I got them hyped up enough to give me a genuine smile. By hyping them up I was also able to get them to hold the candles as close to their face to let the light pour onto their faces.

Young Olympian

Photographer: Helen Orr

In the lead up to the Olympics we photographed young Territorians who had aspirations of making it to the games one day. Thomas Malseed was a young basketballer — I wanted to make it look like he was flying in the air with the ball — like in the iconic Michael Jordan photo where he’s flying through the air on the way to slam dunking the ring. I got him to lie on the court floor and lit him from either side. A cool breeze hit his hair at the right time. We practised many positions to get the one that gave the best optical illusion of the young aspiring Olympian in flight.

Frog Wave

Photographer: Justin Kennedy

This image was taken during the annual Noonamah Frog Races which take place during the Melbourne Cup, some 40kms from Darwin at the Noonamah Tavern. This was my first top end Melbourne Cup and I was chosen to cover this event, not really knowing what to expect but excited for the outcome. The races kicked off following the main Melbourne Cup race with frogs jumping all over the place. This particular image was taken at the exact moment the frog went to move forward but resulted in an image that looks as if the frog is waving to the mob of people, making for a fun image.

Fishing Leopard

Photographer: Elise Derwin

Rogan Im looked so cool in a leopard print jacket fishing on Stokes Hill wharf with angelic skin that would fry the second the Territory sun unleashed it’s rays on him. He was so striking I had to ask to take his portrait. I had thought he must be a tourist only to discover he lived in Palmerston and worked on a pineapple farm in the rural area. The clothes don’t make the man.

Extradition

Photographer: Katrina Bridgeford

This is Nomads National treasurer Stephen Garland who was arrested in Darwin River and extradited to Sydney, this assignment was exciting as you done know what will happen when the police pull up where they will go and the reaction of person in custody so it can be an Adrenalin rush to make sure you done miss the photo opportunity.

Muscles

Photographer: Patrina Malone

Body building with its defined muscle definition and gruelling poses and those tans what can I say? They are always good to photograph.