How Infinity Flights Photography captured 2022 Gympie, Qld floods

A regional Qld mechanic who built his own drones ‘from scratch’ has become a social media sensation, catching some of the most amazing images in the state including the 2022 Gympie floods. SEE THE GALLERY

Scott Kovacevic

2 min read

January 6, 2025 - 6:11AM

Gympie

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As a youth in regional Queensland, John Clough had a passion for mechanics, electronics, and how these devices worked.

It inevitably led him to drones and - more unexpectedly - a rapidly growing social media following on the back of capturing some of the most amazing shots across the region and state.

Mr Clough's portfolio, published on his own Infinity Flights Photography page, boasts an extraordinary array of amazing photos from across the state, including some of the spectacular stills of the devastating 2022 near-record flood at his home city of Gympie.

The 38-year-old father-of-four said Infinity Flights was a “strong hobby” with roots in his childhood.

He said growing up “we had to sort of make do with what we had”.

Mr Clough’s portfolio, published on his own Infinity Flights Photography page, boasts an extraordinary array of amazing photos from across the state, including some of the spectacular stills of the devastating 2022 near-record flood at Gympie. Infinity Flights Photography,

“When I was 15, I got my first car - whenever it broke I had to fix it,” Mr Clough said.

“I was always pulling apart old things that were broken and try to figure out what went wrong.”

After graduating from Gympie State High School he worked as a labourer before becoming a qualified mechanic and auto electrician.

A love of photography always lingered but he “never really took it too seriously” until 2014.

“I started out making drones from scratch, all homemade stuff, buy parts online and assemble and do all the wiring yourself,” Mr Clough said.

The February 2022 disaster, in which floodwaters at the regional city reached their second highest level ever, “was the first big flood I could … get footage of”, Mr Clough said. Pictures: Infinity Flights Photography.

He had more than a passing interest in weather events across the region, too, and it did not take long before they came together.

“Whenever there was a flood on in Gympie I’d send the drone up and get the best photos and videos I could,” Mr Clough said.

The February 2022 disaster, in which floodwaters at the regional city reached their second highest level ever, “was the first big flood I could … get footage of”.

Chronicling the scale of the floods was no easy task.

Mr Clough said he was forced to fly “between showers” so his drone did not short out and plummet to earth.

The Mary River at Kidd Bridge Gympie goes under in late 2024 due to flash flooding from heavy rain. Photo: Infinity Flights Photography

Then there was the not small problem of power, too.

“I did it all with one battery,” he said

“Go up, get my shots, come back down, recharge.”

While the flood might be the most prominent series of photos on his page, they were far from the only pictures of iconic events captured not only in Gympie but across the state.

Mr Clough’s drones captured the four years of construction on the $1.1 billion Gympie Bypass, as well as snaps from places including Inskip Point and its sinkholes, Rainbow Beach, the Sunshine Coast, and Carnarvon Gorge.

He was thrilled with the success of his efforts, which now included more than 500 followers on Facebook.

“I didn’t think it would get the attention it has,” Mr Clough said.

The best part was the impact it was having on others.

“They are inspired by what they see, even my own nephew has gone out and got himself a camera and a drone,” he said,

“(It) inspires people to go out there and explore, and see the world from the skies”.