This is the story of Sophie Burmester, a talented artist and photographer who spends her days creating art to share with the world. Although sometimes, she just keeps them to herself.

The arts (for those who have ever experienced the process of creating it) is one of those special relationships you either love or hate, depending on the way you got out of bed. Some people find it in music, others through writing or acting, but in some rare cases like Sophie's, you get the whole shebang - with cheese.   

At the age of 18 Sophie is an artist, actor, writer and musician, and she has only just begun to make her mark on the world. Unlike many other teens her age, when she isn’t studying for her final year of college, she is sitting out in her garden painting the majesty of the Murrumbateman landscape or taking professional photographs for events.  

At Lake Ginninderra College she studies photography, art, psychology, english and drama.

Ever since I can remember I have had a passion for art,” Sophie explained, “I remember when I was in year four I used to draw these little cartoons on scraps of paper in the classroom. One of the girls in my class snatched it off me and waved it around the class yelling, ‘Look! Look what Sophie did!’”

“I have been encouraged like that my whole life, my parents and friends were so supportive from a young age that I kept pursuing it and eventually I became really good at it.”

Sophie received an academic award this year in art for both her practical and academic work in art. She experiments with printmaking and ceramics, however her great passion is photography. 

“I was 11 when I got my first camera. It was a pink Lumix,” she laughed. 

“I began taking shots of the landscape and animals, which eventually grew my love into landscape and portraiture photography.

“I have a great passion for surrealist photography. It’s a great way to surprise the viewer, overlay images to portray concepts such as mental illness and individuality. For me I can express myself with imagery, sometimes I incorporate poetry into the images.”

Sophie describes the world as her inspiration, but loves capturing happiness through her portraitures, which resonates back onto her. 

“I love how impressionists see the world, I guess that’s how I would describe myself today, however I’m sure that will change in time,” she explained. 

“I like the idea that they aren’t bound by structure, or anything else for that matter, it’s a free space to create.” 

Although she doesn’t have much of a commercial interest, she has been researching ways of putting her art onto clothing to create a brand for herself. She began her professional photography career around a year ago and currently works at events and weddings as a professional photographer. 

Still so very young, Sophie plans on taking a gap year once she has finished school, to travel around Europe, visiting places such as Italy, France, Germany, Netherland and Greece. She hopes to live in France for a year to soak in the culture and immerse herself in the arts, before she comes back to Australia to attend art school. 

“I have so many things that I want to accomplish and so many things that I want to say,” she continued.

“As long as I am creating every day I will be happy.” 

Sophie's work can be found on her facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Soul-Catcher-Photography/529965130414968