Martin Von Stoll's photography has been featured all over the world in the past six months, but that didn't detract from his surprise when he saw an image of his boys on the side of the Pacific Highway recently.
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The Diamond Beach photographer was driving between Failford and Nabiac when he looked across and saw a billboard displaying his sons Zaiden and Riazz jumping off a jetty in Forster.
The billboard was for local tourism brand Destination Barrington Coast.
Martin had previously given the organisation permission to use the image, which had been displayed on the cover of a map of the area, but he had no idea it would be used for something as grand as a billboard.
"I was pretty amazed to see it," he said.
"I've never had a photo on a billboard before."
What made the spectacle even more special was that the photo was taken on Martin's iPhone.
But Martin believes that's reflective of the nature of photography, with image quality often less important than the moment being captured.
"A lot of it can come down to capturing the right moment," Martin said.
"It's all about how people relate to what they're seeing."
In regards to the image of his boys, Martin believes people connect with the timeless quality of seeing kids having fun in a beautiful natural environment.
"If they look at that they think it's a great destination and a fun and safe place to take your family," he said.
The image was in many ways the starting point for the widespread exposure Martin's photography has gained over the past six months.
When Destination Barrington Coast ran it in October of last year, it was the first time one of Martin's photos had been published.
Then, when bushfires simultaneously struck Tuncurry, Failford and Hallidays Point later that month, he snapped an image that resonated around the world.
Since then, Martin's photos have been featured in major newspapers, prime time news programs, and a variety of national and international publications.
Most recently he achieved a lifelong goal of having one of his images published on the cover of a magazine - not once, not twice, but three times, with Medicine Today, Wild and Surfing World all using Martin's shots from the October bushfires.
"To get the cover of a magazine is what every photographer strives for," Martin said.
But he admitted "it all started with the boys jumping off the wharf."
"I'd like to thank Destination Barrington Coast for the opportunity," he said.
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