Moods and views are two aspects of Sydney Harbour which photographer Ian ‘Haig’ Gilchrist can’t get enough of.
He says the moods are the changing weather patterns that affect the harbour. And the views … Well, the views speak for themselves!
Haig, as he is known, is in a good position to comment as a decky (official title is GPH – General Purpose Hand) on the Manly Ferry. His jobs include securing ropes, berthing the vessel, and occasionally assisting the Master at the helm under supervision. Plus, there’s cleaning windows, toilets and decks. “We start each morning with 30-or-40 minutes cleaning windows which, to be honest, I find quite therapeutic,” he says.
And when he’s not working on Sydney Harbour, he’s either down on its foreshores at places like Bradley’s Head, Cremorne Point, Dobroyd and North Head, or he’s at the beach having a swim or surf.
Back on land and his camera is always close by. “I guess it’s like a busman’s holiday,” the former lifeguard says. “Still being around the water on my days off. Although, I stay away from ferries.”
He points out Balmoral as our ferry, the Narrabeen, passes by: “That’s my stomping ground. I swim in the bay there all year round.”
At this point he responds demurely to the question every ocean lover is asking: What about the recent increase in shark activity? “It’s in the back of your mind,” he admits.
“If that appeared these days people would say it’s AI.”
Haig’s images appear regularly in our local media, particularly this publication and in videos on Nine News. Some of his storm photography featuring the ferry punching through waves, with walls of water surging from its bow, have been picked up by international publications. In one image, a towering wave – like densely textured wallpaper – occupies the space in the frame where the sky normally is. “If that appeared these days people would say it’s AI,” he says.
He recalls one weather event involving strong rains. “It was about two-or-three years ago,” he says. “Mostly the colours are amazing. But on this day instead of pushing through green water in the Heads, it’s brown. Heavy rain and dirty storm water out of Middle Harbour. I get some unusual photos. It isn’t pretty but it is interesting.”
Haig describes the proliferation of these images as ‘a love job’ rather than a commercial one. His motivation becomes clear as we reach the upper deck and behold the harbour’s wonder, a myriad of vessels bobbing. The afternoon sparkles. And he agrees it’s one of the most interesting jobs in Sydney. “You don’t feel negative about coming to work in this environment,” he says, gesturing. “Even when the weather looks really bad.
“I’m happy to give these images to the media. Happy to share them.”
As a rule, his photographic equipment comes to work everyday, although he doesn’t carry it around on deck. He uses a Canon R5 which he combines with a 100-500mm lens. “I’ve taught myself photography over the past 25 years,” he says. “I never went to school for it. But I have a number of knowledgeable friends who give me tips.”
As well as his big camera, Haig tries to keep up with the latest iPhones for their ever-improving photo quality. “I use them for the videos, 20-or-30 second weather clips which I send to TV,” he said. “Recently, I filmed stunning altocumulus clouds which covered the city.”
I ask what kinds of things he looks for with his camera? “Any wildlife,” he answers. “Especially dolphins. Someone once said that if there are bottle-nose dolphins in the harbour, the water must be very clean.” He says summer is a favourite time because of the wonderful sunsets.
A coffee table book celebrating the history of the ferries is published in 2025, called Sydney Harbour Ferries. It’s by James Willson and it features more than 30 of Haig’s images.
He reckons October is a great time of year to shoot the harbour: “They might be doing some [hazard reduction burns] and the smoke gives you a nice natural filter for the sun. During time-off, I might go somewhere like Milk Beach in the Eastern Suburbs, where I watch and film the sun setting behind the Harbour Bridge. Doesn’t happen all the time but if it’s on I’ll chase it.”
He describes the family he grew up in as ‘local tourists’, and spending time on the Mosman and Manly ferries. He sees the deckies in action but doing this kind of work full time doesn’t occur to him. Later in life he hears from some deckies that there are vacancies and he should apply: “I apply for a cashier’s position because that’s what’s available.”
The intel comes at the right time. Haig is burnt out in his job in the trucking industry. “My depot keeps moving further away from my home,” he says. “I drive all day and then I have to drive home in traffic which takes from 60-to-90 minutes.”
One of his early roles is as a General Purpose Hand working as a greaser, or an engineer’s assistant, on the Freshwater Class ferries; checking its two main Daihatsu engines, three generators and six void (non-passenger) spaces.
He speaks fondly of the ‘big boats’ describing them as calm and gentle.
“They roll in the swell,” he says. “At a slower pace, so you can absorb the environment around you – the harbour and the heads. And the frequency of the engines can be soothing. I’m pretty sure one of the reasons we struggle to wake passengers at the end of the trip is because some have gone into a deep trance.”
But there’s no napping going through Sydney Heads when a cloud shelf is moving north across the harbour. It might only happen once a year but that’s when Haig likes to go upstairs, get his shots, and watch it all unfold.
