Meet the eight-year-old photographer who captured a secret Sydney skate park

3 months ago 21

Inside an abandoned telecommunications building nestled in bushland on the northern beaches is a secret skate park, beloved by skaters, including eight-year-old photographer Arthur “Artie” Stone.

A photo Artie took inside the DIY skate park, known by locals as Portside, was a finalist in the Little Sydney Lives photography competition for budding shutterbugs aged five to 12.

Arthur Stone was a finalist in the Little Sydney Lives photo competition, which is run by City of Sydney and open to kids aged five to 12.

A Wiradjuri boy, Artie is in grade three at Annandale North Public School, and has plenty on his plate between photography, skating, surfing and playing rugby league. He visits the skate park when he’s staying at his grandparents’ house on the northern beaches during the school holidays.

Portside has a long connection to Artie’s family. His dad, Tristan, was one of the original skaters when it was just a small ramp in the early 2000s. A labour of love, graffiti and concrete have slowly transformed Portside into an internationally recognised DIY skate park

“I like how the skaters never give up, and I like the artworks in there,” Artie says.

The coolest trick Artie’s done to date is a kickflip, but he’s landed it only once. He’s trying to master a “pop shove it”.

Arthur Stone’s entry in the competition.

Photography is also in the family’s DNA. Artie’s following in the footsteps of his grandparents, acclaimed Sydney photographers Louise Whelan and John “Oggie” Ogden.

“I first tried it out in the middle of last year and my grandma helped me,” Artie says.

One rainy day at the skate park, Artie grabbed his grandma’s camera, a Canon 5D Mark IV, and took pictures of his 14-year-old cousin, Ginger.

“I tried a lot of creative stuff. I was directing her to do something, and I thought if I went close but not close enough and got her to do [a curtsy].”

Whelan, a former photography teacher, taught Artie how to use cameras, but says he’s always had an eye for a great image.

“He already understands composition and points of view. He would just automatically get down on one knee or move himself, not just shoot where he was,” Whelan says.

The picture is included in an exhibition of the 21 finalists on display on level 2 of Customs House at Circular Quay until July 28, 2026.

Artie was hoping to claim the winner’s prize – a brand-new camera of his own – so that he wouldn’t have to keep borrowing his grandma’s.

However, it was Chloe Wiseman who was awarded the top prize, after impressing judges with her use of double exposure in a photograph of her mother.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the Little Sydney Lives winner at Customs House on Thursday evening at an awards ceremony that also included the presentation of the prestigious $10,000 Australian Life photography prize.

Australian Life is one of the country’s biggest photography competitions, with the 30 finalists chosen from more than 2000 submissions on display in an outdoor exhibition at Customs House Square.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.