General News
14 February, 2026
Grubs Up: local photographer captures impressive photo
For local photographer Robin Webb, photography has been a long-standing passion. It's about capturing the moment for Mr Webb, along with the craft’s creativity.
"I also love the joy of being able to take photos of different subjects and see how it actually comes out when you process it," Mr Webb said.
"Whether that's birds, people or sunsets, no matter what it is.
"I get a kick out of a challenge and being in different environments, learning how to use the camera in different ways in different lighting and that sort of thing."
At 15, Mr Webb took ownership of his first camera: a Kodak 50 Instamatic.
Although it was "a bit too long ago" to remember how he got the camera, he said it was a basic camera that did the trick.
"It went with me to a lot of different places," reflected Mr Webb.
"In those days, it was slides I took, mostly."
In 1975, he moved up in the world, upgrading to a Pentax KM and spent his time capturing family, landscape, and holiday shots.
"By this stage, my parents had a better camera, and so I upgraded to something better and was able to capture some better shots," Mr Webb recalls.
"I remember getting a 200 mm lens as well and experimenting with that.
"Again, that came with me on holidays."
It was more than 35 years later that Mr Webb received his first DSLR - a Nikon - as a gift from his wife, and he laughed that he must have been on his best behaviour to receive the present.
The new acquisition dramatically increased his interest in photography.
"It brought me up to date with the latest technology," Mr Webb said.
"It enabled me to take better pictures, and as a result of that, one thing led to another, and I got more interested.
"I started to learn more, and as a result, took more pictures, and the more I learned and took photos, the more satisfaction I got from photography."
Since then, Mr Webb's camera and gear collection has grown steadily, as has his knowledge and skills.
The photographer's knowledge and skills have been enhanced by joining the Horsham Camera Club along the way, with Mr Webb participating in several training sessions.
Last year, for the third time, Mr Webb entered photos in a Victorian Photographic Societies competition, with one piece earning second in the electronic data section.
Mr Webb's photo depicted a grub in the grasp of a wasp, and it was by chance that he captured it.
"It was out the front of our house, and there is a bush there," explained Mr Webb.
"We were in the garden, and it was a moment of: 'well, look at that', so I had to quickly go and grab my camera, put a macro lens on, and I snapped away.
"It was just one of those moments, right place, right time."
Mr Webb said he couldn't believe it when he learned of his second-place achievement.
"I thought: 'This can't be right', as it's across all of Victoria," he said.
"I was really, really chuffed, and it's great I got some recognition."
Now, Mr Webb is busily getting ready to submit his entries for the awards this year.
He will submit two entries electronically and two prints.
"I'm actually putting in one from the fireworks in Horsham and one with a kangaroo in a canola crop," Mr Webb said.
Mr Webb said living in the Wimmera, there is certainly no shortage of photography subjects.
"There are various landscapes, whether it's the Grampians or Mount Arapiles, you've got that," Mr Webb said.
"But I also get a lot of satisfaction from doing work with The Mail-Times, which gives me the opportunity to take all different pictures of events and people.
"My abilities have also been expanded by that."
It's no surprise, then, that Mr Webb is happy with his current Nikon Z8 Mirrorless (a full-frame camera, as well as an array of lenses, he adds).
He plans to keep doing exactly what he is: always on the lookout for a good photo and capturing a moment in time.