I’ve always been passionate about anything with wheels, especially cars and bikes. I grew up around old Volkswagens, so when it came time to find my first car, it was probably inevitable that I’d end up with a VW. I was offered a rolling shell through one of my dad’s friends and since then, restoring it has become one of my biggest projects.
Starting with a shell has meant learning the car from the ground up. I’ve developed skills in metalwork, engine work, rust repair and sourcing parts, sometimes from the other side of the world. The project has taught me problem-solving, planning and patience, and has also given me skills I can use beyond my own car. I’ve started doing rust repairs for other people, and it’s something I’d like to continue after school.
My other major passion is automotive photography. Growing up, one of my dad’s friends in the Volkswagen community was a photographer and would sometimes hand me his camera at events so I could experiment. That’s where my interest started. At TSS, I’ve been able to turn that into Brix Media, my own photography business, photographing people’s cars and creating images of something that is often their pride and joy.
Building Brix Media has pushed me to develop both creative and business skills. I shoot completely in manual mode and have learnt how to edit my work using Adobe Lightroom, but I’ve also had to learn how to find clients, promote myself on Instagram and build a reputation through word of mouth. Completing a Certificate III in Aviation introduced me to drone photography, giving me another way to experiment with creating images.
One of my highlights at TSS has been the Open Studio. It gave me the chance to bring in my car and show other students and teachers what I’d achieved through the restoration. I also shared my photography with a professional photographer and received technical feedback on my shooting and editing, including new techniques for working in Lightroom and Photoshop. Having access to people with industry experience has encouraged me to keep striving and improving my skills.
The way I learn at TSS feels a bit like a choose-your-own-adventure story. Instead of being pushed towards a pathway that has already been decided for you, there is freedom to explore what you're genuinely interested in and see where it could take you. Nat (Teacher-Facilitator/Project Co-ordinator) has supported that by helping me create the time I needed to finish my car for a big event, and by connecting me with photographers who could provide professional feedback. Gordon (Teacher-Facilitator), my mentor teacher, also made a big difference when I first arrived at TSS. He made me feel welcome, helped me understand how everything worked and made the transition into TSS really easy.
Since being part of TSS, I’ve become more independent and mature, and much clearer about the direction I want to take after school. For a while, I thought I might study architecture, but through photography and creating reels and videos, I've discovered an interest in filmmaking. When I create something, I usually have a clear vision of how I want it to look and feel and I can get completely focused on finding a way to tell a story through it.
After school, I’m interested in studying filmmaking at university and working towards becoming a director. I want to take the creative skills I've developed through photography and transition into film. I also plan to continue Brix Media and rust repairs on the side. Cars will always be a big part of my life but I'm excited to see how I can combine that passion with photography, film and other forms of creative storytelling.
How would you describe TSS ? It's kind of like university while still being at high school. You're treated like an adult, and you get a lot more freedom to make your own choices.
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Luka combines his passion for cars with creativity through two major projects: restoring a classic Volkswagen from the ground up and building Brix Media, his automotive photography business.
Mathematics, English, Design and PE. Luka has also completed a Certificate III in Aviation, developing skills in drone operation and aerial photography.
