BREATHHOLD AT THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM

Breathhold debuted at the Australian National Maritime Museum for a three-week run in November 2025, as part of Head On Photo Festival's Open Program. Nine images, surreal underwater landscapes, marine life, intimate moments with friends and herself, printed to fine art standard with the support of Canon, and hung in a national institution. Every frame was captured on a single breath, using only natural light, the first time Maddison had ever taken a camera underwater while freediving.

On Sunday, November 23rd, she gave an artist talk sharing the stories behind the images, before moderating a 90-minute panel discussion entirely of her own concept and curation, titled "The Future of Freediving." What made it remarkable wasn't just the calibre of the guests: Adam Stern (freediving icon), Sheree Marris (marine biologist), Tash Childs (Manly-based freediver), and Sara Tai (underwater model). It was that this was Maddison's first ever public speaking engagement, her first time hosting an audience, and over 150 people spent their sunny Sunday afternoon indoors for it. Adam traced freediving's evolution from competition to education; Sheree spoke to its role as an essential tool in marine biology; Tash explored the biodiversity and ocean access of city living; Sara discussed the underwater world as a blank canvas for creative expression. The museum regarded the event as a significant success, both for its content and its numbers.

Having only been part of the ocean community for just over two years, the response was phenomenal.

Within a week of the museum closing, Lunar Studios, Sydney's premier photographic studio and creative imaging hub, approached Maddison to hang the works in their atrium. She'd been working out of Lunar as a photographer and digital tech since 2020, and to have the institution come to her was something else entirely. The series expanded to fifteen images and ran for eight weeks, finding a whole new audience.

To mark the residency, she hosted an intimate evening on January 29, 2026, a celebration of art, creativity, and community, open to all, with drinks generously supported by Beer Fontaine, Sydney Brewery, 2 Halfs Brewery, and Spon Bottle Shop & Wine Bar. A projector reel played behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the series alongside highlights from the panel day, bringing the full journey into the room. Over 100 people came, mostly from the photographic industry, and galleries, curators, and press approached her on the night with interest in showing the work next.

Eight months of preparation. A national museum, a landmark studio, two sold-out events. All built on dedication, instinct, and the audacity to just do the thing.