Photographer Adam Ferguson's latest photobook, 'Big Sky', is a culmination of over a decade of work, exploring the complexities of the Australian Outback and its people.

The book serves as Ferguson's introduction to his homeland, bridging personal narratives with broader stories of the land and its inhabitants.

For Indigenous Australians, the term 'Country' embodies deep meanings of identity and community, which Ferguson aims to reflect in his photography.

Central to Ferguson's work are Indigenous communities, who have a historical connection to the land that spans over 65,000 years, emphasizing their dispossession and resilience.

Ferguson's photography captures the impact of extreme weather events, such as droughts, which challenge people's relationships with the land and threaten their livelihoods.

His images depict the struggles faced by rural communities, including haunting representations of issues like suicide among rural men, highlighting the deeper personal and communal challenges.

By combining portraiture and landscape photography, Ferguson addresses the complexities of the Outback, including the influences of climate change, globalization, and mining.

Ferguson intentionally avoids romanticized portrayals of the Outback, opting instead for a cultural critique of Australian identity and colonial history.

The journey of creating 'Big Sky' was restorative for Ferguson, deepening his connection to his homeland after years of documenting conflict in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Despite facing challenges in representing Indigenous Australians due to cultural protocols, Ferguson's encounters led to significant insights and photographic opportunities.

Ferguson's attempts to document mining culture were met with resistance from large companies, prompting him to seek alternative photographic opportunities.

The project evolved beyond its initial focus on portraits, influenced by climate change and the pandemic, ultimately reflecting a broader narrative of the Australian interior.