The Night Patrol series formed in 2016, as part of the photographer’s practice-led research. Aiming to deepen his understanding of the factors leading people into Darwin’s long grass, Walton-Healey partnered with Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation, accompanying several members of the Night Patrol Team on their evening patrols.

In emphasising the diversity and complexity of these push-and-pull factors, the patrollers inspired an approach extending beyond detached observation. The willingness and need of the photographer to divert focus away from the people who use the patrol service enabled a more evocative capture. The resultant nightscapes convey a sense of the tension and anxiety associated with this urban landscape.