Dreamer Nush Freedman is a West Australian‑based underwater cinematographer, photographer and producer whose creative lens is inextricably linked to her love of the state’s ocean and wilderness.
Hailing from the Ningaloo/Exmouth region in WA, Nush has spent much of her life immersed in the sea or out on the rugged coast - a connection she says defines her approach to storytelling.
Over the past decade she’s worn many hats: from natural‑history camerawork, freediving and boat‑skippering to production roles on major documentaries including Shipwreck Hunters Australia for Disney + where she explores the wild shipwreck‑strewn coastline of WA.
Her mission goes beyond capturing beauty: she uses her work to shine a light on the fragility of marine ecosystems and inspire protection of WA’s blue frontier.
With a deep‑rooted passion for her home state, Nush ensures each frame reflects the wild spirit of Western Australia - inviting viewers to fall in love with its landscapes and oceans, and ultimately stand up for them.
Q & A
Where did your passion for nature and wildlife come from? I've always been really inspired by animals and one of my favourite things is to sit in an environment and just watch what an animal's doing, look at behaviour… I've just always been really obsessed with it. Those moments make you stop and take in what you're looking at and be present. I can't really explain the love that I have for nature and wildlife. It's just always been there. It’s a curiosity I'll never get rid of!
What first drew you to the waters? I have always felt really connected to the ocean in Western Australia, and I think that's because you can just literally step off the beach and you're right amongst incredible wildlife. Western Australia has some of the most incredible coastlines on Earth. It's wild, it's unique, it's wacky - from all creatures, from great to small. Whether you're with the beautiful tiny fish on a coral reef or the majestic giants, the whale sharks at Ningaloo. It's just an incredible place that you can get so close to nature.
The first time I saw a manta ray, I literally swam off the beach and was greeted by this beautiful, graceful giant of the ocean. Manta rays are one of the smartest creatures in the ocean - they’ve got the biggest brain-to-body ratio of any fish, so you really feel a connection when you swim with them… seeing these graceful, beautiful animals dance in the water.
What makes our nature in Western Australia so dreamy? Every time I get in the water in Western Australia, it gives me goose bumps, because you never know what you're going to see - that’s what is so special about it. Every day is a huge surprise. When you're looking at the coral reefs, whether it's a tiny little fish or a gentle giant like a humpback whale or whale shark, it's unlike anywhere else, and we're so lucky to have the biodiversity of marine life here.
Not only do we have incredible wildlife in the sea, but also on land. We've got forest, bushland, desert where you see iconic Australian animals. Some of my favourites are kangaroos and thorny devils on the Coral Coast. I also love being in the southwest in the forest and seeing black cockatoos and possums - wildlife is everywhere.
How does your passion for nature and history inspire your travels? WA is full of surprises. You never know what the next discovery is - whether it's wildlife, shipwrecks, or a remote place in the bush. It really gets deep within your soul.
In WA, we have incredible maritime history. We have the Shipwreck Coast, the Treasure Coast- it’s wild and rugged. You can stand on a beach and just look out and not see anyone - where else in the world can you really do that? That's the incredible part of WA.
Shipwrecks are like wildlife magnets. Diving beneath the surface, you're surprised by unique animals and history together. It’s magical.
What is your favourite hidden gem? There are so many coastal hidden gems in WA, but Dirk Hartog Island is one of my favourites because of the incredible marine life. The island is beautiful, with hidden bays, coves, sandy beaches, blowholes, and a wild side. Migrating animals like humpback whales pass by. It is so worth a visit.
What does Walking on a Dream mean to you? WA is the biggest way to describe a dream for a nature lover and conservationist. You’ve got everything from quokkas of Rottnest Island to whale sharks. Throughout WA it changes from the southern coast to the north. We’re so lucky to have unique environments - bush, rivers, forests, coastline, coral reefs. I feel strongly about protecting all these wild places for the future.
What is a dreamer? A dreamer is someone who goes in search of awe, and in WA, we have so many places and moments that bring awe - sunsets over the coastline, swimming with gentle giants, visiting quokkas at Rottnest Island. WA is full of magic and awe - it makes you stop and take it in and slows time down.
Your thoughts on your fellow dreamers? What a bunch of larrikins! It's amazing to be surrounded by my fellow Dreamers. I feel grateful to meet people from all over WA, from different walks of life. They’re an epic group inspiring people to showcase the incredible place we live.
