AFTER more than 100 hours photographing kangaroos living on and around Percival Hill, Greg Stoodley learnt to tell them apart.
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Stumpy was missing the end of his tail, while a female with dark markings above her mouth looked like she was growing a magnificent moustache. Different adult males were missing parts of their ears and another of his subjects had only one eye.
Mr Stoodley's project resulted in more than 10,000 photos and the CIT student said the recent roo cull highlighted the tensions between nature and urban development in the bush capital.
''I love being up there and capturing them, but I sort of understand the purpose of what [the government] is doing and trying to achieve,'' he said.
This year's cull was delayed by legal action before the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled on Wednesday 1244 kangaroos could be shot by the end of July.
Mr Stoodley is pragmatic about the decision.
''I think it's more humane than letting them starve, which I understand is the reason for what they're doing.''
The 39-year-old has condensed his labour of love down to 25 shots. They include images of kangaroos beside roads, jumping fences and near residential areas.
''With kangaroos you see a lot of the picture-postcard images and you see them in a sanctuary or something, and I always found that pretty boring - it doesn't do them any justice. They are a unique and amazing animal and my intention was to show them that way.''
The keen wildlife photographer, who is in the first year of his studies, dreams of working for National Geographic.
''I'd usually go out in the morning or in the evening because the light's a bit better then … during the day it's hot and they are sleeping and not very active, but if you go at sunrise or sun-up you see a bit more interaction.''