Rob Layton

I teach mobile journalism and smartphone photography at Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia. My work and industry engagement has earned me a global reputation as an authority in this field, as I train journalists and industry professionals in Australia, Europe, the UK and Asia in how to use their phones professionally for storytelling. I am regularly invited to run workshops and speak at international mobile journalism conferences (industry and academia).

I specialise in underwater iPhone photography and filmmaking, which are foundational to my PhD project. In that, I combine two of my greatest passions – photography and surfing – in a series of video documentaries about Gold Coast surf culture.

My work is showcased around the world and I am very fortunate to have forged good relationships with organisations and individuals who are global industry leaders, including Apple, Google, the BBC and Al Jazeera. I have been awarded more than 10 international awards for smartphone film creation and editing.