A Life Spent Seeing Beauty All Around

The opportunity to just soak and capture beauty is like therapy for me. I love landscapes, especially if they have water involved.

Forty South magazine featured my nautical photography recently, and I realised again they are some of my best shots.

Tasmania has unique light conditions, cloud formations and an abundance of rivers, mountains, forests and lakes.

Almost everywhere I go there is something of beauty that is worth capturing.

Falling in Love with Photography

My love of photography started at 16 years old when I was an exchange student to New Zealand. Mum lent me her camera. After that I was hooked.

Photography and a Digital Workspace

My digital workspace is composed of a sit/stand desk with two 24 incl IPS monitors.

If I am processing a batch of landscape photos, an event or maybe a wedding, I can be glued to it for several hours at a time!

Mounting Artwork

When I print and mount my artwork, I have an A3+ photographic printer in my office and I then commandeer the family dining table (8×4 feet) to mount and frame my work.

I also have an old Epson 7880 printer and I hope to set up a home photographic studio with that printer in it.

Photography, Paper and Performance

I have taken to a bright white Illford photographic paper for landscapes that need the depth and contrast.

Most of my dog photography I use SIHL Masterclass Lustre for, which is a softer, creamier paper.

I also use textured and cotton rag papers when they present the subject well and offer canvas prints too.

Teaching Photography

I have taught photography locally and mentored internationally. I am hoping to schedule some workshops near Launceston to cover light, framing and composition because it opens people’s eyes so much and I love seeing their creative light go on!

Seeking to Understand

I like to get inside the head of my clients when engaging in a paid photo shoot.

Understanding what motivates them and how they will evaluate my artwork gives me clues as to the right approach.

Clients may ask for certain sizes or even sets of photographs, may have ideas about the medium to print on and many have framing concepts in their minds that can even inform how to shoot and process photos!

Constantly Learning From Others

An older professional photographer once encouraged me that an artistic career takes time to build.

A marketing lady once encouraged me to share regularly otherwise I can drop from people’s minds.

My friends and family have long encouraged me to push my skills and explore, which i am grateful for.

Practice is important, but so too is peer feedback. There’s nothing like kind words that direct and lift you through failures or difficult patches.

About the Artist

I’m a passionate landscape and floral photographer.

The opportunity to just soak and capture beauty is like therapy for me. I also enjoy teaching photography to small groups.  

I grew up near the beach and was always on or in the water. That love of water often comes out in many of the landscape photographs I take.

I like my images to appear attractive and natural. I like people to look at the light, the framing and perspective and say “Isn’t nature incredible!”.

Follow the Steve on Facebook for a healthy dose of photographic Tasmanian inspiration, and explore the Steve Barnes Photography website for all the details about his pet portraiture commissions, automotive gallery and wall art gallery.