Our favourite photographers come from different backgrounds, and are influenced by different things. Some are world-renowned, some are making their way to acclaim. Regardless of where they are in their careers, these photographers are some of our favourites right now...
Ken Duncan
Desert Showers, NT by Ken Duncan
If you know the name, it's probably because you've seen a Ken Duncan piece on the walls of a cafe, office, gallery or home.
Ken Duncan is one of Australia’s most well-known photographers. His panoramic photographs are a staple of Australian photography, featuring beautiful colours of the natural world and iconic landscapes.
From his humble beginnings in Mildura, Ken has helped promote photography as an art form in Australia. He's now so successful, he received the Medal of the Order Of Australia in 2009 for his services to landscape photography, publishing and the arts.
Although he is most famous for his panoramic landscapes (as he explains, "That's the way we see"), he has used different formats and has captured subjects from many different backgrounds.
Through his work he promotes environmental responsibility and reconciliation. He has lent his talents to many causes and founded the Walk-a-While project, which equips indigenous children to tell their stories through the creative arts.
Samantha Everton
Party Dress, Pigment ink on rag, by Samantha Everton
Samantha Everton grew up in a small town in Queensland but is now based in Melbourne. She has three adopted siblings from South East Asia.
Her multicultural family has influenced her work on themes of race and culture, as well as youth and innocence. She studied photography at RMIT and worked as a photojournalist. She also volunteered at photo studios before becoming a photographic artist.
She has won awards around the world. Her images have been featured in exhibitions, magazines (including Vogue and the New Yorker), the book cover for Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin, and even on the front of an award-winning apartment building in Abbotsford.
Julie Fletcher
Menindee Lake by Julie Fletcher
Julie Fletcher left the comfort of city life twelve years ago to travel to the outback. There, she began capturing the outback in all its brilliance.
From the white sand of Kangaroo Island to the red sand of the Northern Territory, the range of colours and landscapes in her photos are extraordinary.
She studied Commercial Photography for four years while working full-time in an office job. She went on to win the National Geographic Nature Competition in 2013.
She now teaches and runs photo tours, and is currently contributing to a chapter for the International Handbook of Women and Outdoor Learning.
Michael Cook
Detail of Mother (Pram), 2016, by Michael Cook
Michael Cook is an indigenous Australian photographic artist. He is from Queensland’s Bidjara people and was adopted as a baby by a white family. His family encouraged his exploration into his identity and heritage.
His work explores his ancestry, history and colonialism, as well as the inequality indigenous Australians still face. His photographic series often follow one particular theme or narrative. Some series are meant to be viewed almost continuously.
Michael had 25 years of experience in commercial photography, before he began to explore art photography. As you can see, his images are not only striking but interesting; you can get lost in the details!
Jackie Ranken
Aerial Abstract series by Jackie Ranken
We've interviewed Jackie Ranken before, so it’s no secret that she is one of our favourites. She received her Associate Degree in Fine Arts and has now been refining her photography skills for over 35 years.
She has developed her skills by over the years working as a darkroom technician, a freelance and sports photographer, a wedding photographer, and photojournalist.
Jackie won the AIPP ‘Photographer of the Year’ award, as well as the ‘Landscape Photographer of the Year’ three times over. She now presents workshops and is co-director of Queenstown Centre for Creative Photography in New Zealand.
We think you'll agree her passion shows in her beautiful landscapes and fine art photography. It’s no surprise she says that, for her, work is play!
If you have any favourites not mentioned above, please share them in the comments! And be sure to check out our online store for the equipment you need to propel yourself (hopefully!) to the level of these photographers extraordinaire.
