Artist Profile: Who is Paul Foley?

Paul Foley is an Australian fine art and landscape photographer based in Newcastle, New South Wales.

He has more than 50 years of photographic experience and spent 35 years working professionally as a commercial photographer. His current practice is centred on fine art photography, with work spanning Australian landscapes, seascapes, ocean pools, abstraction, long-exposure photography and the human form.

Location

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Newcastle and the surrounding NSW coastline are important locations within Paul's photographic practice, particularly in his photographs of Merewether Ocean Baths, Newcastle beaches and the Australian coast.

His photography also extends to locations throughout Australia and internationally.

Photographic Style

Paul Foley's photography is characterised by an interest in:

Light and atmosphere | Long exposure | Movement and time | Australian landscapes | Coastal environments | Water and reflections | Abstraction | Minimalism | Black and white photography | The human form

His work often transforms recognisable places and subjects into simplified or abstract photographic compositions.

Major Photographic Collections

Night Surf: Night Surf is a series of panoramic photographs made at Merewether Ocean Baths in Newcastle, NSW. Long exposures capture powerful surf, artificial pool lighting and movement, transforming the familiar ocean pool into an abstract landscape.

Ocean Pools:This collection explores Australia's ocean pools and their relationship with the sea, coastline, architecture and changing light.

Australian Landscapes: A broad collection exploring the Australian landscape, including coastal environments, forests, rivers, mountains and landscapes affected by natural change.

Shoreline & Wetland: Photographs exploring Australia's beaches, wetlands, rock platforms, water and coastal environments.

Liquid Light: An abstract photographic series created through long exposures and deliberate camera movement. Water, rock, vegetation and light are transformed into flowing abstract forms.

Body: A collection of fine art photographs exploring the human body through shape, gesture, shadow, light and abstraction.