COVER ARTIST - Tamara Toon

BEHIND THE LENS

Photography is the art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them, ELLIOT ERWITT

Beaches COVERED. Cover Photographer, Tamara Toon, is a master of capturing the essence of local life. She expertly freezes moments of unadulterated fun and free abandon on the beaches, capturing the authenticity and vibrancy of our outdoor lifestyle.

For Northern Beaches Photographer, Tamara Toon, photography is all about finding joy in the ordinary and magic in the mundane. A group of friends enjoying a picnic at the beach, a surfer heading to the breaks, kids being kids – her images capture the everyday in a unique and candid style that has become synonymous with her brand.

Describing her work as salty, seaside, feel-good imagery, Tamara aspires to convey to the ‘joie de la vie’ of life.

“I want people who see my images to feel a sense of fun; to associate them with good times and happy memories of carefree summer days and childhoods spent by the sea,” Tamara explains. “I’ve always lived near the ocean, and for me, it’s my happy place, a place where I can re-set, unwind and just feel a sense of peace. I aspire to share this feeling with others through my work.”

Having started her career as a photojournalist, it was here she found her love of imagery and of being able to tell a story not only with words, but also pictures.

“I’ve worked for small country newspapers where everyone was everything, so you had to be both the wordsmith, photographer, editor, you name it.

“I think my current work really reflects my background in that I endeavour to see things in a completely different light to anyone else. I love being able to take a photo of a place or experience that perhaps has been photographed a hundred times before, but with a completely different spin, one unique to me,” says Tamara.

“Choice of equipment comes down to personal preference. My current kit consists of my workhorse Canon Mark IV with the EF 24-70mm f/2.8.

I’m really keen to get my hands on a drone this year to complement my kit. It’ll definitely give me an exciting new canvas to draw from.”

With her media and corporate communications background, Tamara also offers her unique spin on imagery to provide her business clients with every day, natural looking photography to highlight their products and businesses.

“Whether someone is looking to buy one of my images for their wall or hire me to provide photography for a business or product, my style is always the same. Candid, real-life, fly-on-the-wall imagery.”

“I also really love Slim Aarons’ vintage style of photography; therefore, people might get a sense of that when they look at my work. For me, the 50s, 60s and 70s were all about fun and freedom so it really gels with my style.” •

tam@tamaratoonphotography.comInsta @tamaratoon_photographytamaratoonphotography.com