THE OTHER SIDE: Along exposure image of Tauranga Harbour.
THE OTHER SIDE: Along exposure image of Tauranga Harbour.
Paul Oellermann is a bit of an anarchist in the art world ... he doesn't follow the "rules" of photography.
The photographer makes sure people know the distinction between his art and other the work of other photographers - his is "photographic fine art".
"You get photojournalism and wildlife photographyand there tends to be these rules where there is no photo manipulation," Paul says. "But what I am doing generally is taking what comes from the camera and using it as a starting point for developing." This developing process can take hours.
Most of his images are preconceived - "where you have a vision of what you want to create" - and the process really takes hold when Paul starts manipulating the image. The main genres he works with are long exposure landscapes, infra-red, landscape and high speed liquid photography.
These are the genres he will showcase at Creative Tauranga Gallery on May 21 in first photographic exhibition, In a Different Light. "The concept behind it is to look at things that we see or have seen before in a different way, so the landscapes are all local in the Bay of Plenty and water drop collisions and crowns do happen in nature (albeit, not usually so colourful) but too fast or our eyes to see."
Paul, originally from South Africa, has worked as an engineering surveyor while dabbling in photography throughout his adult life. Work and photography often crossed over.
After a few hiccups though - like rupturing his Achilles tendon - Paul steered more towards part time work so he could concentrate on photography a little more. He gained a diploma through The Photography Institute (NZ). Now his photography is being purchased as fine art destined for walls across the country.
About 45 pieces of fine art photography will be on sale at Creative Tauranga Gallery. The opening night is on May 21 and runs until June 15.
