LOCAL landscape photographer Mieke Boynton has captured the imagination of viewers and peers with her new photographic artwork 'Ocean Deity'.
The aerial photograph, taken during a chartered light plane flight over the waters of Gutharraguda/Shark Bay in Western Australia, seems to depict the face and hand of a beautiful woman.
Mieke's photo achieved the highest scoring in–camera landscape photo at New Zealand's Iris Awards earlier this year, and it was part of the portfolio that earned her the coveted title of 2022 Australian In–Camera Landscape Photographer of the Year.
More recently it won the "Abstract and Details" section of the prestigious Natural Landscape Photography Awards.
Mieke's abstract aerials are achieved by chartering planes and helicopters rather than using a drone.
The straight–down perspective is achieved in collaboration with an experienced pilot, who will manoeuvre the aircraft at the instruction of the photographer.
For Mieke, it's the perfect balance of art and adrenaline.
"Flying through the air at around 1500 feet above the earth, it's as though time is suspended," she said.
"I am usually so absorbed in the process of identifying, composing, and capturing images that I completely lose track of time.
"It is a 'flow state' where the creative process is so absorbing that everything else fades into nothingness."
Recognition as a category winner in the Natural Landscape Photography Awards is particularly special.
The competition seeks to reward authentic landscape photography, and entries are verified against the original unedited photographs.
In 2022, the fast–growing competition received over 10,000 entries worldwide.
'Ocean Deity' is one of several abstract aerial photographs on display at Alpine Light Gallery on Gavan Street in Bright which is owned and operated by Mieke together with her partner, documentary and landscape photographer Matt Palmer.
The gallery celebrates their mutual love of the Victorian Alpine region and showcases spectacular landscapes from their travels all over the world.
Works are regularly changed, and a variety of wall art options are available including fine art prints, large float–framed canvases, ultra–modern aluminium prints and the gallery also contains a range of smaller gift ideas.
Alpine Light Photographic Art Gallery is open every day except Monday from 10am to 4pm at 102A Gavan Street, opposite the Alpine Shire Visitor Information Centre and Bright Brewery.
