Observing and interpreting life via the camera lens or the pen has been a preoccupation of visual artist Tony Lopes for more than two decades.

His keen observational skills are evident whether creating his distinctive fine art landscape photographs or producing images for commercial clients or magazines. They are also the driving force behind his popular comic strip Insanity Streak, through which he has illuminated the funny side of life for more than 15 years.

Born in 1975, Tony’s first experience with a camera was as an 18-year-old fine arts student, when he learnt the traditional darkroom techniques of film developing and printing. This formed the foundation of his understanding of light and composition.

Tony honed his skills as a wedding photographer for leading Sydney portrait studios, Divinity and Photografos, and later started his own photographic business. Since 2007, he has photographed many of Australia’s leading visual artists for Artist Profile magazine.

His passion for landscape photography gained momentum when he bought a house on the NSW South Coast. This beautiful coastal setting provides the subject matter for much of his fine art photographs, including many he supplies to one of Australia’s largest publishers and distributors of greeting cards and calendars, For Arts Sake.

Tony’s passion for photography is as strong today as it was when he saw his first image come to life in the developing tray at art school. Now, however, he has embraced the possibilities of digital technology.

“One of the thrills of working in photography is that each day is a new opportunity to learn,” Tony says. “I never stop trying to improve and learn as an artist. It’s a privilege to do what you love every day.”