Diana Fernie
Artworks available
About Diana Fernie
Diana was born in England and left for Indonesia when she was 6 months old. This start in life sparked a globetrotting passion and over the years she has lived and worked in Europe, Russia, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Now settled in Adelaide, South Australia, that passion is still strong and is now focused on diving and photographing some of the world’s exotic locations, both domestic and overseas. Diana is a professional diver and former PADI Course Director, with a passion for underwater photography. In between dives, she enjoys spending time photographing local cultures and landscapes. Diana is a former member of the AIPP. She also holds Diploma in Photography and Photo Imaging and has held SA Nature Photographer of the Year and has many award winning images.
Water – being in it, around it, watching it – has comforted and inspired me since I was a child; as I grew from water baby to expert scuba diver and underwater photographer. The ocean and its wonders has imbued me with the imperative drive to capture and portray its beauty, to preserve memories of fleeting marvels and to display the unusual. As natural evolution demands I too have extended my photographic interests to the land and its inhabitants I delight in capturing fine detail and exploring the forms, shapes and colours seeking order in the chaos of nature. Exploring the micro facial expressions of sea creatures that are not visible to the naked eye and looking for stunning composition in wide angle ocean-scapes can be challenging, requiring both sides of the brain – the creative and technical. I like to photograph commonly found creatures and corals and apply a personal perspective.
I travel extensively to capture images above the waterline as well as below. For me, landscapes are the most challenging as I strive to portray something spectacular or unique. Patience pays off. My travel images reflect people, places, wildlife and mood. I have walked the streets of big cities both rich and poor and have put myself out of my comfort zone on many occasions but the people, the situations and the experiences are rewarding on many levels. And that is what I want to show – the beauty and wonder of life, the environment and sometimes the pain and destruction.
How long have you been a photographic artist, and what was the journey you took to get to where you are today?
My father bought me my first camera when I was about 10 years old – a Kodak Instamatic. He taught me about composition which included not chopping off peoples heads!
I have always regarded myself as a photographer although I put my camera down for many years.
My foray into underwater photography came a little by accident. I was a professional diver who was busy pursuing other diving interests when I found a camera in my hand one day. This inspired me to get to where I am today and now I only dive to take photos or to help and guide others photographically.
However, I did not consider my photography as art until I began study at CCP about 10 years ago and I’m not totally convinced that I ever have.
As part of Select 18, could you speak to your relationship with the printed photographic image, and the collaborative process you undertake when printing with David at Master of Prints?
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What do you see as the future of your photographic art, both within the Select 18 collective, and beyond?
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