Inside My Camera Bag | Arwen Dyer

My name is Arwen Dyer, I am a photographer and creative artist from Tasmania, Australia.

My love of landscape, macro, black and white, and astrological photography grew from a passion for being in nature.

My images portray emotional and spiritual responses to place and natural phenomena and invite the viewer to also respond. I hope my photos of unique and beautiful wilderness promote an awareness of the unique value of the natural world.

As well as nature photography, I am highly regarded for my wedding, event, corporate, portrait and product photography.

I completed a residency in Lofoten, Norway (supported by an Arts Tasmania grant) for my project ‘evanesce’, a reflection on climate change and its impacts.

I have been shortlisted for several international awards, including Astrophotographer of the Year 2016, and won People’s Choice, Runner Up and Honorable Mentions in various categories.

I have been an artist-in-residence in Karamea, New Zealand and an artist-in-residence on Flinders Island, Tasmania, which culminated in a book, Flinders Island, with fellow photographer Wolfgang Glowacki.

My first solo photography book, Luminosity – Star, Sky & Sea, was released in 2015. My photographs have been exhibited throughout Australia and in Milan.

I am a mum, have a Masters of Creative Arts Therapy and when not taking photographs I work in the health sector.

As a nature photographer, I have a fascination with places of wild natural beauty. I am deeply moved, both emotionally and spiritually, by these places: the mountains, rainforests, remote coastlines, expansive skies and tiny details speak to my inner world in ways I cannot describe.

This love of the natural world prompts in me an acute awareness of the impact human beings are having on it. From global warming to deforestation, mining, water pollution, over-fishing, poaching (the list goes on), witnessing the destruction of this planet and its ecosystems by humans evokes for me a whole mix of emotions: anger, despair, shame, sadness and a sense of disempowerment.

Hope comes from knowing that it is solely our responsibility to remedy the devastation we are causing.

My optimism has led to a passion for using my time and photographs for conservation purposes. While it is easy to feel overwhelmed by so many environmental issues demanding action, I am currently focusing on three areas of concern: campaigning to protect unique Tasmanian wilderness (including the Tarkine/takayne), the impact of climate change on the planet (including small islands) and on our emotional lives, and, general awareness-raising of the vulnerability and uniqueness of wilderness ecosystems around the world.

Gear
I have always used Canon equipment, having been first introduced to Canon by my mentor at the time.

I love my Canon 5D Mark III, it’s what I use most of the time, while my Canon 6D allows for backup and video.

My favourite lenses include: my Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro (macro has been something I have loved doing since the early days); my versatile Canon 24-70mm f/2.8; my Canon 16-35mm f/4 for landscapes and my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 for anything from portraits to nature shots.

I love my Sirui tripods and my Really Right Stuff tripod head is amazing!

I also can’t live without my Nisi filters (I use some Lee filters too) and my Canon intervalometer.

My head torch, down jacket and gloves are essential for astro!

My gear fits beautifully in an F-Stop backpack that was designed specifically for women and which I wear comfortably wherever I travel.

arwendyer.com | @arwendyer.photographer