One of Australia’s finest landscape photographers Tony Hewitt was last year named 2013 AIPP Professional Photographer of the Year. He talks to Marc Gafen about his unique approach to photography and his ongoing quest for improvement.
Despite a highly successful career spanning more than 25 years, Tony Hewitt isn’t one of those people who grew up always wanting to be a professional photographer. With an aptitude for maths and science at school Hewitt went on to study physics at university.
It wasn’t until he was in his mid-twenties that he actually seriously considered the idea of photography as a career. Although he’d been a keen amateur shooter as a teenager, it was a chance meeting with the photographer at his sister’s wedding – who would later become his wife – that really set things in motion. Somehow he caught the bug and before long was training on the job, assisting his wife-to-be and her sister, also a photographer, at weddings.
Through the course of his career Hewitt has dabbled in a variety of genres from portraits and wedding to fine-art photography, but it’s his landscape photography that he is best known for these days. Nevertheless, his career to date includes over 980 weddings and more than 3,000 portrait sittings. In 2013 he was named the Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year. No stranger to awards, in the same year he was awarded New Zealand Overseas Photographer of the Year, the Australian Landscape Photographer of the Year and the Western Australian Landscape Photographer of the Year. Hewitt also regularly exhibits both in Australia and overseas, and because of his breadth and depth of photographic experience and knowledge, he is frequently invited to critique and judge competitions. 
Aerial photo, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Featured in the exhibition 2016 – Inscription, part of the 2016 ND5 Shark Bay Project. Phase One IQ180, 80mm lens, 1/1000s @ f/5, ISO 100. Raw processing in Capture One 7. Curves, levels, saturation and sharpening in Photoshop CS6.
Learning the craft
In the early years Hewitt shot predominantly weddings and portraits. The former, he says, proved tremendously useful while he was building his skills and confidence and developing his business. “Shooting weddings early in my career was one of the best things I did,” Hewitt admits. “It helped me hone my skills in ways that other genres would not have been able to do. Because of the diversity required to cover weddings, I was able to focus on everything from fashion to documentary photography, portrait to still lifes, and landscape to event photography. It really helped me build a very secure foundation of knowledge and skills,” he says.
While sharpening his skills and learning on the job, Hewitt says that mentors also played a particularly significant role in his formative years. He relied on numerous mentors, including a number of photographers he met though the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) such as David Oliver and Geoff Fisher, among others. Hewitt gained valuable knowledge and insights from them, covering the workings of the industry, photographic techniques, how to approach and work with various subjects, through to the all-important business aspects of being a successful photographer, including marketing, the fundamentals of running a business, client service and pricing. From early in his career, Hewitt understood that while shooting great images was crucial, to survive and thrive as a professional photographer he had to ensure his business acumen was up to standard. From all the mentors who assisted him on his early journey, probably the most important lesson he learned was the value of consistency in service and quality, and to continually try to stay ahead of the game.
One lesson Hewitt learnt early on was that “future business is built on the foundation of current relationships”. The importance of relationships was most likely also learned through other interests, including leadership roles in sport and other activities. To that end, regardless of what he was shooting, or for whom, he always made sure that not only was he producing the best possible work for his clients, but equally importantly, they received the very best service. Other fundamental lessons Hewitt learned included always making sure that you cover the basics before trying to be innovative. In other words, give the client what they expect and then give them something extra.
Early influences while Hewitt was building his career included his wife, Lynette, her sister, Janet Craig, and other members of the family who were professional photographers. As he moved his focus to genres other than weddings, other significant and influential photographers for him included Peter Eastway, Tim Griffith, David Oliver, Peter Rossi and Charmaine Heyer.
Storm clouds part to allow a sliver of light to shine through and light up the crystal clear waters of the southern Western Australian coast. Canon EOS 5D Mk II, 35mm lens, 1/125s @ f/8, ISO 100. Raw processing in Capture One 5. Curves, levels, saturation and sharpening in Photoshop CS5.
The value of awards
To date Hewitt has won a staggering 150 plus photographic awards at state, national and international competitions. His most recent major win came when he was named Australian Professional Photographer of the Year at the 2013 APPAs for a stunning series of aerial landscapes shot in Western Australia. Awards have always played an important role in Hewitt’s professional practice. He first started entering them in 1990 and his first major win was just a year later. That win was important for him because it gave him confidence and belief in his abilities and creative ideas. These days, his motivation for entering competitions has changed somewhat, but the thrill of being recognised by his peers is still just as important as ever. With so many prestigious awards now under his belt, there aren’t many more for Hewitt to add to his collection.
“At this point in my career,” Hewitt says, “what’s really important is to not only win industry respect, but also the satisfaction of fulfilling my potential.” For Hewitt, this means exploring different forms of personal photographic expression and continuing to challenge himself in different areas of the industry.
If you want to get a sense of just how accomplished someone is and what they’ve achieved in their careers, one of the best places to look is right after their name, and Hewitt has more letters after his name than you can poke a stick at! He is one of only a handful of professional photographers in Australia to have been named a Grand Master of Photography by the AIPP. He received this recognition in 2009. For his service to the industry, he was made an honorary fellow of not only the AIPP, but the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP) as well. And in 2007 Hewitt received the President’s Award from the NZIPP for services to New Zealand photography.
While 2013 was a particularly successful year for Hewitt in terms of the awards and accolades, looking back at almost any year that he’s been a professional photographer will reveal a number of important awards from the APPAs, WPPI, Epson International Landscape Awards, Creative Asia Awards and Aperture Awards.
Taken as part of a current personal project titled ‘Coast’, which includes images from the coastline and surrounding areas of Perth. Phase One IQ180, 80mm lens, 1/1600s @ f/4.5, ISO 100. Raw processing in Capture One 7. Curves, levels, saturation and sharpening in Photoshop CS6.
Personal projects
Hewitt says an important part of his development as a photographer, both professionally and creatively, has been his willingness to pursue personal projects. In his enviable career he has exhibited, either solo or in a group, in more than 30 exhibitions including 52 Weeks On – the Pilbara Project, and Southwest Light. Of late, Hewitt’s most significant projects have included his participation in the ND5 initiative, 2016 – Inscription, which was shot in Shark Bay and his 3:2:1 series which focused on a range of concrete structures and was exhibited at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in 2013.
Next year is likely to be his biggest and boldest project to date. It will be a collaborative exercise undertaken with the ND 5 group, of which Hewitt is a member, along with Christian Fletcher, Peter Eastway, Dr. Les Walkling and Michael Fletcher. It will centre on the context of the 400-year anniversary celebrations of the first recorded European landings on Australian soil at Dirk Hartog Island in Shark Bay, Western Australia. These projects serve as satisfying personal journeys for Hewitt. And always keen for a new direction and approach, aerial landscapes have also offered him a fresh perspective. 
Shark Bay, Western Australia. From the exhibition 2016 – Inscription. Phase One IQ180, 80mm lens, 1/10s @ f/11, ISO 35, tripod. Raw processing in Capture One 7. Curves, levels, saturation and sharpening in Photoshop CS6.
Sharing knowledge
These days Hewitt’s time is split 75/25 between shooting commissions (portraits, commercial work and art projects) and public-speaking engagements, mentoring though workshops, and giving keynote lectures. A teacher by nature, Hewitt says that he has always had an interest in sharing his knowledge and experience and, most importantly, inspiring others to pursue their own dreams. Hewitt’s workshops and seminars are aimed at both working professionals and enthusiasts, and they range from guided photographic tours to subjects as diverse as vision, creativity, communication and photofinishing. As well, he is regularly invited to speak at major gatherings, including the annual Nikon AIPP Event and WPPI in Las Vegas. Not one to shy away from the spotlight, Hewitt’s also been called upon to be the Master of Ceremonies at the annual awards dinner for the Australian Professional Photography Awards every year from 2002 as well as the Master of Ceremonies for The Nikon AIPP Event from its inception in 2010.
Rather than simply focus on the mechanical and technical aspects of photography, going far beyond shutter speeds and white balance, and right to the heart of photography, Hewitt’s approach is considerably broader and takes a far more holistic approach. In Western Australia he runs a variety of masterclass programs including Evolution of the Photographer, which is presented with Denis Glennon AO, and focuses on the passionate intent and creative vision of the photographers. “The masterclasses address the growth of the photographer in terms of their mindset, the skills of the photographer, and the presentation of the image,” Hewitt says. “Much of the content is focussed on the ‘journey of capture’, the ‘decisive moment’ and the ‘journey of expression’, while at the same time endeavouring to inspire an appreciation of the subtler aspects of fine photography.” Hewitt says that if he’s able to help others make images that speak, tell stories and inform the mind and move the heart, then he feels he has succeeded in his overriding intention as an educator.
Aerial photo, Shark Bay, Western Australia. From the exhibition 2016 – Inscription. Phase One IQ180, 80mm lens, 1/1250s @ f/5, ISO 100. Raw processing in Capture One 7. Curves, levels, saturation and sharpening in Photoshop CS6.
Philosophy and style
With images that are clean, simple, pure and detailed – as Hewitt describes them – the general philosophy that relates to all he shoots is to “look for the simple in the complicated. It’s important to always enjoy building layers of meaning within the image to allow the viewer the joys of further discovery after they have seen the obvious,” he says. His images rely on strong, simple compositions, frequently using the square format, and they are almost always highly graphic. Hewitt says that the images which best reflect his style and signature are varied and include his 3:2:1 series, the Shark Bay aerials, his fine-art portraits and geometrically-balanced images. Working across various photographic genres, Hewitt has developed and refined his style for each one. With his landscape work, the approach focuses on simple composition and the graphic elements. However, when shooting portraits, the focus shifts to simple backgrounds and ensuring a strong connection between subject and viewer. These portraits often tend to present the subject within the context of their environment, as opposed to working in the often bland setting of a studio.
So what makes for a great image? In Hewitt’s view it’s one that connects, whether through symbolism, emotional content, or ‘beauty’ – a somewhat mysterious and diverse element. And the “perfect” landscape is one that takes you there, either in what it would be like to witness the location or ‘feel’ the ambience. With someone who has won as many awards as he has, Hewitt still feels that a specific formula for an award-winning image is elusive. “It needs to connect quickly and at the same time linger in the mind of the viewer or judge,” he says. “Great imagery can be subjective and new ideas sometimes arrive before their time.”
Aerial photo, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Featured in the exhibition 2016 – Inscription, part of the 2016 ND5 Shark Bay Project. Phase One IQ180, 80mm lens, 1/1000s @ f/5, ISO 100. Raw processing in Capture One 7. Curves, levels, saturation and sharpening in Photoshop CS6.
What’s in the bag?
Hewitt shoots on a variety of different formats, depending on what an assignment requires. His medium-format kit includes an 80-megapixel Phase One IQ180 with a range of lenses, while his 35mm kit comprises Nikon’s D4, D3, D800E and D700 with lenses covering 14mm to 200mm. When he’s shooting portraits, Hewitt’s favourite combination is the Nikon D4 with the Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens or the 70-200mm. When shooting editorial and corporate assignments, you’ll most likely find him using the Nikon D800E and 14-24mm f/2.8 or 24-70mm f/2.8. His iconic landscapes, on the other hand, are captured with the Phase One IQ180 with a 28mm Schneider lens and 80mm for aerials. For a bit of fun, he also dabbles with a GoPro and Nikon AW and J1.
Top tips
From the perspective of both an educator and someone who has honed their skills shooting film, Hewitt knows that the digital medium and its ability to provide instant feedback to those wanting to improve their skills is one of its most important benefits. But learning in a vacuum is not ideal, and he recommends attending critique sessions like the APPAs, continually seeking opportunities to mix with other professionals through organisations such as the AIPP, and being prepared to accept any perceived criticism simply as feedback. Along with this comes the need to practice continually. Equally important, Hewitt believes, is the necessity to trust your visual instincts and know the capabilities of your gear. If you want to develop your own signature photographic style, the best thing you can do, as far as he’s concerned, is to always follow your inner visual instincts. “And never forget the importance of vision,” he says, reminding us of the Jonathan Swift quote: “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”
An early morning mist over Lake Beedalup in South West WA. Nikon D3X, 24-70mm lens @ 60mm, 1/10s @ f/8, ISO 200, tripod. Curves, levels, saturation and sharpening in Photoshop CS6.
www.tonyhewitt.com