Photography is a skill that many people think they are good at, thanks to high-tech cameras and good-quality smartphones. However, Melbourne-based artist Tom Blachford is a reminder that being a good photographer is a unique talent that only a few lucky ones possess.
Who is Tom Blachford?
Tom Blachford was born in 1987 in sunny Australia and over the last nearly 40 years, has made a name for himself as one of the country’s best architectural and fine art photographers.
When he was 24, Tom had his first solo exhibition, showcasing at Port Melbourne Gallery in Australia.
By his late 20s, he had already been drumming up interest from the industry. Not only had he been featured in publications, he had also been shortlisted for the Royal Photographic Society International Photography Awards.
He hosted his first art fair at KrunstRAI in The Netherlands in 2017, and saw his work take off in Europe over the next few years.
Blachford also found interest in the USA and Canada, showcasing at art fairs in Miami and Montreal, as well as the UK, Germany, and Switzerland.
He has continued to display and sell his work in publications, at art fairs, in group shows and in solo exhibitions over the last 14 years throughout Europe, North America, the UK and Australia.
Tom was also a member of the Powerhouse Museum Photography Advisory Board between 2022 and 2024.
Tom Blachford’s style of photography
Fine art photography
Tom Blachford is famous for doing both fine art photography and commercial pieces. His fine art work uses existing light sources, including the moon and street lights.
He focuses on modern architecture and makes the images appear cinematic through long exposure. This creates “a sense of mystery, unease and wonder”, with Blachford aiming to evoke imagination and a sense of darkness with each picture.
“Captivated by architecture, not only for its sculptural forms, Blachford’s images of homes, towns and suburbs act as the the stage for unwritten narratives that implore the viewer to script their own drama happening behind the walls of each scene,” his website reads.
Commissioned and commercial work
Tom also works with some of the best architects to create tantalising photographs of the impressive structures.
His portfolio of work includes residential, retail, hospitality, industrial and office buildings, with his images being used as part of campaigns.
The photographer is able to showcase the design’s space, texture and artistic quality in his photographs, enabling the designer to make their work look as appealing as possible.
Among his architectural and design clients are Arts Center Melbourne, Flack Studio, The Local Project, Carr Design and BKK.
What are Tom Blachford’s best pieces of art?
With a portfolio that spans 15 years, it is hard to pick the best of Tom Blachford’s work.
His photos of urban landscapes are among the most captivating, taking images of different architectural styles at night and using preexisting light sources to create the perfect balance of light and shadow.
Blachford is known to look for new locations on Google Maps so he can determine where is best for his next shoot, depending on the style of the properties in the area and the light placements already there.
By choosing the right area with the optimum light, he is able to create different moods with his images.
As Artsy describes, his “body of work at times evokes a sense of mystery, foreboding and wonder”.
Tom’s personal photographs are also some of his best, from his glaciers to his Bolivian salt flats; his mesmerising, misty forests to moody Icelandic landscapes.
Latest series of work
Blachford has recently launched his latest series of work called Jetsetting Through The Uncanny Valley: The Golden Age.
This AI series depicts photography styles of the ‘70s and ‘80s, while also leaning into the uncanny valley, which was a term introduced by robotics professor Masahiro Mori.
This is the unsettling feeling we get when something fake is almost human life, but it does not feel right and it makes us feel uncomfortable.
Tom says his latest series creates a “tension between perfect and unease”, as it is tinged in a golden light but also feels imperfect.
One of the pictures is of a woman cuddling up to a male lion, emphasising the danger in the closeness between the two. The soft focus, bright blue sky and golden hue makes the image look innocent and dangerous at the same time.
If you’ve got one of Tom Blachford’s iconic designs that you want to put up on your wall, head to our framing shop in East London for the best frame to highlight the photographer’s beautiful work.