Renée Campbell

Australian Photographer

Renée Campbell first picked up a camera straight out of high school and found herself drawn to macro photography.

“I’ve always focused on detail and love flowers and getting up close,” she says. “Every flower is a different world and each flower has an individuality.”

She honed her craft by collaborating with Sydney-based photographers and got experience in the technical aspects by working in a studio.

From 2000 to 2002 Renée took part in several solo and group exhibitions.

In 2002 Renée was part of a group exhibition at the Australian Centre for Photography, Momento Flori. Her colourful, eye-catching pieces, which convey a variety of textures, tones and emotions, were chosen for an exhibition of emerging artists at Sothebys.com and the Australian Consulate General in New York City. That led to Renée signing with a Manhattan-based agent and having her own solo exhibition in downtown SoHo.

Just as she was on the precipice of bigger things, Renée found herself putting her work to one side as she battled debilitating chronic migraines and focused on raising a family.

Now, after a 15-year break, the Sydney-based artist has picked up her camera again with renewed passion. Her photos convey different things to different people but for Renée, there is one common theme in all of her work: “I like creating a sense of calm in each photo.”

“Flowers make me happy! My work is a meditative search for beauty in the macro world of flowers. I focus in on each blossom or leaf until I find the points of distinction, where a balance between form, colour, light and detail bring a sense of calm.”

— RENÉE CAMPBELL