Ollie T Cool
Photography as Art
If you were to ask what our family's art form was, I would say for Ollie Cool - photography. My grandfather and father were enthusiastic photographers. Two of my brothers took up photography. So not surprisingly after a 21-year corporate career in the USA, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, I went to London to study photography at Cavendish College, graduating with distinction.
Following my return home, I spent the next 20+ years trying to master the art form technically and develop my eye conceptually. Those beginnings started out as a landscape photographer, moving into the studio to capture ice, smoke, water and dead birds and bugs. I worked very hard on my photography and loved learning the technical aspects of cracking a hard shot. Some would say obsessively at times. I have successfully exhibited and won a couple of awards, which was pretty cool.
Ollie T Cool is my style.
I try not to pigeonhole myself as an artist, labels don’t really work for me and who wants to be a one-trick pony anyway... These days I happily shoot for fun, with no expectations and no responsibilities. The beauty of being 'on country', weird stuff, textures, ice which I love working with - whatever captures my eye. Some days I don’t shoot at all but play, making shark leather, building and repairing in wood - whatever the day brings.
Blessed to have the support of my gorgeous wife, and family - a very clever older brother who made this website for me, amazing friends and a naughty puppy.
Ollie T Cool - Sharing and Copyright
I hope you like the images. If you have any questions about how they were taken or are interested in purchasing images – simply contact me via the contact page.
If you want to 'right click' and steal go ahead. Happy for people to be just viewing and enjoying my work. If it is for you - great. If it is for commercial purposes - flick us a few bucks, please. Contact via ...the contact page.
Images here today may not be here tomorrow and tomorrow may bring images that are not here today.
©As a matter of professional courtesy, all the images are copyrighted and I retain all rights to them.
Thank you for visiting my website.
2019 Perspectives, Collaborative Timeless Textiles
2017 Finalist, Landscape Section ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year
2017 Broken, Encaustic Works, Fairbanks Eye Gallery, Ballarat
2016 Frozen Flight, Encaustic Works, collaborative Gold Street Studios
2015 Wintermind, Ballarat Biennale - Fringe
2012 Red, Collaborative Exhibition, Alley Gallery, Ulladulla
2012 Dark Places Full of Light, with Gelense Keavney, Shoalhaven Arts Center.
2012 Summer on the Coast, Collaborative Exhibition, Alley Gallery Ulladulla
2011 Finalist 2011 Eureka Science Prize
2011 Shoalhaven Open Art Prize - Best Photograph
2011 Ulladulla Camera Club - Open Winner
2011 Manuka Access Gallery Canberra, Members Show
2011 Black and White Collaborative Exhibition, Alley Gallery, Ulladulla
2010 Ulladulla Camera Club – Photographer of the Year, Professional Division
2010 EscapeArtfest 8 x 8 Competiton - Overall Winner
2010 EscapeArtfest Shoalhaven Open Art Prize - Commended
2009 Ulladulla Camera Club – Photographer of the Year, Professional Division
2009 Above Below and Beyond, Riversdale 7 exhibition Cupitts Winery Artfest
2009 “Healthy Aging” Exhibition, Collaborative.
2008 Winner “Our Impact” Section of ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year
2008 EscapeArtfest Shoalhaven Open Art Prize - Best Photographic Entry
2005 From Source to Sea – Riversdale7 Exhibition in Kiama
2004 Highly Commended Merrogal Women’s Art Prize
2004 Remains of the Day – Riversdale7 Exhibition in Kiama