About

At age 13, Sydney-based photographer Denise Pope was given a copy of The Family of Man, a book depicting the photographic exhibition of the same name created for MoMA in 1955 celebrating “the universal aspects of human experience”. It was a defining moment that sparked a lifelong passion for black and white photography.

In the ensuing decades, life took over, and Denise’s love of photography took a back seat to commercial success as a graphic designer then art director. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

A challenging journey of self-discovery soon unfolded, with help from dear friends and a great mentor who encouraged Denise to buy the best equipment she could afford, and start taking pictures. Initially pursuing nature photography, her mentor then challenged her to shoot portraits, saying it would “make parts of her joyful that had never been joyful before”.

With a medium format camera in hand, Denise took the plunge and hasn’t looked back, developing her gift for working with the magic of natural light to capture the intrinsic nature of her subjects. 

It’s never easy being photographed. The moments captured can often reveal truths far greater than anticipated. Black and white photography invites silent conversations with the subjects, the absence of colour prompting the viewer to spend more time exploring the hidden details contained within each image. We scan the photograph for details and gather stories from their eyes, the folds in their faces, and the details in the light and the shadows.

Reconnecting with the magic of black and white photography has been nothing short of transformational for Denise. Her camera is a lifeline that has allowed her to capture the contrasts in humanity, and in the process, discover more of herself.