WELCOME - PLEASE READ FIRST...

Nicole Boenig McGrade is a photographic artist with an appreciation for sophisticated art. Mastering the art of silver gelatin black and white photography, she works with her favourite tools: classic film cameras and grainy black and white film, printing photographs in the traditional darkroom.

If you want digital images, then Nicole is not the photographer for you. If you want heirlooms for your family, to pass one-off photographic pieces from generation to generation, and hang beautiful art on your walls, then...

Welcome, take a break and enjoy your visit to the GALLERIES. If you'd like Nicole to create unique, beautiful portraits for you, she can be contacted on her mobile phone 0417 189 169 or via the CONTACT page.

Note: This site is best viewed with a glass of wine and beautiful music.

MEET NICOLE

Nicole Boenig McGrade is an internationally acclaimed photographer with a unique artistic sensibility and a recognisable style of her own.  She has been celebrated for her ability to capture spontaneous, unmediated moments while creating beautiful compositions within the frame.  Her photographs bear witness to love, strength, laughter, wistfulness, beauty and all the meanings that lie hidden beneath the surface of everyday life.

She is unique among her contemporaries.  In a digital age, Nicole Boenig McGrade preserves the art of traditional film photography.  Inspired by the magic of the darkroom, developing her own film, she produces both luminous black and white silver gelatin photographs, which suit perfectly her natural, unmediated photographs.

Specialising in soulful black and white portraiture with a contemporary twist, Nicole's work has gained significant critical attention and acclaim, both in Australia and worldwide.  Her portraiture skills are highly sought after and her work is featured in international magazines including the UK Black & White Photography magazine and Photo Review Australia.

Born in Papua New Guinea and educated in Germany, Nicole currently lives in Perth, Western Australia.

"Photography is a private and personal journey.  It's an eclectic collection of passion, vision, self sacrifice, empathy and an undying determination.

- Nicole Boenig McGrade"

ARTIST BIO

1968-78 Papua New Guinea; 1978-85 Germany; 1985-86 Australia; 1986-88 Papua New Guinea; 1988-89 Australia; 1989-91 Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia; 1992 - today Australia

Born 1968 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, educated in Germany and today living in Australia. After school I travelled much, studied for a commercial pilots licence, travelled some more as a multi-lingual tour guide, worked in admin and advertising, for 7 years built and then sold a business, before finally taking the plunge and embracing photography on a full time professional level in 2004.

I applied three times (in three years) to study photography and was finally accepted on the third go. I wasted no time and poured many hours a day and night into studying art, art history and photography books, teaching myself as much as I could (still do) and in the meantime exposing many, many rolls of film.

From a very young age I always had a passion for visual arts, painted portraits (abstract in black and white) and so photography with black and white film seemed like a natural transition. I still enjoy painting but find it hard to find the time – for now.

There's no formula to my work. It may seem cliche but I always listen to my inner feelings when working. There is no set rule. I remember being told once that you have to have a certain amount of safe shots and the remainder can be a few "artistic" shots. I find the opposite works best for me. Life is always unpredictable and therefore I'm guided by the people that I photograph and the emotions and elements on the day.

I always photographed with film cameras. In 2003 I became very excited when I bought my first digital camera. The adrenalin rush lasted about 6 months, until I realised I'd lost my passion for photography. Too much time in front of a computer screen, instead of behind the camera. So I re-opened the darkroom and the digital cameras became paperweights.

Passionately, I work exclusively with film. In the constant persuit of a paperless office, scanning negatives is a part of my work I don't enjoy as much, but there's a monotony that comes with every profession and I accept that. Most of my photographs are created with medium format cameras. My camera bag contains rangefinders, 35mm, medium format and large format cameras. My lighting kit consists of natural light, a scrim, blu-tack, gaffa tape and a small reflector. Every photographer chooses their camera and lighting tools, like a painter chooses their mediums.

There are many photographers who's work I enjoy. I don't know if or how they influence me. I guess that's more visible to an outsider than to myself. I admire the work of photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Sally Mann, Robert Doisneau and my dear friends in film Carla Coulson and Suzanne Revy. I have many wonderful art, art history and photography books that weigh down my book shelves.

I don’t concentrate on “bodies of work”, as I find they all inter-connect one way or another. Choosing work for an exhibition is tough. It feels as though I’m tearing apart a never-ending love story.

Portraiture is all about the people I photograph. I'm an observer and a director, but when the shutter goes down it's all about them, not me. I like to learn about the people I photograph; their lives, loves, trials and tribulations. This takes time and can’t be achieved in just an hour. I like to spend a few hours, sometimes days with the people I photograph, depending on the extent of the assignment.

When buying my first digital camera back in 2003 I was told by a male colleague, that women will never make good photographers, as we are too emotional. This is ironic. Emotion, sensitivity, empathy... are some of the key ingredients to becoming a successful portrait photographer.

It's easy to become distracted and I work hard to remain true to myself, my goals. Being the best I can be as a fine art portrait photographer.

There is no set project on the board. I have many dreams - and hope in years to come they will make sense.

Nicole Boenig McGrade

P.O. Box 2240, Churchlands 6018, West Australia | 0417 189 169