Caption: An excerpt from one of the 4 images that won Andrew 2009 AIPP Australian Documentary Photographer of the Year and 2009 AIPP Queensland Professional Photographer of the Year

Andrew Porfyri always wanted to be a photographer. He loved looking through a camera lens and seeing beauty, art and form in the simplest of things. It was about capturing a moment in time, recording joy or despair in a single click and appreciating the world in all of its colours and differences.

Now, not only is Andrew Porfyri one of Brisbane’s most successful photographers, he has just taken out three prestigious titles including the 2009 AIPP Australian Documentary Photographer of the Year; the 2009 AIPP Queensland Professional Photographer of the Year; and the 2009 Recipient of the Mark Gowlett Memorial Award.

While Andrew is better known for his work in the portraiture, weddings, architecture, design and food presentation photographic areas, the shots which won him the AIPP awards are pure art. Stunning moments in time - all shot in New York, all featuring anonymous people and celebrating linear contrast and the human condition.

Andrew is set to showcase these prize-winning images and his own collection in an exhibition on Wednesday October 28 in his studios at Annerley. The exhibition will run through until November 13.

In another move reflecting his passion for the craft and his belief in nurturing the photographers of tomorrow, Andrew Porfryi Photography has announced a Porfyri Photography Student Development Scholarship to be granted through the South Bank Institute of TAFE.

“The Student Development Program is an initiative we have been talking about and wanting to do for a long time. It allows me to give back to the industry and to mentor the photographers of tomorrow - an opportunity I wish I had been given in my early development days,” said Andrew Porfyri.

Interestingly Andrew was actually one of the first students to enroll for the photography course at the South Bank Institute of TAFE when it initially began.

Two awards will be presented at the end of this year under the scholarship program - The Porfyri Photography South Bank Institute of TAFE First Year Encouragement Award, and The Porfyri Photography South Bank Institute of TAFE Graduate Body of Work Award. The scholarship program is an annual development award.

“One of the marquee pieces in the exhibition on October 20 will be a collector’s edition framed set of the four winning photographs from the 2009 AIPP Awards.” This original piece would look great in any setting from the board room to the comfort of your living space, creating a talking point and adding a quietly compelling beauty. “The collection of photographic works will sit as a silent auction for a short period of time and will generate welcome funds for the Student Development Program,” he said.

Andrew Porfryi Photography 2009 Exhibition

Opening Night ~ October 28, 2009 ~ 6pm to 9pm
Exhibition Open from October 21 to November 13
314 Ipswich Road, Annerley 4103

Andrew Porfryi – A Snapshot

Andrew Porfryi grew up in Brisbane’s West End and has always felt at home there. While he travels the world taking photos, he always returns to the eclectic suburb on the fringe of the city, a hub of young and old. With his wife Anna and three lively children, the family also travel to Cyprus – his birthplace and the country that inspires and fills him with an appreciation of life. He comes from a small village, a place steeped in history and full of memories – it paints a picture of how life should be. As he walks on streets with no names, Andrew remembers how easy and simple life really is. People’s faces show lines of laughter and of sorrow, a map of their life experiences. It is this openness and evidence of a life well lived that truly makes Andrew feel alive.

His first memory of photography was early in his life - the first grade. He watched in awe as the image of his class was captured by a camera and printed on paper, a truly magical moment for Andrew as a young boy. In his teens and early twenties he would take photographs at family events and weddings and was often asked by friends of friends to be the ‘official Photographer’ at their celebrations. During this time he worked in a professional photographic lab where he learnt the craft of imagery development. It was here where he began to experiment with the technical aspects of his craft, learning about lighting and resolution. Now in the digital age, he still has his first camera and he carries his knowledge of light and resolution into every shoot he does. Creating images of amazing clarity and brilliance with skills honed over decades of practice.

With over 20 years experience in the photographic industry, he has followed his dreams to become a professional photographer, establishing his own business Porfyri Photography in 2000 and building a loyal clientele that feel like part of the family. His high level of technical expertise in all areas of photography - Commercial, Portrait and Wedding combined with his creative outlook has allowed him to create amazing images in any situation coupled with a genuine love of his craft.

He has numerous photographic qualifications and even from the outset Andrew excelled in his studies, winning the first competition he ever entered – the AIPP Awards. He has gone on to perform brilliantly, consistently winning awards in multiple categories, the result of passion and discipline. For Andrew, photography is not just a profession; it is a way of life, his way of life.