Sydney photographer Gavin Libotte has spent the past five years capturing what he calls the "magic in mundane" through his remarkable Wanderland collection, which transforms everyday suburban scenes into extraordinary visual experiences. The 56-year-old artist challenges viewers to reimagine their surroundings by presenting familiar scenes from unexpected perspectives, where massive dogs and towering seagulls loom over unsuspecting joggers and beachgoers in seemingly surreal compositions.
"What it really is, is just seeing everything as it is, because everything is wondrous, and it is magic," Libotte explained. His artistic approach involves photographing at street level with a wide 28-millimeter lens, creating dramatic scale shifts that make small subjects appear enormous. "We're very used to the world and I think it becomes mundane because we're looking at things in pretty much the same way all the time," he said. "We lose that ability we had as a child to have that sense of wonder."
The Wanderland collection is currently featured at this year's Head On Photo Festival at Bondi, showcasing images primarily taken at Manly Beach Promenade over a five-year period. Libotte's technique involves bringing his camera down to street level and using handheld flash to create cinematic lighting effects. "When I did lower my camera, things just became completely amazing to me because you don't expect what the field of view would look like, how much it would change," he revealed.
Libotte's favorite photograph from the collection features several towering seagulls in perfect composition. "That photo is a bit of a miracle to me, the fact that everything worked out," he said. "I mean the men sitting on the front of the edge of the beach behind are all perfectly poised and everything's really balanced." The photographer uses handheld flash to "light that stage" and "emulate the mise en scène of a cinema image" to achieve beautiful shadows and dramatic effects.
The photographer's journey began as an enthusiastic teenager who moved from the UK to Australia in 1981. After finishing school at 16, he gained work experience in a photography studio where he learned to take, process, and print photos. He became so enchanted with darkroom processing that he created his own setup at home, blocking out windows and buying chemicals to print photos in his bathroom. "I had blocked out all the windows and I bought all the chemicals and I actually did some printing in the bathroom," Libotte recalled.
After taking a break to pursue a career as a full-time jazz musician for several years, photography drew him back in his 50s. The musical background continues to influence his visual work. "When I take images, I often hear music or I'm feeling the rhythm and I'm relating that to the world as a musical stage and a visual stage," he explained. "There are animals, there are dogs, there are birds, there's the weather, there's the lighting and everything has to come together in a beautiful dance that is in perfect balance and harmony."
Libotte admits that his unconventional shooting method sometimes draws curious looks from passersby. "When you first do it, you feel the judgment of others a little bit because you know you'd probably do the same if you saw someone," he said about lying on the ground with his camera. "But then I see it as an opportunity to let go of that and to be free in the environment, in the world that we're in, and to not be concerned about what's going on."
For Libotte, photography serves as a form of meditation similar to yoga. "Spending quiet time with yourself is a very meditative and reflective time, and I do find that time is very important for the mental health," he shared. "I'm in the present moment and I'm really giving things my 100 percent attention and my full honor." He encourages others to explore creative expression, advising that "spending quiet time alone is really the answer, because ideas come when you're quiet. All you need then is you need the courage to follow through with the idea and commit to it."
