Margaret Dean
Margaret is a photographer and digital artist based in Bangalow, NSW. As an artist working in the burgeoning genre of fantasy photography, she is one of the leaders in her chosen field and sells her work to an audience of fantasy lovers both locally and across the globe. As well as appearing in many international publications, her work was also chosen from a field of thousands to exhibit in the Art of Digital Show 2006, in San Diego, which features the best international digital artists from all genres.
Her work is inspired by a deep love of mythology and a concern for the natural environment.
" In recent years I have become frustrated with the fairy of disney culture. These glittery gaudy creatures do not fit with my vision of "faërie". For me, faëries are the embodiment of hope and freedom, a world of possibilities if only we believed. I started photographing faëries in order to give voice to the faëries of my imagination.
I had 3 criteria for my faëries: they must be photographed in a natural environment; they must possess an "otherworld" quality; and above all they must "ring true". That is, they must possess that crucial element of believability. Wings are not necessary - but they do serve a symbolic function that makes the faëries instantly recognisable.
Each faëry is unique, and each presents in its own way, with its own unique presence, its own personality - quite unlike any other that I have created. This is true of all my faëries. The inspiration comes from somewhere outside of my own physical being, and I cannot help but think that these faëries have an independent existence of their own.
This is further reinforced by the reactions my images get from people in general - These are the faëries of their imaginations too.
Perhaps they are not my faëries afterall. Perhaps they belong to all of us, existing in a realm outside of us, and at last we can grant them recognition they deserve."
Click here to see Margaret's photos in our Gallery.
Margaret's Website http://www.fairyphotographs.com