Beyond the visible: Jane Fitzgerald’s vintage vision

Photographer Jane Fitzgerald draws much of her inspiration from her extensive travels around the globe.

Her latest exhibition Amalfitana, which is set to open at Geelong’s Liminal Gallery tonight (Saturday, February 22), reimagines the landscapes of Italy’s Amalfi Coast using infrared photography.

The medium is designed to reveal a hidden spectrum of light, offering an alternative perspective on the familiar, and has imbued the famous coastline’s beach umbrellas and sunlit waters with rich earthy tones.

Fitzgerald said the series explores the intersection of light, memory and place, with the use of infrared photography creating scenes that feel “both familiar and otherworldly”.

The outcome is a colour shift that subtly replaces the vibrant blues of the ocean and the bright summer sky with deep and warming reds, lending the quiet and contemplative photographic series a vintage and almost dreamlike quality.

 

 

“I love Italy and I love infrared photography. It’s quite unusual because it’s out of the spectrum of light the eye can normally see,” Fitzgerald said.

“The warm hues and soft contrasts create a sense of intimacy, inviting the viewer to experience the Amalfi Coast not only as a place, but as a feeling – a sun-drenched, relaxing moment suspended in time.”

Thrilled with how the images have come together, Fitzgerald said it was her desire to create something unique and inspired her to capture the coastline in infrared.

“You see those iconic Amalfi Coast photos and they’re beautiful, and I’ve taken them as well, but I just wanted to show the Amalfi Coast in a different way.

“It’s a beautiful light there in summer. It’s just so warm and beautiful and the infrared really picked that up and showed it in this different lighting and gives it an old world, vintage look.

 

 

“It reminds me of postcards or those old Italian posters, and I love that look.

“I find it comforting and reassuring and beautiful and warm and inspiring.”

The photographs included in the exhibition were taken last year, during a seven-week European trip she took with her ageing parents after the loss of her brother.

“It’s hard for my parents, so I wanted to give them something to look forward to and see my youngest brother [in London],” Fitzgerald said.

“It was really important to do this with them.

 

 

“I came back totally broke, but it was so worth it.”

Although long passionate about the artform, it wasn’t until her husband’s work took her to China that Fitzgerald had the time to focus on honing her craft.

“I wasn’t allowed to work there, so I studied photography with this amazing French famous photographer… She taught me to look at photos critically and critique myself.

“I didn’t have that here and just to see her doing what she did made me want to be better.

“I spent so much time in the streets getting to know China and learning the language and taking photos.”

 

 

Fitzgerald remained in China for seven years and returned to Australia just before the COVID-19 pandemic, opting to formalise her photography experience with a diploma.

After that, she said she fell into commercial photography, and now, in addition to exhibiting with galleries, she specialises in restaurant, wedding and marketing images.

“I love that I get to do a headshot for someone that doesn’t like having their photo taken and I can help them feel comfortable.

“Then I get to shoot beautiful food and play with the lights, and then I get to a wedding, and I cry every time.”

Ten photographs will be included in the Amalfitana exhibition at Liminal Gallery, which have all been through an extended and highly technical editing process to create the final project.

 

 

Fitzgerald said she hoped the series will provide audiences with “a little bit of escapism”.

“I want them to feel like they’re there and see what I see and see it differently.”

Liminal Gallery will celebrate the opening of Amalfitana this evening between 7pm and 9pm, and the exhibition will run until March 15.

All of Fitzgerald’s piece are available for purchase, and she is offering custom sizing and reprinting.

Head to liminalgalleryandlab.com or janefitzgeraldphotographer.com for more information.