30 YEARS in the Making

THE ARTist

They say you should shoot what you love, and for me, that has always been a toss-up between the lens and the ocean. I could swim before I could walk, and I’ve been a photographer for just over thirty years. Whether I’m under the surface or looking at the view from the shore, the water is where I feel most at home.

My journey started in my late teens with a borrowed Minolta 7000i in Africa, but the real turning point came three years later during my OE in Australia. That’s where I decided to take the leap into becoming a pro. I headed back to study—first college, then university—and I’ve been behind the camera ever since.

From the Maldives to the Pacific

My work has taken me all over the globe, from the coastlines of America and France to the tropical reefs of the Maldives. One of my favorite commissions was an editorial brief to head to the Maldives just to surf and take pictures. When a client hands you a brief like that, you know they have total faith in your vision, and that level of trust is what I’ve built my career on.

After a few years back in Europe, I returned to New Zealand eight years ago. This move sparked a new chapter for me as I began integrating filmmaking and drone photography into my work, finding new ways to tell stories from above and below the surface.

Painting with Light in the Elements

While I’ve spent time as an associate and visiting lecturer sharing my experience—and years teaching darkroom techniques—my heart has always belonged outside the four walls of a studio.

I’ve always preferred environmental portraiture because people feel most like themselves in their own elements. Some photographers worry about the "challenge" of location work, but I’ve always thrived on that unpredictability. As photographers, light is what we paint with; I’m constantly using flash—whether as a main source or a subtle fill—to bring that technical, high-end polish to the raw outdoors. It’s about controlling the light, even when you can’t control the weather.

Current Vision & Raglan Drone

Now based in Raglan (Whaingaroa), I’ve incorporated the social and community element of my local work—Raglan Drone—into my main portfolio at paulabbitt.com.

My current project, "The Players & Their Playground," is the culmination of these thirty years. It blends intimate, storyteller portraiture with the cinematic scale of drone landscapes. You can find my collection of surfing seascapes available as fine art prints in the "Playground" section of this site.

While I call Raglan home, I remain available for commissions and projects worldwide, continuing to travel wherever the story—or the swell—takes me.

ACCOLADES & EXHIBITIONS

  • AFAR Travel Photography Award – Winner (Judges' Pick)

  • The Louvre Museum, Paris – The Exposure Award (Featured Artist)

  • Brick Lane Gallery, London – 125-Live Contemporary Exhibition

  • International Photography Awards (IPA) – Honorable Mentions

  • The Guardian / Observer Hodge Awards – Editorial Finalist

  • Kodak AOP Gallery – Portraiture Winner

  • Nintendo Advertising Award – Winner

  • Black & White Spider Awards – 11th & 12th Annual Honors

SELECTED CLIENTS

  • Editorial & Publishing: BBC | The Guardian | The Times | The Observer | Dazed & Confused | M2 Magazine | Harper Collins

  • Commercial & Lifestyle: Tourism New Zealand | Quiksilver | O'Neill | FCUK | Gull | Nintendo

  • Local & Industry: Waikato Stud | Beca | National Maritime Museum Cornwall