About Me
Toni Payne is a Nature and Wildlife Photographer, Cinematographer and Conservationist. She educates about and documents the biodiversity in various regions in our natural world. She is also passionate about exploring how it relates to cultural, environmental, and climate impact. A multi-talented artist, who enjoys creating art in the realm of Still Life, Wildlife, Nature, and Documentary Photography, she is also known for her abilities as a poet, podcast host, content creator, and public speaker. Although she has spent the greater part of her career capturing a wide range of subjects, her primary focus is showcasing the beauty and importance of the living and nonliving things that make up our environment.
As an artist, Toni values the power of her craft to inspire and drive awareness for social, environmental, and climate issues. She believes that her photography and cinematography can serve as a tool for education and change, and strives to create impactful works that can inspire viewers to take action.
Toni sees visual art as a way to capture fleeting moments and preserve them for posterity. Her Still Life art, for instance, showcases her storytelling skills, using inanimate objects to create compositions that invite viewers to contemplate their meaning. Aside from her passion for photography, Toni is also interested in exploring spirituality and symbolism in her art. She draws inspiration from nature, life, love, abundance, and spirituality, which guide her artistic journey.
Beyond her creative pursuits, Toni is also the founder of the Champayner Social Club, where she emphasizes the importance of exploring nature and creating memorable moments with friends. Besides still photography, she has a strong interest in Documentary Filmmaking, which allows her to capture authentic glimpses of people, places, nature, and wildlife in their natural habitats.
Toni’s creativity is not limited to visual arts; she also enjoys writing poetry and short-form stories. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Video Digital Art, with a background in Film Production, Public Relations, and Artist Management.
In her free time, Toni enjoys traveling, bird watching, exploring new places, educating about our ecosystem, and immersing herself in different cultures. She is a self-proclaimed foodie, with a penchant for trying out new cuisines and documenting her experiences with stunning photographic images.
You can follow her Nature Exploration journey via – Youtube or TikTok
My art is a reflection of my heart. – Toni Payne
– Contact –
tonipayneosha@gmail.com
Artist Statement –
I am a Nature and Wildlife Photographer, Cinematographer, and Conservationist who is driven by the desire to capture the beauty and joy in everyday things and moments of life. I enjoy creating joyous and evocative imagery through my lens and believe that photography has the power to tell stories and evoke emotion, and my goal is to use this medium to create art that inspires and uplifts the viewer enough to drive change.
My Still Life photographs aim to elevate the ordinary and remind us of the beauty that surrounds us. There are current environmental and climate issues that I believe my art can call attention to. Education is key and the ability to draw the viewer in with imagery is of utmost importance to me.
My documentary work is focused on showing our connection to nature and wildlife, the emotions, and the joy that happens in everyday life. Our connection to the natural world is one I often explore in my art. I strive to create art that not only educates and raises awareness about certain issues but brings a smile to the viewer’s face and reminds them to find happiness in the present moment. My goal is to create a window through which viewers can see the world in a new and beautiful way enough to wish to make a positive impact.