Matt Hoyle is a Sydney-based photographer specialising in environmental portraiture.

His latest body of work “Icebergs Ahead” focuses on capturing the characters that make up the legendary Bondi Icebergs Winter Swimming Club.

He began his career as a creative in the advertising industry, being tempted by the storytelling nature of a photograph. But not giving him enough creative control in such a commercial world led him to find an outlet that did.

"What has always interested me as an advertising creative has been stories. Beyond the pure aesthetics of a really nice photo I find what makes me look longer is the hint of a story in the person. People interest me."

For the last 5 years Hoyle has been searching for stories with his portraiture in everything from the simple formal portrait sitting to spending time with a community and telling their stories through photo essay.
From the performers of Australia's oldest circus to the members of one of it's oldest swimming clubs to boxing champions of the 1940's and 50's, Hoyle wants to capture a piece of the culture 'of his time' that won't always be there.

Hoyle’s unique vision and style along with his connection with each of his subjects has led to an impressive tally of international recognition with awards and acquisitions of his work.

Hoyle has recently been awarded the “NSW Professional Photographer of the Year” award, along with the “International Photographer of the Year Awards Winner - Portrait" award and "Canon Australian Professional Photographer of the Year 2004".

Although beginning his photographic career with film he quickly saw the possibility of creative expression and immediacy with digital and now shoots digital 100% of the time.

Hoyle is currently freelancing for advertising agencies and corporate clients and moving into editorial as a further way of telling the stories he sees.

Hoyle's latest series “Icebergs Ahead” is also his most well received to date.
It has been featured in the Archibald Awards (photographic section), The Josephine Ulrick National Portraiture Prize, Nikon ACP Photographer Of The Year, The Centre for Contemporary Photography Peoples Choice Award as well as the Digital Photographic Winner and internationally the PDN 2004 Photo Annual of the World's Best Photography in New York.

The Bondi Icebergs are a winter swimming club in Sydney Australia.
"I wanted to find out what made the place so legendary. Many before me had successfully photographed the walls, structure and magnificent view of the 75 year old icon but I found the people to be more interesting. They were characters for the story."

Hoyle shot on digital, which is now all he shoots for its immediacy and quality. He then treats each shot to express his vision.

"I saw the 'icebergs' as people who gave this body of water significance and warmth. I shot wide angle and gave a cool icy tone to the grade while letting the intimacy that such a wide lens gives and rapport I built with each subject add the warmth itself. I do very minimal treatment as I don't want to be a computer photo artist rather I want to capture something that is there and only slightly treat the image to share the mood to what I am feeling at the time."

The Iceberg series is in the process of being developed into a book by a local design firm with the aim to get a publisher later in the year.

"People say that they can see through my shots a unique closeness I have with each subject. It really brings me joy to hear this, as that is exactly how I feel. Photography has been a sort of ticket I believe, that let’s me into the lives of so many I otherwise wouldn't have even known about."