ABOUT Francois

Born and raised in South Africa, Francois Fourie developed a passion for travel and photography at an early age. At 18, he set off on a decade-long journey around the world, capturing thousands of images along the way. After returning to South Africa, he spent years as an adventure tour guide, leading small groups across Southern Africa’s breathtaking landscapes.

In 2003, Francois settled in Tasmania, where he balances his career as an IT Specialist with his relentless pursuit of landscape photography. Whether scaling a mountain, venturing deep into the wilderness, or capturing the brilliance of the night sky, his work reflects his deep appreciation for the natural world.

A specialist in low-light and subterranean photography, Francois played a key role in the first Midwinter Aurora Festival, where he led photography workshops. His images have been featured in Australian Geographic, Tasmanian Geographic, the Aurora Chasers Handbook, Tasmania 40 Degrees South, and Lume Magazine. In 2015, he won the overall photography prize at the Tasmanian Night Sky Photography Awards.

His work extends beyond still photography—Francois has mastered timelapse cinematography, using cutting-edge motion control equipment to create breathtaking sequences. His film Tumultuous Tasmania showcases the island’s dramatic beauty through over 65,000 meticulously captured frames.

Francois’ expertise in layer-stacking, ultra-long exposures, and noise reduction sets him apart as a leading figure in low-light photography. His captivating caving images—featured in Tasmanian Geographic’s In Utter Darkness—reveal a world few ever get to see.

His passion for capturing the unseen has also led to collaborations with ABC Open, resulting in a short documentary on Aurora Chasing, which you can watch here.

🎥 Watch Tumultuous Tasmania: YouTube