Upstairs Gallery

Photographer

At the age of 11 Arne Loot already had a darkroom in a wardrobe of his parent’s home in Holland. Ever since photography has remained a lifelong interest for this man with multiple occupations - Sailor, Designer, Builder, Painter, Cook, Farmhand, Musician, Writer and Herpetologist ... you name it.

He arrived in New Zealand in 1952. His first job for 8 years was with the largest Portrait and Bridal Studios, becoming the Manager. Then 3 years with one of Auckland’s leading agencies where he invented his iconic bleach out technique with black and white prints before establishing himself as a freelance photographer for the rest of his life specialising in photographing works of art and antiques for galleries and contemporary artists.

Photographing Art, Antiques etc was a great passion...

•    35 years for Peter Webb galleries and auctioneers, including Sotheby's. 12 years with the Art New Zealand magazine, 3 years for the Auckland City Art Gallery.
•    Photography for galleries has included: New Vision, Dennis Cohn, The Mill, Barry Lett, R.K.S., John Leech, Dunbar Sloane, and Gow Lansford.
•    Privately for many artists including Friedensrich Hundertwasser.
•    Commercially for Air New Zealand, Watties, Tip Top, Eta and Winstone.
•    Photography for more than a dozen books including the very successful 'Gottfried Lindauer', 'Colin McCahon' and 'Jonathon White'.
•    Arne has exhibited in many venues, once simultaneously with the late Brian Brake. An exhibition of his private photography 'Then And Now' was held at the Upstairs Gallery in February-March 2006.

Internationally recognised for the quality of his work, he has received numerous awards including Kodak Photographer of the Year, RKO Film Studios, Golden Needle Award in Chicago, photographic design in Hong Kong and Golden Scoop in the USA.