CHRISTOPHER TOVO

Christopher Tovo has had a highly successful career as a commercial photographer prior to his debut as Director and Cinematographer on AEG’s “The Tradesman Series” which saw him become a finalist in the prestigious One Show Awards in NYC and Best Director and Best Cinematographer categories at the MADC Awards. In 2014 “Mark of a Champion” featuring Rod Laver earned him a highly prestigious Grand Clio.

His fascination for photography and art started at a very young age through the influence of his father, photographer Peter Tovo. Christopher’s love of travel and street photography helped shape his photographic ability along with his love of creative immersion and engagement - with anyone, from any culture, at any time.

His last 20 odd years of experience has enabled him to reach a deeper level of trust and integrity with his subjects, and he’s successfully translated that approach over to his love of directing and cinematography.

Born in Townsville, Australia in 1972, Christopher’s fascination with photography and art started at a very young age through the influence of his Italian father, Peter Tovo. Peter was a photographer who trained in Italy under Fornasa Tarcisiso before migrating to Australia.

As Christopher grew, so did his curiosity for his father’s camera collection. One day, to his father’s dismay, Christopher decided to dismantle one of the cameras, to ‘find out what happens inside’. Peter sent Christopher to the library with a list of three names. Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa were the subjects of his homework and they proved to have an everlasting effect, along with many years of mentoring from his father.

Christopher attended photography school, albeit briefly. Traditional scholastic methods weren’t to his liking. Instead he took to apprenticing, which gave him a well-rounded education in photography and showed him how to apply his knowledge in the real world. He hasn’t looked back since.

Christopher’s scope as a photographer is both broad and deep. His uncomplicated, ‘gut instinct’ accord to his work exposes a subtle appreciation for life in all its diversity. A classicist at heart, Tovo, subconsciously seeks out the timelessness in any given situation presented to him.

Tovo’s strengths lie in portraiture and reportage. He was a finalist in the 2006 Archibald price and has been commissioned by The Vatican, in conjunction with the Mary Mackillop Foundation to photograph Pope John Paul II. Merely casting a quick glance over the many people and locations he has documented and displayed his talent for engaging with his subject and their environments, no matter how foreign.

Christopher has had a highly successful career as a commercial photographer, proving his ability to meld the worlds of art and commerce. His extensive client list includes: Rolling Stone; The Australian Ballet; Coca- Cola; Fosters; Crown Lager; Foxtel; The Sydney Morning Herald; Universal Records; Myer; Levi’s; Vodafone; Jack Daniels; The Australian Defence Force; Canon; The National Australia Bank; The Commonwealth Bank; Tennis Australia; Ford Motors; The Australian Football League; Schweppes; Qantas; Holden; and Adidas, to name a few.

A retrospect of Christopher’s career has appeared in Australian Photography Magazine. He has also been invited to speak at schools, universities and photography colleges in both Sydney and Melbourne. In 2010, Christopher’s famous “Leopard On Toilet” shot earned him two honorable mentions in the 2010 International Photography Awards. In 2011, Capture Magazine named him Fashion Photographer Of The Year. 

AWARDS:
2013 Finalist - “The Tradesman Series” One Show Awards, NYC 2013 Honorable Mention - International Photography Awards “Corona” Series
2014 GOLD CANNES LION - Print “RSL - Minute of Silence” Campaign 2014 GOLD & BRONZE CANNES LION - “Minute of Silence” Veterans Campaign
2014 GRAND CLIO SPORTS AWARD - Campaign “Rod Laver: Mark of a Champion”
2014 Top 5 Photographers in Australia
2014 Cannes Lions Mobile Gold
2014 Cannes Lions Direct Bronze
2014 Cannes Lions Direct Shortlist
2014 Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Good Shortlist
2014 Cannes Lions Media Shortlist
2014 Spikes Asia Mobile Gold
2014 Spikes Asia Integrated Gold
2014 Spikes Asia Direct Silver
2014 Spikes Asia Direct 2 x Bronze
2014 Spikes Asia Promo & Activation 2 x Bronze
2014 Spikes Asia Promo & Activation Shortlist
2014 Clio Awards Content & Contact Bronze
2014 LIA Awards Digital Shortlist
2014 LIA Awards Integration Shortlist
2014 B&T Awards Campaign of the Year
2014 DDB Bill Bernbach Awards Mobile Winner
2015 AdNews Awards The UN LTD Award
2015 AWARD Charity Integrated Campaign Gold
2015 AWARD Promotional and Experiential Marketing Gold
2015 AWARD Charity Campaign Silver
2015 AWARD Charity Mobile Bronze
2015 Oneshow Mobile Bronze
2015 Oneshow Interactive Bronze
2015 D&AD Direct Pencil
2015 D&AD White Pencil for Good
2018 EYE ONELAND awarded him Australia’s #1 Black and White Photographer
2018 Golden Pencil for the ONE SHOW - ‘Missing Persons’