Belinda Van Zanen

Belinda Van Zanen is a Noosa-based photographer, artist and emerging curator whose practice explores the relationship between people, place and presence. Working across fine art and commercial photography, she creates images that invite viewers to slow down, pay attention and reconnect with the world around them. After more than a decade photographing for tourism organisations, national parks and lifestyle brands, Belinda returned to university to deepen her art practice, completing a Bachelor of Photography and Digital Imaging (Art Major) at Photography Studies College, Melbourne. Her work has since shifted towards long-form, research-led projects that investigate photography as both a creative and material process. Her current body of work, What the Water Gives / What the Water Holds, explores the ocean as collaborator rather than subject. Working primarily on 35mm film, Belinda photographs the coastline before returning the developed negatives to the sea, allowing salt, sand and tide to physically alter the photographic surface. The resulting works reflect an ongoing dialogue between artist and environment. Alongside her fine art practice, Belinda is the founder of Sun City Gallery, an online gallery dedicated to contemporary photographic editions inspired by the landscapes, roadside culture and quiet beauty of the American West and Australia. Based in Noosa, Belinda is passionate about contributing to the region's creative community through exhibitions, collaborations and storytelling. She believes photography has the power to create moments of reflection, encourage meaningful connection, and inspire people to see the familiar with fresh eyes.