About Simon Devitt

Photographer of Architecture

‘Show me, don’t tell me.’

Simon Devitt is an internationally recognised architectural photographer with more than three decades spent documenting the relationship between architecture, landscape and light.

Based in New Zealand, his photographs have been published by Thames & Hudson, Gestalten, Phaidon and numerous architectural journals, becoming an enduring record of contemporary architecture across Australasia and beyond.

While best known for his commissioned work, Simon’s practice is grounded in a lifelong commitment to personal photography, believing there is no meaningful distinction between commercial and personal work. Both are driven by the same curiosity and attention.

His acclaimed Cape to Bluff collection explores New Zealand architecture through the lens of place an ongoing journey, examining how buildings belong to their landscapes and how photographs can reveal more than simply what a building looks like.

Alongside his photographic practice, Simon is an educator, speaker and mentor, presenting globally on creativity, perception and the craft of seeing. His workshops encourage photographers to slow down, pay closer attention, and develop a more personal relationship with the camera.

Simon continues to photograph architecture throughout Australasia and internationally. His work is guided by a simple belief: great photographs are not made by looking harder, but by learning to see more deeply.

Simon Devitt Portrait

Great photographs are not made by looking harder, but by learning to see more deeply.
— Simon Devitt

Testimonials

“Simon brings a thoughtful and considered approach to his work. He listens to the brief and consistently produces shots that are outstanding and draw you into the completed project to capture a sense of place and detail. “

– Matt Chaplin and Lawrence Sumich, Directors, Sumich Chaplin Architects

“Simon delivered a set of photos that far exceeded our expectations in terms of capturing the essence of the project, locating it in the urban context and to a photographic quality we hadn’t anticipated when we engaged with him. Since that time, we have worked with Simon on a range of differing architectural projects and he has consistently delivered a high quality result, working with us collaboratively to deliver what we need as well as to offer his own unique photographic interpretation of our projects.”

– Craig Moller, Director, Moller Architects

“I have been working with Simon for over 10 years and I love his quote “show me – don’t tell me” as it catches the essence of him and his work. Simon has an incredible eye for detail and catching the moment. He is an artist with a lens, and I look forward to working with him on future projects”

– Paul Clarke, Studio2 Architects

“I edited HOME magazine for 11 years, and Simon Devitt was a vital collaborator for all of that time. He would come to us with creative ideas of his own; we would pretty much never issue briefs, as we knew his understanding of the magazine was so deep that he intuitively understood our requirements.“

“He has a rare ability to tell a crisp architectural story in his images at the same time as he imbues the buildings he photographs with a sense of warmth and humanity. Simon’s images always delivered, and have been an enormous part of the magazine’s continuing relevance and success.“

– Jeremy Hansen, Former Editor, Home Magazine

I have known and worked with Simon for over a decade – what a revelation! I am an architectural writer and editor, so photography is key to everything I do – what it can do, can’t do and what it should do. It’s all about the balance between documentation and imagination. This is where Simon’s work is so brilliant. It really is a revelation because it reveals so much about a building – its form, its interior, the details and the context. He makes a building come alive. It’s his vision, but never at the expense of the building. A great photographer is a magician and Simon is just that.

– Paul McGillick, Architecture, Art and Design Writer – McGillick Consulting

“I’ve been publishing Simon’s photography for far longer than my six years as editor of Architecture New Zealand and, in the past two years, of Houses magazine, where his work has appeared on countless covers and in features and news stories; too many to mention. Simon produces some of the most consistently high-quality architectural photography in New Zealand, capturing the essence of each project, the architect’s vision and the way the occupants relate to spaces. He turns shoots around quickly and is well-organised. He understands what we need in terms of telling a story about an architectural project, as well as offering a wide range of perspectives and formats that provide us with plenty of options while laying out spreads. Simon will always go out of this way to be helpful and has great communication skills, often aided by his good sense of humour. I have total respect for Simon as an incredible photographer and always look forward to discovering his next body of work.”

– Justine Harvey, Editor, AGM (Architecture NZ, Houses, Interior, Urbis)