Australia's Top Photographers Awards

OK, so this is slightly old news but I wrote this post and never published it back in May. It’s obviously good news that I’m proud of so at the risk of blowing my own trumpet, sometimes one needs to celebrate success with others. I’m pleased to share the belated news that I’ve been named in the Top 10 in both the Editorial and Photojournalism categories in the Capture Magazine 2010 Australia’s Top Photographers Awards. Hooray me!!

As an award judged by Australia’s top commercial photographers I’m thrilled to be judged in the same league as so many photographers whose work I really admire. Editorial photographers such as Richard Bailey, Ingvar Kenne, George Fetting and Georges Antoni all rock my boat.

In the photojournalism category I’m sitting alongside great Australian photographers such as the legendary Stephen Dupont, Dean Sewell of Oculi, the awesome Trent Parke of Magnum, Walkley award winner from Degree south David-Dare Parker, Narelle Autio of Agence Vue and Tamara Dean also from Oculi.

I highly recommend checking out all these photographers, they all do stunning work! Oh and of course don’t forget to check out some of my recent work ….

A BIG congratulations also to all the emerging photographer winners I know, whom I’ve been lucky enough to get to know through their success in the Projections competition. I ran Projections for the ACMP over the last couple of years and it’s a delight to see so many of them recognised again as Australia’s best emerging photographers.

In particular Natalie Grono – emerging winner overall, emerging editorial winner and emerging travel winner, Wren, emerging finalist in Advertising, Stewart Leishman, emerging winner in Wedding and emerging finalist in Architecture, Fiona Wolf, emerging finalist in Portrait, Conor Ashleigh, emerging runner up in photojournalism/documantary. Apologies if I’ve missed anyone and again check them out….

Congratulations also to Marc Gafen and the team at Yaffa and Capture magazine for putting on the awards..

Moran Photographic Prize Semi Finalist - Water Fire Summer, Joseph Feil

Apparently not. But the one below is…..

Winner, Moran Photographic Prize 2010 - Cockatoo Is. Ferry, Dean Sewell

There’s been a bit of chatter about town debating the winning image (above) in the 2010 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize worth $80,000. There’s universal agreement that the winner, Dean Sewell is an exceptional photographer and that the sole judge, Stephen Dupont is also extremely well credentialed both as a photographer and as someone suitable to judge this kind of award.

Unfortunately, there also seems to be fairly unanimous opinion that the winning image is far from the most worthy winner (see the other finalists here) and unfortunately some murmurings about the winner and the judge knowing each other pretty well. Dean was also the winner of this prize in 2009 when it was judged by Andrew Quilty, a member of the well known and tight photographic collective Oculi which Dean is also a member of. Whilst I have no doubt that both judges performed their tasks without favour, it is important for independence to be seen to be present and the structure of the judging of the Moran seems to leave this open to criticism.

In a small photographic community such as Australia, it does seems strange that the biggest prize in photography is selected by one person, and a working photographer at that. It unfortunately puts the Moran organisation in a position where bias can easily be accused, particularly when the judges selection seems to differ from the opinions of so many others. The fact that most established Australian photographers know each others work and can recognise certain images as belonging to photographers they know and respect makes it inherently difficult to judge with an unbiased outlook. In fact even Dean seemed somewhat surprised at the win, declaring in his acceptance speech that “there would be detractors to this image being warranted of a major photographic prize”.

Perhaps the Moran organisation needs to have a look at the structure of the judging, perhaps a panel of 3 judges would be preferable or someone a little more removed from the community which it is judging. In the absence of that, let’s hope someone who admires my work gets selected as a judge for next year!

Anyway, I was pleased to have one of my entries selected as a semifinalist and congratulate Dean on his second win in a row. He is one of Australia’s most respected photojournalists and rightly so. Here’s my entry, you can see lots of great photos selected by Stephen Dupont on the moran website here – http://www.moranprizes.com.au/default.aspx?id=32

One of the things that excited me about this project (apart form it being a great cause) was the the ad was being shot on dSLR gear, namely a Canon 5D mkII with a 7D as backup, a suite of Canon lenses, a Movie Tube rig and a bunch of ND filters..

Canon 5D MkII video rig

Photographers have been moving towards using their cameras for video for a while and I’ve been using my 1D mkIV to transition that way so it was interesting to see film guys moving back the other way. The major reasons for the video guys using dSLR technology is threefold, 1) significantly reduced cost, 2) lightweight, 3) a great look with shallow depth of field. Doing the job for Landcare was Jungleboys out of Sydney with Marden Dean as DP and Leigh Richards as Director with creative coming from agency Brave with Mark Lees as CD.

Angelsea beach setup

If you’re so inclined, check out the landcare website at www.landcarevic.net.au and see how you can get involved…

Sydney photographer Anna Warr’s has recently launched her new website – www.thefestivalphotographer.com – how good is that domain name….

Anna has been flat out photographing nearly every major Australian music festival over the past few years (and getting paid to do it) – think Parklife, Big Day Out, Good Vibrations, Splendour, the list goes on and on.

here’s a nice bit of text from the latest post from Splendour in the Grass 2010: “Picture a thousands of festival goers in a natural ampitheatre surrounded by bush. Mumford and Sons take the stage and a mighty sing-along takes begins to take place. As Mumford and Sons belt out their infections folky tunes, the moon begins to rise behind the stage. Everyone is high on singing and dancing…..”

I imagine this site will be getting some heavy hit counts as this years festival season kick off and I can definitely see book publishers lined up to get a hold of her work. In the true spirit of photojournalism she’s documenting the culture of music and youth in our times!

enjoy!! www.thefestivalphotographer.com

The 75 Tram on Flinders Street, by Roberts Birze

A list of what’s on photographically at the galleries thanks to the wonderful Ellie Young at Gold Street Studios. Ellie runs highly regarded workshops on a wide range of photographic and processing techniques such as Chrysotype, Cyanotype, Platinotype, Wet Plate, Bromoil, the list goes on….

Whats on in Vic

Quotations Julie Millowick at Falkner Gallery 35 Templeton st Castlemaine Thurs to Sunday 11am to 5 pm : until 31 October More information 03 5470 5858

Unsensored ‘10 Melbourne Silver Mine annual group exhibition of analogue photography. (50 photographers) Opens at 6pm on Friday, August the 13th, at Collingwood Gallery, 292 Smith Street. runs until the 25th of August.more information silvermine.org.au/

KODAK Salon until 25th September at CCP. 404 George St, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia http://www.ccp.org.au/exhibitions.php?f=Gallery_2

Melbourne Art Fair, August 4th-8th at the Royal Exhibition Buildings – http://www.artfair.com.au/fair/

PHANTASTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY Vivien Racault Keren Dobia Michael to the 5th Aug Obscura Gallery Ross Suite 11, 285 Carlisle Street East St Kilda www.obscuragallery.com

Living deadly includes work by Brook Andrew, Anne Ferran, John Gollings, Ruark Lewis, John Mawurndjul, Rod McNicol, eX de Medici, James Morrison and Robyn Stacey. to 19 September 2010 MGA 860 Ferntree Gully Road WHEELERS HILL VIC 3150 (03) 8544 0500 www.mga.org.au

Taking pictures some time later: Concettina Inserra and Lyndal Walker A dialogue that takes up Carol Jerrems’ suggestion that photography might be “a way of bringing people together, by showing them photographs of each other as a sort of communication”. 5 September 2010 MGA 860 Ferntree Gully Road WHEELERS HILL VIC 3150 (03) 8544 0500 www.mga.org.au

PHYSCHOLOGIES Photography by SEAN O’CARROLL at New North Editions, 15a Railway Place, Fairfield until 7th August 2010 www.newnorth.com.au/

CONSTRUCTURE Photography by ALANA APHOY to New North Editions, 15a Railway Place, Fairfield until 7th August 2010 www.newnorth.com.au/

The Sense of Flight: Self Kallena Kucers: New North Editions, 15a Railway Place, Fairfield OPENING: Fri, 13 Aug 6 – 8 pm Runs Aug 12 – Sept 3, 2010 www.newnorth.com.au/

Shop Until You Drop to 31 October NOT TO BE MISSED STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/exhibitions/kmg/2009/til-you-drop/index.html

Timelines – Photography and Time Works have been selected from the permanent collection both by International and Australian photographers that show an interest in some aspect of lifecycles. The exhibition also looks at how photographers have extended a sense of time and duration through images that work in series. Photographers include: Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston, Bill Brandt, Ruth Maddison, Rod McNicol and Rosemary Laing.to 03 OCT 2010 NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Photography, Level 3 www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/timelines

Call for Entries 2010 “Spirit of Kyneton” Photography Prize and Exhibition of Photographs at GALLERY 40, 40 Mollison St, Kyneton. Closes 20th August More information ans entry forms – www.kynetondaffodilarts.org.au/photo_competition.html

CALLING FOR ENTRIES for the $10,000 BSG Art Prize. Any theme, Any medium, Any size. Judges: Alex McCulloch, Director, Metro Gallery & Claire Harris, Director, Flinders Lane Gallery. Deadline for entries: 27 Aug 2010. Runs: 10-23 Sep 2010. To enter www.bsgart.com.au

CALLING FOR ENTRIES for the ACMP Sony Projections competition and POOL grant for emerging photographers. Deadline 15th August, approx $50,000 worth of prizes to be won. www.theprojections.com

Whats on in NSW

The Jungle and the Sea Ted O’Donnell – A documentation of the northern corners of New Guinea islands – people continue to live as they have for hundreds of years, receiving all they need from the land and sea that surrounds them. Ted’s stunning exhibition is hand printed by Chris Reid of Blanco Negro Opens on 11 Aug to 8th Sept Porch and Parlour Brighton Blvd, 100 – 102, North Bondi NSW 2026 (02) 9300 0111 or Ted on 0402 826 044 www.tedodonnell.com

Light Sculpture – Energy of Form photography by Michael Haylen The series evolves creatively by shrouding and peeling open the human female face and figure to express the visceral nature within. “The work celebrates form and invites a sense of journey” Michael Haylen. Runs to 15th August 2010 at Meyer Gallery 269 Bourke St Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (02) 9380 8014 www.meyergallery.com.au

Quiet Light Tony Sillavan, Deb Coogan, Klaus Major, Tracey Feltham, Fiona Vaughan,Cynthia Coghill, Julie Boland, Pen McNulty, Paul Dorahy, Enrico Scotece . Quiet Light features a selection of works by 10 photographers who have dedicated their vision to the monochrome photograph. At point light gallery to 15th August 2010 4/50 Reservoir St Surry Hills NSW 2010 www.pointlight.com.au

Coming to Point Light – Field of View David Tatnall 23 September – 17 October 2010 For more than thirty years David Tatnall has been exploring landscapes. In Field of View we see twenty intimate hand made black & white photographs of landscapes, some familiar, some safe, some threatened and some already lost. David Tatnall’s large format camera creates a unique visual language with an emphasis on form, presenting photographs that are both sensual and intriguing, giving the viewer insight into the artist’s deep appreciation and understanding of light & landscape. www.pointlight.com.au or www.davidtatnall.com.au

Up The Cross at Museum of Sydney – Rennie Ellis and Wesley Stacey, spent the summer of 1970-71 in Kings Cross, getting to know the locals and delving behind the scenes. This exhibition of their photos reveals moments of joy and pathos, the surface glitter and what was going on backstage, providing a fascinating portrait of life ‘up the Cross’ at a unique moment in time. Cnr Bridge & Phillip, Sydney To 8 August 2010. More info http://www.hht.net.au/whats_on/exhibitions/exhibitions/up_the_cross_rennie_ellis_and_wesley_stacey

CALLING FOR ENTRIES for the ACMP Sony Projections competition and POOL grant for emerging photographers. Deadline 15th August, approx $50,000 worth of prizes to be won. www.theprojections.com

Whats on in QLD

Shadows of Your Garden Renata Buziak and Sharka Bosakova until August 16, 2010 South Bank Parklands.South Bank – the Arbour opposite the Conservatorium More Information renata-buziak.com/news

2010 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards: entries due 27 August More Information www.museumofbrisbane.com.au

‘It’s Better Outdoors’ Photography Competition: entry due 8 October More Information – www.qorf.org.au/01_cms/details.asp

Queensland Centre for Photography www.qcp.org.au/

CALLING FOR ENTRIES for the ACMP Sony Projections competition and POOL grant for emerging photographers. Deadline 15th August, approx $50,000 worth of prizes to be won. www.theprojections.com

Whats on in Tas

The Wilderness Gallery, Cradle Mountain http://www.wildernessgallery.com.au/

CALLING FOR ENTRIES for the ACMP Sony Projections competition and POOL grant for emerging photographers. Deadline 15th August, approx $50,000 worth of prizes to be won. www.theprojections.com

(c) Joseph Feil

Last night saw the long awaited resurrection of the Melbourne ACMP Trampoline group for emerging photographers. It’s probably been about 12 months since the last one of these and a big hand clap for photographer Sarah Anderson who has taken the initiative to get things going again.

Mark Munro spoke to the 30-40 togs gathered at Phoenix studios and gave a passionate perspective on not only his folio but also his personal visual diary and how he’s become one of the busiest commercial photographers in town. He also showed this amusing and appropriate youtube video:

If you enjoyed that or didn’t get that, maybe the straightshooting advice of the legendary John Harrington might cut through to you. Here’s the ad that he saw on Craigslist – as an emerging photographer would you do the job?…

Here’s what John had to say about this – if you even thought for a second about saying yes, well, click the link for some sage advice…. http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com

A couple of other blog links we threw up last night for those that missed them were:

Aphotoeditor for some real life photography pricing discussions

No Plastic Sleeves for some creative marketing and portfolio presentation ideas

You should also tell other photographers about it, as well as artistic directors, creative directors, editors and the rest of the creative community who want to see some serious talent!!.

Sponsored by Sony, ACMP and Saatchi & Saatchi and with a prize pool of around $50,000 and some serious exposure to the industry (spreads in Capture and Australian Creative) this is one you should not miss out on.

Traditionally a series based competition with winners in Art, Commercial and Editorial categories, this year sees the introduction of 2 new ways to win, with a prize for single images with the theme of make.believe and the new POOL Grant of $10,000. Check out previous years entries at the website…

www.theprojections.com

I’m a relatively new photographer, born (maybe reborn is more appropriate?) into the digital age of photography where everything is pixels and speed. But once upon a time, long long ago I did shoot film and I’m even old enough to remember photographing with a camera that had one of those fantastically cool rotating flash bulbs.

Now if you’re older than me, or have any interest in the history of camera’s then you might be interested in this auction of cameras being sold at Leonard Joel Auction House in Melbourne, Australia on July 18th. There are literally hundreds of cameras available.

The camera collection dates from the beginnings of photography in the 1840s and 1850s through to detective cameras of the 1880s and 1890s and, more recently, Leica cameras from the 1920s to 1960s period (lots 200-252). Of particular interest are a group of miniature and disguised ‘spy’ cameras such as the Photo-Binocle dating from the 1890s (lot 259) which features a camera disguised as a pair of binoculars and street cameras designed for taking while-you-wait photographs such as the Ertee photo button camera (lot 114). You can see the catalogue here – http://leonardjoel.com.au

A word of warning – the last photography related auction at Leonard Joel, a collection of images from the estate of photographer Wolfgang Sievers had a pre-sale estimate for the collection of $22,000. The collection eventually sold for $191,000 so obviously Leonard Joel has a bit of work to do on their estimates….. An article on that auction can be found on The Age website and the auction results can be found here

(c) Alex Ellinghausen - Elmore BS Ball

Last night was the Melbourne edition of the 2010 Walkley Slide Night, an annual celebration of Australian press photography. It’s a chance for photographers to show off the in-depth projects that don’t always make it into print, to an audience of peers and photo-lovers. 17 collections of images were selected for presentation last night including some of my Indonesian Earthquake series.

I liked Alex Ellinghausen’s Going to the Ball series and Lisa Wiltse’s The Mennonites of Menitoba is also lovely. Winner of “Best in Show” on the night was Matthew Lynn for The Correction Centre.

In fact, all of the work is worthy of a look and you can find the Sydney submissions here (and I assume the Melbourne ones are about to go online also…) – http://www.walkleys.com/photography-events or http://vimeo.com/meaa/videos.

photo: Fiona Wolf - Head on 2010 Winner

Fiona has also recently exhibited at the China Height Gallery in Sydney http://www.chinaheights.com/html/index.htm and was recently a part of a group exhibition along with Toby Dixon – www.tobydixon.com and Ingvar Kenne – www.ingvarkenne.com (also both great photographers).