What’s the idea behind The Window Project
So we now have The Window Project up and running. The idea is simple. We want to take as many portraits as possible in 3 weeks. These are democratized portraits – we have other work to do so we’ve put a camera behind the banner (see below if you’re thinking of nicking it) and set it to take a photo every 5 seconds. Whoever feels the urge to follow on or all of the instructions – STOP, POSE, SMILE will have their photo taken. We’ll periodically take the photos out of the bank where it’s located, throw them into our magical portrait processing machine and put the pictures of people up on our facebook page, creating a gallery of portraits. We hope we can then connect with those people and decide to do something with those portraits down the track – exhibition, book or the like….

By Happier Snapper  |  View on Facebook

How did it start?
When our bank said we could have some window space to promote our business we thought – gee that’s strange for a bank. So what did we do? Well initially we went great, lets put up a banner with ads for our awesome photography courses. Then we went nah, that’s lame, how about we use it for a cool photography project instead. That seemed much more fun!! Then the bank said you’ve got 5 days until you need to install. We said how what when @$%@!! A night of brainstorming, a photoshoot, some banner design, some quick turnaround printing and some creative install ideas and we now have The Window Project…..

By Happier Snapper  |  View on Facebook

Where can I see the photos
At this early stage, we’re collecting the photos every few days and then getting rid of the duds and uploading the ones that look something like portraits onto our facebook page – facebook.com/whoisahappiersnapper. We hope these will then be shared and liked by the facebook community and world will spread like wildfire until there are people lining up to be photographed. Now that would be cool!

Where do I go to get my photo taken?
Just head to the corner of Swanston and Collins St in Melbourne. The project is setup in the window of the Westpac bank, just stand in front of the window with a big photo of a camera in it (looks like this….

How many photos will you take.
We’re trying to take a photo every 5 seconds, 24 hours a day for a month. Our rough calculation (remember we’re photographers not mathematicians) is that we’ll take around 17,000 frames a day which is 100,000+ a week which is around half a million photos over a month!!! . Then we have to edit out all the junk (not a lot of love around here for that job!!!) and give the people back the portrait jewels.

By Happier Snapper  |  View on Facebook

What if I want to nick the camera?
Well, firstly it’s inside the bank. If you want to take on the banks multilayered security system, that’s your choice. Secondly, the camera’s not really worth stealing. We need our high end gear for our regular jobs so the one in the window ain’t that grand. Thirdly, by stealing the camera, you’ll mess up the project and have the bad Karma of all those unmade portraits on your head…

Joseph Feil
By Happier Snapper  |  View on Facebook

What if I don’t want my photo taken?
If you don’t want your photo taken, then please don’t STOP, POSE and SMILE for us. If we do take your photo and you later decide you don’t want it shown, please let us know which photo (via the facebook page) or email us and let us know. We’ll take it down.

Who are you anyway?
We’re a team of photographers who work out of a studio in Port Melbourne called Blue Tree Studios. We work as professional photographers most of the time, working on anything from corporate portraits to high end advertising campaigns and documentary projects. We also run photography courses aimed at helping amateur photographers take better photos.

My photos are often terrible; tell me more about your photography courses
We currently run 2 courses suitable for a wide range of people under our Happier Snapper brand. Our 2 ½ hour introductory course has been running for about a year and we’ve had over 2,000 people through this course who have loved it. It’s aimed at anyone with any camera, is non-technical and fun.

We also run a photography walking tour from the city along the Yarra and into the Docklands. This is a 3-hour walking tour which gives people a hands-on photographic experience in a small class size with loads of personal attention. This one really gets peoples photography jumping along in leaps and bounds. For more information, check the events on our facebook page.

Does this have anything to do with Westpac bank?
Westpac has given us the window, other than that they have had absolutely no input into what we’re using it for. There is no link to the bank, it’s not a promotion for the bank and they get no benefit or use of the images out of it.

By Happier Snapper  |  View on Facebook

I am quite proud to have one of the photographs from my recent work in Japan selected for the 2011 edition in the Travel section (see image 4 below (also in the slideshow at the bottom).

Also included in the Annual are plenty of interesting insights from professional photographers on the best websites, blogs, software, studios, applications, equipment and more. Its a wonderful summary of some fabulous photography from throughout the year and a fascinating insight into the preferred tools, website hang outs and more of professional shooters. Capture magazine can be purchased at all good newsagents or subscribed to online at Yaffa Publishing.

Below are 2 galleries containing a larger selection of images from Japan.

Japan | Winter – Images by Joseph Feil

Japan | Winter Monotone – Images by Joseph Feil

Some are being published as books, some as traditional magazines, some as well designed online presences and some for ipad. I thought I’d take a quick look at a few of them and see whether this is the start of a new resurgence in outlets for quality photography and longform storytelling, or simply another round of hopeless idealists destined for a glorious but short existence.

Burn Magazine

Burn is curated and created by Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey and has been running since late 2008. It calls itself an evolving journal for emerging photographers and publishes new stories or singles at least 3 times a week via their online presence at www.burnmagazine.org. It is funded by direct donations and I assume some specific sponsorships.

As David says on his about page “burn is born from an educational imperative and to bring strong photographic essays and powerful text to not only photographers, but to anyone fascinated by a visual and literary interpretation of our complex planet. Your interpretations may be either journalistic in nature or esoteric subjective pieces. I hold all artists in high regard. With me as editor/curator you need never think “what does he want or like?” I will push you to do your thing, not mine…

We will do something very special right here on burn. A collaboration between thee and me. Adventure. Always exploring new territory. With YOU as the authors.”

Burn is interesting not just because of the high quality of stories that regularly emerge from the website, but also because they have begun to publish an online magazine/book. They are now up to edition 02 – which can be purchased worldwide for EUR35 + shipping – http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2011/10/buy-burn-02-in-print/

“Burn 02 is not a repeat of Burn online. Burn 02 is its own original work. A 1500 copy limited editon. Online is terrific, but when you hold 02 in your hand, you will know what photography is all about from our perspective. I am not published in it. I wish I was. The place to be published for sure”.

Also of note is the emerging photographer grant which they fund, details of which can be found here – http://www.burnmagazine.org/emerging-photographer-grant/

TAKE Photography Magazine

TAKE is a new venture by the guys and gals at Sydney design house DESIGN IS KINKY , and published it’s first edition on July 2011 – http://www.takephotomag.com/. It features a strong lineup of mostly well established Australian Photographers, with the first issue containing work by Tamara Dean, Stephen Dupont, Adam Ferguson, James Brickwood, Lee Grant, Martin Mischkulnig, Toby Dixon,
Lisa Wiltse and others and a preview can be viewed here – http://issuu.com/emptymag/docs/take_one_preview

Issue Two is currently available for pre-sale (which is helping fund the second edition) and they threw submissions for that edition open on facebook and then received a fairly overwhelming selection (duh!). Hopefully we’ll see it soon and as per issue 1 I’m assuming it will be available both online and at decent quality newsagents.

Timemachine

Timemachine is one I recently came across and is published by Lee Grant (formerly of Light Journeys) and Tom Williams. Also in it’s second bimonthly edition, it provides online galleries only at this stage. Submissions are loosely based on the current editions theme and encouraged from a wide pool of contributors. To date those published include Fiona Morris, Katrin Koenning, Michael Corridore, Ingvar kenne and Loiuse Porter – http://timemachinemag.com/

“Timemachine publishes contemporary photography from Australia and elsewhere in the world. Our emphasis is on showing new work and longer term projects; and bringing the concerns of photographers and their colleagues to wider attention. Do countries or cultures breed different ways of thinking and seeing? This is a place to look at new Australian image making alongside a selection of what’s emerging from around the globe.”

They are currently online only but would seem a great candidate for print at some point. Also it is well worthwhile checking out their Links page for a high quality list of Magazines, Festivals, Galleries, Agencies and Competitions.

MARTYN JOLLY: Facial Velocities

MICHAEL CORRIDORE: Today's your birthday

TERESA COS: I was there

ELENA DORFMAN: The Pleasure Park

CLAIRE MARTIN: Femme Fatale

FIONA MORRIS: Miss South Sudan Australia

ZED NELSON: Love Me

SUSANA RAAB: Consumed

SASHA WOOLLEY: Limelight

Once magazine

Once Magazine is taking the ipad angle with a premise built on a simple idea:
“It started with a simple realization: photographs look great on the iPad. And the problem? We couldn’t find any to look at.

The more we dug the worse things seemed. While photographs impact more people than ever before, outlets for visual storytelling weren’t keeping pace with either technology or shifting reader habits. The entire concept of curated photography, we realized, was ripe for a serious rethinking.

The product of our ensuing efforts is Once, a new magazine for the iPad that shares subscription revenue 50/50 with each issue’s contributors. This is, no doubt, something different. But Once is more than a magazine on a device and more than a new model. We’re excited to bring the photo story into the age of the app, and have an amazing set of features in development for both readers and photographers.”

Once Magazine — Available Now from Once Magazine on Vimeo.

The other interesting part here is that they split the app store revenue for each issue with contributors in a 50:50 split. They seem to be getting some good collaborative partners on-board as well, including Agence VU and LUCEO for the first edition. It’s got great photojournalism work and with the right social media marketing approach maybe they can cut through and generate a loyal subscriber base. I’d suggest checking out their blog - http://blog.oncemagazine.com/

If you’ve got a favourite photography magazine, hit it up in the comments….

The long awaited 2011 Ballarat International FOTO Biennale has finally begun and presents a wonderful opportunity to see a huge and impressive array of photography from both Australian and International artists. The Core program consists of 21 shows over 7 key venues (all within 5 minutes walk of each other in the Ballarat CBD). The Fringe program consists of 66 venues and over 80 shows. Then there are projections, workshops, special events, competitions and masterclasses. Luckily there is a month to see it all….

So with that much to offer, how do you choose what to see and do? I decided to head up to Ballarat from Melbourne to see what I could manage in a day and thought I’d share my thoughts on what I liked, what was worth seeing and how I spent my time.

Before I begin, let me clarify that my thoughts are based on my own personal preference. You may love what I hate, and hate what I love – that’s the wonderful thing about art. Also, I didn’t get to see everything in one day, so many shows will go unremarked on (but I am hoping to get back and see the rest so check back in).  For the record I did see all the core shows and 33 Fringe shows in the one day, starting around 10:30 and finishing around 5.  We also stopped for lunch, had afternoon tea by the lake and walked nearly everywhere.

So, here we go. Starting with my favorites and then working back:

My Absolute Favourites

Colin Page: Gossamer -Venue A (C):

This work is large, bold and impressive.  It features portraits taken under UV and infra-red light and the effect is both dramatic and powerful.  The subjects are engaging and the skin details revealed by the lighting technique create a real sense of vulnerability about our bodies and lives.   This was a standout and Colin has gone to a lot of effort to not only execute an idea but also to spend the required time, effort and money to create significant pieces of work.

John Gollings: Bushfire Aerials – Venue G (C):

John Gollings is without doubt a brilliant photographer.  A reasonably small but beautifully produced series of aerial B&W photographs following the Victorian bushfires, they have a lyricism, balance and beauty which defies the subject matter.   In the manner of a photographer who is on top of every aspect of the images he exhibits, these are flawless, perfect and stunning.

Frances Mocnik: The Night that follows Day – Venue G (C):

This is by far the most impressive documentary work in the Biennale.  It is a touching, amusing, thought provoking and grounding view of the confronting process that occurs after death.  Every image is necessary, each is multi-dimensional and each is adding to the story.   I had come across this work before but there were a few images that were new and the effect on me just as strong as when I first saw it.

Great Shows Worth Seeing

Maggie Diaz: One Way Ticket – Venue A (C)

Another documentary piece that is easy to view and thoroughly engaging.   Featuring B&W street documantary images from the 50′s, 60′s and early 70′s, these show a nostalgic view of places like St Kilda and Elwood Beach, Luna Park, the Melbourne Zoo and many other iconic locations in Australia and in the USA.  Many of the images include candid people, with a real slice of life feel, reminiscent of Time and Life magazines.  Loved it!

Tony Whincup: Playgrounds – Venue C (C)

I really enjoyed this series.  It was thoughtful, concise, well executed and possessed a strong sense of colour and composition to bring it all together.   The images are stark and devoid of people, yet the exploration of the spaces is such that people are front of mind when looking at the images.

Jan + Sarah Saudek: Dolce Vita – Venue A (C)

Not sure how best to describe this work.  It is humorous, sexual, confronting, sad, contrived and thoroughly engaging.  Of all the work exhibited, it is the least likely to be forgotten.  It won’t be to everyone’s taste but a quick read about the artists history helps give the work more context (nice article here at arts hub) and gives the work a real sense of being a true extension of the photographers life.  There’s also the issue of the image not on display which The Age discusses here

Duffy: The Man Who Shot The Series – Venue B (C)

The first 6 images as you walk in on the left are incredible.  Black and White fashion taken in the 60′s mostly (the Vogue image 2nd along is spectacular), these are beautifully created images, with that perfect mix of style and desire.   His later work (like the Bowie image on the left) is more edgy, in line with the fashion of the times.  The man is a genius but I felt the show was a little hit and miss for me for some reason.  I guess for a retrospective show that covers such a long period of cutting edge fashion and the work of a true trend-setter, there are inevitably going to be a range of images that appeal to different people

Louviere + Vanessa: As Id…[Creatures & Chloroform] – Venue B (C)

These were really interesting.  Not my cup of tea and a long way from straight photography as a record of an event or time.  These images are very much in the realm of the artworld and to be honest, their meaning was somewhat difficult for me to interpret.  Yet at the same time, I couldn’t help appreciate the strong emotional response they exuded.  The images have a definite strength and boldness.  Some will love them, some probably won’t, but it’s hard to ignore them.

Jack Picone: Nuba – Venue D (C)

A beautifully photographed and printed series.  Picone is fully immersed in his subjects world, providing an insiders perspective of a way of life that is far removed from anything we know.  There is a genuine familiarity with his subjects which shines through and a strength of character in his subjects which transforms the work from mere observation to a much stronger engagement.

Istvan Horkay: One Day of Mrs Houdini – Venue G (C)

This is another show that I was extremely impressed with but didn’t connect with fully.  The works are incredible muti-layered tableaux with a visual quality that is exceptional.  There is obvious thought and meaning behind the many hundreds of layers that make up these images and it again creates a desire to understand the images and the artist further.

Kathleen Winder: Columba Livia – Venue 8 (F)

This was a pleasant surprise!  Who knew pigeons could be so fascinating.  Exquisitely photographed in a clean, simple style resembling Andrew Zuckerman, the quality of the images and their display is first class.  But it’s the pigeons that are the stars of the show, constantly surprising with their uniqueness and personality.  A great show!

Christian Pearson: Conversations with the Land – Venue 24 (F)

OK so this one maybe shouldn’t be here as the venue wasn’t actually open.  We did however get a decent look through the window and I’m pretty sure it’s good, interesting work, featuring cubist styled landscapes which looked great (from afar….)

Darren james: Untitiled – Venue 28 (F)

Situated in a coffee shop on Sturt street, the images are a bit difficult to access due to the limitations on hanging space.  As such many are set way up high near the roof.  Irrespective of this, Darren has produced some lovely and intimate images that are engaging, beautifully printed and quite gorgeous.  Watch out for the poetic red print inside the cafe (back right) and also the right hand image hanging in the window.

David Simmonds: Finding Sacred Space in a Secular World – Venue G (F)

David has been a leading commercial photographer for many years and his art prints are nothing short of spectacular.  These are very big prints and their size both suits the subject matter and allows one to appreciate the attention to detail and perfection in each image.  Stunning architecture with a themed message on a large format really makes these work.

Solid Shows Worth a Look

Judith Crispin: The Cartographers Illusion – Venue A (C) – liked many of these a lot but felt that the flow of them was difficult to absorb due to the alcove nature of their hanging.  A few images that didn’t work for me but lots that did.
Chris Budgeon: What is True – Venue A (C) – These are strong pieces, with a very cinematic style somewhat reminiscent of Gregory Crewdson.  Large glossy prints, a well thought out subject matter and some really interesting pieces.  Unfortunately they are really hard to look at because of some serious reflection issues in the space – I was wearing a light coloured top and couldn’t escape my mirror image a lot of the time.
Lisa M Robinson: Snowbound – Venue B (C) These had some evocative images of places and items being released or held in by a snow filled landscape.  Again, a strong series but I thought some of the images were a touch off making it really work.
Rodger Donaldson: All Dogs Shot – Venue B (C) A large body of work and some really interesting and often amusing images. Real slice of life stuff and I liked the style but overall was left underwhelmed for some reason.
Sarah Louise Jackson: Creatures – Venue C (C) An impressive body of work for a young photographer, featuring wild animals shown in evocative B&W canvas prints.  A felt they were a bit overworked and they reminded me a lot of Nick Brandt’s work.   Sarah is passionate about Animal Welfare and is using these images to help raise awareness of the issue (which I’m sure they will)
Heather Dinas: The Hymn of Kassiani and Two Brides – Venue F (C) Another one that suffered from serious reflection issues and a less than ideal installation.  Once again this is a series displaying depth of thought as well as exquisite execution.  The images are sensual and beautiful and it’s a shame they are so hard to take in properly.
Maleonn: Little Flagman – Venue D (C) I was quite excited to see this after seeing the preview image but underwhelmed at the actual series.  Smaller pieces than I expected and again, not helped by a really poor hanging (no light on them at all) and the first couple of frames had exceptionally dirty glass.   Maleonn is obviously a very talented photographer with a cinematic and cleanly designed style associated with a narrative approach and I’m keen to see more of his work.
Alfred Gregory: Significant Moments of Time – Venue F (C) I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Alfred a few years ago and as such I’ve seen a lot of these before.  As always, these are great documentary photographs.  The Blackpool series continues to impress and the large prints from the Everest expedition are awe-inspiring.  If you haven’t seen this work, it’s well worth a look.
Aldona Kmiec: Transient – Venue 14 (F) This was a surprise set of work that isn’t perfect but had some genuine moments of wow!   Essentially street / art photography in B&W, some of the images such as the multi-exposure Sumo and some of the upside down shadow prints were very strong.  I like it.
Carolyn Buckley: Shindo No Iken – Venue 16 (F) These are photographic compositions inspired by Japanese styling and textures.  They’re an interesting juxtaposition and blending of photographic images that I thought worked well.
MAP Group: Mapping Ballarat 2 – Venue 15 (F) Ok, I’m a bit biased here but it really is worth a look.  I’m biased as I have 3 images as part of this show but there is some genuinely good work on display, all photographed in and around Ballarat.  The images by Meredith O’Shea are the standouts, with some strong work by Melanie Faith Dove and others as well.  It’s also worth checking out the extended set of images by parking yourself on the street bench outside the visitor information centre where you’ll see the images projected on a TV in the window.  I’d recommend coming after dark with a blanket and a mug of hot tea!
Julie Millowick: Quotations – Venue 16 (F) Julie’s work is always thoughtful, exquisitely produced and the type of work that grows on you the longer you look at it.  It’s hampered a bit in this space by reflections but certainly worth a good look.
Eric Algra: Ned Kelly Was Here – Venue 29 (F) The first thing about these are they are in need of a good edit.  But amongst the excess I found a light-hearted, well shot and well printed series of photos exploring the legend of Ned Kelly in a very Australian fashion.  With an edit, larger prints and a bigger space, this has the makings of a strong show.  Documentary in style, it reminds me of a USA road trip series, done Australian style.
Neil Cash: The Shape of Music – Venue 29 (F) These are really interesting and meticulously put together.  A compilation of images and graphics based around music, these are very graphic in their design and very clean in their execution.  They don’t come across as photography, more as graphic design but I liked them anyway.
Teagan Glenane: Issa’s Story – Venue 29 (F) It’s a shame these don’t have the space to breathe on the wall somewhere as they are a sensitively photographed documentary series with a really strong and emotive storyline.  Unfortunately they’re a bit cramped and hard to engage with in the busy space they occupy but the quality of the work is undeniable.
Dave Tacon: Xpan – Venue G (F) A great format and some great shots from a number of interesting places in this series by editorial photographer Dave Tacon.  The wide format really works in telling a story within a single frame and many of these do that very well.
Jeanne Wells: Things of this World – Venue 35 (F) These are fun and unique.  They capture tiny slices of life using a wet plate collodion method and not only is the end result engaging and emotive, but the process by which they are created is on show as well.

Shows with something worthwhile (or that you might like more than me)

Les Horvat: Momentum of the River’s Flow – Venue A (C)
Anton Van Der Schoot: My Art – Venue 33 (F)
Osamu James Nakagawa – Venue E (C)
Darrian Traynor: American Fine Dining – Venue 59 (F)
Cynthia Karalla: After Death Options – Venue G (F)
Carly Michael: Air – Venue 6 (F)
Rosalind Lawson / Lynden Nicholls: Meniscus – Venue 8 (F)
Jane E Brown: Afterlife – Venue 14 (F)
Group Exhibition: Melbourne Silver Mine – Venue 38 (F)
Lea Williams / Paul X Stoney: Eclectic Decisive Moments – Venue 34 (F)

And Then

Carmel Riordan: The Mighty West – Venue 27 (F)
Gypsy Pennefeather: Cafe Bibo – Venue 21 (F)
Simon Peterswald: Chrome – Venue 29 (F)
Patricia Gabb: Polar Bears of Hudson bay – Venue 29 (F)
Mel Woolcock: View and Review – Venue 1 (F)
Emma Blee / Roger Farrell / Meredith Harvey: Inhabited Space – Venue 3 (F)
Gabrielle Hingston: Melbourne Street Scenes – Venue 2 (F)
Melanie Jayne Taylor: On the Rise – Venue 32 (F)
Lawrence Winder: Continuum – Venue 20 (F)
Jack Wilson: What Costume Shall the Poor Girl Wear – Venue 4 (F)
John Lamb: Textures of Italy – Venue 4 (F)
Lorraine Harvey: Dancing in Ballarat – Venue 13 (F)

Finally, though some shows may not be in my must see lists, congratulations to everyone who made the effort to be included in the biennale. It’s wonderful that the Biennale is inclusive enough to offer space to both experienced and new artists of varying levels of both photographic and exhibiting skills. In addition, many of the venues (in particular, but not only the fringe venues) are not well suited for photography and thus work that is excellent is often let down by the space which contains it – a necessary compromise when hosting this many shows.

Leave you own opinions and favorites in the comments below…

I love photographing people on the move – it’s street photography for the modern age where people never seem to stay still.
City Movers – Joseph Feil

Don’t forget the “Opportunities” at the bottom….

VICTORIA
American Dreams: 20th Century Photography From George Eastman House
Exhibition: Until July 10
Bendigo Art Gallery
42 View St, Bendigo
http://www.bendigoartgallery.com.au/

Christopher Tovo: Italia Mia
Exhibition: Until May 28
Colour Factory
409 – 429 Gore St, Fitzroy
http://www.colourfactory.com.au/

Eric Bridgeman: The Fight
Exhibition: Until May 21
Dianne Tanzer Gallery + Projects
108 – 110 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
http://www.diannetanzergallery.net.au/

Where On Earth: Photographic Exhibition By Gary Steer
Exhibition: Until May 21
New North Gallery
15a Railway Place, Fairfield
http://www.newnorth.com.au/

Tamara Dean: Only Human
Exhibition: Until May 29
James Makin Gallery
67 Cambridge St, Collingwood
www.jamesmakingallery.com

Lauren Bamford: I Hope You Choke
Exhibition: Until May 15
C3 Contemporary Art Spaces
The Abbotsford Convent, The Basement
1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
http://www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au/newsletter/c3-may-0

Antonietta Covino-Beehre: Subconscious Perspectives
Obscura Gallery
First Floor 285 Carlisle St, East St Kilda
www.obscuragallery.com

Michelle Jarni: The Meeting
Obscura Gallery
First Floor 285 Carlisle St, East St Kilda
www.obscuragallery.com

David Tatnall: The Quiet Landscape
Exhibition: Until June 19
Gold Street Studios and Gallery
700 James Lane, Trentham East
http://www.goldstreetstudios.com.au/DavidTatnal%20QuietLS.html

Jeff Kilpatrick: Tribes of Tanna
Exhibition: May 11 – 29
Carbon Black Gallery
188 High Street, Prahran
http://www.carbonblackgallery.blogspot.com>

Slave Pianos Punkasila Pipeline To Oblivion: 3 projects by Danius Kesminas
and Collaborators
Exhibition: Until July 23
Monash University Museum of Art
Ground Floor, Building F
Monash University, Caulfield Campus
900 Dandenong Rd, Caulfield East
www.monash.edu.au/muma

Age of Aquarius: the photography of Paul Cox
Exhibition: Until June 19
Monash Gallery of Art
860 Ferntree Gully Road Wheelers Hill
http://www.mga.org.au/

Time Machine: Sue Ford
Exhibition: Until June 19
Monash Gallery of Art
860 Ferntree Gully Road Wheelers Hill
http://www.mga.org.au/

Top Shots
Exhibition: Until June 19
Monash Gallery of Art
860 Ferntree Gully Road Wheelers Hill
http://www.mga.org.au/

Simon Terrill: Phantom
Exhibition: Until May 21
Sutton Gallery
254 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
http://www.suttongallery.com.au/

Bonnie Lane: Into the Dark
Exhibition: May 13 – 28
BUS Projects
Basement level, Donkey Wheel House
673 Bourke St, Melbourne
www.busprojects.com.au

Laurens Tan: Arena: A Post Boom Beijing
Exhibition: May 7 – June 12
La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre
121 View Street, Bendigo
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/vac

Renata Buziak: Afterimage
Exhibition: Until May 21
Red Gallery Contemporary Art Space
157 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North
www.redgallery.com.au

It’s Not You, It’s Me: Wil Box, Jessica Mcelhinney, Clare Rae (Co-curator),
Dominic Redfern (Co-curator), Cassandra Tytler.
Project Space/Spare Room Gallery
Managed by RMIT University School of Art
RMIT Building 94, 23-27 Cardigan St, Carlton
http://schoolofartgalleries.dsc.rmit.edu.au/PSSR/exhibitions/2011/its-not-you-its-me.html

Jamie Boys: Internal Transmutation
Exhibition: Until May 8
Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts
26 Acland St, St Kilda
http://www.lindenarts.org/

Michaela Gleave: I Would Bring you the Stars
Exhibition: Until May 7
Anna Pappas Gallery
2-4 Carlton Street, Prahran
http://www.annapappasgallery.com/

John Watson: Driven
Exhibition: May 13 – 26
Brunswick Street Gallery
322 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
http://bsgart.com.au/

Monique Barnett: Hell – Bent
Exhibition: Until May 22
Brunswick Arts Space
2a Little Breese St, Brunswick
http://www.brunswickarts.com.au/

Jarrod Factor: Like Moths to Pixels
Exhibition: Projecting every night from dusk until May 15
Propaganda Window (Melbourne) Michael Koro Gallery
110 Franklin St, Melbourne
www.michaelkoro.com

Diagram Exhibition: Until May19
RMIT University School of Art
RMIT Building 94, 23-27 Cardigan St, Carlton
http://schoolofartgalleries.dsc.rmit.edu.au/PSSR/exhibitions/2011/diagram.html

Urban Perspectives: the extreme-angle views of Barney Meyer
Exhibition: Until May 24
Art at St. Francis’
Corner of Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne

Richard Wolstencroft: Freedom’s Undead
Public Lecture
Wednesday April 20 at 6pm
La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre
121 View Street, Bendigo
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/vac

Stuart Bailey and Rozalind Drummond: Black Mountain
Exhibition: Until May 14
Margaret Lawrence Gallery
40 Dodds St, Southbank
www.vcam.unimelb.edu.au/gallery

Magdalena Bors: The Seventh Day
Exhibition: May 21 – July 3
Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale
Port of Sale Civic Centre
68-70 Foster St, Sale
www.wellington.vic.gov.au/gallery

Innerplace/Interface
Exhibition: Until May 31
RMIT School of Art Gallery
RMIT University City Campus
Building 94 Level 2, 23 – 27 Cardigan Street, Carlton
www.schoolofartgalleries.dsc.rmit.edu.au

Lindi Huntsman: Many Stories – One Heart
Exhibition: Until July 29
Lobby Gallery, Level 1 and Atrium Gallery, Level 35
Sofitel Melbourne On Collins
25 Collins St, Melbourne

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Zhao Qing: 12 Days
Exhibition: May12 – June 5
Perth Centre for Photography
91 Brisbane Street, Perth

http://www.pcp.org.au/

Nassima Rothacker: Lucid Dreaming
Exhibition: Until May 8
Perth Centre for Photography
91 Brisbane Street, Perth

http://www.pcp.org.au/

Robyn Bernadt: One Hundred Paper Assemblages
Exhibition: Until May 8
Perth Centre for Photography
91 Brisbane Street, Perth

http://www.pcp.org.au/

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Bonita Ely: Three Rivers
Exhibition: Until May 7
Australian Experimental Art Foundation
Lion Arts Centre, North Terrace (West End), Adelaide

http://www.aeaf.org.au/

QUEENSLAND
Seven Japanese Pinhole Photographers
Exhibition: Until June 6
Queensland Centre for Photography
Corner of Cordelia and Russell Streets, South Brisbane

http://www.qcp.org.au/

ALT. Eight Alternative Queensland Photographers
Exhibition: Until June 6
Queensland Centre for Photography
Corner of Cordelia and Russell Streets, South Brisbane

http://www.qcp.org.au/

Rebecca Claire Edwards: Effervescence
Exhibition: May 7 – June 4
Cell Art Space
109 Lake St, Cairns

http://www.cellartspace.com/

Robyn Baker, Barbara Dover and Anna Holan: The Black Pram Project
Exhibition: Until May 21
Kick Contemporary Arts
96 Abbott Street, Cairns

http://kickarts.org.au

Remoteness
Exhibition: Until May 21
Viewing Times:
Tuesday & Wednesday 2.00pm-6.30pm
Thursday & Friday 2.00pm-7.30pm
Saturday 4.00pm-7.30pm
The Block and Parer Place Urban Screen
Cnr Kelvin Grove Road and Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove

http://www.ciprecinct.qut.edu.au/shows/details.jsp?news-event-id=34352

James Newitt: Silent Protests
Exhibition: Until May 7
Criterion Gallery
12 Criterion Street, Central Hobart

http://www.criteriongallery.com.au/

NEW SOUTH WALES
Head On Portrait Prize Director and Artist Talks
1 – 3pm May 7
Free Admission
Australian Centre for Photography
257 Oxford Street, Paddington

http://www.acp.org.au/

Josh Robenstone: JOURNEYS
Exhibition: Until May 8
aMBUSH Gallery
4A James St, Waterloo, Sydney
www.ambushgallery.com

Billy Maynard: Trans/Tender
Exhibition: Until May 28
Damien Minton Gallery
Level 1, 268 Devonshire St, Surry Hills

http://damienmintongallery.com.au/artists/billy-maynard

Liam Benson
Exhibition: Until May 28
Artereal
747 Darling Street, Rozelle

http://artereal.com.au/home/

Jane Burton: White Stain
Exhibition: Until May 28
Rex Irwin Art Dealer
38 Queen St, Woollahra

http://www.rexirwin.com/artists/gallery_artists/burton/2011/index.htm

Nathalie Daoust: Impersonating Mao
Exhibition: Until May 22
Silverpixel Studio
1/39 Phillip St, Newtown

Tino Sand: Cross Country Where Places Meet
Exhibition: Until July 30
Sara Roney Gallery
19a Boundary St.
Rushcutters Bay

http://www.sararoneygallery.com.au/

Guns, Boys, Etc?: Sean O’Carroll
Exhibition: 5 May – 17 May
281 Clarence St, Sydney

http://www.seanocarroll.com.au

Moran Prizes 2011
Exhibition: Until June 26
State Library of NSW
Macquarie Street, Sydney

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/

Collision: Misadventure by Motor Car
Exhibition: Until December 31
Justice and Police Museum
Cnr Albert and Phillip Streets, Circular Quay, Sydney

http://www.hht.net.au/whats_on/exhibitions/exhibitions/collision_misadventure_by_motorcar

Australian landscape photography 1970s until now
Exhibition: Until May 29
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Rd, The Domain, Sydney
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/

The World Through A Plastic Lens V5: Ludlites Love Fire
Exhibition: Until May 7
Blender Gallery & The Just Shoot Shop
16 Elizabeth St Paddington, Sydney

http://www.blender.com.au/

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Micky Allan and Steenus Von Steensen: Botany Bay 2010
Exhibition: Until May 21
Canberra Contemporary Art Space
Gorman House Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Ave, Braddon

http://www.ccas.com.au/

OPPORTUNITIES
The Annual Pollux Awards
The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards invites professional and
non-professional photographers, as well as photography students worldwide,
working in all media to submit their work to the 3rd Edition of The WPGA
Annual Pollux Awards. $24,000 in Prizes up for grabs. The
Pollux Award Gala and Exhibition will be held at the Palais de Glace in Buenos Aires.
Deadline: May 31, 2011. For more information visit
http://www.thegalaawards.net/

Centre for Fine Art Photography
Call for entries for photographic works in the following categories: Food,
Art in Nature, Dreams and Portfolio Showcase Volume 5. Deadlines for each
category are as follows: Food: May 17, Art In Nature: May 25, Dreams: August
9, Portfolio Showcase Volume 5: September 14. For more information visit
http://www.c4fap.org/

Perth Centre for Photography IRIS Awards
Deadline: August 1. The IRIS Award is an annual international prize
recognising new and outstanding portraiture in photo-based media offering
over $4000 in cash and prizes. The criteria for selection focuses on
portraits that are unique, original and engaging, whilst maintaining
excellence in photography. For more information visit
http://www.pcp.org.au/PCP_Competitions/IRIS_Awards.aspx

Perth Centre for Photography CLIP Award
The CLIP Award is an international prize recognising contemporary landscapes
in photo-based media. The selection criteria focuses on images that are
original and stimulating, and challenge traditional notions of landscape
photography. Closing date for entries: 8 May 2011. For entry forms visit
http://www.pcp.org.au/PCP_Competitions/CLIP_Awards.aspx

2011 Heartlands Refugee Art Prize
Multicultural Arts Victoria and AMES are glad to announce the 2011
Heartlands Refugee Art Prize. We are summoning all Refugee artists (must be
Australian Refugees/Residents from 1970 to 2011) to apply for entry. There
is a total prize pool of over $15,000.00 in cash and prizes to support
artistic output and career aspirations. The prizes will be awarded on
Tuesday, June 14 at an exhibition at fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne. The
application closing date is May 6. For more information, online forms and
further details please visit http://www.multiculturalarts.com.au/heartlands

Gertrude St Projection Festival
Call for visual entries in all forms of digital art that can be projected:
stills, video, animation, photos taken on your phone. Theme for entries is
“Hidden: Spaces and Places”. Deadline is May 30, 2011. For more information
visit http://www.thegertrudeassociation.com/

Take Care Out There Short Film Competition
Call for entries for short films with themes of sex, sexuality, and sexual
health with $2500 up for grabs!! This is through {also}’s queer community
sexual health project. Deadline for final entries is August 19, 2011. For
more information visit http://www.also.org.au/

Splendid
Splendid brings together knowledge and creative professionals from
performance, public art, visual arts, architecture, design and digital
technology to explore the ways that art can transform a public space and
break open new possibilities for audience experience. We are calling out for
creatives of all stripes to participate in the 2011 Splendid Arts Lab. You
must be a young and emerging artist – a practitioner under 30, or in the
first 5 years of your practice. Applications due: 5pm Monday 2 May 2011. For
more information visit http://www.splendid.org.au/index.shtml.

60th Blake Prize
The Blake Prize: non-acquisitive prize of $20,000 and the John Coburn
Emerging Artist Award: non-acquisitive prize of $5,000 will be awarded for
the best contemporary religious or spiritual artwork submitted. The Blake
Prize is strictly non-sectarian. The Society does not restrict entries to
works related to any faith or any artistic style, but it does expect that
any work entered will have a recognisable religious or spiritual integrity.
Entries close Friday June 24. For more information and entry forms visit
http://www.blakeprize.com.au/

Aesthetica Creative Works Competition
The 2011 Aesthetica Creative Works Competition is now open for entries.
Aesthetica Magazine is inviting all artists, photographers, writers and
poets to submit their work into the Creative Works Competition, Now in its
fourth year, the competition is dedicated to celebrating and championing
creative talent across the disciplines and is eager to see photographic work
well-represented in the competition this year. The deadline for submissions
is the 31st August 2011. More guidelines on how to submit can be found
online at http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/submission_guide.htm

Snapshot 2011
Call for photographic artists for exhibition at Carbon Black Gallery.
Entries close June 3. For more information visit
http://www.carbonblackgallery.blogspot.com/

Eureka Prize for Science Photography
Entries for the New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography are now
open. One of 24 Eureka Prizes on offer this year, this national photographic
competition invites entries from both amateur and professional
photographers, scientists and non-scientists with a share in $10,000 up for
grabs. What does science mean to you and can you capture this in a single
photograph? For further information go to
http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/eureka-prize/science-photography4
or contact us at eureka@austmus.gov.au

ASCA (Adults Surviving Child Abuse) Untangle the Knot Photographic
Competition
ASCA is running a Photographic Competition in May to raise money for their
organisation. The prize is $2000 and the 20 finalists will have their work
displayed at the Frances Keevil Gallery in Double Bay. Entries close May 13.
For more information and entry forms visit http://www.asca.org.au/

Perth Centre for Photography
The fourth annual Contemporary Landscapes In Photography is open for
entries. Go to http://www.pcp.org.au for more info and entry forms.

TCB Art Inc.
TCB is accepting proposals now. Second half of 2011 (from Sep to Dec) and
2012 (Jan-Feb). Visit this page for more info:
http://www.tcbartinc.org.au/index.php?page=proposals

Basil Sellers Art Prize 2012
Basil Sellers is supporting the award of a prize for an artwork on the open
theme of sport. The prize will be managed by the Ian Potter Museum of Art.
The value of the prize is $100 000 and this includes the acquisition of the
work. Entries are due by Friday June 24 2011. For more information and to
download an entry form visit http://www.sellersartprize.com.au

Regional Arts Victoria
Regional Arts Victoria has a new project, Storytellers of the Flood, which
will be delivered with (AFTRS) Australian Film, Television, and Radio School
during May. The project will involve a five-day workshop and filmmaking
process and will take place at two regional schools whose communities were
affected by the Victorian floods earlier this year – Kerang Technical High
School and Charlton College. This is an incredible opportunity for two
regional schools to experience the absolute best in filmmaking expertise. To
find out more, please visit http://www.rav.net.au/

Articulate Project Space
Articulate project space is calling for proposals for its 2011-12 program.
If you would like to be part of this program please go to
http://articulate497.blogspot.com/

Alfred Stieglitz - cropped, 1933

George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film is the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the world’s oldest film archives, first opening its doors to the public in Rochester, New York, in 1949. The photographic exhibition American Dreams is currently showing at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

The exhibition was selected by Bendigo Art Gallery Curator, Tansy Curtin, from the George Eastman House Collection. The exhibition is exclusive to the Bendigo Art Gallery and cannot be seen anywhere else in Australia.

This exhibition focuses on the museum’s extensive holdings of 20th-century American photography. Since the early days of photography American photographers have been at the forefront of the development of the medium, pushing its boundaries to promote and affirm its role as an artform in its own right, while developing new ways of seeing and representing.

The exhibition includes the work of 35 of America’s most celebrated photographers: Berenice Abbott, Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Margaret Bourke-White, Harry Callahan, Robert Capa, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Imogen Cunningham, Edward S Curtin, William Eggleston, Walker Evans, Lee Friedlander, Nan Goldin, Lewis Hine, Gertrude Kasebier, Dorothea Lange, Robert Mapplethorpe, Mary Ellen Mark, Tina Modotti, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Joan Myers, Barbara Norfleet, John Pfahl, Man Ray, Cindy Sherman, Stephen Shore, Aaron Siskind, W Eugene Smith, Edward Steichen, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Weegee, Edward Weston and Gary Winogrand.

Anyone for a road trip to Bendigo….

For those who don’t know Andrew Chapman, put simply he is one of Australia’s most enduring documentary photographers. He has helped many of the current crop of photographers (including me) as they’ve made their way into the industry and been a source of inspiration and energy for the community as a whole. Andrew was recently extremely unwell and underwent a liver transplant. He is now recovering well and everyone is extremely thankful and fortunate for that. As a result there are 2 events coming up to aid both Andrew and the Liver Transplant Unit.

PLEASE support Andrew Chapman’s fundraiser for the Liver Transplant Unit Victoria, next Sunday 22nd at Monash Gallery of Art, Wheelers Hill, 2pm onwards. Show your support for an important person & photographer who has always supported the photographic community. I look forward to seeing you there at 2pm.

As well, the LIFE Benefit at New North Gallery is raising money for Andrew himself. It’s clear that, although he’s progressing well in his recovery after his transplant, it’s going to be a long road back to full power for him and it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to work much for the rest of this year. In view of that, the LIFE Benefit was mooted to help him work on a future photographic project without having to wonder where the money was coming from.

We know that Andrew’s reluctant to accept funds on his own behalf and so have agreed that half the money we raise should go to the Austin.

We really would like to see a great exhibition up on the walls at NewNorth from 29 May to 18 June – of images that we can sell from to raise additional funds – culminating in an exciting Print Swap afternoon on 19 June in the Gallery. With your participation the show will be a special opportunity for people to come and see work by some of Australia’s best – all together in one place – AND be able to purchase it for a good cause!

Andrew has worked tirelessly for years to promote photography and camaraderie among photographers hereabouts; he’s a great inspiration and mentor to so many people. We really did nearly lose him and this is our chance to rejoice in the fact that he’s still with us and will be able to get back to photography – his life’s work and passion. Who else would be master-minding the publication of a new book from his hospital bed? …..not to mention sending a photographer off to WA to complete the shooting of the project!!

Please join us in making LIFE a great and successful event! – Contact New North on (03) 9018 3082 to be involved

And an edited bio on Andrew in his own (who else’s) words….

Born 1954 in Melbourne, Australia, Andrew Chapman Studied photography at Prahran College of Advanced Education in the 1970′s under the guidance of well known photographers John Cato and Athol Smith. He worked as a newspaper photographer 1978-80, 1982-86, in suburban press and on freelance daily news assignments.

As a freelance photographer (1985-2006), Andrew has worked on numerous assignments for “Time”, “Business Review Weekly”, “The Bulletin” and “Who Weekly” magazines. With more than a dozen “Time” covers to his credit, he has covered subjects as diverse as Heroin Dealers, Bushfires, Prime Ministers, Presidents and Celebrities.

John Howard by Andrew Chapman

He was the instigator in 1998 and again in 1999 of the “Ararat” projects, which involved taking teams of approximately 40 photographers to the Victorian town of Ararat and its surrounds. Whilst there, they photographed the lifeblood of the district and created a unique visual record of a rural community in the late 20 century. To his knowledge this is the only time this has been attempted in Australia. Some of Australia’s finest photographers donated the resulting prints to the Ararat community to hold as a visual record.

He has co-ordinated 2 other group documentary projects, one on St Arnaud, Victoria and a second, at Hay NSW and was the driving force behind the creation of the Many Australia Photographers group and it’s project photographing the epic drought in Australia, culminating in the hugely successful book Beyond Reasonable Drought. Andrew was the first president of the MAP group and remains it’s spiritual guide!

Andrew Chapman Beyond Reasonable Drought

Since the late 1990′s Andrew has been a regular exhibitor, with 2 major shows to his credit, “Click; Rural Photographs By Andrew Chapman”, and “The Shearers”, which travelled on a 10 Gallery tour of the Eastern States. This critically acclaimed exhibition has been the focus of a 20 minute feature on ABC TV’s “Landline”, as well as having major press/magazine coverage, both here, Europe and the UK. “The Shearers” was been published in November 2006 by Lothian Press as a 176 page hardback book. “Click”, has been fully acquired by the State Library of Victoria as part of their permanent collection.

His work resides in collections at The National Library in Canberra, The State Library of Victoria, The Monash Gallery of Art, The City of Montpellier in France, The Horsham Regional Gallery, The City of Knox, as well as many private collections.