Two In For Head On Prizes …
Amongst the mass of mostly annoying or pure spam emails received lately were two that were especially welcomed. Both were from the crew at the Head On Prizes and contained the excellent news that my work had been selected as finalist in two categories of the prestigious awards – ‘Portraits’ and ‘Moving Image’.
I have previously had work selected in the ‘Portrait’ category … but this is a ‘first’ for me in the ‘Moving Image’ category.
Ten finalists have had their work selected in ‘Moving Image’ which is for small moving pieces (movies) combining any combination of multimedia, visual art, sound art, still or moving images or other media. Certainly isn’t my speciality so I’m incredibly gratified just to be amongst the ten!
The Head On Portrait Prize, now in its 12th year, is one of Australia’s most critically acclaimed photographic portrait prizes and has also received World wide recognition. In 2014 the Portrait Prize exhibition toured Internationally and it is expected that the 2015 Portrait exhibition will do the same.
So it’s particularly pleasing to make the Portrait finalist cut once again. (for news on my Head On Portrait Prize successes in previous years go to here and here.)
I’m not allowed to name or identify either of the finalist works at this time … but all will be revealed at the opening night of the ‘2015 Head On Photo Festival’ in Sydney on Friday 1st May. The ‘Portrait Prize’ exhibition will then run from the 2nd May till the 8th June at Sydney Living Museums … whilst the ‘Moving Image’ work will be displayed at the Brenda May Gallery Sydney from the 5th May till 6th June.
To keep abreast of the happenings at the Head On Photo Festival and Head On Prizes on social media use these tags … Hashtag – #headon15, Facebook – @Head On Photo Festival, Twitter – @HeadOnPhotoFest, Instagram – @headonphotofestival .
Why This Won the Trinity Bay School Portrait Prize …
Last week it was a pleasure to once again judge the works in the annual photographic portrait prize at Trinity Bay High School in Cairns.
This years exhibition totalled about sixty portraits from the students and (a handful) of teachers. The overall standard of the entries appeared improved on last years crop. A significant achievement. It took a stroll several times around the exhibition walls before finally settling on this years First, Second, Third, a couple of ‘commendations’ and a staff prize.
The work that I finally settled on as best in show was a multi layered portrait by grade 12 Shantelle Birch entitled “Self Hate” (top – below). Not only is Shantelle’s work a complicated and quality portrait, but also comments on the role of portraiture in society itself. The strong title and intricate image evokes emotion, addresses a contemporary youth issue on personal image and self doubt … and the pressures to confirm to stereotypes that visually bombard youth everyday. For her very well deserved win she was thrilled to receive a Nikon D3400 DSLR courtesy of sponsor Garricks Camera House.
Fractionally behind in Second Place was “The Despondent Girl” (second from top – below) … a well structured beautifully textured and composed portrait by Irin Phomraksa (also grade 12). Her work was anchored on the stare of the one visible eye amongst the seeming chaos of the windswept image.
Third was a classic and well constructed portrait – “Look Like Art” (bottom – below) by grade 11’s Lit Thai. Highly Commended awards went to untitled works by Etevise Taua and Lachlan Best (Lachlan’s clever and disturbing!), whilst the exhibition crowd voted Graziella Romunga’s work as ‘People’s Choice’. Staff prize went to a stand out entry – “Goodbye” by Anna Koetz Trowse.
Trinity Bay High School Visual Arts department teachers, including Sean Tooley and Ian Whittaker, should take a bow. Once again it was great to see, comment on and judge the wonderful photographic work of their talented students.
Images © the artists – Shantelle Birch, Irin Phomraksa and Lit Thai (2017)