Face On #35: Untitled

PIP face-on project, originally uploaded by hobbesken.

Face On #34: [TEST]

Originally uploaded by miyori.

Face On #33: Practically 15

Practically 15, originally uploaded by eclipsed.

Face On #32: Sleep deprived

Originally uploaded by hzopak.

Face On #31: Face

Face, originally uploaded by atrei.

Face On #30: IR Face On

PiP Project - IR Face On, originally uploaded by _pictures.

Face On #29: My Eyes Aren't Brown

Uploaded by What spare time

Face On #28: Grandma

Grandma, originally uploaded by ziliafotos.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #27: From Ebony to Ivory

From Ebony to Ivory, originally uploaded by inspired_eye.

Face On #26: To Thyself

To Thyself, originally uploaded by inspired_eye.

Face on #25: Untitled

, originally uploaded by art.reyu.

Face On #24: Jac-Paq

jak-paq, originally uploaded by dave_apple.

Face On #23: Horror face

b&w (Horror face), originally uploaded by dave_apple.

Face On #22: Paul

paul, originally uploaded by dave_apple.

Face On #21: Spooky attempt

Spooky attempt, originally uploaded by wxyzelise.

Face On #20: Untitled

IMG_2470, originally uploaded by snavedivad.

Face On #19: Excision

Excision, originally uploaded by Ozone71.

Face On #18: Untitled

Uploaded by Miyori

Face On #17: Emerald

Emerald, originally uploaded by eclipsed.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

[Exhibition] Dark Portraiture - Perth Centre For Photography - 17/1 to 31/1 2007.

[Exhibition] "Tres años más tarde…” / "Three years later" - Taylor’s Café and Art House, 510 Great Northern Highway, Middle Swan

Sometimes the real journey begins after the trip is over…

WA contemporary photographic artist Belle Verdiglione is exhibiting a stunning new series of work "Tres años más tarde…” meaning "three years later".

Belle’s compelling work explores the three years of her life since returning from travels through South America and Europe.

With a new perspective Belle has delved into public and private spaces to create photographs that reveal the unpredictable journey that began after she returned from her travels.

The exhibition opening night is Friday the 12th of January at 6:30pm and the exhibition runs until the 31st of January.

Venue: Taylor’s Café and Art House, 510 Great Northern Highway, Middle Swan.

Gallery opening hours are Wed-Sunday 10am -5pm

Further information about Belle Verdiglione can be found at: http://www.propelarts.org.au/people/?UserID=1623

Face On #16: stiff upper lip

stiff upper lip, originally uploaded by hyperkarma.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #15: Untitled

_MG_9935, originally uploaded by BuiBox.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #14: Untitled

Originally uploaded by Endless Beauty.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On#13: Brother Eating Corn Flakes at 1am

FACE ON: Brother Eating Corn Flakes at 1am, originally uploaded by Devar.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #12: My eye

My eye, originally uploaded by gtm_wa.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #11: Face!

Face!, originally uploaded by Noodlez.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #10: Not Everything In This World Is Black and White

Not Everything In This World Is Black and White, originally uploaded by Devil's_Advocate.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #9: Mature Eye

mature eye, originally uploaded by Bodikin.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #8: Cold

Cold, originally uploaded by sengster.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face on #7: Untitled

By Hadrian Blaq

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #6: Face

Face 2, originally uploaded by Mister Rad.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #5: Untitled

Face On, originally uploaded by urbanphotographer.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #4: For my eyes only

For my eyes only, originally uploaded by perthpete.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #3: Eye

Eye, originally uploaded by atrei.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #3: I c u

I c u, originally uploaded by luny.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #2 by eclipsed

Face On 1, originally uploaded by eclipsed.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

Face On #1: Unshaven?

Unshaven?, originally uploaded by antzpantz.

FACE ON is a project currently running in the PIP (Photographers in Perth) FlickR group. The brief is as follows:

"Take a frontal face portrait of a person or yourself. The face (or portions thereof) must fill the frame. There can be no hint of any background within the frame. The face must also be framed in-camera (ie. not a crop). It can be displayed in colour, post-processed, B&W - whatever takes your fancy."

[Exhibition] Perth Centre for Photography Christmas Show 2006 - December 16 and 17.

The Perth Centre for Photography's Christmas Show is a traditional salon style show curated by Rob McClellan, exhibiting the work of PCP members. All work is for sale and under $100 - so take this opportunity to see some great images and pick up some fantastic Christmas presents.

The Christmas Show opens at 7pm on Saturday the 16th December. The gallery will also be open on Sunday the 17th between 12-5pm if you can't be there for the party.

The Perth Centre for Photography: 91 Brisbane Street, PERTH.

[Exhibition] It's Dark Outside - the Blackbox ARTRAGE Complex, Dec 8 - Dec 14

A joint project between photographer, Lucien Sims and experimental film maker, Kate Faulds, It's Dark Outside is a visual exploration of local spaces from the point of view of the tourist outsider.


Kate’s digital film is an exploration of public/private spaces in India and Nepal. Lucien’s photography is an exploration of space in some of the world’s busiest cities.They are 'tourist’ studies; in the sense that neither artist lives permanently in the places they are documenting. Therefore making the visual studies an outsider’s perspective of particular landscapes and cultural nuances.

The choice of subject matter, however, is far from your average ‘tourist’ recordings.The work is ‘dark’ in nature; aesthetically, atmospherically and thematically. Paradoxically, It’s Dark Outside will contain many contrasts. Images of a country in an emerging democracy versus one of the most culturally and technically developed places in the world. An exploration of 'darkened spaces'.

For more information, visit http://www.artrage.com.au/bakery/

It's Dark Outside Exhibition opens December 8
Runs December 9 - 14
The Blackbox Studio Space@ The Bakery ARTRAGE Complex
233 James Street Northbridge
breadbox@artrage.com.au

[Exhibition] Stereogram - Free Range Gallery, 359 Hay St, Subiaco. 23-31 December 2006

Subtitled: "How I learned to stop worrying and love film photography", Stereogram is the brainchild of Piers Morgan and Alaina Gourgoulis. The exhibition showcases a series of diptychs, each with an image by Morgan and Gourgoulis.


Says Morgan: "It's all film work; we both shoot digitally as well, but film has that certain je ne sais quoi, and that's partly what we've attempted to embody in our images".

The Opening Party is on at 8pm, Friday 22nd December, at the Free Range Gallery, 359 Hay Street, SUBIACO.

More information at: www.listsanddiagrams.com/stereogram

[Exhibition] From Pixel to Print - An Interactive Photography Exhibition; Perth Centre for Photography; Nov 29-Dec 13

www.frompixeltoprint.com

From Pixel to Print is what happens when a group of Perth photographers bring their works, previously exhibited in an online photo-sharing community, into a physical gallery space, infusing this space with the dynamic and interactive nature of the online environment!

Traditionally, gallery spaces do not encourage active engagement with exhibitions. Images and artwork tend to be regarded as artefacts, to be observed, scrutinised and understood, often on a personal, non-vocalised level. At most, visitors may leave a comment or two in a guest book en route out of the gallery.

As an exhibition, “From Pixel to Print” challenges viewers to engage with the images in ways that makes the experience of viewing an exhibition one of active interaction, instead of passive reception. Each image presents its own ‘comment space’ – where viewers may leave comments (anonymous or otherwise). Viewers may also nominate images as favourites, and contribute to the way an image asks to be read by tagging it with alternative titles, or descriptions. A viewing of a photograph in the exhibition, thus, is not just a passive experience – a viewer may access comments and tags left by others and add their own.

Photographers: Seng Mah, Nathan Cantwell, Shem Bisluk, Brendan Head, Craig Abbott and Guy McLachlan

Opening Night: 7pm, 29th November, at the Perth Centre for Photography (91, Brisbane Street, Perth)

From Pixel to Print runs from Wednesday Nov 29 to Wednesday Dec 13 at the Perth Centre for Photography. The gallery is open from Weds to Sun, 12pm to 5pm.

[Competition] Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize

From http://www.moranprizes.com.au/mcpp.html

The Moran Health Care Group is proud to announce the launch of the annual, acquisitive Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize [MCPP].

Run in conjunction with the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, the MCPP is a national photographic competition created to promote contemporary photography and excellence in all forms of still photo-based artwork, including all types of analogue and digital photography. There are three sections in the MCPP – Open, Secondary Schools and Primary Schools.
The total prize money to be awarded in the Open Section is $60,000 and $40,000 in the Secondary Schools Section. There are no money prizes in the Primary Schools Section – certificates of merit will be awarded at the discretion of the organisers. The Open and Schools Sections will be clearly delineated from each other in terms of the exhibition to be held at The State Library of New South Wales and the subsequent touring exhibitions.

Entrants in all sections are asked to interpret “Contemporary Life in Australia” with an emphasis on images of Australians going about their day-to-day lives within their environment. Images that reveal a genuine connection between the photographer and their subject/s will be well received by the judges.

The Open Section of the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize is open to all professional and amateur photographers who are over the age of 18 as of the closing date for entries (see above).
Entrants to the Open Section are asked to interpret “Contemporary Life in Australia” with an emphasis on images of Australians going about their day-to-day lives within their environment. Images that reveal a deep connection between the photographer and their subject(s) will be well received by the judges.

The MCPP – Open Section is open to entries in any photographic form, including but not limited to documentary, staged and directorial photo-media work.

At the absolute discretion of the judges, prizes will be awarded as follows:

- $40,000 for the best photo-media based work and $10,000 for the runner-up
- $5,000 for the best documentary photo-media work
- $5,000 for the best staged or directorial photo-media work

Click here to download the full terms and conditions and entry forms for the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize Open Section

Please note: You will be able to register online and upload your entry as a digital file on this site from mid-November 2006.

[Exhibition] Diana Picture - Kevin Ballantine @ the Perth Centre for Photography; Nov 16 - Dec 26

Nothing to do with the late, lamented Princess (though what a title!), this exhibition should be of interest to those in love with instinctive, accidental or off-the-cuff photography.

Diana Pictures
by Kevin Ballantine
On show at the Perth Centre for Photography
91 Brisbane St, Perth
Thurs Nov 16 to Sun Dec 16.

Ballantine writes:

"Last time I was in in Paris, I left the Musee Rodin and walked down boulevard des Invalides when a woman came hurrying towards me from the direction of the Metro. She was so Paris. I didn’t have time to do anything other than wind on the film and shoot the Nikon from the hip but I made a picture."

"The negative was overexposed and out of focus and her feet were cut off, but I liked the print very much. A rushing Camille Claudel scurrying by."

"As the best photos often aren’t intended, this time I had brought to Paris a borrowed, Kodak Diana. A toy like camera, with a plastic lens, that leaks light, unevenly exposes film, overlaps frames and produces softly focussed, hazy, whimsical and unintended images."

"And so when light and things and locations don’t conspire to create a picture, the Diana perhaps could come up with something..."

Note that the PCP gallery is open Weds - Sun, 12pm to 5pm.
www.pcp.org.au

[Exhibition] Edith Cowan University 2006 SCCA Photomedia Grad Show, 'Absolute Power' - Perth Centre for Photography, 3-12 November

The Perth Centre for Photography is very pleased to present the Edith Cowan University 2006 SCCA Photomedia Grad Show, 'Absolute Power'.


This exhibition will showcase work from Edith Cowan University School of Communications and Contemporary Arts Photomedia graduates of 2006.

All staff, students and members of the public are invited to attend the opening this Friday night from 6:00pm. The exhibition will run until the 12th of November 2006.

For more information, visit www.pcp.org.au. The Perth Centre for Photography is located at 91, Brisbane Street in Perth. Opening hours are Weds - Sun 12pm to 5pm.

[Exhibition] City of Perth Photomedia Award 2006, PICA, 6 Oct - 5 Nov 2006

The City of Perth 2006 PhotoMedia Award exhibition at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) showcases the work of 30 of Australia 's foremost professional creative practitioners working in photographic media. The exhibition will encompass a variety of media that explores both hi-tech contemporary usage of photomedia, as well as conventional ways of using the artform. (PICA website)

For more information, view the exhibition catalogue online.

[Exhibition] 'March of the Missing' - Perth Centre for Photography, opening Saturday the 21st of October, 6:00pm

'March of the Missing' is a very special exhibition by Melbourne photographer Georgia Metaxas, whose photography is helping to keep the memories alive of those missing in Cyprus.The Government of Cyprus is locked in a tragic humanitarian battle to find just over 1500 missing Cypriots from the Turkish invasion of1974 and to give families concrete answers as to their loved ones'fate.

The official opening will take place at PCP on Saturday evening by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cypress.

For more information please visit the PCP website http://www.pcp.org.au/

[Exhibition] My Place WA – Photography Competition finalists exhibition

The 15 finalist photographs from the My Place WA Photography competition are on display in the lobby of Parmelia House at 191 St George's Terrace Perth from October 4 until 12pm on Thursday October 19 for public voting. The photographs are also available for viewing online at: http://myplacewa.highway1.com.au/

[Competition] People, puddles & paddocks - Water in the Landscape

From the Land Water Australia website:

Share in $15,000 and help us celebrate our 15 year anniversary. Send in your photos that capture the sense and spirit of Australia's landscapes, livelihoods and lifestyles. For more details and an entry form visit the Photography Competition page.

[Exhibition] A Brush with a Camera, University Club, UWA, Hackett Drive, Crawley - Sept 1 to 29

Local artist/photographer, Gareth Gorman opens his first solo exhibition of paintings and photos at the UWA University Club, Hackett Drive, Crawley at 6pm, September 1.

Gorman, who is currently studying Fine Art and History at UWA has participated in group exhibitions before, but this will be his first as a Solo Artist. Gorman explain his reasons for going solo: "I've exhibited paintings in many exhibitions before but I've been limited to one or two pieces and, sometimes, I feel restricted by the themes of the competitions. I like to paint what I like, not what should be painted to win a competition. I can also include my favourite works so others can, hopefully, enjoy them as much as I."

Many artists find the prospect of a solo exhibition both a daunting and exciting experience -- Gorman is no different: "I was worried I wouldn't have enough to offer. Now I think I have too much."

Gorman's exhibition explores themes close to his heart: colour, coast, water and sky. Living close to the ocean and river, he draws inspiration from the environment and the creatures (human and otherwise) that inhabit it. "We live so near the coast and river I'm spoiled for choice. I also travel a fair bit soI now take my trusty Canon with me everywhere. I tend to include people in my paintings, there must be a human or fauna element to give some movement and scale to the scene. Still lifes were never my thing," Gorman adds.

Gorman's other love is portraiture - this exhibition will feature some of his special fine art portrait paintings and photographs. Says Gorman: "The human body is a wonderful thing and if I can capture a reasonable likeness, then it gives me a great sense of satisfaction and achievement."

"Initially I took poor photos as references for my painting ( I could always alter and improve things on the canvas ). The purchase of a digital SLR improved the quality of my photographs so that my interest has now swung toward photography. I have also found that I'm looking for the abstract in subjects now, whereas before I'd simply look for a good subject to paint. Colour and form have always been important to me and I try to incorporate both elements into my work. As I live near the river and ocean on the western side of the continent I have a constant source of subject matter."

Gorman's love of the beach and coastal scenes will be evident in the paintings on exhibition. His photographs will cover a gamut of subjects: flowers, people, vistas, birds, cloudscapes, sunsets or sunrises. Why art and photography? "There's so much this world has to offer," says Gorman, "and I'm thankfull my art training has allowed me to actually SEE it. Which is something I tried to instill in my pupils... see what you are looking at. Of course, unless you know what to look for you're going to see nothing and miss this wonderful world.

"Photography has come a long way since the camera was first used and I am of the opinion that fine art includes photographic work. As I used photographs ( poorly taken for the best part ) as references for my paintings I thought it appropriate to have a mixed exhibition. My photography seems to have improved since November, when I was given a digital SLR. I've also included some abstact, digitally enhanced images to balance the content."

All of Gorman's work in the exhibition will be for sale, apart from a few portraits on loan.

• Where: UWA University Club, Hackett Drive, Crawley
• When: Sept 1 - Sept 29, 2006
  

[News] Book launch: Bohdan Warchomij's Portrait of a Revolution

The launch date of Bohdan Warchomij’s long awaited panoramic book witnessing the Ukrainian Orange Revolution is now penciled in. The book will be launched at Greens, Oxford Street, Leederville, on Sunday October 1, 2006 at 6.30 pm.

The book is a collectible photographic hardbound book on uncoated stock with a laminated cover and a foreword by David Dare Parker, a highly respected Australian Photojournalist. It includes an incisive essay by Professor Marko Pavlyshyn from Monash University in Melbourne on the political background to the Orange Revolution, a peaceful people’s revolution which changed the democratic process in Ukraine so dramatically.

Featuring 132 pp of definitive black and white and colour images which document the scenario in Kyiv in November and December of 2004 the book captures the feel of the Revolution and hints of a darker, less optimistic future.

The images from the book have been exhibited widely, at Monash University in November 2005 and in Fremantle Prison in March and April 2006 as part of Foto Freo, an International Photography Festival.

Gail Williams, in STM on the 19 March 2006, wrote “When Bohdan Warchomij packed his camera and returned to his homeland of Ukraine, he walked into the story of a lifetime”.
Join us for the launch party at Greens and secure your copy of this limited release book.

More information is available at: www.warchomij.com
www.backpackbook.com

[News] Louise Mann takes Photographic Prize in City of Melville Art Awards

Louise Mann ~ Photograph by Guy McLachlan (GuyMac Design)

Local Perth photographer, Louise Mann, took top honours in this year's City of Melville Art Awards - Photography Section, at the Opening and Presentation Ceremony on Friday 25th Aug. Her winning piece, entitled Little Red Girl -- an artistic portrait of Mann's own daughter presented in her signature style -- won praises from judges for its ethereal and artistic qualities.

Visit Louise's web site at: www.louisemann.com

[Competition] City of Subiace Photographic Awards

The City of Subiaco Photographic Awards competition has been in full swing. More information and the entry form can be found on their website.

Entries close: September 1 (not long to go!)

[Competition] Smile with Centro

With a cash prize of $10,000 plus a multitude of Olympus MJU-600 cameras to be won, the 'Smile with Centro' photography competition is certainly going to be a popular one. More information along with entry forms and an online submission form can be found on their web site: http://www.smilewithcentro.com.au/

Entries close: 5pm Friday 15th September

[News] Simple country boy takes "Highly Commended" prize at City of Belmont Art Awards

Nathan Cantwell, a self-professed "simple country boy" from Albany, WA, took out the "Highly Commended" award in this year's City of Belmont Art awards for his photograph entitled: "Fleeting".

This was an inaugural win for Cantwell, 31, who has been a keen photographer for a few years. Usually a photographer of landscapes, Cantwell decided to branch out into a more 'impressionistic' style of photography when he was given an old 300mm lens by a good friend.

"It's a completely manual lens - no autofocus, no metering, no apperture or shutter speed priority," said Cantwell, which is certainly testament to the fact that it's not the equipment that makes for an outstanding photo -- it's the photographer

Cantwell's compositions of local bird life, caught in mid-motion, have a painterly quality about them; award judges agree, remarking that his entry - "Fleeting" - an image of a butcher bird just taking flight from a branch - is reminiscent of a Japanese print.

Fleeting ~ by Nathan Cantwell

Cantwell's prize-winning photograph, as well as other entries in the City of Belmont Art Awards, can be viewed at the Belmont Forum Shopping Centre from Monday August 21 to Saturday September 2nd.

[Exhibition] Sam James - I'll believe in anything - Perth Centre for Photography, 91 Brisbane St. Perth, 16 Aug - 3 Sept

Sam James inaugural exhibition "I'll Believe in Anything" takes us into the intimate worlds of his existence. Showcasing a collection of portraits (self and others), snapshots, events and incidents, "I'll Believe in Anything" is, according to Sam:

"... about we and us. The feeling of we and us. I love that feeling.
I don’t mean we and us exclusively, as a couple, like boyfriend and girlfriend or
anything like that . I mean we and us as in, you know, The Gang... us... the
whole gang… all of us.
It's about the feeling of being one of us.
"I’ll believe in anything" refers to my susceptibility to be sucked in by these
feelings and ideas. It refers to a willingness to take the bait, to get wrapped
up in the moment. To blindly have faith in and trust the people around you, the
world around you. I think life’s just more fun that way..."

Where: Perth Centre of Photography, 91 Brisbane Street, PERTH (Cnr Beaufort and Brisbane St)

When: 16 Aug - 3 Sept

[Exhibition] BAZGASHT: Return, Perth Centre of Photography, Aug 2 - Aug 13

From the Perth Centre of Photography web site (www.pcp.org.au):

BAZGASHT: Return - A photography exhibition

Opening Wednesday August 2nd 6:30pm - until August the 13th at the Perth Centre of Photography, 91 Brisbane Street, Perth WA 6000

Curated by Shirin Jahan Panah

This stunning exhibition showcases photos from the collection of Iranian photographer, Reza Jahan Panah. 'Bazgasht' focuses on people in remote areas, landscapes and ancient architectural monuments. Come and see a new side to this ancient land, in deep contrast to the contemporary face of Iran as portrayed by the Western media. If you are interested in exploring the ancient cultural face of Iran, please don’t miss this exciting exhibition!

For more information, visit: http://www.pcp.org.au