‘Head On Photo Festival’, the largest photography festival in Australia, returns to Sydney in 2014 and is proudly presented by Olympus. The festival boasts a robust program to be presented between 12 May and 8 June across many of Sydney’s most inspiring and innovative venues including art galleries, public spaces and community sites.
With the festival in its fifth year, Moshe Rosenzveig, Head On Photo Festival director, has said “this year ‘Head On’ exhibitions cover everything from domestic violence and mental health, through celebrity culture fine art and landscape to the latest in mobile phone photography and multimedia”. International guests from USA, Columbia, Canada and Europe, Benjamin Lowy (Getty), Chris Rainier (National Geographic), Erika Diettes, Jim Dooley (Alexia Foundation) and others will all be in town with amazing exhibitions, workshops and talks. These exhibitions will be complemented with a large number of emerging and evolving photographers exhibiting works across Sydney.
2014 will see over 140 exhibitions showcasing around 900 photographers along with over 4,000 entries across the four categories in the prize competition.
‘Head On Photo Festival’ welcomes back award-winning photographer, Benjamin Lowy. This year Benjamin has been included as a guest judge along with exhibiting some of his latest work and hosting the inaugural 24-hour photo workshop. Along with Benjamin, the festival is proud to also be exhibiting works from Mary Ellen-Mark at Stills Gallery, Chris Rainer’s ‘Cultures on the Edge’ at Paddington Reservoir Gardens, Sara Lewkowicz presented by Alexia Foundation and Erika Diettes who will be featuring her captivating exhibition ‘Sudarios’ at St Canice Church. Richard Simpkin will showcase his exhibition ‘Richard & Famous’ at Bondi Junction, along with Alice Blanch’s ‘Box Brownie Landscape’ and Ross Halfin’s ‘Full Circle’.
‘Head On Photo Festival’ has been a major platform for discovering new talent, building photographers’ profiles and delivering a program of events that challenges and excites people about the world of photography. The festival’s four prizes will also showcase the finalists and winners of each category across iconic Sydney venues, to be announced on Friday 16 May.
See the website for full program details.
Chris Peken, Arzen Garn
Images courtesy the artist and Head On Photo Festival
