Table of contents for Feb/Mar/Apr 2021 in Capture

Happy 2021! Welcome to our first issue of the year. I know it’s already February, but just you wait, it will be December before you know it. Anyway, here’s hoping that 2021 looks nothing like the shocker that was 2020. In this edition, we look at some of the most fundamental topics in photography: lighting and the power of images to bring about change in the world. For both features, we’ve been incredibly fortunate to get the views from some of the bestknown photographers on the planet. The stars must really have been aligned as I’m also thrilled to bring you an in-depth profile of one of the most celebrated and lauded contemporary artists, American photographer Gregory Crewdson. When it comes to photography, the key ingredient is light. No light,…

Natalie Finney While Natalie Finney dabbled in media and photography in high school, she studied for a degree in science and psychology at university. Her appetite for photography was further satiated during her twenties travelling extensively and documenting her experiences photographically. However, it wasn’t until she was pregnant with her first child that she delved deeper into the medium. “A work colleague suggested, with wise foresight, that I invest in a half-decent DSLR, insisting I should develop my keen affection for photography beyond simple holiday pictures,” Finney says. And so, from 2012, Finney first seriously considered shifting her hobby into more of a professional endeavour. Not formally trained, Finney says that much of her learning and growth developed as a result of her determination and fascination with the craft, where…

“Lighting is everything in photography. Lighting is the single critical element, whether it’s natural light, a candle, or a studio full of artificial light. Lighting is where photography starts. Photographic lighting provides an illumination to the subjects or scenes within the setting. Without the necessary lighting, the image would look bland and incomplete.” This is the view of American photographer, Tim Tadder. It’s quite an endorsement. Tadder is celebrated as one of the world’s most influential conceptual advertising photographers. He’s also highly respected for this art photography. Lighting is also the essence of Australian fashion and portrait photographer Robert Coppa’s work. “Without light, I can’t achieve my final result. By definition, photograph means ‘drawing with light’. Although light is essential to photography, light in itself cannot produce emotive and expressive…

Something rarely mentioned about Gregory Crewdson’s work is that it demands attention, almost study in fact, because it triggers a sense of wonder, spurred on by its aura of isolation and cinematic quality. It’s not so easy Gregory Crewdson’s work has fascinated audiences and critics from the very first image he produced all the way through to his latest series, An Eclipse of Moths. Crewdson is fascinating in himself. In an interview, his conversation is unhurried and considered. There is a stillness about him and yet, as a teenager he played in a punk rock band called The Speedies. He is also an ardent long-distance swimmer. His work is magnificent and his fame is unquestioned, and yet he has neither pomp nor self-importance in his manner. When asked what’s next,…

Can you name an iconic image that was created this year? The chances are that you will create a list. You will edit it when it gets too large and then you will begin to wonder exactly what an image must do or be in order to be truly iconic. The term implies rarity. A couple of decades ago, rarity was possible. The world could agree on its iconic images. The set was small. Now, depending on your source, anywhere from 500 million to over 2 billion images are uploaded to the Internet. Every single day. Real rarity, even in the elite classification, iconic, is unlikely. Icons by nature What makes an image with the power to provoke change? It’s a question that has shaped American photojournalist Ami Vitale’s portfolio.…

See PHOTO 2021 International Festival of Photography, various locations, Melbourne and regional Victoria, 18 February – 7 March. The inaugural PHOTO 2021 International Festival of Photography will reanimate the streets and galleries of Melbourne and regional Victoria. PHOTO 2021 has commissioned photographers from across the globe to create new works that explore the critical relationship between photography and ‘The Truth’. It will feature 40 free outdoor works and 39 free exhibitions, showcasing the works of over 160 artists. PHOTO 2021 will collaborate with 65 cultural institutions, museums, galleries, universities, government departments, and commercial partners to bring together the world’s best photographic practitioners. The events program includes PHOTO LIVE, PHOTO IDEAS, and PHOTO 2021 Photobook Weekend, as well as a comprehensive program of events presented by the Festival’s Exhibition and Program…

Based in Sydney, The POOL Collective now looks after a total of eight interdisciplinary photographers working across a variety of specialisation and genres, including motion. Backed by a full-time production team and Managing Director Cameron Gray, POOL also operates as a traditional collective with a focus on personal projects and working to support each other – something that’s been part of the way things have been done from the outset. What were the driving motivations behind the formation of The POOL Collective? Sean Izzard: I had been entertaining the idea of creating a kind of ‘drop-in’ centre for photographers at my studio. Like many other photographers that spend most of their time alone in their spaces, I was keenly aware of the value that comes from getting together to share…

Toby Meagher, director of the Michael Reid Gallery Sydney has a wealth of experience in the field and believes that photographers have every reason to be optimistic. “COVID has presented an opportune time for galleries and artists alike. Our audience have spent all [of 2020] engaging with digital content with an intensity we have never seen before,” he says. The gallery, which also has a presence in Berlin, was established over 20 years ago and represents some of Australasia’s best-known contemporary artists. Meagher calls on photographers to seize the rare possibilities COVID has created. “The opportunities are there for the taking. Find ways to share your images; tell stories through social media platforms, or a compelling website. Your audience is captive. They are stuck at home and waiting to hear…