This year’s Head On Photo Festival in Sydney kicked off with a brilliant outdoor opening event that saw hundreds turn up to celebrate this festival that continues to deliver something new each year. The 2017 program presents an eclectic mix of photographic genres from both established and emerging artists from Australia and around the world and challenges ideas of what photography can be.
Once again there were big name drawcards – American photojournalist Maggie Steber who is renowned for her long term photographic essays on Haiti and her work for National Geographic presented a very personal, and fantastical, narrative in The Secret Garden of Lily LaPalma; New York-based Israeli photographer Natan Dvir debuted his new series Platforms, a visual dissertation on the lack of personal connection in New York, using the city’s subway platforms as a metaphor; and Markus Klinko showed his amazing Bowie Unseen collection.
There was also work by some well-known Australians. Award-winning photojournalist Michael Amendolia showcased 25 years of working with the Fred Hollows Foundation, capturing the extraordinary work of this pioneering surgeon in restoring sight for many living in third world countries; Tim Georgeson, who is now based in Canada and is more readily known for his photojournalism work, debuted his ethereal black and white series Oracles, which are truly beautiful, engaging images; and Brian Cassey a long-time photojournalist based in far north Queensland, shared a selection of his work from the past few decades in A Photographer’s Life – Part One.
I flew up from Melbourne on Friday afternoon and my first assignment was to interview the wonderful Maggie Steber. This is one of the most important aspects of the festival for me, the opportunity to meet amazing photographers from all over the world who generously share their stories. Second stop was the opening of Bowie Unseen. I’d interviewed Markus Kline via Skype a couple of weeks earlier so it was great to actually get to meet him, and his new shooting partner Koala, who also curated the show. Saturday began with part two of my interview with Maggie, then onto the opening of Tim Georgeson’s show and Juli Balla’s fantastic series Where the Sidewalk Ends, which I just fell in love with. Then it was a quick visit to the majestic Juniper Hall in Paddington to see Brian Cassey’s show before frocking up for the big opening event, followed by dinner with some awesome photographers and old and new pals.
On Sunday night I moderated a panel debate on the challenges facing photojournalism in a climate of fake news, manipulation and misappropriation. On the panel was Maggie Steber, Natan Dvir, documentary photographer Q. Sakamaki from Everyday Japan, noted photojournalist and creator of Everyday Climate Change James Whitlow Delano, Blink’s Kyla Woods and Brian Cassey. A full house gathered to hear these professionals tackle some of the biggest questions facing the industry today. It was a lively, energetic debate that continued with audience members long after the formalities were over. That was most definitely a highlight and the turn out showed the import of the subject matter and the interest from a diverse public.
Hats off once again to festival director Moshe Rosenzveig, festival general manager Anita Schwartz and their tireless team for pulling together another great program. Every year the festival has to scramble for funding, which is ridiculous given its prominence on the local cultural calendar, its drawing power and its stature internationally. But that’s arts funding in this country. I hope there comes a time when Head On is given multi-year funding and Moshe and his team don’t have to run themselves into the ground having to continually justify their existence. Despite the challenges facing the visual arts and photography in particular, Head On remains a vital, entertaining and illuminating festival that reinforces the diversity of this visual medium.
As I said in my closing remarks at the photojournalism debate, if photography can do one thing, it is to start conversations. I had many wonderful conversations during this year’s festival, and was heartened to see so many people from all walks of life engage with the works, the artists’ talks, and the workshops.
If you missed the opening weekend, don’t worry, the festival runs until 28 May.
Alison Stieven-Taylor
Alison Stieven-Taylor is a writer specializing in photography based in Melbourne, Australia.
