It’s no secret that Australia is a very isolated place. Sure, the internet has basically destroyed the distance, but it’s still easy to feel a few too many degrees of separation between us and the rest of you out there. Having said that, sometimes a bit of isolation is needed for something unique and inspiring to be created. Here is a list of 5 Australian photographers that you should know – written by an Australian for the World.

 

Max’s work Constructed Form is all about questioning reality. Is it a photograph or a painting? Well, the artist created plaster sculptures of everyday objects, painted them (including all shadows and highlights) and then photographed them, so a little from column A and a little from column B. A yellow highlighter, a red flashlight, a white milk carton – The end result is an intriguing illusion that tests the viewer’s interpretation of the photographic process and the relationship between light and subject.

While he is a New Zealander by birth, Rene Vaile has been based in Sydney for quite some time. After starting his career as a skate photographer, Rene moved to the fashion world where he was soon pushed into the International spotlight by editorial clients such as Oyster, Dazed and Confused, Tokion and Vogue. His commercial and personal works both display a very off-the-cuff style and often contain elements of collage. Rene is also the Senior Photographer at Mountain Fold Music Journal (http://www.mountainfold.com.au/).
Hailing from Adelaide and now located in Melbourne (via New York and Hong Kong), Ward Roberts creates images that are full of life, but vacant of direct human presence. In his latest series Billions he amplifies already chaotic views of Hong Kong high rises by incorporating layers of reflections from glass surfaces. This clever use of layering not only explores the present time, but looks beyond with a prediction of what can be seen as the near future. Even with the added layers of visual intensity, the images from this series remain in line with Ward’s incredibly low key and considered style that can be seen in his other works Minimum and Courts.
Wether it’s a humorous, loosely composed self portrait or a carefully considered group of personal belongings arranged as a still life, Jackson Eaton is creating work that sits somewhere between casual snapshots and a visual psychological study. By regularly incorporating elements of performance, installation, and self portraiture in his works, he pushes himself closer towards capturing the essence of an experience and a feeling – this is where his background in phycology begins to show. In his latest series Immagical Thought Museum, Eaton turns the tables, presenting himself as the patient who is sharing his most private thoughts, behaviours, and struggles through 5 small collections of work. Immagical Thought Museum was created with Australian visual artist Kate McMillan as a mentor and exhibited in 2011 at Venn Gallery in Perth, Western Australia.
While many photographers aim to break down the viewer’s perception of reality, Petrina Hicks focuses on creating an ultra enhanced reality that goes far beyond the natural boundary of visual perfection.  Her images are so sharp and refined that they could pass for very slick advertisements, but are so intentionally contrived that it becomes unsettling for the viewer. The images may appear as though they are selling a product, but the ambiguous narratives never provide the viewer with a clear message of what is being offered. The subjects are often represented as a duality and chosen for their historical and visual associations. Hicks’ work has been extensively exhibited in Australia and abroad..
All Images Courtesy of the Artists.
For More of Adam Kremer’s work visit his website