The biennial Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award is Australia's most prestigious survey of contemporary documentary photography. Fifteen finalists from over 340 entries have been selected for exhibition, touring to Sydney, regional Victoria and New South Wales. Since 1997, this award exhibition has represented a unique initiative in the support of documentary photography.
In recognising the key influence of photography on our lives, it examines the power and effect of the medium through works presented in essay format. Bringing together a diverse collection of works, the fourth Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award presents photographers working with an array of styles, themes and techniques, ranging from the conceptual to the traditional, the political to the personal. Together these artists provide a fascinating insight into the issues facing documentary practice in the contemporary context.
Artists: Donna Bailey, Domenico Cozzolino, Dean Golja, Philip Gostelow, Jo Grant, David Lloyd, Jennifer Mitchell, Simon O'Dwyer, Selina Ou, Narinda Reeders, Steven Siewert, Matthew Sleeth, Andrew Sunley Smith, Tamara Voninski, Thuy Vy
(Gallery 1 & 2)
'Without documentary photography, photography itself is diminished. It is the conscience of the medium. …that some photographers continue to bear witness to the world around them, undistracted by the endless possibilities for distraction in 21st century life and culture, is something to celebrate'
Bruce James, 2003
'The intriguing feature of looking at other people's photographs and photographs of other people is the experience of discovering something about yourself'.
Nikos Papastergiadis, 2003
The winner of the Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award will be announced at the opening, and presented with a Leica M series camera and lens valued at over $13,000.
Judges: Bruce James, Radio National; Susan van Wyk, Curator of Photography at the National Gallery of Victoria and Sydney based photographer Anne Zahalka.
The Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award is generously sponsored by Leica with support from the Ian Potter Foundation.
IMAGE:
Marzena Wasikowska,
Untitled 2000 (detail).
(2001 Finalist)
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