PAST WORKSHOPS

Over the last three months, the Courthouse Gallery’s highly-anticipated P.H.otography workshops unfolded in a series of three weekend workshops which saw 50 locals explore the ins-and-outs of photography under the guidance of some of Australia’s most well-known professional photographers.

Hailed as an overwhelming success by all involved, the workshops attracted participants both young and old from across the community (and some across the world) who clicked and snapped their way through Hedland, its people and its surrounds.

The P.H.otography journey kicked off in July with A Sense of Place which saw participants explore Hedland through the lens, capturing the idea of home and the spirit of Hedland through images of mangroves, mudflats, the port, the West End and the Spinifex Spree Festival with facilitator Paul Parin and fellow professional photographers Bill Shaylor and John Elliott.

The workshops continued in August with landscape photography and environmental portraiture in The Untamed Heart of the Pilbara. The weekend workshop saw participants visit Pardoo Station with professional photographers David Bettini, Christian Fletcher, Grant Hobson and Paul Parin to capture some of the flora, fauna and scenery that you could only find in the Pilbara.

The workshops wrapped up in September with Portraits and Icons of the Community which explored portraiture photography. Participants were lucky enough to have six professional photographers on-hand to assist them in bringing composition, lighting and subject together to capture identities from across the community.

Photographers Paul Parin, Grant Hobson, Tobias Titz, John Elliott, Bill Shaylor and Matthew Galligan took groups across town to photograph a range of subjects from local musicians, teachers, policemen and even each other.

The culmination of the workshops will see the Courthouse Gallery showcase the P.H.otography Exhibition in February 2009, displaying notable and key works produced throughout the course of these workshops.

Young P.H.otographers

Amongst the budding photographers were Hedland Senior High School students Chloe Hooper, Ashleigh Smith and Sandrine Mootoo who had the opportunity to participate in the project through a fully-paid scholarship offered by FORM. Year 12 student Chloe says participating in the workshops had been an amazing experience. “It’s been fantastic to have so many people come up to Hedland to work with us; it’s the first time I’ve been able to do photography with professional photographers – we were all constantly learning.” “The workshops have helped me explore the different things you can do with a person, the camera, the light to make the photo outstanding.”

Born and raised in Hedland, Chloe says even she is seeing her hometown in a different light after looking at Hedland through the lens. “I love the photo I took at the Spinifex Spree – when I lay on the ground and took photos of kids in front of all the rides. The colours are so bright and I think I captured the whole fair experience,” she said. “It’s like now you can find so much interest in the little things around town, you don’t have to be in the city to get a good photo – it’s the little things that are interesting in Hedland.”

The youngest of the P.H.otography group, 15-year-old Ashleigh says she was “so happy” when she found out she had been selected to participate in the workshop. She says as well as picking up the more technical aspects of photography, she was excited to broaden her subject range to include landscapes, transport and her surroundings. “I always take photos of myself – it’s just a camera and myself – and I have way too many photos of my dog already!”

To add to her newfound skills photography Ashleigh may have also found her calling in front of the lens, as she became a lively subject for her portraiture group. Her jumping in front of the camera, hanging from staircases and relaxing in the sun provided some excellent shots for her group to work with.

If you have any queries, or would like to register your interest in the P.H.otography workshops in 2009, please contact the Gallery on (08) 9173 1064 or by email.

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Paul Parin

John Elliott

Bill Shaylor

Christian Fletcher

Grant Hobson

David Bettini

Tobias Titz