The brief for Women Who Shoot was straightforward. You had to be a woman who shoots; you had to say it in one take and it had to be BIG.
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Kate Freestone was raised in Darwin and moved to Sydney to study a BA of Visual Communications (Photography & Imaging) at the University of Western Sydney, where she worked as their photographer after graduating. Kate has continued to develop as a feature and documentary photographer with her work for the NT News and CDU. Kate's interest in people and love of colour is reflected in her work; being a purist, she maintains her focus on creating images that depict the scene in its true form. |
| Title: Lailah Masiga, digital print on metallic paper, mounted on gator board. (Shot with a Nikon D3 camera) Lailah Masiga is a stunning woman with a vibrant passion for people and dance. Born in Nakuru, Kenya, she now lives in Darwin working as a dance teacher and support worker at the Multicultural Council. I set out to photograph Lailah dancing amongst the Territory landscape, however I soon discovered Lailah was most remarkable when teaching. We came across three kids on the side of the road who were fishing with their parents and asked them if they wanted to learn some dance moves. This image captures Lailah's character, an embodiment of Kenyan culture adapted into a Territory landscape. In her sisal skirt (OWALO), leg jiggles (GAARA), brightly coloured top and head turban (KANGA/LESSO), Lailah uses dance to transcend cultural, ethnic and personal boundaries to bring people together. |
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Kara Burns graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Photography from RMIT and later gained an Honors Degree; she freelanced in Melbourne and assisted National Geographic photographer Jason Edwards before moving to Darwin in 2005 to better understand issues confronting Indigenous Australians. Kara worked at CDU before taking up a position as medical photographer at Royal Darwin Hospital, where she currently works. Twice winner of the Darwin Community Legal Service "Human Rights Prize", Kara exhibits her work around Darwin focusing on human rights, women's business and cultures in change. |
| Title: The Making of Alice, digital print on adhesive vinyl, mounted to signboard. (Shot with a Canon 7D camera) At the tender age of 23, Simone Liddy has become a role model for young Territorians. In 2007 she was acclaimed NAIDOC Young Indigenous Person of the Year and, a year later, captained the NT Under 21 Women's Hockey team. In 2009, Simone completed her Pharmacy degree at CDU and was named NT Young Australian of the Year. She worked at Royal Darwin Hospital and has been accepted at the University of Queensland where, this year, she has begun studying for a medical degree. To me, Simone is like a modern Alice in Wonderland; about to embark on a journey, a new challenge and a step into an unfamiliar world. I wanted to capture this essence in a single piece of work and decided to simulate Simone falling through her own "rabbit's hole" with unknown consequences. Dundee is one of Simone's favourite places so we gathered these images there. I have supplied an outline about how this artwork was created. If you have any questions, just ask! |
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Fiona Morrison studied printmaking at Monash University and moonlighted as a band and street photographer at the same time. On the advice of a lecturer who recognised her innate talent as a photographer, she changed her major subject and completed an Undergraduate Degree in Photography in 1996. Fiona moved to Darwin in 2000; she worked as a freelance photographer and lectured in photography at Charles Darwin University and currently works for the NT News. Fiona completed her Masters in Visual Arts in 2010 and will take up her first Arts Residency in Beijing at the end of 2011. |
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Title: Nic in her bathroom in St Kilda, Lambda print on alupanel paper from Ilford |
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Therese Ritchie has worked as an artist in the Northern Territory for more than 25 years. Her professional work as a graphic designer, photographer, writer and illustrator for indigenous health issues has greatly influenced her work as an artist. Her method of recording and collaging images of people and place is at the core of her photo-based exhibitions, many of which reveal candid relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians who live in and share the north Australian landscape. |
| Title: Free, digital print on adhesive vinyl, mounted to signboard. (Shot with 10 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2)Since the 1980s, the images I have been asked to create for International Women's Day have remained steadily focused on educating audiences about issues that hurt women and children. Whatever their colour, politics or labels, the women I have collaborated with have all shared a similar faithfulness to protecting and nourishing the right to the joy of being alive. Where would we be without them? Free is an expression of that right which is in us all – the beautiful and unexpected moment full of joy and potential. There should be more of them – for women, children, dogs, everyone. |
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Sally Carrington gained an Associate Diploma of Arts Photography from the Canberra Institute of Technology in 1992 and has since worked widely in newspapers, magazines, government and advertising. She moved to the Northern Territory in 1998 and worked for a variety of organizations including the Chief Ministers Department, Royal Darwin Hospital and NT Tourism. Since completing a certificate in Digital and Interactive Media at CDU, Sally has undertaken projects for government and the private sector that incorporate video, photography, graphic design and animation. |
| Title: Mother Nature, digital print on adhesive vinyl, mounted on signboard. (Shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark 11N) Mother Nature is the keeper of the forest and all animals; she is an icon, a living breathing Territory woman, a breeder of snakes, reptiles and mammals. Creating and experimenting with such a large image has been a wonderful process, one I have passionately embraced. Each single image has been planned and meticulously storyboarded in detail to produce the final large digital artwork. |
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Katrina Bridgeford is one of the most experienced newspaper photographers in Darwin. She started work as a cadet photographer at the NT News in the early 1980s and, except for a stint interstate, has been with the newspaper for much of her career. Katrina has travelled all over the Territory covering just about every major event. She has a talent for getting the most from her subjects, primarily because of her easygoing nature and excellent photographic eye. She says the best thing about working in northern Australia is the cultural diversity and wildness of the Territory. Of her job as a newspaper photographer she says, "Every day is different and it's up to me to make the most of the subject I have been given". |
| Title: Love You Tender, digital print on adhesive vinyl, mounted on signboard. (Shot with Nikon D3s camera) The subject is my mother who is an avid Elvis fan. As my mother approaches the ripe old age of 70 I wanted a portrait of her and her reflections on a man she never met, but idolised. She always told me: "Katrina, if I had met Elvis he would still be alive." |
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Patrina Malone loves the action and spontaneity of newspaper work; she started as a darkroom assistant at The Queensland Times in her hometown of Ipswich which led to a cadetship in photography. She freelanced in Scotland for a year before joining the Australian Army Public Relations Corp and was posted to Darwin in 1997 as a Defence photographer/camera operator. Highlights of Patrina's career are tours to Bougainville and East Timor to document Australian troops in action. Many of her images and footage gave the Australian public an insight to the peacekeeping effort in those theatres of conflict. Patrina currently works for the NT News and Defence Department. She says: "I approach every subject equally and love getting people to be relaxed in front of the camera as I feel it shines through in the final image." |
| Title: Beautiful Summer Love, digital print on lustre photographic paper, mounted on gator board with material frame. (Shot with a Nikon D3s camera) I just don't know where this photograph came from, maybe my dark side. I had planned on something different for the exhibition and used my daughter Summer as a test model; she worked out so well I built the image around her. When I showed it to Summer, she said: "It's a bit scary, Mummy." I guess her statement hits the nail on the head…I'll have to let go of my innocent child in this big scary world one day. |
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