Australian Photograph Collector: BIFB - Ballarat International Foto Biennale August 19 - September 17

My passion is photography.
This is the second BIFB I have attended at Ballarat in country Victoria.
I feel at home at the Shady Acres Caravan Park on the outskirts of Ballarat,
near the Western Highway, and park and commute from there in my campervan.
Resident rabbits abound in the bottom paddock of the Park.

I lend my services to the BIFB as a volunteer gallery attendant.
The Director, Volunteer Co-Ordinator a few staff and volunteers work feverishly
to ensure the success of the month long photographic exhibition.
Being rostered at four core exhibition venues for 1/2 a day each gave me
a good opportunity to view these exhibitions.
The draw card for this BIFB was undisputedly David La Chapelle.
BIFB - Core Exhibitions

The Vernissage, or opening event, the day after my arrival and in the same
venue where I was an attendant (for the exhibition TELL), was too
familiar and too slow, or maybe I was just tired.
Not knowing many people I opted out of staying.

The core exhibitions were very good although I did wonder about the integrity
of exhibiting copies of prints in the exhibition Reverie Revelry.
I do enjoy fashion as art and fashion photography.
Glenda and I had the pleasure of viewing 100 Years of Fashion Photography,
in Auckland a few years ago, from the collection of the V&A.
That exhibition was superb but we were then disappointed with a latter
exhibition, Icons of Fashion' heralded with much fanfare, at the
Art Gallery of South Australia.

I viewed some fringe exhibitions and particularly enjoyed 'SPOOK'.
If I can walk away with some photos of my own which capture
the sentiment this enhances my appreciation.
I found the venue for 'SPOOK' embellished it's appeal.

The open air exhibitions in Police Lane, Sturt Street, and on the wall of
Back Space Gallery were very good.

A core exhibition Self/Selfie was fun and patrons availed themselves of the
opportunity to be participants in the exhibition by using the photo-booth.
This exhibition also included works by Farrell and Parkin, Cindy Sherman
and Anne Zahalka and others.

Overall I enjoyed the BIFB and my participation.
Ballarat is an historic gold mining town with many fine old buildings
providing wonderful venues for exhibitions.

The opening day of the BIFB was also the occasion of the Port Power and
Western Bulldogs AFL game at the local oval.
Decorated street planter boxes and the Ballarat Band greeting spectators
and rival supporters alike, added to the festivities.

Boiling water for a cuppa on the way to Ballarat

a stop near Dimboola

extraordinary lighting reflections and lens flare

Home at Shady Acres Caravan Park

Ballarat Railway Station

Store front exhibition

Decked out with Bulldogs colours

Port Power supporters

Bulldogs supporters

Ballarat Band decked out in Bulldogs colours

Port Power hooters

Bunnies at Shady Acres Caravan Park

David LaChapelle Exhibition at the Ballarat Art Gallery

Police Lane Exhibition

Sturt Street

Ballarat Town Hall

Selfie with the great Archie Roach
photo credit: Archie Roach by Ferne Millen an entrant in
the Martin Kantor Portrait Prize.

Kantor Prize - some of the entries

Me Selfie reflection

Window displays Myer Sturt Street

On the footpath

Sturt Street

Core Venue - TELL exhibition and Vernissage

Core Venue - Trades Hall

I was surprised when a lady emerged from behind the curtains down these stairs.
The temporary offices of Gay Pride are at the rear of the stage.
The curtains although not red, reminded me of the current series of Twin Peaks.