Australian Artist
Very excited to announce that I was commended for my work ‘Witching Hour’ at last nights opening at Gosford Regional Gallery.
Judge’s Comments
“I enjoyed the filmic, brooding qualities of this image, very Australian Gothic in its suggested malevolence and the play between light and shadow.”
Exhibition is on until 29 November.
Join us for opening drinks for Rhiannon Hopley’s first solo exhibition ‘Discovering Locations’
A Series of photographs : The Lost and Forgotten Locations of Sydney and surrounds.
OPENING
12 AUGUST 6 – 8PM
EXHIBITION
12 – 23 AUGUST
“Exploring the often-disconnected relationship between nature, the urban landscape and the human condition.
Hopley photographs abandoned and forgotten urban sites, documenting the effects of nature and the elements on these places over time. While her work is often absent of a person or figure, there is an emotional human undertone as she tries to convey the deep emotional state of nostalgia and the profound melancholy associated with longing for someone, or something. The locations and shadowy scenes correlate with our emotional selves, mirroring feelings of isolation, emptiness and sorrow through absence and stillness.
Drawing on humanity’s fascination and obsession with apocalyptic theory and mythology, Hopley captures these abandoned urban sites as poetic symbols of a hypothetical post-apocalyptic wasteland. All that remains in these worlds is a vague trace of human existence and a picturesque melancholia that stays with the viewer long after leaving the gallery.”
FB Event: RH Photography & Design
Chrissie Cotter Gallery
Pidcock Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050
The gallery will be open Thursday – Sunday 11am – 4pm
(Monday – Wednesday available by appointment only)
From the cacophony of dingy rock clubs to the relative calm of North Gosford Hospital maternity ward, photographer Rhiannon Hopley has focused her lens on all aspects of life.
But the 27-year-old fine art and music snapper, who grew up in Koolewong, says she’s most happy photographing musicians onstage.
“At one point early on in my career I was going from jobs in grungy clubs until the early hours of the morning, straight to photographing newborn babies at North Gosford Hospital. Now I shoot mainly gigs and also night photography, and I love the technical challenge of photographing in lowlight situations,” Ms Hopley said.
Ms Hopley, winner of last year’s Gosford Art Prize photography category is part of a group exhibition in Chippendale called The Accredited, an exhibition that brings together some of Sydney’s finest live events, music and performance photographers.
“Music has always been a big thing in my family and I love progressive rock and heavier stuff,” said Ms Hopley, who started photographing live gigs when she was 17.
“I love capturing the emotions that come through in music.”
She said one of her career highlights so far was getting feedback from Tex Perkins, who she photographed at The Gaelic Club in Sydney.
“A fan threw her boots on stage and Tex cut them up on stage and then duct taped them to his arms. Then he went crowd surfing. I got it all on camera and when Tex saw the pictures, he said to his own photographer, “Oh wow these are incredible’, (then holding the prints up to his photographer) he said, ‘How did she get these shots!’”
Ms Hopley, who is now based in Newtown, said the trick to getting great photos at a gig was being discreet.
“There are also the technical challenges of shooting in lowlight without a flash, but I also like to blend in and not be noticed so I can get more natural shots,” she said.
She is looking forward to Bob Dylan’s upcoming Australian tour in September. “I would love to photograph him at either the State Theatre or the Opera House – I’ve never photographed anyone there before.”
GERALDINE CARDOZO
CENTRAL COAST GOSFORD EXPRESS ADVOCATE
AUGUST 01, 2014
Launch Night/Drinks : JULY 31 – 6pm to 8pm
Live performance experiences can only be witnessed and lived once and with every new gig, concert or festival it is an absolutely fresh and different journey; it is up to the image makers to capture and share these special moments with the punters so they get to keep, remember and reminiscenceit all. This is what “The Accredited” do every night covering all local and international gigs, performances and festivals.
The Accredited is an exhibition that brings together Sydney’s dirtiest live events and performance photographers, showcasing the photographic work by the 20 talented local lens slingers.
@ 10X8 Gallery – Level 3 , Central, Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale
Viewing Dates : 30 July – 10 August
Viewing Hours : 11am to 5pm