Gays seen, not scene in Head On

Looking for a deeper connection to his subject matter, gay scene photographer Morgan Carpenter decided to branch out into the more artistic realm of portrait photography.

It’s an experiment which paid off for the relative newcomer to the art form, who just four years after picking up a camera has been chosen as a finalist for the prestigious Head On portraiture competition.

Widely recognised as the nation’s most eminent portrait photography exhibition, Head On offers photographers the chance to showcase their works to an audience hungry for innovative art. It also presents an unparalleled career opportunity.

Judged by a panel of leading photographers, gallery owners and representatives from the illustrious Magnum photographic agency, it is a rare shot at the big time.

It’s a major event, a still stunned Carpenter said just days after hearing of his nomination.

It’s recognised as a benchmark for good photographic portraits in the country. If you’re working in the gay community sector, or as a scene photographer, it’s very easy to get caught up in your own little bubble and not relate to the rest of the world, or know how we compare to the rest of the photographic world.

What this says is, there are people who do that kind of work who are capable of achieving portrait photography which is comparable with the best.

He was unwilling to speculate on whether he will take out one of the final prizes.

Carpenter’s portrait captures a couple -” friends of his -” in bed. He described the act of creating a more stylised piece than the usual party pic as a joy in itself.

Looking back through finalists from previous years, there was a picture of William Yang one year and a picture of two elderly guys who were described as being nudists, but there have been no other images I can see of a gay or lesbian couple, he said, explaining his choice of subjects.

A portrait gives an insight into people, how they are and what their lives are like, so of course it was a deliberate choice for me. It’s nice to see an aspect of our lives demonstrated and to see a reflection of our community.

info: Head On will run in Sydney from April 30 – June 6 at the Australian Centre for Photography. Opens in Melbourne June 10.