SYDNEY.- Head On Photo Festival has today revealed highlight events for its diverse public program presented entirely online. Running from 1-17 May 2020, Australia’s leading annual international photography event will present over 100 exhibitions and a daily program of over 80 online events. The 2020 program features more than 50 artist talks and panel discussions presented by internationally celebrated photographers and leading industry professionals from around the globe and a series of free photography workshops led by award winning photographers including Oded Wagenstein and experts from Adobe and Sony.

The winners for the 2020 Head On Awards will be announced at the Festival’s launch party held online on Friday 1 May from 6pm. A highlight of the Sydney arts calendar, this free public event will showcase the works of 100 finalists across three categories including Portrait, Landscape and Student. The annual Awards offer a prize pool of $70,000 to professional and enthusiast photographers around the world.

Head On Festival Director Moshe Rosenzveig OAM said: “Head On Photo Festival prides itself on presenting not only international quality exhibitions but creating a space for cutting edge discussion and learning for both the public and professional photographers alike. Going digital has amplified this and allowed us to draw on our incredible international community to present a remarkable public program that stretches five continents. In these challenging times when community is needed more than ever, the 2020 Festival offers a platform for learning, discussion, new ideas and community support - we can’t wait to see you all online soon!”

Every day of the Festival, audiences will be able to access predominantly live streamed artist talks, panel discussions and photography workshops for the general public, children and photography professionals. The majority of these events will include audience participation through live Q&A sessions, social sessions and hands-on workshops that all seek to encourage diverse and engaging conversation.

Highlights from the 2020 public program include:

Artist Talks | 2-17 May | Daily at 11am, 13.30pm and 5pm

Audiences can hear directly from 47 of the Festivals 2020 exhibiting artists including award-winning international photographers such as Renée C Byer (USA), Paula Bronstein (USA), Richard Sawdon Smith (UK), Pierre Dalpé (Canada) and Vee Speers (France) as they explore their exhibitions and practice. These live sessions will include live Q&As with the artist.

Open Critiques | Monday 11 May | 11am and 6pm

In a live discussion and learning hour professional and amateur photographers alike can submit their work for peer critique.

Panel Discussions:

● Paper Tigers - Contemporary Australian photojournalism | Sunday 3 May | 6pm

Head On Festival Director Moshe Rosenzveig OAM and journalist Alison Stieven-Taylor are joined by some of the biggest names in contemporary Australian photojournalism to look back at the iconic news images that have defined the field in the last 40 years.

● Walkleys, Watch and Act | Tuesday 5 May | 6pm

The opportunity to hear Getty Picture Editor Olivia McGrath, photojournalist Nick Moir and The Walkley Foundation Digital Content Producer Nick Jarvis explore the role of photojournalism in the wake of disasters such as Australia’s devastating 2019/20 fire season.

● Photographing Trauma & Healing | Thursday 7 May | 12pm

Audiences can join renowned photojournalists Renee Byer (USA), Paula Bronstein (USA), David Dare Parker (Australia), psychologist Tom Gross (Australia), photographer Erika Diettes (Colombia) and other industry professionals as they unpack our obsession with images of trauma, the role of the media in presenting them and how, in the context of our current global trauma, we can recover.

● Truth in media |Sunday 17 May | 12pm

An examination of the image and falsification in the digital age, including how we represent the current global pandemic, with Walkley Award-winning photojournalist David Dare Parker, global misinformation experts First Draft Australia’s bureau chief Anne Kruger, Lecturer and media “construct-tant” Dr Gregory Ferris and moderator Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos, who is a Walkley award winning photojournalist and lecturer.

Hands-On Workshops (all free of charge):

● Reigniting the Creative Spark Through Self-Assignments with Julieanne Kost | Sunday 3 May |12pm

Drawing on her own work, Principal Digital Imaging Evangelist for Adobe Julieanne Kost will show audiences how personal photographic projects and self-assignments can help anyone become a better photographer, overcome fears, take risks, and enhance their creativity as well as select Lightroom and Photoshop techniques.

● Visual Storytelling in Portrait Photography with Oded Wagenstein | Monday 4 May | 6pm

Participants can join Award-winning photographer Oded Wagenstein, who has spent more than a decade photographing cultures around the world, for a unique lecture revealing the fascinating world of portraiture and culture photography.

● Google Street Photography |Wednesday 6 May | 6pm

Street photography from your living room. Audiences will learn from celebrated photographer Natan Dvir as he takes to the streets – without leaving the house - using Google Street View to create new works.

● Take It – Make It – Mobile Photography | Saturday 9 May | 11am

In this family friendly hands-on workshop Adobe Evangelist Paul Burnett gives some tips and tricks on taking a better photo with mobile phones as well as how to briefly edit them to bring out their best. This session is for beginners of all ages.

● Astrophotography |Tuesday 12 May | 12pm

Blue Mountains based landscape photographer, tour guide, educator, and Sony Digital Imaging Advocate Jay Evans will explore what makes a great Nightscape image including how to locate the Milky Way in the night sky, how to plan for Star Trails, and all the equipment, composition tips and settings needed to prepare and shoot Astrophotography.

Details for the full program are available at: www.headon.com.au. All sessions will be recorded and made available on the Head On Photo Festival website and Youtube.