Local photographer, Martine Cotton has had some fantastic news.  She has been advised that one of her photographs has been selected for the prestigious Head On Photographic festival Competition.

Originally the Head On Portrait Prize was founded by Moshe Rosenzveig in 2004 as an independent national photographic portrait competition and has since grown exponentially.

The show’s main selection criteria are the quality and impact of the image rather than the celebrity of the photographer or subject. As a result, Head On is regarded by the arts community and reviewers as the most critically important photographic portrait prize in the country. It is almost considered to be reaching the heady heights among photographers that The Archibald Prize does amongst artists.

Past judges include art world luminaries such as Magnum photographer  Trent Parke, multi award winning photographer Narelle Autio, Good Weekend Picture Editor Judith Love, Suellen Symons multi award-winning photographer Stephen Dupont, former Co-director of Stills Gallery and current freelance curator Sandy Edwards, Sherman Galleries Director Dr Gene Sherman, The Sydney Morning Herald photography critic Robert McFarlane and Russell Storer Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art at the time (now Contemporary Asian Art Curator, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane), Sandra Byron and Michael Nagy.

		Head on is now turning into a festival in 2010 featuring over 30 galleries, screenings and other events across Sydney.   Head On Photo Festival will bring together a raft of inspiring and exciting photography events as well as the Head On Portrait Prize which will award over $50,000 in prizes.  Entries to the 2010 Head On Portrait Prize competition are now closed. The inaugural Head On Photo Festival will take place in Sydney from  April 29 to June 5.  This photo festival is an exciting initiative involving galleries, restaurants and cafes around Sydney exhibiting local and international photography.  Public galleries, including the Museum of Sydney and the Manly Art Gallery will be taking part, as well as a large number of commercial galleries.
Martine Cotton

Keeping the same philosophy as Head On Portrait Prize, the festival aims to attract a wide range of excellent photography from Australia and overseas that speaks for itself, regardless of whether the photographer is well known or not.

Centring on the flagship Head On Portrait Photography Prize, the festival will feature numerous events for anyone interested in photography. Festival events include ‘Head Off’ - showcasing landscapes on large canvases, a two-day seminar and a mini trade show.  Master Classes with world-class photographers will be featured as well as a series of multi-media slideshow screenings.

Head On has been supported by Canon, Adobe, Sandisk, DataBasics, Focal Press, ACDSee, emailbrain, Gekko Images, Pixel Perfect Prolab, Frankel Lawyers, Lowepro, Momento, Dragon Image, Kayell, Le Bukhara, Abercorn Wine, AIPP and the Australian Centre for Photography.

The Head On Foundation is a non-profit organisation aiming to promote photography through cultural activities. The Foundation has established a fund to benefit the community.

For a full view of the 2010 entries visit www.headon.com.au

Editors Comments:  Well done Martine, this is a fantastic achievement.  Let's hope the judges see the talent that we will all know and appreciate.  Good luck.