Recently i was commissioned by 303 Mullenlowe to photograph urban portraits of teenagers for a WA Government advertising campaign ‘Alcohol think again’. The campaign titled ‘I need you to say no,’ aims to discourage parents from allowing their underage children to drink alcohol.
For more on the campaign and to watch the TV commercial, directed by Jess Bluck and produced by Kate Downie / Beautiful Pictures. click here.
Recently i was interviewed for Better Photography Magazine, India. The November 2018 issue is a special edition featuring 6 photographers who make photographs from home. I am delighted to be included, it’s both humbling and gratifying that my family work is still seen as relevant more than 3 years after publishing my book The Middle of Somewhere. I spoke with Conchita Fernandes about my photographic process and how it’s evolved over the years, along with my relationship with my daughters. You can read the on-line version here
is a Milan-based magazine of contemporary visual art from all over the world.
It’s wonderful and also humbling to see that this body of work is still receiving attention from international magazines, three & a half years after The Middle of Somewhere was published.
Interview with Olga Bubich for the Russian photography & visual culture magazine ‘Bird in Flight’. We discussed parenthood, photography and my photobook The Middle of Somewhere.
YOU CAN READ THE INTERVIEW HERE
NOTE: At the time of writing (Oct 30th 2018) it’s not yet translated to english, but google translate does a reasonably good job…
It was a pleasure to be hosted by Escuela Argentina de Fotografia. My workshop was about the process of making photobooks, dummies, edit books and journals. Including a deconstruction of the 9 months process of making The Middle of Somewhere. It’s very rewarding when the students are so engaged and enthusiastic. Thanks for having me!
In conjunction with my exhibition and workshop i also gave two talks. Firstly ‘From London to the Bush’ looking at my life journey and career in photography at Centro Cultural el mas acá. Secondly, Professor Jose Nuno of the National University of Tucumán, invited me to talk with his 2nd year degree students about my career experiences and working process.
Audience preceding my talk ‘From London to the Bush’ at Centro Cultural mas acá, 4th August,
Prof. Jose Nuno of National University of Tucumán introducing me to his 2nd year degree students
The Encuentros Abiertos – Festival de la Luz is the biggest event of its kind in Latin America, with exhibitions of national and foreign artists in museums, cultural centers, and art spaces across Argentina.I will also be presenting ‘The Photobook Process’ at the EAF Argentina School of Photography,
and delivering my talk ‘From London to the Bush’ at Centro Cultural mas acá, 4th August, 18:00hrs.
My trip to Argentina is made possible with the support of the Western Australian Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
Come along to this educational talk from professional photographer Sam Harris. Hear about his journey from living his dream to become a professional photographer in the fast paced lifestyle of Central London’s music scene. At the height of his career he then took his family away from London to the Australian bush to recapture his passion for photography. This journey was recorded and turned into an award winning book – The Middle of Somewhere.
The Middle of Somewhere was a finalist at the POYi Awards for Best Photography Book, won the Australian Photobook of the Year 2015 People’s Choice Award, won the AIPP Book of the Year 2016, was a finalist at Les Rencontres d’Arles Book Award 2015 and at GuatePhoto Festival, Photo Espana, Athens Photo Festival, and Ceiba won the LUCIE Award for book publisher of the year 2015!
Sam’s journey, the equipment he used, how he met his clients, curated his award winning book, all will be revealed in this inspirational talk, aptly named from London to the Bush.
SUNDAY 1ST JULY 2018 6-8PM.
Shoot Photography Workshop,
232 Stirling St, Perth
The Last Dance – from work-in-progress ‘Neighbours’ © Sam Harris 2018
Sisters – from work-in-progress ‘Neighbours’ © Sam Harris 2018
Images from work-in-progress ‘Neighbours’ project. All photos © Sam Harris 2018
It is often overlooked just how many ‘ingredients’ go into making an exceptional photobook, one that you can become immersed in, touched by, moved and inspired by. It’s been a dream of mine for quite some time to invite a few photographers to my home in the forest of Western Australia and share my experience and passion for all things photobook.
Together, we’ll go down the rabbit hole and take an in-depth look into the process of planning, making and promoting a photobook.
“There is a sense of holding something precious in your hands… this is a unique and special book” Daniel Boetker-Smith on The Middle of Somewhere – Photo-eye Book of the Week.
Some of what we will cover:
While most workshops run on an intense schedule, which can become overwhelming, it’s my intention to factor in downtime to reflect, percolate ideas, time for informal but equally creative discussions, walks in the forest, pour over photobooks from my library or simply hang by the dam with a cold beer and take in the beautiful surroundings… making this more of a creative retreat than a traditional workshop.
This 7 days (8 nights) retreat is limited to only 4 photographers. A portfolio submission is required along with a Skype interview.
A small sample of the books we’ll be exploring over the week
DATES: start 10th March 2018, 5pm. Checkout 18th March by 11am.
LOCATION: Balingup, Western Australia, 6253
FEE: AUD $1800 (approx US $1400) – includes: 8 nights accommodation, 7 days and most meals
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The drive from the airport set the scene nicely, olive trees as far as the eye could see, deep blue sky and the hot, sweet scented Mediterranean air…
Arriving in Lecce was impressive; nicknamed “The Florence of the South” due to the large amount of Baroque architecture spread across the city, it made for a wonderful and very unique location for a photography festival.
One very nice aspect of Bitume Photofest was no doubt the great use of outdoor installations, all in extremely impressive historical locations, allowing for the public to engage with the work whilst immersing themselves in the relaxed splendor of Lecce. Where most festivals are over saturated with content, I really enjoyed the intimacy of Bitume, allowing for meaningful exchanges with some special people and the time to actually absorb and engage with the work on show.
Kalpesh’s ‘Lost in the Wilderness’ investigates what remains of the Lakota Sioux Indians Continue reading
Thank you AIPP! It’s great to see photobooks and the photobook community evolving in Australia and that Australian Photobooks are being recognised at home and internationally. There’s a lot happening with photobooks at the moment, it’s an exciting time, so I’m over the moon that ‘The Middle of Somewhere’ has received this award! A heartfelt thanks to everyone involved.
It was a total surprise and a huge honour to have my book The Middle of Somewhere selected as a finalist at the prestigious Pictures Of the Year International 73. POYi has been around for quite some time and firmly established as one of the worlds leading photographic awards. POYi also run seminars and workshops and are increasingly becoming a center for research, discussion and education.
Photo-Eye, the renowned US photobook store and blog recently featured The Middle of Somewhere as it’s book of the week with a lovely review by Daniel Boetker-Smith (Director of the Asia-Pacific Photobook Archive).
“I was asked by someone yesterday to describe Harris’ book in one sentence, I said without thinking: ‘it’s like looking at a Super-8 film in book form.’ This is a unique and special book.”
spread from ‘The Middle of Somewhere’
I’m feeling blessed and most grateful. The Middle of Somewhere has won ‘Australian Photobook of the Year – Peoples Choice Award‘ 2015, so special to receive this. Thanks to everyone who voted and to Momento Pro & PHOTOBOOK MELBOURNE – it’s wonderful to know that the public enjoyed my book.
To coincide with winning Australian Photobook of the Year 2015 – The People’s Choice Award, i spoke with the award sponsors Momento Pro about making photobooks; We discussed editing, design and layout, the differences between trade publishing and self-publishing, distribution, promotion, the importance of making dummies and photo festivals around the world.
It was an action packed week for me, reviewing portfolios, running a two-day workshop, as well as presenting a talk about my book The Middle of Somewhere. There was also a diverse range of exhibitions to check out, with openings to attend and lots of friendly people to meet.
Here are just a few highlights:
HOME, curated by Simone Douglas was a series of exhibitions at the impressive Silo 6 (disused silos, now heritage protected and making a fantastic space for exhibiting photography). HOME featured work by Anna Carey, Arthur Ou, Ian Strange, Shan Turner-Carroll and Lin & Lam
HOME at Silo 6
“This is a photobook that consistently leaves you surprised. Considering that the subject matter itself is rather limited in its range, this is an astounding feat.”
You can read the full review here
The Middle of Somewhere has been selected as part of ‘The Photobook Exhibition’ at the Benaki Museum as part of Athens Photo Festival 2016
ABC Radio National reporter Claire Nichols came to visit me to talk about my book ‘The Middle of Somewhere’ and life in Balingup. We went for a walk and had a good chat. The results were broadcasted on Radio National. listen here.
During Arles Photo Festival in the south of France, i found myself sitting in a nice little side-walk cafe, drinking a cold beer and chatting with Magnum‘s David Alan Harvey. We were talking photography and he interviewed me about ‘The Middle of Somewhere‘ for Burn magazine. David has been a long time supporter of my work and has given me sage advice when i’ve needed it most. It was a nice way to summarise my long-term project and a great honour.
The International Photography Festival GuatePhoto 2015 celebrates its third edition. The cities of Antigua and Guatemala will become from November 12th to the 30th in scenarios dedicated to contemporary photographic creation; gathering the talent of established and emergent artists, critics, cultural agents, institutions and the general public.
Lens Culture recently featured The Middle of Somewhere
‘The book has many moments of artistic brilliance’ Wallpaper*
The Middle of Somewhere, Numbered edition of 600. Essay by Alasdair Foster, two inserts; Travelogue & No Yesterdays (from Yael’s diary) , hand made notes. Cover art by Uma Harris
Uma, steamy window © Sam Harris (from the book The Middle of Somewhere)
It’s a Family Affair – everyone gets involved at some stage. Photo © Sam Harris
Last year I was fortunate enough to start a collaboration with ceiba foto to publish my book The Middle of Somewhere, 12 years of family diary work. Little did I know of the roller-coaster ride that lay ahead: the making of a photobook!
To add to the challenge we are spread over three continents… and so we started by meeting in the middle, and what a better place to start than at the inspiring, Photobook Museum in Cologne, who kindly allowed us to use their studio space. We worked there for a week and dreamed and schemed, brewing up the initial concept.
Dreaming and Scheming with Eva Maria Kunz at The Photobook Museum, Cologne Photo © Reimar Ott
I’ve self-published a book before and even been lucky enough to win some awards with it, but nothing could prepare me for the intensity required to produce a photobook of such fine quality and nuance.
Printers Proofs: Whilst running a workshop in India i received proofs from our printers in Italy, printed on various paper stock of the finest quality . Another important decision. Paper weight, density and finish plays an important part… Not just with the look of the images but also the feel… Photobooks are a tactile experience as well as a visual one. Photo © Sam Harris
Prints on the wall, prints on the floor, prints in my dreams… for 9 days i lived in the Ceiba studio, Italy. With 12 years worth of material, breaking the book down into small sequences helps. Strings of images… come together like poems. Photo © Eva Maria Kunz
Eva Maria Kunz from Ceiba has been my partner in all this, leading the way, bouncing every idea and pushing and pulling us all to the limits. Long, intensive days, week after week, for the last 6 months…
It’s been extreme. Often challenging and frustrating, but equally inspiring and exciting. Every now and then we catch a glimpse of the book to be, images and design in flux… and as we do, we know it’s all worthwhile.
And born out of frustrating situations, last-minute inspiration can appear! and I can tell you it tastes all the sweeter for its serendipity. And so the book, slowly becomes…
The pre-dummy dummy: Once a sequence has been established it’s important to stack the rough prints and check the flow in a crude book form. Turning pages, flipping back and forth. Only when we feel happy with the flow can we commit to making the dummy. © Photo Sam Harris
Eva working tirelessly, stitching our handmade dummy at the end of my time in italy. Photo © Sam Harris
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
It’s not just Ceiba and myself riding this roller-coaster, it’s a family affair… This book is a diary, a family album about Uma and Yali growing up. I work at home most of the time, so everyone becomes involved. It’s not just the edit that takes over our small home, there are cover materials, art work, graphics, paper types, colour choices, texts and all sorts of ‘special’ things i can’t talk about yet 🙂 All these things have at some stage engaged all the family in the process.
I’m most honoured and grateful to have this image selected by Instagram as one of eight photos as they look back on 2014…
Truly a global community… I’m quite amazed that Instagram selected this photograph as part of their looking back at 2014 feature. It’s wonderful to know that i can take photos from my daily life here in Balingup, a remote part of Australia, a remote part of the world… and yet photo editors in New York and San Francisco see them and pay attention. Thank you Instagram!
If you’d like to see more of my on-going photo diary, you can follow me @samharrisphoto
Thanks and hope to see you there!!
Guernsey Photography Festival 2014 – Photo © Sam Harris
Firstly, let me say what a fantastic experience i had at the Guernsey Photography Festival. The GPF might be a relatively small photo fest but it’s certainly packs a punch. It’s always stimulating for me to meet other photographers, see their work and talk photography. In Guernsey there was no shortage of any of that and the caliber of the work selected was excellent. It was a real honour to be included, something for which i am most grateful.
There were about 15 photographers in attendance from across Europe. I was lucky to be able to join them all from Australia with thanks to a grant that i received from The Department of Culture and the Arts for Western Australia.
Most of the photographers in attendance were hosted in the homes of festival staff and volunteers. A nice touch that allowed us to better connect with the community and experience some wonderful Guernsey hospitality. Thank you again Joanne and family for hosting myself and Londoner Jason Wilde. We had a great time and truly appreciate you opening your home to us.
Jean-Christophe Godet opens the GPF 2014
GPF is a themed festival and the 2014 edition was Faith, Family & Community. Festival director Jean-Christophe Godet opened the GPF at the splendid St James Concert Hall. Legendary Magnum photographer Abbas was the guest of honour and presented work spanning his career. Liz Hingley gave a fascinating presentation on her series ‘Under Gods’ and John Angerson was in conversation with J-C Godet. whilst showing his excellent body of work on the Jesus Army, ‘Love, Power, Sacrifice’. There were also screenings of four slideshows (including my series ‘The Middle of Somewhere’) all with live piano, especially composed and performed by Angus McRae, with thanks to a collaboration with Victor Hugo Music Festival. Having Angus interpret my work was a great bonus and hearing his piano score played live with my images up on the big screen was a wonderful. You can watch it below (shot on my iPhone:) and please turn up the volume!!
Please note, all copyright © belong with the respective photographer as credited. All names and titles are hyper-linked to take you to the photographer’s website.
David Moore’s ‘Pictures from the Real World‘ was the fore runner of much activity that followed in British photographic history. It’s first showing was in 1988 in a special edition of Creative Camera selected by Martin Parr. I really loved seeing this work, raw and yet sensitive… Recently published as a book of the same title by Dewi Lewis. It sold out quickly and prices are on the up, so if you find a copy, grab it fast!
Pictures from the Real World (1987-88) © David Moore
Pictures from the Real World (1987-88) © David Moore
Pictures from the Real World (1987-88) © David Moore
New York based Israeli Elinor Carucci photographs her twin daughters for her series Mother. I found it fascinating to see the work of other photographers who also photograph their children.
an image from ©Elinor Carucci’s series Mother waits to be unwrapped and hung…
©Elinor Carucci’s series Mother
Photographed over 20 years, English photographer John Angerson’s portrait of The Jesus Army (a religious sect founded in Northampton, UK in 1969) is a profoundly sympathetic authorial style which does not judge, or even simply chronicle, but seems to penetrate the very skin of the religious sect… You can but John’s book ‘Love, Power, Sacrifice, published by Dewi Lewis here.
© John Angerson
© John Angerson
© John Angerson
UK photographer Liz Hingley presented her series Under Gods, an intimate look at the multifaceted colourful world of urban faith along the Soho Road in Birmingham, England. An area rich with cultural diversities and religious practices. Liz’s beautiful book ‘Under Gods’ is published by Dewi Lewis and well worth purchasing.
© Liz Hingley – Cannon Street Baptist’s Baptism
© Liz Hingley – Temple maintenance by Thai monks
© Liz Hingley – Polish Catholic carol singers
Legendary Magnum photographer Abbas exhibited work from his extensive archive in a series titled Faces of Christianity
from the ©Abbas exhibition Faces of Christianity
from the ©Abbas exhibition Faces of Christianity
Arno Brignon is a French photographer who has been photographing is daughter Josephine for several years now. I really enjoyed his work. Especially interesting for me as Arno is also a father photographing his daughter…
© Arno Brignon – from his series Josephine
© Arno Brignon – from his series Josephine
© Arno Brignon – from his series Josephine
Jason Wilde is a London photographer with a great sense of humor and irony. His talk at the Performing Arts Center was one of the most entertaining, at times hilarious talks i’ve seen.Jason lives on the ‘Clarence Way Estate’ in Camden, London, where he has witnessed over the years the rapid diversification of the cultural mix of his community. In an attempt to record this transformation Jason started collecting hand written notes that he found discarded on the estate. Silly Arse Broke It is a collection of those found notes and messages placed against wallpaper backgrounds. So very revealing about much of the day-to-day life in his hood.
Jason Wilde next to his display panel in Market Square and during his excellent talk.
© Jason Wilde
Spanish photographer Inaki Domingo had a very interesting exhibition Ser Sangre. A collaboration with his family whilst on holiday, over a period of weeks. He reexamined the concept of the family album. Inaki has a book Ser Sangre soon to be published. I was fortunate to see a preview of the final dummy. Defiantly one for the list!
Inaki Domingo hanging his exhibition ‘San Sangre’
© Inaki Domingo from the series Ser Sangre
© Inaki Domingo from the series Ser Sangre
Gemma Padley from The British Journal of Photography in conversation with (Left to Right_ Alfonso Amendros, Andrei Nacu and Inaki Domingo
Gemma Padley from The British Journal of Photography in conversation with (Left to Right_ Alfonso Amendros, Andrei Nacu and Inaki Domingo at the Performing Arts Center.
Frenchwoman Scarlett Coten’s powerful yet sensitive and thought provoking Mectoub looks at Arab men, in a post Arab Spring environment and questions the notion of identity in societies in which the question of individual freedom, genre and sexuality are the origin of massive political, economic and social change.
© Scarlett Coten
© Scarlett Coten
© Scarlett Coten
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I’m delighted to have had one of my Instagram images selected to be part of the Instagram exhibition “Here in the World: Voices of the Instagram Community” at Photoville in New York.
The show will open to the public on Thursday, September 18 and closes on Sunday, September 28. The location is Pier 5 at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn. So if you’re in the area why not check it out…
Renowned French publication L’Oeil de la Photographie recently ran an in-depth interview i did with Alison Stieven-Taylor. You can read it here
Photo from the series ‘Postcards from Home’ © Sam Harris
A few weeks ago, ace movie maker Ruslan Kulski from ABC Open came for an afternoon visit with his camera and some questions… It was great talking with him and showing him around. The result is this 3 minute doco
As ever with Angkor Photo, there is a great selection of photographers from around the world. I’m delighted to have been selected alongside some wonderful photographers such as Max Pam, Liz Hingley, Alejandro Chaskielberg, Antoine Bruy, Nancy Borowick, Munem Wasif, Ronny Sen, Jean-Christophe Godot and many many others… For more details and images you can check the press catalogue here
One of my images has been accepted for the BIFB COLLECTION 2014, an annual fundraiser for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. For now, I can’t tell you what my image is, as all works are hung anonymously, and that would be letting the cat out of the bag, but all images in the show are for sale at the one price $125.
You can purchase a red dot at http://www.trybooking.com/92603 which also includes entry into the event at Gallery Eleven40, 1140 Malvern Road, Malvern, Victoria, starting at noon on Sunday August 31st. The event runs until around 4.00pm. All the details are at the website
http://eleven40.com.au/photography-exhibitions/bifb-collection-2014.html
Los Angeles’ Duncan Miller Gallery has featured one of my images on their innovative Your Daily Photograph, print collection sale. ‘Uma, bubble gum’ was selected by curator and photography commentator Alison Sieven-Taylor. Alison’s weekly blog Photojournalism Now has a wide international readership and her writing appears in a variety of leading photography magazines.
Uma, bubble gum, used as a banner for the Guernsey Photography Festival 2014. © Sam Harris
I’m honoured to be representing Australia, exhibiting The Middle of Somewhere (including some images from Postcards from Home) at UK’s Guernsey Photography Festival 18th Sept – 18th Oct 2014. I’m humbled to be in the line-up alongside the great contemporary artists Broomberg & Chanarin as well as the legendary Magnum photographer Abbas. This year’s theme is Faith, Family & Community and will also host the excellent New York photographer Elinor Carucci as well as exciting UK photographers Liz Hingley and David Moore among others…
I’m really looking forward to attending the opening of the festival and checking out Guernsey as well as all the other photographers’ works… I’ll be giving a seminar talk and participating as a lecturer in the education program.
Guernsey Photo Festival 2014
The album cover for Central Reservation – Photo © Sam Harris
I can’t believe it’s 15 years since I worked with Beth taking photos for the album. Released in 1999, Central Reservation received a Mercury Music Prize nomination and helped Beth earn a BRIT Award in 2000 for Best British Female. Central Reservation spent 56 weeks in the album charts, selling over 500,000 copies.
A few months back I received an email from Beth, asking if I had any photos that hadn’t seen the light of day from the sessions we did together… Digging through the boxes of photographs that represent my print archive brought back many memories from that time. I love going over old photographs, not only for the nostalgia but also for the fresh discoveries. Time changes the way we view our photographs. Gone are the preconceived ideas of what a session should be and also the attachment to certain photos from within the session. It’s almost as if viewing the work as an outsider for the first time.
So, with fresh eyes I poured over contact sheets and work prints I hadn’t seen for many years. I remember that time so vividly. I joined Beth for a short West coast USA acoustic tour. We had a good connection and I was photographing her at every opportunity along the way; Car parks, hotel rooms, airports, thrift stores, cafés, sound checks, back stage… Most of our sessions were very short, just grabbing a quick moment on the fly, which is how we wanted it… more of a natural documentary approach.
Working with artists that inspire me was always my aim and working with Beth was great. The energy in the recording studio where I was fortunate to hang a few times and at the gigs was palpable. Sometimes you just know when something special is being created. It was an exciting time.
Beth Orton – Photo © Sam Harris
Beth Orton – Photo © Sam Harris
Beth Orton – Photo © Sam Harris
Beth Orton – Photo © Sam Harris
