This years’ featured artists and what inspires their work – Bondi edition

We asked all featured artists in this year’s Head On Photo Festival to explain what and who inspires their photographic practice. Although there’s no question that our amazing photographers inspire us, the real source of their passion is the world they capture. This list will encourage you to seek out work from other creators you may have never heard of before, just like we do with our Festival.

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Andrew: My inspiration comes from the fleeting nature of time. Seeing how fast things change, witnessing a child grow, and trying to capture some of the feel.

HO: Who is your favourite photographer?
Andrew: I’ve learnt to admire individual works rather than photographers. And there are just too many favourite images by different artists that I love for different reasons.

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Evan: Dreams, nature and the world around us

HO: Who is your favourite photographer?
Evan: Nick Brandt

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Gao: The inspiration for my creation comes from the visual illusion and the experience of failure

HO: Who is your favourite photographer?
Gao: Roger Ballen

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Jaekyoung: My greatest inspiration when working comes from God’s grace. Because most of my work is mostly done in public places that are out of control, I think it has to be God’s grace for a right time and right place

HO: Who is your favourite photographer?
Jaekyoung: Kim Young-gap

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Jake: My inspiration for ‘Superheros in lockdown’, was Michael Muller’s series ‘Superfamous’

HO: Who is your favourite photographer?
Jake: James Nachtwey

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Matty: My greatest inspiration for greating images is art. I love paintings and i am influenced by the great masters

HO: Who is your favourite photographer?
Matty: Michael Kenna, Sebastião Salgado and many others

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Alain: My greatest photographic inspiration is photojournalism, with the ability to tell a story in 10 or 15 pictures.

HO: What is your greatest inspiration for creating images?
Michelle: If I have to describe what motivates my photographic practice, its about going out into the world and being open to the magic that happens, and the interrelationship of people and space, and space itself in terms of light and colour.

HO: Who is your favourite photographer?
Michelle: One of my major influences in my life is, the now deceased, David Goldblatt