“In Australia, magazine photographers do one of two things. They endeavour to make photographs which resemble, as closely as possible, photographs they’ve seen taken by other photographers in Europe or America. Otherwise known as plagiarism.
Those not blessed with even that much talent choose to make photographs which will never inspire or offend anyone in any way. The vigorous pursuit of mediocrity.
They ignore any responsibility they might have as leaders, as people whose photographs are published across the nation, to in any way describe the culture to which they are speaking.
Unlike musicians and filmmakers, photographers have yet to understand that it is up to us to describe visually the way in which we tell Australian stories in an Australian language.
It’s time to face the simple question, which has Australian portrait and fashion photographers diving for cover, for fear their brains will explode, at the mere thought of it.
What is Australian photography?”
Excerpt from a speech by Robin Sellick at the National Portrait Gallery. August 2009