Artist Diana Markosian will present her photography and film project Father at the Museum of Australian Photography in Melbourne. The free exhibition runs from 21 November 2026 to 14 February 2027. The work traces her effort to reconnect with a father she had not seen for years, after travelling to Armenia to find him. Visitors can post letters through a vintage letterbox, and a short film titled Father will screen throughout the exhibition.
An exhibition of more than 150 original vintage prints by photographer Brassaï is on at Heide Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne until 15 November 2026. The works show 1930s Paris, including its streets, studios and nightlife. Born Gyula Halász in 1899, Brassaï settled in Paris in 1924 and became known for night photography. His 1933 book Paris de nuit helped establish his reputation. His subjects ranged from artists such as Picasso to people who lived outside respectable society, including those in cafés, clubs and brothels.
The Tomaree Peninsula Photography Club will host its annual free exhibition, 'Through our Lens', at the Soldiers Point Bowling Club. The event runs from 6.30pm to 9pm on Friday 23 October, and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October. The exhibition showcases the work of local photographers, with visitors able to vote for their favourite, purchase prints, and engage with the artists.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Spring weather in Wollongong has been unstable, swinging between winter and summer conditions. Temperatures have ranged from the mid-30s to around 10 degrees, with fog, storms and heavy night rain. A photographer says the shifting conditions create many chances to shoot the same locations in different light. Westerly winds, north-easterly humidity and southerly changes drive the variation, with warm ocean water adding moisture. Sites such as Sublime Point and Mount Keira are suggested for fog, and waterfalls for after rain.
Young people in Hay Shire are invited to enter a Youth Art and Photography Competition with the theme Love Hay. Residents aged 30 and under can submit photos, paintings, digital art or sketches showing the people, places, events and landscapes that make the region special. Prizes will be awarded in each age category, and selected entries may be reproduced as postcards promoting Hay to visitors and travellers. Smartphone photos are welcome, and entries close at 5pm on November 23. Full details are available from Hay Shire Council or the Hay Visitor Centre.
Shipping correspondent Jean Hudson watched the cruise ship Crown Princess leave Fremantle harbour, recording its manoeuvres in a photographic essay. The vessel had arrived in Freo at about 6 am and departed around 4 pm the same day. Hudson's account highlights the turning and pivoting the large liner performed within the harbour before heading out. The piece is a visual record of the departure, compiled by a correspondent who regularly reports on shipping movements in the port. Readers can find her other feature stories and photography on the Fremantle Shipping News site.
Queer performance artists Garrett and Will Huxley, known as The Huxleys, have created Bloodlines, a multi-art exhibition for Melt Festival at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The show uses photography, video, costume and performance to honour artists lost to HIV and AIDS, including Leigh Bowery, Robert Mapplethorpe, Keith Haring and Sylvester. Garret Huxley says the aim is to celebrate the joy and strength these artists gave, rather than mourn them. Bloodlines runs at the Brisbane Powerhouse from October 21 to November 8.
Tasmania has more than 200 native orchid species, and 77 are listed as threatened under state law. The Landscape Recovery Foundation says the combined effect of many visitors, often spurred by social media posts, is one of the biggest threats. The group has held workshops for photographers and offered tips to limit their impact. It is also propagating the critically endangered golfers leek orchid, which has been grown successfully after eight years of work. A scent detection dog named Miki has helped locate orchids that surveyors had walked past, including tiny seedlings.
Retired photographer Richard Swansborough has been named a finalist in the Mono Awards for his photograph Reptilian Encounter. The image was taken on his Canowindra property and shows a Cunningham skink appearing to defend its young from an Eastern Brown snake. Swansborough believes it may be the first documented case of this behaviour. He said he keeps about 25 to 30 of the skinks on his land and has seen them confront brown snakes before. The 83-year-old, who has worked in photography for six decades, said capturing the moment was pure chance.
Wongarra-based wildlife photographer Doug Gimesy has secured a finalist spot in the prestigious Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. His humorous shot, titled 'Ooh that tickles,' was selected from a global pool of entries aimed at eliciting laughter. The annual competition celebrates wildlife photography with a comedic twist. Gimesy's work highlights his talent for capturing amusing moments in nature. This recognition underscores his contribution to wildlife conservation through engaging imagery.
A photograph of a solitary figure in a Snowy Valleys forest has won Murrumbateman’s Stephen Harrison a trip to Sydney. His image of Contemplation, by Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir, took out the 2026 Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail Winter Photo Competition. The sculpture is part of the Alpine Ash Walk in Bago State Forest, which opened in April 2024 as part of the broader Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. The trail was established to support the region’s recovery after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
A stranger's question at a Melbourne hospitality job inspired University of Melbourne student Hiya Thacker to create a photography exhibition. You're Indian, Aren't You? features work by six contemporary photographers from India. Hiya says Indian identity is too varied to define in a single way. She wants visitors to question why people are defined so quickly. The exhibition opens at XYZ Photo Gallery in Docklands on 7 November and runs until 20 December 2026.
Young people aged 14 to 17 can develop their photography skills in the Click, Capture, Create program at Ferntree Gully Library. The free program runs on Thursdays from 12 November to 3 December, from 4pm to 6pm. Participants learn simple photography techniques and take part in photo challenges. They also learn basic photo touch-up editing and create a final collage display. No experience is needed, but participants should bring their own phone or camera. Places are very limited and registration is essential.
Residents of Cabonne are encouraged to participate in a photography competition celebrating the region's unique character. Organised by Regional Development Australia Central West, the initiative invites participants to capture everyday life, notable landmarks, and community figures. From Canowindra's picturesque streets to Molong's lively markets, the competition aims to showcase the Central West's diverse scenery and cultural essence. RDA Central West director Josh Gordon emphasised the importance of personal perspectives in portraying the region's identity. Entries must be submitted online by 16 October, with winners to be revealed in November.
Melbourne artist Atong Atem, born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents, will have her largest career showcase at the National Gallery of Victoria. The first major solo exhibition, The Art of Atong Atem, brings together more than 65 works from the past decade. Known for photographic self-portraits, she explores her Dinka Bor culture and Melbourne's African diaspora. The show runs from 30 October 2026 to 14 June 2027 at The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square, and entry is free.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Mackay residents are being asked to take photos at Eimeo and Lamberts Beach to help track changes along the coastline. Special poles with smartphone cradles have been installed at both beaches for the CoastSnap initiative. Repeated photos taken from the same spot can show how coastal areas change over time. Mayor Greg Williamson said photos taken after severe weather are especially useful. Residents can join by taking a photo at a pole and uploading it through the CoastSnap app.
Noosa Today photographer Rob Maccoll has won the 2026 Queensland Clarion Award in the Regional and Community News Photograph category. His photo, titled Boom, shows the aftermath of an explosive device being detonated by Australian Defence Force bomb disposal experts on Peregian Beach in August 2025. It was chosen from three finalist entries. The awards drew a record 425 entries, up from 331 in 2025. Winners were announced at a gala dinner on Saturday 10 October at the Sofitel Brisbane Central.
Tesselaar's annual tulip festival is taking place for a month at a flower farm in Silvan, Victoria. Visitors can see tulips and other spring flowers at their most vibrant.
