By Goya Dmytryshchak
Altona photographer Russell Cassar has ventured where no tourists go to capture extreme images for his first solo exhibition.
Silent Landscape will be launched next month in the suburb that remains his favorite photographic subject – Altona.
The lifelong Hobsons Bay resident grew up fishing around Altona and some of his favorite sites to photograph include Altona Pier, the reef off Millers Road and around the old ammunition pier.
His exhibition will feature 20 blown-up images, mostly of Altona but also of Williamstown and Victoria’s high country and northern and western regions.
“In the beginning, I only focused on Altona and Williamstown but since then I’ve branched out,” Cassar said.
“I do a lot of travel so I’ve got the opportunity to get away quite a bit and go camping all over Victoria and New South Wales.
“So, I take the opportunity to take some images – I’m up early anyway.
“All the images are moody … so extreme weather, whether it be foggy or raining or stormy weather.
“I try to avoid the touristy areas – I go where there are no tourists, so a little extreme in that way.”
Completely self-taught, Cassar now runs evening photography workshops from aboard Sea Shepherd’s decommissioned flagship vessel, the Steve Irwin, moored at Williamstown.All images from his exhibition, along with his 2020 calendars, will be for sale.
Silent Landscape will be launched at Altona’s Joel Gallery on October 11 and runs until October 24.
