Perth-born photographer and communications professional, Jamie O’Brien, has this year entered the Easter Art Exhibition, to be held at St Mary’s Cathedral on 27 March and 3 April.
The 35-year-old father of two will be joined at the prestigious exhibition by fellow artists Margaret Fane and Angela King. This is Mr O’Brien’s first exhibition as a photographer.
Originally from the Geraldton region, Ms Fane has a strong interest and passion for conveying the suffering of the Aboriginal people with whom she grew up with in the 1960s.
Having taken art as a subject during her final years at Stella Maris College, Geraldton, Ms Fane has undertaken much study as an artist, including at the former Perth Technical College, Claremont School of Art, Fremantle Art Centre and, in 2000, she travelled to Rome where she completed an art and spirituality course.
In the early 1980s, she went on to undertake lay missionary work with the Pallotines, recalling that it was there she felt further inspired to paint her memories, past and present, of the suffering of the Aboriginal people.
In telling his story, Mr O’Brien said that, for him, photography has been a life-long hobby that has now taken a new dimension after making the decision to enter the prestigious exhibition mid last year at the special invitation of co-ordinator Margaret Fane.
“I love being able to capture history through art and photography has been my way of doing this – whether it be for a new story or for something of a more creative nature,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It’s a skill that takes time to learn and understand and I have found this experience – of learning about photography – to be the most important,” he said.
Starting as a photographer on a simple point and shoot film camera in the late 90s as a high-school student, Mr O’Brien says it was from this moment on that he was captivated by photography and what a camera could do.
It was during this time that he learnt how to use a film SLR camera, processing his own photos – particularly during his later studies at university where he had to spend hundreds of dollars on film and processing paper – that he really began to see what photography was all about.
“It was also later on when I started working full time and I was the sole photographer at some major events, and I had to put into practice what I had learnt as a student – that photography became something I wanted to continue doing for the rest of my life – in whatever capacity was possible.
“I am forever grateful that I learnt how to take photos during this time because I know I learnt the hard way and will never forget this experience,” he said.
Mr O’Brien went on to speak about some of his experiences as a young journalist, travelling to Broome, China, Israel, the USA, Spain and the UK.
“As a young journalist, I travelled to Macau and China and visited some leprosy colonies, spent a bit of time in Broome, travelled around Australia visiting different farms and agricultural businesses, in addition to Israel, Germany, the USA, Spain and the UK.
“Having primarily worked in photography in a news and events capacity, capturing people’s emotions and feelings at weddings, funerals, birthdays and family celebrations make the photos that are unforgettable.
“Photos of an artistic nature should never be planned – they have always turned out better when I have used a chance situation – waking up at 4am to catch a sunrise, or watching and waiting for the sun to set.”
Mr O’Brien says that his faith and photographic art have been intertwined because of what he learnt during his time as a journalist with The Record Newspaper.
“It was during this time that I learnt a lot about cameras, light, angles and framing the right photo. Most of these photos were for religious events and I cherish what I learnt during this time as, now, I am able to hand this information on to other young journalists,” he said.
“But there is still so much to learn and I enjoy doing this whenever I get the opportunity.”
The Easter Art Exhibition will be on show at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 27 March and Sunday, 3 April.
For more information, contact Jamie O’Brien on 0400 808 6014 or email jamie@jamieobrien.net.au.