In focus: photography exhibitions in Australia

Get inspired to take some amazing photos by visiting some of the best photography exhibitions around Australia.

May is an absolute bumper month of photography exhibitions, with Sydney being taken over by both the Head On Photo Festival and the Moran Prize. We've selected a few choice picks from Head On, below, for your viewing pleasure. There are over 80 venues open to the public this year, so make sure to check out as many as you can, and head along to the two-day seminar.

From the comfort of your own home, take a browse through our Exposure series for the best photographs that Australian amateur photographers have to offer, and through Exposure Pro — the professional version.

If you have an exhibition you would like featured here in a future edition, please contact us.

Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney
Gilbert Garcin spent most of his life running a lamp factory until his retirement in his mid-60s. At 65 he picked up a camera and began to play around with surrealist collages featuring himself and often his wife in starring roles.

Runs until 11 June 2011.

Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney
The portrait prize component of the Head On festival sees entries from hundreds of Australia's best photographers each year. See the 2011 winners, as well as other finalists, at the Australian Centre for Photography. Katrin Koenning's image was selected as the critic's choice this year.

Runs until 11 June 2011.

Paddington Reservoir Gardens and surrounds, Sydney
The Head On festivities aren't limited to indoor gallery events — even outdoor spaces become part of the art. At Paddington Reservoir Gardens, Canadian Geographic presents the Accessible Arctic — 80 years of Arctic photography. Elsewhere, there's a group show of Australian Commercial and Media Photographers (ACMP) at Centennial Park, and a range of cafes around the city are hosting shows. See the Head On website for more info.

Runs until 11 June 2011.

Queensland Centre for Photography, Brisbane
Featuring a range of images from Japanese photographers working with pinhole cameras and analog methods of creation, expect to see photographs from Michihiro Ueno, Yasuko Oki, Reiji Kanemoto, Mieko Tadokoro, Hideharu Matsuhisa, Makoto Matsushima and Sawako Gemma.

Runs until 6 June 2011.

Artspace at Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
A rare glimpse into the construction of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge by French photographer Henri Mallard.

Runs until 29 May 2011.

Gaffa Gallery, Sydney
As part of the Head On photo festival, another CNET Exposure alumnus, Matt Granger, will exhibit portraits by the renowned Studio Harcourt and display his images of everyday people alongside them. Expect to see images of Salvador Dali, Brigitte Bardot and Marlène Dietrich in this exhibition, which marks the debut of Studio Harcourt photos in Australia.

Runs from 2 to 14 June 2011.