Long Exposure

The Legacy of Prahran College

Ballarat International Foto Biennale

23August-19 October 2025

In 2011, I fortunately received permission to follow the judges at the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna, Italy to document that medieval competition. Highlights of the festival are the performances spoken in the language of the 13th and 14th centuries, and re-enacted scenes of daily life. This collection captures not only the ancient atmosphere but also the dedication of participants who bring history to life. To blend into the setting, I dressed in period costume and worked only with available light often just candle glow. Made on a Canon EOS 550D and 18-200mm lens, required handheld exposures of several seconds, for which I relied on my subjects' stillness. Inspired by Caravaggio's dramatic use of light and shadow, I aimed to evoke the spirit of the era. Fifty-four photographs were later exhibited in Bevagna in 2012–13, and 155 published in a book that same year.