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Stares from the bush
Photographer John Elliott believes that people with a connection to the bush almost invariably have a 'thousand mile stare'.
It is this fascination with the bush and its people that inspired Elliot to create the captivating new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery-Thousand Mile Stare: Portrait photography by John Elliott.
Fuelled by a love of the bush and its people, Elliot spent much of 2004 travelling around Australia photographing people he met and collecting their amazing stories of life in the outback.
'Throughout life I have searched out interesting people to photograph. The images in this exhibition capture the look that has fascinated me my whole life, the look that is in the eyes of the people who live in the bush-the look I call the thousand mile stare,' Elliott said.
John Elliott has captured the unique essence of the outback and its people through portraiture to create a captivating exhibition that can be experienced by everyone.
Portraits of more than 80 Australians, including the well known likes of Smoky Dawson, Kasey Chambers, Guy Warren and Jimmy Little, are featured in the exhibition alongside lesser known drovers, stockmen, rodeo riders and fencers. Each reveals a fascinating story.
'Everyone has a story to tell-the small stories are as important as the big ones,' Elliott said.
'It's not about where they live or what they wear. My portraits are about the look in their eye and the surface of their face-hopefully a look into their very soul.'
And a look into their soul is exactly what you get. A portrait of 16-year-old bull rider Shea Fisher from Warwick in Queensland is particularly intriguing. The photo was taken an hour after a professional rodeo competition where she was thrown from her bull, one second short of the qualifying time, and trampled. Eager to be included in the exhibition, Shea put on a brave face to have her photo taken, as only a bull rider from the outback could do.
Thousand Mile Stare: Portrait photography by John Elliott is on display at the National Portrait Gallery, Commonwealth Place until 10 April 2005. For further information visit www.portrait.gov.au or call 02 6270 8236.
Inset at top: Smoky Dawson, musician and entertainer, Sydney, New South Wales.
Left: Andrew Black, stockman, Birdsville Track, South Australia.
Photographs: John Elliott