Heather Faulkner — Photojournalist

The flame was lit – literally – to launch the Pineapple Press Club, a new Australian photojurnalism collective, resource and club for practitioners and admirers of good photojournalism across the state of Queensland. Last night’s Gold Coast launch (hosted by the Bachelor of Visual Media, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Gold Coast) kicked off with a giant camera that burst into flames, burning a ferocious flame that eventually burnt out to reveal a glowing pineapple burning on the film plane. Very cool.

The event, incorporating a slide night entitled “Juice,” was launched by Reuters photographer, David Gray, via an iChat link from Sri Lanka (which, according to Gray, was also heating up – watch for his war images in the press this week). Gray showed his folio of images that won him the Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year award (Australia’s version of a Pulitzer) for photojournalism last year.

Following Gray, 19 Queensland photojournalists took to the stage to present their latest works. The range in stories demonstrated a vast spread of photojournalistic style, aesthetic and focus. From Giulio Sagin’s feature on animal rescuers, to Jack Tran’s continuing coverage of the harrowing legacy of Agent Orange, there was something to keep every one of the 120+ audience engaged for three hours of visual storytelling.

Next up for the Pineapples are plans for a book, a workshop and more Juice nights. The PPC will be exhibiting at a national photography event next year. The new website is sponsored by Bunton.