NEWS
Are You Attending Refocus Retreat 2019?
Refocus Retreat is on again this year, from 24 - 27 May in the gorgeous
Macedon Ranges in Victoria. It's a 4-day 3-night all inclusive conference
and it is unique in that it is the only female-focussed photography
conference in Australia. Victoria Mckay reports.I have enjoyed my experiences at Refocus
Retreat, having been a regular since 2017. Yet
the question that is always asked each year
is, “Why is there still a need for an all female
retreat?”A LONG WAY TO GO
I asked Carla Gottgens about her experiences.
“Countless times when I’m asked, 'What do
you do?' and I answer, 'I’m a photographer,' the
follow up question is always a second guess like,
'Oh right, so you shoot weddings and stuff like
that?'"Why? Why is it assumed that women
photograph weddings? Is it because they are
pretty and women shouldn’t be shooting war
zones, bush fires, street protests or abattoirs?
"As far as we believe we have come, in trying
to even out the scales on gender equality, we
have such a long way to go. Age and gender
combined have a stereotype attached to them
that people can’t seem to see beyond.”
I also put this to the founders of Loud and
Luminous, a celebration of women in photog-
raphy, Mel Anderson & Hilary Wardhaugh.
Mel said, “It’s a challenging time culturallyTAGS
Focus Retreat