My portrait of Russell Shakespeare was selected as a finalist for Brisbane Portrait Prize and is exhibiting at Queensland State Library until 10 November 2024.
About the artwork
Russell Shakespeare is an award winning photographer, whose work has featured widely in many Australian and international news publications and magazines. He has been a finalist many times in the National Photographic Portrait Prize, the Moran Contemporary Portrait Prize and the Olive Cotton Prize.
Monique attended a workshop last year that Russell presented, and she decided to capture the man behind the camera. “His work is so often presented in public, but he is someone the public never usually sees.”
Russell Shakespeare sits in a posed position for the portrait but also seems ready to go back to his own work behind the camera.
“He’s like a nonchalant, 90’s rock star kind of dude, not much arteface, and that’s what I wanted to come across in the portrait.”
This image has an industrial feel and is full of grit with the concrete wall and the chipped stool. Monique Hohnberg chose the textured concrete and brick background to reference characteristics of Shakespeare’s own work. She presents him as a practical no nonsense operator, in his work clothes.
Please view my Black And White Photography, Tropical Belle Photo Essay, Flood Documentary Series or main Photography page.
Copyright Monique Hohnberg