Two Australian photographers, Lee Grant and U.K Frederick have recently announced the creation of Light Journeys; a new website dedicated to showing online exhibitions by Australian women photographers.

The opening statement on the brand new site states, “For many women working in photography, it is a journey like no other. In Australia, photography is still in the process of finding its feet, but in recent years Australian photographers have emerged to stand alongside internationally acknowledged artists. Although Australian photography throughout its history retains the hallmarks of originality and innovation, there have not always been the opportunities to show this work. For many women this has been compounded by familial responsibilities and the competitive endeavour that comes with being an artist”

Light Journeys is currently calling for submissions for the first round of bi-weekly online exhibitions, the initial deadline is the 8th of March however they will then be accepting emailed submissions for further exhibitions on an ongoing basis.

This initiative follows the successful first ten months of American website Women in Photography which is co-curated by Amy Elkins and Cara Phillips.

WIP grew out of an identified need to take action following a series of articles about the New York ‘gallerinas’. “If all women merely shrug off this article and think “Well, this is just the way it is” things are obviously not going to change. But if just two or three female bloggers got together and published an “enough is enough” post on their blogs about how this is ridiculous and offensive, that would be quite interesting.” Joerg Colberg on Cara Phillips’ blog.

WIP was born from the actions that followed.*

Now, 10 months down the track, WIP has shown exhibitions by many talented female photographers; it is a wonderful success and a highly inspiring site.

Light Journeys will quickly forge its own identity and become a valuable point of reference for Australian photography. The founders hope that the site will stimulate discussion and inspiration throughout the photographic community, focussed around but not restricted to the featured photography. Although appreciation of photography as an art-form is ever increasing in Australia, as it is in New Zealand, there are still a very limited number of quality venues for photographers to show their work. There is great potential for increased dialogue and networking through curated online enterprises such as Light Journeys.

Keep an eye out for the first exhibition on Light Journeys in the coming months.

Image credit: Lee Grant from the portfolio ‘Kids’

*A very simplified version of what was a well discussed and debated topic in April 2008.