Photofields Industry Day – Morning Session

11–12pm Octagon's Twin
Hosted by Powerhouse senior curator Sarah Rees in conversation with Cara Stewart, Ben Waters and Nathan Lane, this discussion examines how photogrammetric vision systems and 3D scanning technologies work, and explores their history, potential applications and shortcomings.

12–1pm New Realities
Good Design Australia Ambassador Nicola Mansfield leads a discussion with Tom Blachford, Barbara Humphries, Katrina Sluis and Dario Valenza on how technologies including AI, drones, 3D scanning, and photogrammetry have affected image-making practices and will consider their current and potential applications.

Sarah Rees is an interdisciplinary curator experienced in commissioning and collaborating with artists to realise ambitious cultural projects. She has a Master of Art Curating from the University of Sydney and before joining the Powerhouse Museum in 2020, held the inaugural position of curator, contemporary art at Sydney Opera House. Sarah has led the curatorial development of several major programs and exhibitions for Australian cultural organisations. Her curatorial interests and research span photography, architecture and urban studies.

Cara Stewart is a creative producer with more than a decade’s experience in large-scale installations, performance and digital storytelling at leading cultural organisations such as MoMA PS1, Performa, Red Bull Music Academy, Guggenheim, Brooklyn Museum, and Powerhouse Museum.

Ben Waters is the founder of research and design agency S-I Projects and director at Waters Architects in Melbourne. He has taught Architectural Design at the Melbourne School of Design since 2015. Through his work at S-I Projects Waters applies design thinking to new spatial imaging technologies, creating sensory environments that merge the virtual and the physical.

Nathan Lane is a visual FX artist working in the film industry. He has worked at some of Australasia’s biggest special effects studios including Animal Logic, Weta Digital and the Sydney branch of Industrial Light and Magic. Lane is currently exploring new and accessible data capture devices as part of his work on 3D image making with Fin Design and Effects.

Tom Blachford is a Melbourne-based artist and photographer who specialises in interiors, architecture and aerial photography. Blachford prides himself on translating space, texture and design intent into strong sets of images. He has worked with many of Australia’s prominent architects and designers, and his skill set encompasses residential, workplace, retail, hospitality and industrial spaces. Blachford’s photographs have featured in numerous publications including Wallpaper*, Vogue Living, Vanity Fair and Architectural Digest.

Barbara Humphries is Executive Creative Director at The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song.Barbara has worked across major international brands including IKEA, Nike, UNWomen, Nestle, Cadbury, Qantas, and Berlei, as well as Australian brands Telstra, MLA and IAG Insurance. Barbara has also created bold attention grabbing campaigns for the Tuvaluan Government, and Uluru Dialogue – the main organisation behind The Voice to Parliament – advocating for an enshrined Indigenous Voice in the Australian Constitution.

Nicola Mansfield will moderate the discussion. She is one of Australia’s most experienced strategic creative thinkers with 30 years’ experience in brand and experience consultancy, having led teams across agencies, management consultancy firms and inhouse as a founder. Mansfield is an Ambassador for Good Design Australia and was a national board member of the Australian Graphic Design Association. As a leader in her industry, Nicola is at the forefront of exploring emerging technology and ideology and their impacts on practice and business.

Katrina Sluis is currently head of photography and media arts in the School of Art & Design at Australian National University (ANU) where she also co-convenes the Computational Culture Lab. Prior to joining ANU, Katrina was based in London where she was senior lecturer and founding co-director of the Centre for the Study of the Networked Image which brings together researchers from cultural studies, software studies, art and media practice to develop knowledge and understanding of how network culture transforms the production and circulation of images and cultural objects. With an emphasis on artistic and practice-based research, the Centre addresses the separation of cultural policy, practice and theory through collaborative research partnerships with Rhizome, Tate, The Photographers' Gallery, Serpentine Galleries, Royal College of Art and Gasworks.

Dario Valenza is the founder of Carbonix, a leading manufacturer and solutions provider of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or drones. Carbonix has pioneered the development of long-range vertical take-off and landing drones for aerial surveillance and precision data capture. Valenza has a background managing technology projects in a competitive environment, including working with America’s Cup teams to use technology to gain a competitive edge in highly time-critical and performance-sensitive applications. His passion for design has led him to experiences in fields as diverse as feature film production and architecture.