Ben Apfelbaum

My photography began when my father handed me the proverbial brownie box camera as a child. As cameras developed I went through Fujica and Olympus range finders graduating to my first single lens reflex camera, the Minolta SRT101, the latter being the greatest facilitator to my growth as a photographer. Digital photography has only added to this.

I was a regular contributor to Camera Craft magazine (Australian Camera ) for over three years.

During Australia’s Bicentennial year (1988) I made it a personal project to document the celebrations. This culminated in the creation of a book of my photos which was published in 1989. The book was called CELEBRATING AUSTRALIA and came with an accompanying calendar.

My works have appeared in a number of publications including the coffee book entitled MY AUSTRALIA (1989), publisher Robertsbridge Severn. This book had a preface by the then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

I was a co-photographer on a book entitled SYDNEY-DISCOVER THE CITY with text written by Robert Treborland. Major Mitchell Press was the publisher.

Also for two years I was the photographer for calendars celebrating Sydney’s multicultural communities. The two calendars were entitled MULTICULTURAL SYDNEY.

My work appeared in a group exhibition held at Sydney’s Town Hall pertaining to the diversity of life in South America to raise money for orphanages there.

I have over one hundred photos stored in the New South Wales State Library archive. I had a solo exhibition held in 2007 entitled Ben’s Lens at the Sydney Jewish Museum which celebrated the vibrancy of the Sydney Jewish community. Some of these photos are on the Museum’s permanent display. I have exhibited internationally firstly at the Spruill Gallery in Atlanta Georgia, united states, and in an exhibition entitled Kosher and Co at the Jewish Museum in Berlin.

Currently I am a regular contributor to J-Wire and this esteemed publication.

709 posts by Ben Apfelbaum

coronavirus traps artworks here and abroad

Many artists especially in the audio visual sections of the art world have been rushing to fill the vacuum left by the lack of audiences due to the corona virus. Podcasts are blossoming on a multitude of platforms and many …

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biennale of sydney announces first online programming

The Biennale of Sydney today announced initial details of how it is taking the 22nd edition, titled NIRIN, online through a series of activations and experiences.

From Monday 6 April 2020, online programming linked to the seven themes that inspire …

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biennale of sydney moves to online digital experience

For nearly 50 years, the Biennale of Sydney has presented some of the most dynamic contemporary art from around the globe in iconic venues across Sydney.

This year’s exhibition, titled NIRIN and meaning ‘edge’ in Wiradjuri, is an artist- and …

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escape to canberra with matisse and picasso

There has been news that the fear of corona virus related food and toiletries shortages  have driven people as far away as Bathurst to shop and stock up on supplies. Bathurst is 200 kilometres from Sydney. If you are prepared …

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head on festival goes ahead – online

Arts exhibitions, film and theatrical events and musical shows have been cancelled up to July 2020. The Government is suggesting that some of its lockdown  awards will apply for a further six months from now. However one of our biggest …

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the bridges of madison county @ the hayes

It has taken a mere six years for ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ to be produced in Australia. Based on the novel by Robert James Waller, it premiered on Broadway in 2014 winning two bTony awards for Best Original Score …

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sydney mardi gras parade fulfills 2020 vision

Unlike the Sydney Chinese Lunar New Year Festival, the corona virus threat did not deter a 300, 000 crowd which packed along Oxford and Flinders streets. It was estimated that the same number of people watched the event on SBS.…

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