AN homage to Princess Leia, a pelican’s gaping mouth and a ute abandoned on a salt lake are some of the captivating photos in this year’s Perth Amateur Photographers Exhibition.
Now in its seventh year, the exhibition showcases the works of 50 amateur photographers at the Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle.
The range of photos is diverse, with everything from wildlife and architecture to close-up portraits and candid snaps of everyday life.
Fremantle is well represented, with Andrew Johnson capturing the quirky side of the port city.
• (top to bottom) Crowned in Ice by Bonny Eadie, Snack Time by Peter Dyer and A Stare at a stair by Andrew Johnson in the 2026 Perth Amateur Photographers Exhibition.
There’s a great photo of two women on the stairs leading up to the Round House, shot in slightly washed-out tones you might associate with a 1960s Kodak camera.
One is sitting with her hands on her knees, and the other is standing. They are both wearing orange and one of them has orange hair, giving the photo a kitsch symmetry.
In another shot, a man is on the boardwalk at Bathers Beach, looking out to sea, while a woman beside him looks the other way, suggesting the relationship could be in free-fall.
The photos are highly staged and stylised—all the eccentric subjects look like they raided an op shop on High Street and drink elderflower gin.
“His Wes Anderson-inspired series uses familiar Fremantle locations in a really creative way, bringing a cinematic feel and a different perspective to the streets of Freo,” says exhibition founder Travis Satur.
Jean Hudson shifts the focus to Fremantle port with her colourful shots of a cruise ship and a giant crane-carrying vessel.
Her photo of a foiling catamaran zipping across the water is particularly effective, capturing the raw power and energy of the ocean.
The exhibition wouldn’t be complete without the obligatory shot of the Ferris wheel in Esplanade Park.
But Amanda Barker takes the rote subject to another level with her moody black-and-white composition.
In the foreground, a giant puddle reflects the gondolas rising into the sky, and below them, a mysterious man stands on his own, staring at the camera.
It’s a clever take on a ride that is meant to be garish and fun.
Aside from the Fremantle content, other highlights include Peter Dyer’s stunning photo of an open-mouthed Rainbow Bee-eater about to devour a dragonfly at Gwelup.
“Wildlife remains a strong theme, but there’s a shift towards behaviour, personality and authentic moments rather than simply documenting an animal,” Satur says.
“One of the biggest trends I’ve noticed this year is photographers presenting their three images as a connected series rather than individual photographs. There’s a stronger emphasis on visual storytelling, which I think will continue as photographers look to create a point of difference from AI-generated imagery.”
The best stories in the exhibition are told by the close-up portraits of animals and humans.
Jodie Holwill’s shot of a well-dressed but glum-looking man, crouched against a wall with graffiti, conjures up all sorts of questions about failed dreams and what could have been.
“We’re seeing more experimentation with movement and more cinematic, character-driven portraiture,” Satur says.
“For me, the defining trend of 2026 is intentional visual storytelling.”
The Perth Amateur Photographers Exhibition is on from November 8–12 at the Kidogo Arthouse on Bathers Beach in Fremantle. For more details visit perthamateurphotographers.wordpress.com.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK