Born in Ballarat in 1945 Roger Donaldson moved to New Zealand in the mid 1960s where he took up photography, working in advertising and photojournalism.
By the 1970s he had started to direct television commercials and, soon after, documentaries and dramas. He directed his first feature film, Sleeping Dogs, in 1977.
He moved to the US in the 1980s and over the following decades established himself as an sought-after director, making a number of feature films including Smash Palace, The World’s Fastest Indian and The Bank Job.
Throughout his years in the film industry Donaldson has always maintained his love of still photography.
While Donaldson’s subject matter is diverse, his images share a desire to tell a story or convey something of the spirit of the times. Many of his works are imbued with a sense of melancholy and are characterised by an acute awareness of human foibles.
A solo exhibition of Roger Donaldson's photographs will feature at this year's Ballarat International Foto Biennale, with around 50 works from Donaldson’s 45-year career on display at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
This year, the Biennale will present a dynamic core program of 21 Australian and International photographers, along with a further 70 artists who will exhibit as part of the Fringe program. The Biennale runs from August 20 to September 18.
Image by Roger Donaldson.
Image by Roger Donaldson.
Image by Roger Donaldson.
Image by Roger Donaldson.
Image by Roger Donaldson.