New photo book celebrates backyard space missions

Andy Rovenko, the overall winner of our 2021 Photographer of the Year competition, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund a photobook featuring his award-winning work.

The Rocketgirl Chronicles will showcase work from Rovenko’s unique and quirky series of the same name, depicting his daughter and her trusty spacesuit exploring a ghostly Melbourne during lockdown in 2020 and 2021. 

And, just over a week into its crowdfunding campaign, the book has already broken its $10,000 AUD target on Kickstarter, with Rovenko hopeful it will reach $15,000. 

Captured on film by the Melbourne-based photographer, the images in the Rocketgirl series were created as a response to the limitations imposed by the pandemic, when the options for outdoor activities became scarce. 

Many of the images went on to be published globally, as well as win a number of photography awards, including our sister title Capture magazines Australia's Top Emerging Photographer Portrait category. 

"While the curiosity for adventures is something that lasted way beyond the pandemic, all journeys have to come to an end," says Rovenko, with his intention that the series will conclude with the publication of the book. 

The 237mm x 297mm will have a minimum of 64 pages and include at least 33 photographs, printed on 170gsm+ quality paper, with the crowdfunding goal aimed at covering some of the expenses. A pledge of $87 (or more) will secure a copy of the book. 

The crowdfunding campaign ends on April 15. You can express your interest here.