Shot in the Heart of Melbourne 2021

"Shot in the Heart of Melbourne" exhibition 2021

Exhibition now open for viewing


The Australian Association of Street Photographers is proud to bring the tenth “Shot in the Heart of Melbourne” exhibition.

Held in the beautiful Frater, Hammond and McCubbin galleries at the historic Victorian Artists Society building, the exhibition is focused on each photographer’s personal interpretation of street photography within the Melbourne CBD.

SITHOM 2021 Application Form

To apply click the button below. This will take you to a Google form.

Exhibition Details:

29th July to 9th August

Victorian Artists Society

430 Albert Street, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002.

Important dates for Exhibitors

  • Application Opening Date                   Now open

  • Application Closing Date                     Extended to 16th May 2021

  • Date for Final Payment                        Sunday 16th May 2021 (for exhibition fees)

  • Date for Final Image Acceptance     Sunday 16th May 2021

  • Date Image Curation Closes               Sunday 20th June 2021

  • Date for Receipt of Image Details    Sunday 11th July 2021

  • Hanging Day                                              Wednesday 28th July, 2021

  • Exhibition Opening Date                      Thursday 29th July

  • Opening Event Date and Time           Friday 30th July, 2021 7pm-8:45pm

  • Exhibition Closing Date                         Monday 9th August, 2021

  • Dismantling Day                                       Tuesday 10th August, 2021 10am-2pm.

SITHOM 2021 Resources

Link to the SITHOM 2021 Resource page for relevant forms and informational sheets

Image Details Form

The button below will take you to a Google form where details of images can be input. These details are used for,

  • Planning the exhibition layout

  • The build the exhibition catalogue

  • To create labels that will be placed under each image in the exhibition

About "Shot in the Heart of Melbourne" 2021

The Australian Association of Street Photographers Incorporated (AASPI), who exhibit under the banner of 'Shot in the Heart of Melbourne' (SITHOM), are a group of avid photographers in the "street photography genre", or as it's commonly called, just "street".

Now in its 10th year, SITHOM is a street photography and photojournalism exhibition that celebrates the decisive, and often indecisive, but always graceful moments within our gritty, yet beautiful city of Melbourne.

Previous exhibitions showcased individual captures from diverse and enthusiastic photographers, who have focused on the eclectic hub that is Melbourne.

They capture ephemeral moments. Raw, candid and completely unique. Shot in the Heart of Melbourne is a candid homage to the people, architecture and street life that bring this individual city to life every day.

In recent times, it seems that the time honoured traditional form of street photography has been overshadowed by a flood of more contemporary, staged, digitally manipulated and over processed genres of photography.

Those who love the genre of "street", know the elation inside, when they capture the moment of something truly unique, fleeting, decisive, and never to be repeated!

What is "street photography"? This definition is subjective and varies from person to person, but at best, it's a visual documentation, focusing on a moment in time, of everyday life of society, un-manipulated and usually without the subject's awareness. Street photography doesn't necessarily need people in it. An object, shadow, ray of light can be the subject, rather than a human form.

 “I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images I live with them.” – Bruce Gilden

A Definition of Street Photography

Street photography is difficult to define and is constantly evolving and being debated. It does however have a number of traits that have been associated with it throughout its history.

Street Photography is about capturing a spontaneous, candid moment from the energy and chance juxtapositions of life. Street photography distinguishes itself from reportage and photojournalism in that it contains the artists intent and interpretation of observations of everyday life caught as it unfolds in front of you.

Despite its name these moments need not necessitate the presence of a street. ‘Street’ simply refers to a place where human activity can be seen, a place to observe and capture social interaction.

While street photography usually involves people it can be of object that projects a human character or an environment that is decidedly human.

Framing, composition and timing are key aspects of the genre, with the aim of creating images at a decisive or poignant moment.

Guide to Curation for SITHOM

SITHOM is a curated exhibition. Here is a summary of what will be considered during curation,

  • Urban - Traditionally limited to the Melbourne metropolitan area, this year this guidance is being relaxed in consideration of Covid lockdowns. Submissions will be considered for which the photographer considers to represent Melbourne in their own heart.

  • Candid - Images should be un-staged where the subjects will mostly be unaware that their picture is being taken

  • Dignity - should not demean or ridicule any person, so please no homeless people or local ‘characters’

  • Natural - black and white or natural colour only and limit processing to minor cropping and other minor adjustments. Effects such as HDR, selective colouring, double exposure or distortion will most likely not be accepted. We want to see the image in its most realistic, yet artistic form

  • Original - must be your own work and photographing another artists artwork may not be accepted, including images of street performers performing their art.

  • Street - have a street photography, documentary or urban poetry style

Full details on curation criteria can be found in the in the SITHOM Terms and Conditions, and if any image is rejected by the curation committee you will be given the opportunity to resubmit.