If you have an interesting story to tell or consider yourself a character, then a Blaxland photographer wants to hear from you.
Simon Bennett has worked for Fairfax Community Newspapers for six years, primarily taking photographs for the Liverpool City and Fairfield City Champion.
He has started a portraiture project, with the intention of entering photos in various awards like the Moran Art Prize, Head On Photo Festival and Monster Children Photo Comp next year.
He's looking for people 18 years and older who are comfortable being photographed.
"The person could be a performing artist, magician, musician or a model. Something I can get my teeth into as a photographer," Bennett said, but also stressed he didn't have a "type".
"A person willing to discuss ideas about ways they want to be photographed."
He said he'd be willing to photograph someone nude in the Blue Mountains bush, or give exposure to someone with a lot of tattoos.
Lately he's photographed some characters in western Sydney - a refugee doing fashion design who loved to try on weird and wonderful clothes, a burlesque performer, and a father with a crazy jacket that his kids thought he shouldn't wear in public.
"A lot of people don't get to meet people like that. It's an honour to be able to meet people, go into their home, follow them around. It's an absolute privilege," Bennett said.
Anyone who has a genuine respect for the arts and is interested in being involved should email simon.bennett@fairfaxmedia.com.au. Participants will get a couple of their photographs.
