“Photography is the closest thing I know to exploring the unknown; we’re explorers of light aren’t we?”
“Photography is a gift. You don’t take photographs, you’re given them.”
Photo by Rory King, in my Scarborough studio, 2021
“I first saw Stephen Dupont’s photography in his unique artist’s books that have justly been sought out and widely collected, by both individuals and institutions. Like all of his work, Dupont’s books are full of forceful imagery, a mix of beauty and wonder, disturbance and despair; images that seem to have come from just the right shot, the product of a compassionate eye led by innate instinct”.
- Stephen C. Pinson, Curator of Photography, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), NYC, USA
Stephen Dupont is an Australian photographer and director working on films, commercials, magazine and newspaper assignments and long term personal projects. Born in Sydney in 1967, he grew up in the western suburbs and Southern Highlands under tough social conditions and displacement, with social worker parents, who were full-time carers of state wards.
Stephen is a Leica Ambassador and is represented by The Kitchen Creative Management for commercial work in directing, still and motion photography.
Stephen is recognised around the world for his concerned photography on the human condition, war and climate, earning him dozens of prizes including the W. Eugene Smith Grant, Robert Gardner Fellowship from Harvard University, a Robert Capa Gold Medal Citation, the Olivier Rebbot and several World Press Photo Awards. He holds a Masters degree in Philosophy, enjoys teaching workshops and giving public talks around photography, film and his life. Dozens of books and catalogues on Stephen’s photography and diaries have been published, (Steidl, NYPL, Radius, PowerHouse, Yale & Aperture).
He self designs most of his projects and his hand made limited edition artist books and his prints are heavily sought after and collected by major museums (Peabody, Fogg, Wits, MONA, Tate, ICP), libraries (NYPL, Library Of Congress, Berlin, British) and private collectors, (Ginsberg, Getty, Heiting, Stokes).
He exhibits globally through galleries and festivals, (NYPL, Peabody Museum, ICP, Polka Gallerie, Noorderlicht, Visa Pour L’Image).
He has twice been an Official War Artist, (Afghanistan & Solomon Islands) for the Australian War Memorial. He is a co-founder and past director of the Australian based “Reportage Festival of Documentary Photography".
Stephen likes to explore new and innovative ways through photography, often collaborating with other artists, writers and creatives through books, exhibitions, film and theatre, (Elizabeth Tadic, Gerhard Steidl, Jacques Menasche, David Field, Tim Page).
In 2017, a one man theatrical show "Don't Look Away", took his personal journey through photography and war and the sudden death of his mother. It was a completely unique approach to how Stephen sees, captures and feels the world we live in. It world premiered at the Museum of Old & New Art (MONA) as part of Mona Mofo (MONA's festival of Music and Art). Performances continued at Sydney's Eternity Playhouse Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art MCA and at the Melbourne Writers Festival.
Stephen currently lives on the south coast of New South Wales with his family.
Websites
Agents
Ambassador
Publisher
Podcasts
The Photowalk #430 Whatever you do, Don’t Look Away: Stephen Dupont, April 26, 2024
Street Life: Stephen Dupont, November 3, 2023
A Small Voice: Conversations with Photographers, EP 137
The Sydney Morning Herald: Afghanistan: a photographer’s view, September 10, 2021
The United Nations of Photography: A Photographic Life, EP 84
OSHER GÜNSBERG: Better Than Yesterday, EP 287
Soma Collective: Creativity and the Art of Living, May 31, 2021
Techly Talks: Stephen Dupont on War Photography, 2017
New Books Network: Piksa Niugini, October 18, 2016.
Press Interviews & Profile
The Phoblographer, interview by Chris Gambit, October 1, 2024
Art & War, The Leica Camera Blog, interview, profile, September 23, 2024
Gods & Heroes, Profile, Leica Camera, July 20, 2024.
Dov Kornits, Stephen Dupont’s Verité Raskol, Filmink, November 2, 2023.
Kate Holden, The Influence with Stephen Dupont, The Saturday Paper, No. 374, November 6 - 12, 2021
The Art Show with Daniel Browning, photography/exhibition review, ABC Radio National, June 14, 2021
Australian Photographers’ Journal, Why Photograph? EP 1, interview/profile video, 2019.
The Guardian, Photographer Stephen Dupont looks back - a picture essay, June 14, 2019
W.M.Hunt, The Unseen Eye on Stephen Dupont, The Eye of Photography, May 8, 2017.
Henry Zwartz, Stephen Dupont talks about Don’t Look Away, Sydney Morning Herald, March 17, 2017.
Dominic Rolfe, Profile, interview, “ Stephen Dupont”, The Sydney Magazine, May 2013
Bradley Scott, "At War with Stephen Dupont", interview, Vice, November 15, 2013
Michelle Bogre, Stephen Dupont interview, "Photography As Activism", Focal Press, 2011, p. 116 - 123.
Michelle Bogre, Stephen Dupont interview, "Photography As Activism", MasteringPhoto.com, 2010.
Jodie Duffy, "Images of War: Stephen Dupont's life on the front line," Artist interview, Illawarra Mercury Weekender Magazine, July 9-10, 2011.
Scott Bevan, "Afghanistan: The Perils of Freedom 1993 -2009," Exhibition Preview and artist profile, ABC News 24 program The World, October 22, 2010.
Vince Aletti, “Afghanistan, or The Perils of Freedom,” Exhibition Review, The New Yorker, January 5, 2009, p. 20.
Fenella Kernebone, Profile, ABC Television Australia, Sunday Arts Ep. 13, May 24, 2009.
Jonathan Holmes, “Embedding in Afghanistan,” Analysis, ABC Television Australia, Media Watch, October 5, 2009.
Mark Bannerman, “Stephen Dupont embedded in Afghanistan,” Interview, ABC Radio National Australia, Saturday Extra, October 17, 2009.
Jiang Rong, “I create the luck: Stephen Dupont,” The Power of Photography – A Collection of Interviews with Famous People in Contemporary World Photography, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing House, p. 158 – 171.
Di Bain, “Kodak dumps the coloured film which made it famous,” Interview, ABC Radio Australia, PM, June 23, 2009.
Jacques Menasche, “The Art of War,” Profile, Mens Style Magazine, Australia, Winter 2008, Issue # 27, p. 114 – 119.
Brooke Salisbury, “Stephen Dupont,” Interview, Time Out Sydney, October 8 – 21, Issue 47, p. 22 – 23.
Mark Corcoran, “Afghanistan – A Survivor’s Tale,” Interview, ABC Television Australia, Foreign Correspondent, May 27, 2008.
Ross Bray, “Curating the Reportage Festival,” Interview, ABC Television Australia, Newshour, October 2008.
Robbie Buck, “Afghanistan, surviving a suicide bombing,” Interview, ABC Radio Australia, JJJ Morning Show, October 7, 2008.
Linda Sills, “Rory Peck Award Finalists: Brothers of Kabul,” Interview/Analysis, BBC Television News, Firing Line, November 2006.
Elissa Blake, “In My Own Words: Stephen Dupont,” Interview, Sunday Magazine, The Sunday Telegraph, January 15, 2006, p. 22.
Li Xiaoyan, “Stephen Dupont – A Day in the Life,” Profile, Photo World, Shanxi Radio & Television China, July 20, 2005.
Isabelle Genoux, “Raskols of PNG,” Interview, ABC Radio Australia, In The Loop, may 17, 2005.
George Negas, “Psych War in Afghanistan,” Interview, SBS Television Australia, Dateline, Ep. 34, October 19, 2005.
Amanda Smith, “ Afghan Photography: Stephen Dupont,” Interview, ABC Radio National Australia, The Deep End, February 5, 2004