The Valley presents a body of work captured by four artists who have developed their photographic practices closely with local Melbourne gallery and photo lab, Hillvale—James Bugg, Anne Moffat, Clare Steele and Hillvale Photo co-founder, Andy Johnson. At the invitation of Latrobe Regional Gallery, they visited the Latrobe Valley in Gunai/Kurnai Country, Gippsland, Victoria over a six-month period. They were introduced to the community and the people and places that inhabit this rugged landscape made up of heavy industry and pastoralism. This image-making project is also an ongoing collaboration, as the photographers lead a series of workshops using Hillvale Photo’s recycled disposables, starting with local young people from Kurnai College’s Flexible Learning Option, and continuing over the Autumn season, with participants’ work displayed alongside the artists. The Valley is an official exhibition of PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography. IMAGE: Andy Johnson, LV Field Nats, 2023. Courtesy the artist