James Pevitt Shows Hometown Love
James Pevitt loves his hometown of Port Fairy, Victoria. “Port Fairy is a very beautiful, historic town with a proud history,” the Australian photographer says, and the facts bear it out: the National Trust of Australia protects fifty landmarks in the coastal town. Every year, tens of thousands of tourists travel to the small Australian fishing village to play on its world-class golf course, or attend the annual Port Fairy Folk Music Festival.
Tourists and local artists aren’t the only ones who love the place, though. Port Fairy won recognition as The World’s Most Liveable Town for a population under 20,000 in the 2012 Livcom Awards, “the world’s only awards focused on International Best Practice in management of the local environment.”
Seeking a way to combine his passion for his lauded hometown with his skill with a camera, James hit on something really special. He recently got involved with a global project entitled “My Town, Your Town” that enabled him to share the place he loves with amiable strangers thousands of miles away.
The brainchild of Port Fairy woman Dianne Clanchy who has many long term connections in China, the international photo project proved to be a one-of-a-kind experience. “The project involved two photographers: myself in Port Fairy, and Fang Jun in Yangzhou, China. We submitted ten images that were taken in both of our hometowns. They were then exhibited simultaneously both here in Port Fairy and in China.”
Approaching the project, James knew that his portrayal of Port Fairy had to be different. As a resident, he knew he had inside knowledge of people and places that outsiders documenting the town might never have. “Having a good knowledge of the town and its people directed me towards documenting the human aspect of what I saw,” James explains. “My photography allows me to meet and get to know people with genuine interest.”
Surpassing even James’s expectations, the project was a massive success in both cities—the response from the international community was tremendous. “My Town, Your Town” went a long way toward bringing together Chinese and Australian art lovers despite hailing from two normally disparate cultures. James is pretty pleased with the outcome as well: “It shows that with good and informative photography, people welcome the opportunity to learn about each other.”
Click here to view more of James Pevitt’s work on FoundFolios