James Bugg (b.1996) is a documentary photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. He received his MA from Photography Studies College in 2023. Bugg is interested in narratives exploring the relationships between people, place and circumstance. In addition to his long term work he has worked for editorial clients including The Atlantic, Australian Geographic, Bloomberg and The Guardian. Bugg was selected as British Journal of Photography’s ‘Ones to Watch’ in 2022. He was the recipient of the 2018 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize and received the People’s Choice Award in the 2018 Australian Photobook of the Year Award, for his self published book The Pines.
He is a member of Australian photography collective Oculi and has recently exhibited works as a part of PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography.
Currently available for photo and video based assignments/commissions.
CV
Awards
2024 - Finalist, Australia & New Zealand Photobook of the Year Award, Be Angry At The Sun.
2023 - Finalist, National Photographic Portrait Prize, Australia.
2022 - Selected, British Journal of Photography “Ones To Watch”.
2020 - Finalist, CLIP Award, Perth Centre for Photography.
2020 - Shortlisted, Palm Photo Prize.
2019 - Selected attendee, Charcoal Book Club Chico Hot Springs Portfolio Review and Publishing Prize, Montana USA.
2018 - People’s Choice Award, Australian Photobook of the Year Award, The Pines.
2018 - Winner, Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize.
2018 - Winner, Graduate Award for Excellence in the Documentary Major Bachelor of Photography (PSC Melbourne)
2018 - Finalist, CLIP Award, Perth Centre for Photography.
2018 - Commended, Australian Photobook of the Year Award, The Pines.
2018 - Nominated, MACK First Book Award, The Pines.
2017 - Winner, CCP Salon, Kayell Australia Best Portrait Award.
2017 - Commended, Exposure Photography Competition.
2017 - AIPP National Awards, Silver Medal, Landscape category.
2017 - AIPP Victorian Awards, Silver Medal, Portrait Open Category.
Exhibitions
2024 - PHOTO 2024 International Photographt Festival, The Valley, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Victoria (AUS)
2023 - Be Angry At The Sun, Hillvale Gallery, supported by The Pool Grant. (AUS)
2022 - PHOTO 2022 International Photography Festival, Outdoor Commission, Parliament Steps, Melbourne (AUS)
2018 - Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, Juniper Hall, Sydney (AUS)
2018 - CLIP Award Exhinition, Perth Centre for Photography, Perth (AUS)
2017 - This Must Be The Place - PSC Grad Show, No Vacancy Galley, Melbourne (AUS)
2017 - HOLY MOLY an exhibition, Fifty-Five Bar & Gallery Melbourne. (AUS)
2016 - IPF Photo Prize, The Good Copy, Collingwood (AUS)
2016 - PSC Second Year Photobook Show, Magic Johnston Gallery, Collingwood (AUS)
2016 - Obscura Festival Projection Night, Hin Bus Depot, Georgetown Penang (Malaysia)
2015 - Top Arts - Start Up, Ian Potter Centre NGV (AUS)
Collections
2018 - The Pines, Added to the collection of The National Library of Australia, Canberra (AUS)
Volunteering
2018 - Project Manager/Content Producer, Tsuka Exhibition, CCP Melbourne (Forthcoming)
2016 - Gallery Space Volunteer, Obscura Festival, Georgetown Penang, Malaysia
Education
2023 - Masters of Photography, Photography Studies College, Melbourne.
2017 - Bachelor of Photography, Photography Studies College, Melbourne.
Workshops
2019 - Charcoal Book Club, Chico Hot Springs Portfolio Review, Montana (USA)
2018 - Photobook workshop with Bryan Schutmaat, Melbourne (AUS)
2018 - Photobook workshop with Martin Parr, Melbourne (AUS)
2016 - Obscura Festival workshop with Sarker Protick, (Malaysia)
Residencies
2019 - Sunsiz Media - Lightning Ridge Artist Residency
Links
The Pines commendation in Australian Photobook of The Year Awards
The Pines on Paper Journal Mag
Tsuka Project - An exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Photography