Photographer Jay Hynes launches latest portrait exhibition in Melbourne’s famous AC/DC Lane

Now in its fifth year, the Backstage at CherryRock portrait exhibition is roaring to life today in Melbourne’s famous AC/DC Lane. Conceived by former art director now commercial photographer, Jay Hynes, the exhibition features a series of striking portraits – taken as artists and band members exit the stage at CherryRock, Australia’s only street rock n roll festival.

Says Hynes: “Standing behind the lens I’m lucky enough to get a unique perspective. I see the sweaty, grunty guys as they come off stage and their often calm and down-earth natures when they’re not performing.”

Hynes’ background as a creative lends the portrait series a sense of cohesion. It could almost be an ad campaign.

Says Hynes: “As a former art director I treat my personal projects and exhibitions the same way I would treat a campaign.

“I shot everyone on black and white backgrounds and the exhibition is laid out in checkerboard fashion.”

Hynes’ images are printed in giant poster format and glued to the walls – music-poster-style – of AC/DC Lane.

The final effect is gritty and intimate and dynamic.

Says Hynes: “The turnaround is less than two weeks – from testing to shooting to getting the exhibition printed and live – so the pressure is pretty intense. It’s been an incredible 12 months of shooting a bunch of commercial work and I think having an exhibition smack bang in the middle of that has been really good for me creatively.”

Backstage at CherryRock016 is showing in AC/DC Lane, Melbourne from Thursday 12 May to Sunday 22 May, 2016.

You can check out more of Hynes’ work at: jayhynes.com.