Mr Lambeth will be at the gallery from 11am on Saturday.

He will present an appreciation of many of the works featured in the exhibition, drawing on his experience and knowledge as a professional photographer and a visual arts thinker. 

His photography career started with undergraduate studies, where he trained under some of Australia’s most celebrated photographers, including Athol Shmith, John Cato and Paul Cox.

Following his time at art school he practiced in Europe, primarily Greece and Britain., beforereturning to Australia to broaden his experience as a studio, architectural and medical photographer.

He worked directly with key figures including Sir Edward Dunlop and Professor Graeme Clark, the latter during the development of the cochlear implant.

Moving from professional practice to education, Mr Lambeth taught photography at tertiary level before pursuing an arts management career as Head of Department, Arts Academy University of Ballarat. 

He was then Arts Mildura director from 2012 to 2015 where he directed major festivals including the Murray River International Music Festival, Mildura Writers Festival, Palimpsest Biennale and the Mildura Jazz Food and Wine Festival.

The finalists for this year’s Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015 are currently presented at the Ararat Regional Art Gallery in an exclusive state exhibition. 

The finalists have responded to the theme of contemporary Australian life. 

The resulting exhibition offers an insight into the current ideas and trends being pursued by Australian photographers.

Thirty finalists competed for $50,000 prize money, with Queensland photograph Trent Mitchell taking out the prize.

This photographers featured in the exhibition includes Alex Ellinghausen, Andrew Goldie, Ben Simpson, Chris Budgeon and Emma Perry. The event is free and morning tea will be provided.