Laneways, basements, gardens, churches, shopping centres, bars and restaurants, waterways and other venues will become makeshift exhibition spaces featuring world class photography.

BIFB creative director Fiona Sweet says having art in public places is about engaging more people with photography.

"Something that is important to me is getting people who don't go to a white box gallery seeing art," she said.

"By putting it outside you get more people who don't consider going in to an art gallery looking at art."

This year there are 12 outdoor exhibition sites, double the number of the previous BIFB in 2017.

"Everyone loved them, everyone was talking about them so we increased the number to increase the number of people who accidentally see the art and be moved by the art without having to physically go in to an art gallery, which allows us to have a much more diverse audience."

The BIFB's drawcard exhibition is at the Art Gallery of Ballarat but Chinese photographer Liu Bolin's work has a quirky twist with the artist himself hidden within the photograph, painted to blend in to the background.

Among the not-to-be-missed exhibitions and unusual locations on this year's BIFB program are:

THE Alane Fineman New Photography Award finalists in the Myer Basement at Central Square Shopping Centre, featuring the works of six photographic artists from the Asia Pacific working throughout the Asia Pacific region. Also at Central Square is the John Street / Seventies Foodies exhibition of food photography;

THE transformation of Hop Temple Lane in to an urban iceberg by Korean artist Han Sungpil whose Polar Heir photographic series will be installed in the lane allowing people to feel like they are walking through a glacier;

BALLARAT Botanical Gardens Conservatory hosting The Center for Living Things featuring US photographer Diana Lelonek's images of hybrids of plants and artificial objects;

RELATED STORIES

FACES of Wendouree showcased in two exhibitions, Hello Foto by Erin McClusky in McKenzie St and Hello Wendouree / Hello Australia by the children of Forest Street Primary School which will be on display at Stockland Wendouree;

FURRY Fotos on September 8, 15 and 22 at Alfred Deakin Place where you can have your pet's portrait taken (fees apply).

Ballarat International Foto Biennale runs from August 24 to October 20. Full program at ballaratfoto.org

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