Though he now bases himself in Los Angeles, Andrew Gunsberg found time to sneak back to Australia to make a surprising little show premiering tonight on ABC1 – PHOTO FINISH.

For six years he hosted Australian Idol and as a passionate photographer the series offered the great challenge to combine work and pleasure where, each week, three amateur photographers compete head-to-head in themed photographic challenges. Equipped with the same camera, the time-based assignments are designed to test the photographers’ creativity and skills. And not just with your standard SLR – from high-end gear to an iPhone, the challenges are many and varied. As a “slashy” (Host slash judge) Andrew has to help decide the weekly winner, and is joined by Anne Loxley, a curator at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art as well as an expert judge from each genre.

Andrew joined me on Skype from LA to discuss the series ahead of the premiere and there was even time for a photography lesson.

[podcast]http://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/s02e20-andrewgunsburg/MolksTVTalk-AndrewGunsburg.mp3[/podcast]