The National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects. The winner for 2022 is
Silent Strength by Wayne Quilliam
In making their decision, the judging panel - award-winning press photographer Nick Moir together with Sandra Bruce, the National Portrait Gallery’s Director of Collection and Exhibitions and Associate Curator Rebecca Ray - said Quilliam’s portrait was a work of immense power and beauty; “Everything about this portrait is exceptional. The composition, the contrast, the richness of the colours in the ochres and feathers, and also the sense of pride the subject is portraying – all of these layers and details carry such power in connecting the subject and his story with the audience.”
The Highly Commended Award goes to Adam Ferguson for his portrait of Guatemalan migrant Carlos Soyos and his eight-year-old son Enderson, taken at the migrant shelter on the Mexican/United States border.
The Art Handlers' Award goes to Cordy in the Clouds by Adam Haddrick.
The People's Choice Award goes to Luther Cora for his portrait Flora and Fauna, Giara: White Cockatoo.
The judges found it very difficult to narrow down the selected 50 portraits from over 2400 entries. We would like to thank everyone who submitted photographs for the Prize.
Prizes
The winner will nab a $30,000 cash prize from us AND $20,000* worth of Canon equipment thanks to Imaging Partner Canon Australia. There are a raft of other prizes too, including Highly Commended and the Art Handlers' Award. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive $5,000 courtesy of The David Roche Foundation.
*Totalling approximately $20,000 in RRP value. Product to be selected in Canon’s sole discretion.
