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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

FAGGOT MAGIC BONFIRE, 2024

Jeff Andersen Jnr.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 Finalist

pigment photographic print on paper (image: 90.0cm x 60.2cm. sheet: 120.0cm x 80.0cm. frame: 104.1cm x 74.1cm)
FAGGOT MAGIC BONFIRE, 2024

‘It’s a common feeling among the queer community – the deep desire to run into the forest, strip naked and just be “flaming faggots”. To reclaim the words that they call us and start our own rituals. For FAGGOT MAGIC BONFIRE, we wanted to embody this feeling. Informed by our shared queer experiences and an agreement to “make it super witchy”, we stoked the fire and created all our effects in-camera. Happy accidents and unexpected shapes form the final image, calling upon ancient queer magics that emerged from primordial body ooze, still sparkling and glistening long after we return to gay little dust.’

Jeff Andersen Jnr. is a Naarm/Melbourne-based photographer and filmmaker. His photographs explore movement, shape and shadow with themes of queer joy, amplifying mood through lighting and cinematic haze.

People's Choice Award

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

The People’s Choice Award is generously supported by the Calvert-Jones Foundation, with the artist who wins the most votes receiving $10,000.

Voting closes Sunday 28 September 2025.

Submit vote

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025
(More information, View all 48 photos)

Lola in utero
Stan
Oaklan
Hands

Related information

Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

Current exhibition

from Saturday 16 August

The NPPP is an annual prize for Australian photographers. The year’s most outstanding photographic portrait is awarded a $30,000 cash prize and photographic equipment valued at $20,000 courtesy of our Imaging Partner, Canon Australia.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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