2016 Nikon-Walkley Photo of the Year revealed, along with the finalsts

24 October 2016

The finalists for the Nikon-Walkley Awards for Excellence in Photojournalism have recently been announced, while winners will be announced on 2 December at the 61st Annual Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism.

The 2016 Nikon-Walkley Photo of the Year has been awarded to Andrew Quilty for his image, The Man on the Operating Table. It was shot inside the Médecins Sans Frontières Kunduz Trauma Center in Afghanistan, following the 3 October 2015, attack by an American AC-130 gunship on the hospital in which 42 were killed, including MSF staff, patients and patient carers.

"The Man on the Operating Table." A patient, later identified as 43-year-old husband and father of four, Baynazar Mohammad Nazar, lies dead on the operating table inside the Médecins Sans Frontières Kunduz Trauma Center in Afghanistan, following the 3 October attack by an American AC-130 gunship. © Andrew Quilty.

“The body of the man on the operating table had been the only one among the human remains in the trauma centre that was still somewhat visibly identifiable,” Quilty recalls. “And when I first saw him, this man had been lying dead on that operating table for a week as the fighting continued to rage across the city. It would be four more weeks before I’d learn his name.”

Winners were also announced for two photography prizes. The winners each receive $5,000 worth of Nikon gear.

Nikon-Walkley Portrait Prize

Winner: Brian Cassey, News Corp Australia, “Beaten Refugee”

"Beaten refugee". Iraqi asylum seeker Abdullatif Almoftaji stares through the wire of a police cell in the town of Lorengau on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Abdullatif was 17 years old when he was detained trying to enter Australia three years ago. © Brian Cassey.

Nikon-Walkley Community/Regional Prize

Winner: Marc McCormack, The Cairns Post, “Body of Work”

"Bee on track". A European honey bee fitted with a tiny electronic tag the size of a piece of glitter. This image was shot in the field with a 100mm macro lens and portable flash. © Marc McCormack.

The finalists in all the photographic categories appear below.

Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year

  • Alex Coppel, Herald Sun
  • Jason Edwards, Herald Sun
  • Andrew Quilty, Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, TIME Lightbox and SBS.com.au
CFA crews race to save properties near Lancefield, Victoria, in an unusually early start to the fire season. © Jason Edwards.
CFA crews race to save properties near Lancefield, Victoria, in an unusually early start to the fire season.
© Jason Edwards.

News Photography

  • Annette Dew, News Corp Australia, “Close your eyes, I love you”
  • Jake Nowakowski, Herald Sun, “Moomba Gang Riot”
  • Andrew Quilty, Foreign Policy, “The Man on The Operating Table”
“Close your eyes, I love you”. It’s a rare and heartbreaking sight — a son wheeled in on a stretcher bed to his father’s funeral. The service was delayed so that 17-year-old Brendan Powell could attend from hospital after being injured in a crane collapse at Newstead that killed his father, aerial photographer Chris Powell. © Annette Dew.
“Close your eyes, I love you”. It’s a rare and heartbreaking sight — a son wheeled in on a stretcher bed to his father’s funeral. The service was delayed so that 17-year-old Brendan Powell could attend from hospital after being injured in a crane collapse at Newstead that killed his father, aerial photographer Chris Powell. © Annette Dew.

Feature/Photographic Essay

  • Danella Bevis, The West Australian, “The Day After”
  • Eddie Jim, Good Weekend Magazine, Fairfax Media, “Standing Tall”
  • David Maurice Smith, Guardian Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, The Globe and Mail and Mother Jones Magazine, “Refugee Crisis in the Balkans”

Sport Photography

  • Scott Barbour, Getty Images, “Peak of the Action”
  • Eddie Jim, The Age, Fairfax Media, “Champagne Shower”
  • Cameron Spencer, Getty Images, “The Defining Moment”

The finalists’ photographs will be toured around the nation in a series of free public exhibitions and are currently on display at the State Library of New South Wales and the ABC in Brisbane.