An image by Elizabeth Looker, Life Dancers, won the 2016 National Photographic Portrait Prize. The first prize of $25,000 is awarded to the most outstanding photographic portrait. Held annually, the National Photographic Portrait Prize seeks to recognise the best in contemporary photographic portraiture by both professional and aspiring Australian photographers. Looker’s winning images was selected from 2,000 entries submitted nationwide. It will be on display along with 48 other finalists at the Portrait Gallery until 26 June 2016. The exhibition will then tour Dubbo Regional Gallery, Lovett Gallery in Newcastle, Port Pirie Regional Gallery, Mildura Arts Centre and Glenelg Art Gallery in South Australia.
Guest judge Narelle Autio commended the unspoken emotion of the winning photograph. “From the moment I saw this photograph, it captured my attention, and in the end it didn’t let go,” Autio said. “Beautifully composed, it offers a stunning tableau of childhood; a moment grabbed out of the bustle of family life.”
Sean Davey received the Highly Commended award for his portrait, Asha, and receives an EIZO ColorEdge CG277 27-inch monitor, valued at $3,800. For the first time, an Art Handler’s award was also announced, and this went to Matthew Newton for his portrait, On Albatross Island. Newton picked up $1,000, courtesy of International Art Services (IAS) Fine Art Logistics.
Vote for the People's Choice award to be in the running to win two night’s accommodation at Canberra’s Crowne Plaza, breakfast and dinner for two, a $100 voucher to The Curatoreum and a VIP tour of the Gallery’s permanent collection. The People’s Choice winner will receive a session at SunStudio valued at $2,500
The full list of finalists can be found here.