Winner announced for 2019 National Photographic Portrait Prize

22 February 2019

From more than 3,000 entries, the Winner and Highly Commended entries for this year’s National Photographic Portrait Prize have been named.

Greta in her kitchen, 36 weeks 2018
Alana Holmberg
Digital print
Pregnancy carried my sister into a new chapter of her life and she welcomed it warmly. Effortlessly. Ready for things to change. We’d spent much of our late twenties debating the ‘right time’, if there was even such a thing, but she’d found it. This portrait is an attempt to depict the tranquillity in Greta’s transition into motherhood, and her trust in the future. — Greta in her kitchen, 36 weeks 2018, by Alana Holmberg. Pregnancy carried my sister into a new chapter of her life and she welcomed it warmly. Effortlessly. Ready for things to change. We’d spent much of our late twenties debating the ‘right time’, if there was even such a thing, but she’d found it. This portrait is an attempt to depict the tranquillity in Greta’s transition into motherhood, and her trust in the future.

The Winner for 2019 is Alana Holmberg for her portrait titled Greta in her Kitchen, 36 weeks. The Highly Commended was awarded to Alex Vaughan for her portrait Sumbawa pride – life on a boat with eleven kids.

Sumbawa pride – life on a boat with eleven kids 2018
Alex Vaughan
Digital print
Beccie, Steve and their eleven children left rural Tasmania behind to take to the high seas on their thirteen-metre boat and full-time home, Sumbawa. Three day-old baby girl ‘Squeak’ is the first of the siblings to be born on the boat. Here, they take a break from their travels, anchoring off Chinamans Beach in Sydney, Australia in February 2018. — Sumbawa pride – life on a boat with eleven kids 2018, by Alex Vaughan. Beccie, Steve and their eleven children left rural Tasmania behind to take to the high seas on their thirteen-metre boat and full-time home, Sumbawa. Three day-old baby girl ‘Squeak’ is the first of the siblings to be born on the boat. Here, they take a break from their travels, anchoring off Chinamans Beach in Sydney, Australia in February 2018.

Dr Christopher Chapman, Senior Curator at the National Portrait Gallery and co-judge of this year’s Prize, said the portrait of Greta captures an intimate moment.

‘This unconventional portrait is quiet and contemplative. The judges agreed that a compelling portrait photograph could be one that conveys a reflective moment experienced by many. The quality of light, the composition of the image and the subtle communication of the narrative combine to create an inner world.’

Dr Chapman characterised the Highly Commended entry as a magical instant that conveys playfulness, barely-contained chaos, and a quiet moment between mother and child amidst an unruly young family.

‘The judges agreed that this is a joyous family portrait,’ he said. ‘Both images possess a cinematic quality.'

‘The judges felt strongly that both portraits allude to the ways in which family connections grow, and the photographs speak to the variety of experiences of motherhood.’

Ms Holmberg will receive a $30,000 cash prize and $22,000 worth of Canon equipment.

Ms Vaughan will receive an EIZO monitor valued at over $3,000.

The Gallery awarded the Art Handlers’ Award earlier in the week to Elizabeth Looker for her portrait A Calm So Deep.

The People’s Choice voting opens on Saturday 23 February, with the victorious entry to be announced on Monday 25 March.

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019 opens to the public on Saturday 23 February and is on display until Sunday 7 April 2019. The exhibition will then tour around Australia.