Australian Photographic Prize announces winners

28 September 2022

The winners of the inaugural Australian Photographic Prize (APP) have been announced, following a four-day event held in Melbourne.

The brainchild of photographers Karen Alsop and Robyn Campbell, the event and competition is aimed at filling the space in the industry left vacant by the closure of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) last year, along with its Australian Professional Photography Awards competition, the APPAs.

The main distinction between the APP and the APPAs however, is the competition accepts entries from both professionals and amateur photographers alike.

The competition's structure is somewhat complex. The prize is divided into three categories: the Nikon Digital Awards (for digital entries), the Epson Print Awards (for printed entries) and the EIZO Photographic Artist Prize (for photographic/digital creations). Photographers who have earned over $10,000 from photography are ineligible to enter the Digital Awards, while the other two categories are open to photographers regardless of professional status.

The Digital Awards and Print Awards accept images from a variety of genres, including Landscape, Nature and Wildlife and People, among others, however the Print Awards also include Commercial, Portrait and Wedding, reflecting the genres that professional entrants are likely to be shooting.

In the Digital Awards, almost 600 entries were received in 2022, while the Print Awards saw about 700 entries, and the Photographic Artist Prize, 100.

Camberwell Camera Club member David Bignell was awarded Digital Award-winner with a reflective self-portrait.

Digital Category Award Winner: David Bignell. Bignell says his photo is one of a series he made during lockdown. — Digital Category Overall Winner: David Bignell. Bignell says his photo is one of a series he made during lockdown. "It employs a visual metaphor to convey the message of someone who is literally washed out. The idea of experimenting with tissue paper emerged from thoughts about floated emulsion processing. Once I started printing on tissue I considered the possibilities of how the paper could be linked to emotions. I started to create self-portraits with torn tissue, wet tissue, crumpled tissue and so on. The fragility of tissue felt apt to describe the fragility of the mind under different pressures. Ironically, being locked down opened a door to a new creative space to explore, and a Zeitgeist to capture.”

North Queensland-based Professional Photographer Charmaine Heyer was awarded the Australian Photographic Prize Print Award.

Print Award Overall Winner, Charmaine Heyer. Heyer says her image started from a fashion shoot. "My intention was to morph an insect and a human to highlight our interdependence," she said.

Finally, Damien Bowerman was the winner of the Photographic Artist Award.

Photographic Artist Award, Damien Bowerman. — Photographic Artist Award Winner, Damien Bowerman.

You can see more of the category finalists at australianphotographicprize.com.au.