National Portrait Prize announces People's Choice winner

16 June 2020

The People's Choice winner in the annual National Photographic Portrait Prize has been announced, with photographer Klarissa Dempsey’s portrait of her daughter Tayla winning the award for 2020.

Speaking about her image, Dempsey says her daughter is "High-spirited, mischievous, intelligent, curious: these are some of the words that come to mind while thinking of her." Image: Klarissa Dempsey

The image, simply titled "Wonder", shows Dempsey's daughter captured in striking afternoon light.

"Tayla always asks questions and needs to know the ‘why’; I love that about her… This moment was captured on country homelands, where Tayla spends her time playing endlessly with her brothers and sister and cousins, riding bikes, walking to the creeks, playing with the dogs and being carefree," Dempsey says.

As her prize, Dempsey has won fine art printing to the value of $2,200 thanks to Sunstudios.

The Mahi-Mahi, 2019, by Rob Palmer. Josh Niland, head chef and owner of Saint Peter restaurant, is reinventing what can be done with fish, and – most importantly – with every part of the fish, in a huge effort to drastically reduce wastage. His trailblazing work has received enormous praise from the likes of Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson.

Rob Palmer’s portrait of Sydney whole-fish chef Josh Niland was named the overall winner of the 2020 National Photographic Portrait Prize (the NPPP). You can see the other finalists here.

Following ACT's relaxation of COVID restrictions, the exhibition of finalist and winning images is also now open to the public, and runs until until Sunday 26 July 2020. You can find out more on the National Photographic Portrait Prize website.