Are you a shutterbug who loves nothing more than documenting this wide brown land we call Australia?
Well, you’re in luck because one of the country’s most prestigious photography competitions is back for 2021 and calling all casual camera buffs and professional snappers to let their talents shine.
The Australian Life photography competition is an integral part of the City of Sydney’s Art and About initiative and aims to highlight life in Australia – from the epic to the intimate, from the harsh to the fragile.
The competition also offers a $10,000 cash prize and an opportunity to have work featured in an outdoor gallery along the St James walkway in Sydney’s Hyde Park.
“Everyday occurrences, fleeting moments, unusual places, diverse cultures, celebrations and natural or artificial environments are the kinds of images we want to see,” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“What life is like in Australia and what it means is different for everyone and it’s always intriguing to see people’s unique perspectives captured in an image. Like many events in Sydney, we were disappointed to cancel last year’s competition because of the pandemic so I’m thrilled that our very popular competition can now go ahead.”
In 2019, Dominic Lorrimer from Darlington in Sydney’s inner-west won the $10,000 prize for his work Haka. Captured at Lakemba mosque following the Christchurch massacre, the image shows students from Punchbowl High School embracing in a moment of reflection before performing the Haka outside the mosque.
The judges described the work as “a powerful image of unity during a distinct time in Australia and New Zealand’s history.”
In 2021, a selection of 28 finalist images, and the stories behind each photograph, will feature in the gallery that will launch on Thursday 16 September. And, for the first time, there will be a People’s Choice award – a $5,000 Olympus professional pack will be presented at the closing of the exhibition on Sunday 10 October.
A panel of judges, including National Geographic photographer, Michaela Skovranova and Magnum Photo Agency member, Trent Parke, will select the final 28 images. The 2021 winner will then be announced at the opening of the Australian Life exhibition which will be curated by photographer Sandy Edwards.
Entries for the Australian Life competition close at midnight on Friday 25 May. Head here for more information.
