Wayne Quilliam is regarded as one of the leading photographers of Aboriginal people and has vowed to share his cash prize with them
(Image credit: National Photographic Portrait Prize 2022)
The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2022 has been awarded to aboriginal photographer Wayne Quilliam. His striking image Silent Strength depicts Eric Yunkaporta, an Aboriginal from Aurukun, Australia wearing ceremonial headwear and traditional body paint.
Quilliam has been awarded a $30,000 cash prize donated by the National Portrait Gallery, plus $20,000 worth of Canon imaging equipment thanks to Imaging Partner Canon Australia. He is regarded as one of the leading photographers and curators of indigenous people and has spent a lifetime documenting their world. Due to his love for these people, Quilliam has announced that he will be gifting back more than half of his winnings to Aboriginal communities.
Reflecting on his work, Quilliam said, “In its purest essence, the evolution of culture connects us to Mother Earth. My role as a storyteller continues to evolve and this capture is akin to a trickle of water merging into a small stream and then into the ocean. This image of Eric Yunkaporta from Aurukun is Culture”.
(Image credit: Wayne Quilliam - National Photographic Portrait Prize 2022)
This year's competition was judged by award-winning press photographers Nick Moir and Sandra Bruce alongside The National Portrait Gallery’s director of collection and exhibitions and associate curator Rebecca Ray who all said that Quilliam's portrait was a work of immense power and beauty.
“Everything about this portrait is exceptional. The composition, the contrast, the richness of the colors in the ochres and feathers, and also the sense of pride the subject is portraying – all of these layers and details carry such power in connecting the subject and his story with the audience.”
Australian photo-journalist Adam Fergerson won the highly commended award for a photo from his ongoing series Migrantes. The portrait shows Guatemalan migrant Carlos Soyos with his eight-year-old son as they take shelter at the US/Mexico border. Fergerson was recently awarded the Sony World Photographer of the Year for the series in which he let the migrants take their own portraits.
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From 25 June until 9 October, the National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition will be open to the public with tickets starting at just $10. In total, more than 2,400 images were whittled down to just 50 which can be viewed here.
Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. Hannah spent three years working at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant, using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. With eight years experience working with studio lighting, Hannah has run many successful workshops teaching people how to use different lighting setups.
