A rugby team made up of Elvis impersonators, a family of Victorian-era vampires and the FIFA Women’s World Cup are just some of the subjects featured in this year’s Australian Life photography competition.
Twenty-eight finalists were selected from 2,417 entries nationwide for the City of Sydney’s yearly competition and exhibition. For the first time this year, 8 finalists will be from a new category for 12 to 17 year-olds.
Images making up the over-18s category include:
- Brooke & Terry in their share house: Friends sharing a home in Brisbane
- My mother and Adelchi: One of the final images of the photographer’s mother
- Elvis Rugby, 2024: Elvis impersonators take to the field for a game of rugby
- Victorian Vampires: A mother and 2 daughters dressed as vampires from the Victorian era
Images making up the under-18s category include:
- Take on the World My Darling Daughter: A father’s hopes for his daughter are shared posthumously
- Zion and Dog: American pro skateboarder Zion Wright meets local kids at Bondi
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the competition and exhibition of finalists is run as part of the City of Sydney’s Art & About program, presenting events and temporary art projects in unusual spaces to enliven the city.
“This competition always provides an incredible snapshot of life in our country. I am always by the quality and diversity of the images and this year is no different, from the everyday turned into the extraordinary to intimate moments shared through the lens,” said Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO.
“It is such a privilege to showcase the incredible array of talent we receive each year and in 2024 we are delighted to include emerging teen photographers in the main exhibition.”
“Once again, we’ll share this incredible collection with the public with a gallery at Customs House Square in Circular Quay and for the first time this year, images from our finalists will be displayed on our digital screens across the city,” said the Lord Mayor.
Both amateur and professional photographers can enter the competition. The winner of the adult category will take home a $10,000 cash prize. The first-place winner from the teenage entrants will be awarded $2,000 in cash as well as an OM System professional pack worth around $2,500.
All images will be displayed in an outdoor exhibition at Customs House Square from 2 to 25 August and the winner will be revealed during the exhibition opening. Visitors will be able to vote for their favourite image once the exhibition kicks off.
A gallery of all Australian Life finalist images can also be viewed online, with an option to vote for a People’s Choice winner. The photographer with the most popular image in the exhibition will take home an OM System prize worth $5,400.
For more information about Australian Life, visit: www.artandabout.com.au for details.
Image: Boyca and Daisy – photo by Cassandra Scott-Finn