Gary Grealy wins $25,000 National Photographic Portrait Prize
12 April 2017
The winner of the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017 has recently been announced with renowned Sydney portrait photographer Gary Grealy taking out the award. The winning portrait, Richard Morecroft and Alison Mackay, is of the former ABC news presenter, who’s also an accomplished landscape photographer, and the masterful painter whose work is held in many major collections. Grealy will receive $25,000 cash a Profoto B1 location kit.
Richard Morecroft and Alison Mackay, 2016 by Gary Grealy. Winner of the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017. Richard Morecroft is a former ABC news presenter and an accomplished landscape photographer, with his work held in The Australian Parliament House Collection. Alison Mackay is a masterful painter – she has works in major collections and has been a finalist in many Australian art prizes, as well as running art workshops with numerous leading Australian artists. My portrait of Richard and Alison is about a partnership in life and work. The pair have co-authored books and created features for magazines; they also jointly and individually exhibit their art.
Grealy believes his portrait is reflective of his inspiration to pursue the field of portrait photography. ‘When I began making portraits of artists in the 90s, the thrill of entering the domain of creativity filled me with excitement, and I must admit a little envy at the talent I saw,” he says. “I began making portraits of artists for no other reason than the love of art.”
The National Photographic Portrait Prize has been particularly important in Grealy’s career and he says that gave hi, a purpose to continue to make portraits of artists, gallery directors and philanthropists. And impressively, his portraits have been exhibited eight times in the ten year history of the prize.’
Brad ‘Gaggsy’ Gallagher at a Bachelor and Spinsters Ball, Tooradin, Victoria, 2016 by Ingvar Kenne. I have been to ten B&S balls around the country in the past years, documenting this particular slice of Australian life. For some it is an all-consuming lifestyle; I keep bumping into the same people at various balls. Brad ‘Gaggsy’ Gallagher is one of the many colourful characters I have met.
Guest judge for 2017, George Fetting said that the portrait was a wonderful collaboration with the sitters. “He has beautifully conveyed a mixture of subdued emotions in a simple, direct but captivating image,” Fetting said. “For me, the contrasting facial expressions, body language and soft side lighting combine to produce a painterly quality of a time gone by. It’s a meticulous work cloaked in curiosity and intrigue, with the furtive smile to seduce the viewer.”
For the first time, Portrait Gallery has awarded two finalists the title of Highly Commended: John Benavente for his portrait, Renaissance Rose, and Brett Canet-Gibson for his portrait, Mastura. The Highly Commended winners will each receive an EIZO Coloredge 24-inch monitor, valued at $2,695.
David, 2016 by David Darcy. David at the Convict Lumber Yard, Newcastle, NSW.
People’s Choice voting is open online at nppp.portrait.gov.au or in person outside the exhibition space. The People’s Choice winner will receive a studio and equipment rental package valued at $2,500, at Sunstudios and a Canon EOS M5 camera.
The National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition is on display until Sunday, 18 June 2017 after which time it will tour around Australia.
Cameron and the prosthetic arm, 2016 by Steve Wise. This image is part of a series of portraits exploring the collection of historical medical equipment and artefacts housed in the Royal Perth Hospital Museum. Cameron is able-bodied, with the full use of both arms. He is naturally right-handed, and is a very successful young sportsman, so when I asked him to wear the prosthetic I was anticipating an interesting result. On suggesting he imagine not having the use of his right arm, his face took on an expression that was hard to read – perhaps the envisioning of change, loss. This added a unique mood to his character in this formal portrait.Mother and child, 2016 by Terry Hartin. Kate and I wanted to portray that in every dark place there can be a hope for the future – the child is that hope. I have been a photographer for forty years, trying, adapting to and looking forward to anything new that comes along. Portraiture is one of my favourite forms of photography, as it gives you a chance to interact with your subject on a one-to-one basis. It is always a collaboration between the photographer and the subject to achieve the best result.Mastura, 2016 by Brett Canet-Gibson. Highly Commended in the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017. This portrait of Australian-born Muslim mother of three, Mastura, was made on the city streets of Perth using natural light and a portable backdrop. Mastura works as a lifestyle and fashion blogger and marketing consultant; she is also a full-time mum. When this image was taken Mastura was only weeks away from giving birth to her third child.Renaissance Rose, 2016 by John Benavente. Highly Commended in the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017. I use photography as a means to document the world around me and people in my life. I photograph people in their natural environment because I want to preserve a moment in time. My recent focus has been on portraits that capture mood through light and composition reminiscent of the great artists of the Renaissance period. This image was captured on a traditional film camera.Untitled 3, 2016 by Jo Cripps. This work is part of a series titled, ‘When you took me away’. It is inspired by and devoted to my adopted brother James, who, together with many other Indigenous Australians, originate from a time in our history known as The Stolen Generations. My interest is personal and has been fuelled further by extensive research. Connecting moments that generated change is vital to ensure integrity for the participants of the project – people such as twin sisters Donna and Patricia, who have overcome much to become who they are today.
