Head On Portrait Prize, Australias most prestigious photographic portrait competition, is open for entries until March 14. Australian photographers at home and around the world are invited to submit images for the 2010 competition, widely regarded as the most critically important photographic portrait prize in the country. Now in its seventh year, Head On showcases work by established and emerging photographers, and represents a vibrant, diverse cross-section of new and traditional photographic practices. The total value of prizes is more than $45,000. Prizes are awarded to three photographers for the best Australian contemporary photographic portrait. Two further prizes are awarded for The Critics Award and for Peoples Choice.
All competition requirements can be obtained by visiting the Head On website at headon.com.au.
High profile judges are enlisted to select the 40 finalists and the winners. Judging will be done anonymously - no identifying detail will be visible to the judges, to ensure that the selection is not affected by who the photographer is or by the subject of the photograph.
Selection of images for Head On will continue to be based on the power of the photograph rather than the celebrity of either the sitter or photographer, says Moshe Rosenzveig, Head On founder and curator.
Along with Rosenzveig, the judges of the Head On Portrait Prize 2010 are National Gallery of Victoria Senior Photography Curator Isobel Crombie; award-winning photographer Anthony Browell; and picture editor and VU agent Isabelle Rouvillois. Sydney Morning Herald photography critic Robert McFarlane will select The Critics Award.
Each year the competition finalists have their images shown in the Head on Portrait Prize Exhibition at the Australian Centre for Photography in Sydney. Last years finalists were selected from over 2600 submissions. Over the past six years of the competition, entries have been received from Australian photographers based as far away as Mexico, Egypt and Afghanistan.
The Head On Portrait Prize exhibition will also include a slide show comprising the shortlist of a further 200 images.
The exhibition forms part of the inaugural Head On Photo Festival. The first of its kind in Sydney, the festival takes place in Sydney from 29 April to 5 June, featuring numerous events for anyone interested in photography, such as exhibitions, seminars, a mini trade show and a series of multi-media screenings. For five weeks Sydneys galleries, restaurants and cafes will exhibit local and international photography in all genres.
Head On Portrait Prize - entries close at 11pm AEDT on Sunday 14 March.
Finalists will be announced to the public on Tuesday 30 March.
Head On Photo Festival takes place in Sydney from 29 April - 5 June
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