The Young Crop Photography Award 2022, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award, invited young photographers from all over Australia aged 5-17 years to explore their surroundings and share their unique perspectives.
The four winners were selected by Tracy Cooper-Lavery, Director, Gallery and Visual Arts, HOTA for the following categories: 5-7 years, 8-11 years, 12-14 years and 15-17 years.
Tracy said: ‘It has been an absolute delight to spend time with the finalists' images for the 2022 Young Crop Photography Award. The outstanding quality of photographs across the 5 – 17 age group was impressive, making selecting the winners an enormous challenge. The inaugural Young Crop Photography Award shines a light on the next generation of photographers. It shows how the medium of photography, at any age, can be an incredible outlet for humour, beauty and expression. Congratulations to each of the four winners!’
The winning young photographers are awarded a share in a prize pool valued at $2,000.
#5-7 years
Artwork: June, age 5. Looking from the car window. Winner, Young Crop Photography Award 2022; © Image courtesy of the artist
Tracy said: ‘The strong composition and verticality in Looking from the car window are heightened through the upward perspective of this young photographer. We're looking at the everyday in a new and novel way, captivated by the relationship between nature and constructed form. Nicely captured, June!’
#8-11 years
Artwork: Bella, age 9. Possum Magic. Winner, Young Crop Photography Award 2022; © Image courtesy of the artist
Tracy said: ‘Bella’s Possum Magic at first glance shows a cute familial connection. Upon closer inspection and with a hint from the title, we see that reality is stretched and a little technical trickery is at play. The humour in this photograph simply made me smile. A fun photograph Bella!’
#12-14 years
Artwork: Cameron, age 14. Two boys walk around school. Winner, Young Crop Photography Award 2022; © Image courtesy of the artist
Tracy said: ‘The straightforward representation of this familiar scene and conscious choice to present Two boys walk around school in black and white leans into documentary-style photography. The composition of horizontal and vertical lines infused with the subtle interplay of students frames a traditional schoolyard as a time-honoured place to navigate school life. A strong image Cameron!’
#15-17 years
Artwork: Dominic, age 16. State Lights. Winner, Young Crop Photography Award 2022; © Image courtesy of the artist
Tracy said: ‘What I liked about Dominic’s photograph State Lights is the idea of contemporary image-making through abstraction and action. The light drawing radiates a sense of liquid motion and intensity. There is energy and tension between light and dark and the shades in between. A wonderfully charged image Dominic!’
You can see the finalists’ photographs at the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award exhibition daily and for free at HOTA Gallery until 8 Jan 2023.
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