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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Boobook, 2016

by CJ Taylor

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017 Finalist

I asked Leah to cradle a dead Boobook owl killed by a car, and hold whatever thoughts came into her mind – then I asked her to look at the camera. She stared straight down the lens with an expression of resigned sadness and forceful grace. In hindsight, this first picture was all I needed to take. Animals are our witnesses. Even in death they offer us the opportunity for reimaging our often fraught relationship with the natural world. They are also a call to arms in the fight to save it.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017

Other NPPP photos from CJ Taylor

Robert, 2010 by CJ Taylor
2011 Finalist
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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