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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.

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Puddled state, 2008

by David Wills

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 Finalist

Puddled state, 2008

The photographic image tries to represent our essence as best it can. But it is always doomed to fail, for one instant in a trillion instants cannot represent it all. We age, we change and what remains the same can never be seen. Behind flickering eyes and beaming smiles our essence lies dormant. At 42, I'm still pondering what might be, could be and what is. Obscured and directionless I face away, extracted from my daily life is where I'm happiest.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009
(More information, View all 56 photos)

Ruby
Portrait of mother (after Mirka)
Nina and Paul
Determined

Related information

Cormac and Callum, 2008 by Ingvar Kenne
Cormac and Callum, 2008 by Ingvar Kenne
Cormac and Callum, 2008 by Ingvar Kenne
Cormac and Callum, 2008 by Ingvar Kenne

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009

Previous exhibition, 2009

In its second year at the National Portrait Gallery, and for the first time touring to other venues, the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 continues to present surprising perspectives on the nature of contemporary portrait photography.
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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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