See all the finalist images in a stunning outdoor gallery in Hyde Park from Thursday 15 September to Sunday 9 October.
Published 22 August 2022, updated 5 July 2023
Discover the finalists of the 2022 Australian Life photography competition
Explore some of the unique perspectives from people across the country – on show from 15 September to 9 October in Hyde Park.
Hunting with Fire – Grand prize winner
After lighting the bark on some trees at Djulkar waterfall, Stacey Lee hunts for file snakes in the fires' glow, while Evelyn Narorrga, carrying a flashlight, already has one wrapped around her right hand. The harmless snake is a delicacy. Fire is woven into everything the Nawarddeken people do.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Djulkar waterfall, West Arnhem Land, NT
- Credit: Matthew Abbott
Wombarra Bowling Club – People's choice award winner
Iconic Aussie scene at a Pinheads show on the South Coast near Wollongong. April 2021.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Wombarra Bowling Club, NSW
- Credit: Katelyn Slyer
Reclaiming Culture
A young boy reclaiming culture. This is a part of a culture burn on Awabakal Country to heal the land and its people.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Awabakal Country, NSW
- Credit: Alex Brunton
Our Bathroom Floor
The photograph explores the hidden world of neurodiversity. It evokes the raw feelings of helplessness, courage and resilience within the viewer, feelings many neurodiverse people and families face daily. Our Bathroom Floor was created with no expectations, no pressures. He is free to be present. To feel the water. Neurodiversity, kept safe within our walls.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Canberra, ACT
- Credit: Amy Iacullo
Sisters of Prayer
An Aboriginal woman and a South Sea Island woman embrace their Maori sister as she mourns her recently passed husband. Prayers and tears and solidarity and sisterhood in full flight.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Bagot, NT
- Credit: Anabel Litchfield
College Days Gone, 2021
A candid moment in a friend’s backyard in between the more staged pre-formal drinks. Symbolises a rather difficult couple of years for the graduating class of 2021. A casual up yours and a college education that seems to have disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Canberra, ACT
- Credit: Bob McKendry
Division
I collaborated with synchronised swimming team the Sydney Emeralds to create an entire photographic series from the less explored aerial viewpoint that focused on geometric patterns.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Sydney, NSW
- Credit: Brad Walls
Covid Vax & Ice Cream
After receiving her first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination in her home in Yarrabah in far-north Queensland, Leanne Bulmer, 67, sits with her ‘reward’ – a free treat from the ice-cream van arranged to follow the medical teams and doctors door to door through the Indigenous community.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Yarrabah, Far North Queensland
- Credit: Brian Cassey
The Same, But Different
The iconic NGV Water Wall is a constant source of delight for children. Yet here I saw a reminder that times have changed. We are deeply changed, which I perceived in the glint of the girl’s eye, an impression that we need to be mindful, and continuously adaptable like water.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: National Gallery of Victoria
- Credit: Claire Edwards
Antoinette
Artist Antoinette O’Brien pictured in her home and studio after a record breaking 14.4m flood ravaged through the town of Lismore, leaving thousands of homes condemned or deemed uninhabitable. Antoinette, along with thousands of others residents, are now displaced and devastated at losing everything they own.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Lismore, NSW
- Credit: Elise Derwin
Nostalgia
A self-portrait post spinal surgery. I felt torn apart inside and wanted to wear clothes that day that represented my pain. I also needed to wear tight jeans to support my lumber spine. I spent months in recovery gently walking around my parents' farm. I placed myself in locations that brought on nostalgia. Giving me a sense of being a small child, a young inquisitive mind filled with the joy of discovery from the times gone past. Here I grew up young, free and able.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Gooloogong, NSW
- Credit: Elise Idiens
Pay Your Dollars, Pay Your Cents. But in Here, We Do Not Charge You Rent
Originally from the country, I had not seen the effects of homelessness until I set foot in the city. Walking through the city brought mixed emotions of being enclosed, yet great opportunity. This photograph was taken on a night walking through Newtown, I peered inside and took the photo.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Newtown, NSW
- Credit: Harry Cole
Shopping cart
With this photo, I want to raise awareness of environmental protection. The trolley must return to the collection point and trash must go to the rubbish bin. We cannot leave it to nature.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Mawson Lakes, SA
- Credit: Hyeong soo Jang
Two Hands & Eyes on Jovie
We want that cure for Rett Syndrome and want Jovie's seizures to stop. In the meantime, you need to be present in the life you've been given and not miss out on things that are kind of wonderful right now.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Western Sydney, NSW
- Credit: Joel Pratley
Ladies of the Midnight inma church service
This photo was taken during the making of a multi-disciplinary art project created by Yankunytjatjara artist Derik Lynch and myself. The work explores Derik’s childhood growing up in the heart of central Australia. It was late and the community ran a evangelical church service for us.
Listen to an audio description of this image.
Location: Aputula / Finke, NT
- Credit: Matthew Thorne
