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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.

Sisters or Friends, 2022

Emma Armstrong-Porter

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023 Finalist

type C photograph on paper (frame: 63.4cm x 46.4cm depth 2.0cm)
Sisters or Friends, 2022

Over the past 11 years Jessica Schwientek and I have travelled many places together. We have come to document our travels by taking portraits of each other. But we alter the presentation of our relationship depending on our location. In some places, reception staff ask if we are sisters or friends. We don't correct them. They just give us a room with two single beds. Some international laws surrounding LGBTQIA+ relationships don't allow us to be transparent. This photo reveals us behind closed doors on our honeymoon as a happy queer couple.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023
(More information, View all 47 photos)

blood/memory: Brenda & Christopher I (Gurindji/Malngin/Mudburra; Mara/Ngarrindjeri/Ritharrngu; Anglo-Australian/Chinese/German/Irish/Scottish) 2021
'Sunju Calabrese' #2
Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) employee, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine
Looking Down

Related information

Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023

Previous exhibition, 2023

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency