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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.

Aida Azin, 2024

Emmaline Zanelli

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 Finalist

type C photograph & photogram on paper (image: 40.0cm x 29.2cm. sheet: 45.0cm x 35.0cm. frame: 48.8cm x 37.5cm depth 3.0cm)

‘When I visited Aida while she was living in Manila, Philippines, I made a portrait using a box camera built by local photographers Krystine Antonio, Jesed Moreno and Marion. Aida and I decorated the paper negative with her stickers, and then I rephotographed it. In November, Aida moved to Tarntanya/Adelaide to be with family, especially her sister who was about to have a baby. During this time I reshot the print, adding a Baby Taz sticker Aida sent me years ago, and a jelly centipede on the paper as a photogram.’

Tarntanya/Adelaide-based artist Emmaline Zanelli creates constructed compositions that amplify the expressive power of objects and images. Her portraits explore the relationship between photography, memory and identity.

People's Choice Award

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

The People’s Choice Award is generously supported by the Calvert-Jones Foundation, with the artist who wins the most votes receiving $10,000.

Voting closes Sunday 28 September 2025.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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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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