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National Photographic Portrait Prize 2011 Finalist
John Withers is the Sensei at the Blacktown City Judo Club that my son and I attend. John is a fourth Dan Black belt and an ex-boxer. He left boxing for Judo at 30 and fought competitively until the age of 41. He has been running the Dojo for the last 30 years, and is now 69 years old. John has been a single father to two children for the last 40 years, and now has six grand children and six great grand children. This image is part of an ongoing series centred around the Dojo, exploring notions of masculinity in the western suburbs of Sydney and a general interest in the sport of Judo.
The NPPP exhibition is selected from a national field of entries. The annual exhibition, now in its fourth year, reflects the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
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