Skip to main content
Menu

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.

Cameron and the prosthetic arm, 2016

by Steve Wise

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017 Finalist

This image is part of a series of portraits exploring the collection of historical medical equipment and artefacts housed in the Royal Perth Hospital Museum. Cameron is able-bodied, with the full use of both arms. He is naturally right-handed, and is a very successful young sportsman, so when I asked him to wear the prosthetic I was anticipating an interesting result. On suggesting he imagine not having the use of his right arm, his face took on an expression that was hard to read – perhaps the envisioning of change, loss. This added a unique mood to his character in this formal portrait.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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