Head On Foundation invites photographers to submit works to Head On Portrait Prize, Australia’s most critically acclaimed photographic portrait competition and exhibition reflecting a diverse cross-section of new and traditional photographic practices.
High profile judges from within the visual arts industry select the 40 finalists and the winners. The judges this year are Judith Blackall, Museum of Contemporary Art Head of Artistic Programs, Sandra Harrison, Sydney Morning Herald Photographic Managing Editor and Sean Izzard, multiple award winning photographer. Judging will be done anonymously – no identifying detail will be visible to the judges, to ensure that the selection is not affected by who the photographer is or by the subject of the photograph.

Each year the competition finalists have their images shown in the Head on Portrait Prize Exhibition at the Australian Centre for Photography in Sydney. Last year’s finalists were selected from over 2400 submissions. Over the past seven years of the competition, entries have been received from Australian photographers based as far away as Mexico, Egypt and Afghanistan.