Aussie photographers recognised in International Portrait Photographer of the Year 2022

29 June 2022

The winners of the second annual International Portrait Photographer of the Year competition have been announced.

Jatenipat Ketpradit from Thailand has been awarded the title of International Portrait Photographer of the Year 2022 as well as the top prize of US $3000.

© Jatenipat Ketpradit - Overall Winner International Portrait Photographer of the Year Awards 2022

Open to professional and amateur photographers alike, the competition attracted entries from countries all around the world, with a number of Australian photographers featuring as finalists in this year’s awards.

Mariana Zilbershteyn, Mark Chamberlain, Marc Payne and Kris Anderson were named as finalists, with Karen Waller selected as winner of the Portrait Story category. As a category winner she walks away with a US $1000 cash prize.

Overall winner Jatenipat Ketpradit shared some of the story behind capturing their winning portfolio, "I always stay with the tribal people at least one week per tribe. Spend first 2-3 days to find the location and the direction of sunlight. Then choose the subject by their character, outfits and their story.”

“The Suri tribe is one of the hardest to reach in Ethiopia. They live on a high mountain that is difficult to approach from the outside world. They take immense pleasure in their scars and traditions.”

“Most Suri women get their bottom teeth removed in order to prepare for piercing their lower lip. They express art and beauty by using their own skin. They would get tattoos and wear natural accessories like flower and grass caps.”

"If you visit here, you must follow their rules and regulations by giving them gifts. This will instil trust in new visitors. They are still wary at first, but once accepted and convinced that you are not a threat, they will embrace you to show appreciation.”

“Throughout the journey, the visual of tribal warriors wielding a pair of guns became familiar to me. I took this shot to represent the conflict of their lifestyle. Gun and flower; new technology and old tradition; the killer or the guardian."