A PORTRAIT of young actor Levi Miller on the set of “Red Dog: True Blue” by Katoomba photographer David Darcy has been voted as the  People’s Choice Winner of the National Portrait Gallery’s National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016.

The film released this year is  the prequel to “Red Dog”, which  grossed $21 million at the box office and broke DVD sales records for an Australian film.

More than 11,000 people from around the country voted in this year’s People’s Choice Award, beating the 2015 vote which brought in 9,800 votes.

Darcy, who has a gallery in Katoomba and whose professional focus is on dogs,  has been awarded a SUNSTUDIOS Australia studio package valued at $2,500 providing access to a creative hub of photography professionals which can be used in Sydney or Melbourne and is valid until June 30 next year.

By voting in the competition, several lucky winners have been drawn and the gallery urges member of the public  to check emails. The first prize winner has received two nights of accommodation at Crowne Plaza, Canberra which includes dinner and breakfast for two, valued at $1,500, a $100 voucher for Portrait Store and a VIP tour of the Gallery’s permanent collection for the winner and their friends and family.

Places 2nd – 10th will take home a copy of The Companion, the exclusive guide to the Gallery’s collection featuring some of the most celebrated portraits in the collection alongside those that are lesser known.

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 exhibition will tour the country starting at Dubbo Regional Gallery, opening on  August 3.