ONE of Australia’s most popular actors is the subject of the People’s Choice for the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017, announced today by the National Portrait Gallery.

Brett Canet-Gibson’s digital print portrait of Aboriginal actor Trevor Jamieson has won the popular vote. Most famous for playing the role of Albert Namatjira in Big hART’s play “Namatjira”, Jamieson fans can again see him on stage at the Canberra Theatre Centre, June 14, in the verbatim theatre work, “Coranderrk”.

It’s been a good year for Canet-Gibson, and as “CityNews” reported earlier this year, he was also the winner of the Highly Commended Award for his portrait “Mastura”. It was the first time a photographer has received an award from both the official judges of the prize and the public.

“Unbelievable!” Canet-Gibson said on hearing the news. “A big thanks to all those portrait-loving souls who took the time to vote this year and a huge congrats to the Portrait Gallery for another inspiring showcase of contemporary Australian photographic portraiture… A year to remember.”

No wonder he’s pleased. He won a studio/equipment rental package and a Canon EOS m5 with EF-M 15-45mm lens, courtesy of SUNSTUDIOS and valued at $4500.

One voter has also received a holiday package from the Gallery’s Accommodation Partner, Crowne Plaza Canberra, to the value of $2000.

The top five portraits for the 2017 People’s Choice are: “Trevor Jamieson” by Brett Canet-Gibson; “Melanie and sighthounds” by Christopher Pearce; “The man who raised me” by Steven Lloyd, “Currents” by Natalie Ord; and “The skin I’m in II” by Brian Cassey.

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2017 exhibition is on display at the Portrait Gallery in Canberra until 18 June 2017.

 

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