APAC Feature of the Year
Brendon Thorne
“The entries in the open feature category were incredibly diverse, featuring a variety of high-quality submissions. Brendon’s bold portfolio of fashion images demonstrates his unique eye for clean, striking, and creative compositions. He showcases his skill in every image, with not a single frame feeling out of place. His expert use of available light is especially commendable”
“Dressed to Impress”
I chose fashion as a medium to highlight and celebrate diversity through Australian and NZ fashion weeks in 2023.
For just a few days a year, respectfully, Australia and New Zealand showcase a rich gender and cultural diversity interwoven in its designs, designers and models - like first nation Maori designs by Kiri Nathan and Somali refugee designer Asia Hassan (ASIYAM) to the gender-diverse cast in Iordanes Spyridon Gogos x Akira show and LGBTQIA + cast in Romance Was Born’s show ’Stronger Together’.
I wanted to create a body of work that celebrated this diversity with imagery that had a strong editorial ‘wow’ factor, that was visceral, energetic and captivating, as if the viewer were in the front row.
Like the diversity within the subject I used a range of techniques and compositions to share this vision. From natural light to black & white. Direct flash to Rembrandt lighting. From modest, intimate scenes to iconic backdrops. From nondescript silhouettes to in-your-face chaotic neon lights. But above all else, I wanted to create clean, high-contrasting imagery that was both engaging and thoughtful.
2nd Place
Kevin Frayer
“China Tibet”
China’s government says it has invested heavily in infrastructure, education, employment, health care and a regional tourism industry to develop Tibet’s economy. However, some critics believe the scale of development is coming at an irreversible cost to culture and the environment on the Tibetan plateau by eroding traditional Tibetan religion, language, and culture. Chinese officials say their development policies have helped to alleviate poverty and boost prosperity without diminishing religious and cultural freedoms or environmental protection. Foreign journalists are normally not permitted to travel to the autonomous region without an invitation, and some were recently taken on a visit organized by local and state level officials to coincide with the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo, the first since 2019, after the country ended its zero COVID policy late last year.
3rd Place
Jenny Evans
“Stay Cool”
People flocked to beaches, pools and Lakes across Sydney during short, sharp heatwaves. Heatwaves are a significant hazard in Australia that affect human health and kill more Australians than any other natural hazard. The extreme humidity is akin to that experienced in more tropical regions, such as Darwin, in the far north of Australia. High humidity levels lead to the development of dense, towering cumulonimbus clouds, which are often associated with thunderstorms and heavy precipitation. As a result of climate change, heatwaves in New South Wales are projected to be more intense, occur more often, and last longer. We are already seeing these changes, and they are projected to continue
