Daniel Njegich wins the 2018 SUNSTUDIOS Emerging Photographer Award

September 27, 2018

Western Australian photographer Daniel Njegich has won one of Australia’s most generous art prizes – the first prize he has ever entered.

Announced 27 September at the 2018 SUNSTUDIOS Emerging Photographer Award (SEPA) exhibition opening in Alexandria, Sydney, the 29-year-old teacher and photographer won $10,000 in product, services and limited retail from SUNSTUDIOS. His series Victims of Politics covers a hospital burns unit in Bangladesh.

Twelve finalists across four categories were decided by leading photo editors, commissioning agents and creative minds across the photographic industry, following an anonymous judging process.

New South Wales photographer Mark Morgan was awarded runner-up from the fashion category, and Victorian Sean Paris won highly commended for his series Melbourne Race Rallies.

“Year after year, the SUNSTUDIOS Emerging Photographer Award is one of our key opportunities to support new talent using the contacts and resources we have as the home of visual creativity.” said General Manager Alan Brightman.

“This award directly connects the next generation of photographers to those able to help launch careers, and is one of the most important things we do at SUNSTUDIOS. ”

Genres often known for being grand and imposing, the imagery of 2019 SEPA Landscape and Architecture finalists is instead gentle, strange and subtle. The judges have selected Debbie Gallulo, Ashley Ludkin and Matt Solomon as three artists with strong perspective on our built and natural environment.

Pratley’s series of SEPA 2018 portraits grew organically out of encounters in daily life with people, a reminder that people you walk past every day often hold valuable experience. His images are an education in adversity and how to continue on.