Melbourne photographer Hoda Afshar , June 8 , was awarded $ 25,000 for Ali in a unanimous verdict from the judges . The image depicts an atmospheric vision of a young boy wondering down a foggy pathway in a mountainous village . The Iranian migrant beat 43 other finalists , selected from a record 2500 portrait entries from across Australia . The Melbourne photographer captured the image after stumbling upon a mountainous village while travelling in Iran . An exhibition of the finalists will be shown at the National Portrait Gallery until 31 before touring nationally .
Melbourne photographer Hoda Afshar , 31 , was awarded $ 25,000 for Ali in a unanimous verdict from the judges . The image depicts an atmospheric vision of a young boy wondering down a foggy pathway in a mountainous village . The Iranian migrant beat 43 other finalists , selected from a record 2500 portrait entries from across Australia . The Melbourne photographer captured the image after stumbling upon a mountainous village while travelling in Iran . An exhibition of the finalists will be shown at the National Portrait Gallery until June 8 before touring nationally .