The annual Sydney Life photographic exhibition is now on show featuring 22 large-scale images suspended under the lush-canopied roof of Hyde Park in the heart of this harbor city. These banner-sized photographs, reflecting contemporary life in Sydney, represent the finalists in this year’s Sydney Life competition, which attracts hundreds of entries from both professional and amateur photographers.
The 2012 winner of the $10,000 first prize is Sally McInerney for her Shark in Pool photograph of a real estate billboard promoting the property’s swimming pool, the blue of the ocean a captivating backdrop. On closer inspection of the image there is a plastic shark sticky-taped to the pool, an element that added to the appeal and irreverence of the image, according to one of the three Sydney Life judges, Sandy Edwards.
“Sally’s entry is a very intelligent image with gentle humor. It reflects Sydney attitudes towards real estate – the little shark is such a human touch. Sydney is about real estate and taking the Mickey out of it (read: poking fun). We (the judges) are looking for strong entries, and this photograph stood out as a beautiful comment.”
Edwards says the judging takes place in the park so the images “have to work at scale. There’s always a tussle between the judges and we all feel very passionately about our choices.” This year was no different and the final decision came down to a vote.
The competition’s entries are usually of a high standard and this year was no exception says Edwards. “Sydney Life is a very successful public competition. There is enormous interest and there are a considerable number of photojournalists and documentary photographers as well as artists and students who enter. Although we attract a broad range of people, when you look at the finalists, it is always surprising how much work they have done already. So we are blessed for choice. There is, of course, always a large section of work that is repetitive and we are trying to stop clichés and stereotypes, but sometimes that is hard to convey. We try not to go for photos of the Harbor Bridge or Opera House, we are looking for interesting, warm and intelligent comments on Sydney as it is now”.
Winner McInerney is the daughter of Olive Cotton one of Australia’s most celebrated female photographers, a pioneer of the 1930s and 1940s. Cotton also worked in Max Dupain’s studio during the Second World War – Dupain is another renowned Australian modernist photographer from that era. McInerney is a writer who took up photography later in life. Edwards says McInerney has “held several exhibitions over the last few years, and is doing really good work. She is a worthy winner”.
Alison Stieven-Taylor
Sydney Life
until 21 October 2012
Hyde Park
Elizabeth Street
Sydney CBD New South Wales 2000, Australia
