Picturing Footscray Photography Prize

Picturing Footscray is a free open-entry photography prize that has been celebrating Melbourne's unique inner-west suburb of Footscray since 2016, documenting a period of significant change. In 2020, this is particularly poignant. Against the backdrop of home-isolation and a global pandemic, life as we know it has changed and we’re adapting with it. Welcome to Picturing Footscray, virtually!

This year we received over 150 entries that celebrated and explored Footscray in unique ways.

Ranging from landscapes and portraits that are quintessentially "Footscray" to creative interpretations from the confines of isolation, Picturing Footscray 2020 documents a moment in time that juxtaposes the vibrancy of this inner west suburb with the loneliness of a pandemic.

2020 Winners

Congratulations to the winners of Picturing Footscray 2020!

The following photographs were selected by judges Cameron Cope and Megan Evans. Read more about the selections in the media release.

First prize

Ben Dowling
Paisley Street

Second prize

Jody Haines
Self Portrait 2020

Third prize

Narinda Cook
Footscray Antifa Post Lockdown 1

Student prize

Becky Blechynden
A Waiting Welcome

Honourable mentions

Chris Bowes
Mel and Chandler in Isolation

Mario Xerri
The Way

People's choice award

Brodie Clark
Fragmented

Picturing Footscray 2020 – Photography Prize Announcement

Picturing Footscray Photography Prize 2020 Announcements - Transcript

First prize: $3000 + $300 Ernest Studio voucher
Second prize: $1000 + $250 Prism Imaging voucher
Third prize: $500
People’s Choice Award: $500
Student Prize sponsored by VU's Library Services: $500

The People's Choice award will be awarded on 16 September.

Picturing Footscray is proudly sponsored by:

Ernest Studio
Prism Imaging
VU's Library Services
Two Birds Brewing

Exhibition

Picturing Footscray is usually presented through a physical salon-style exhibition at our community hub VU at MetroWest; however, COVID-19 prevented us from doing that this year.

Adapting to the circumstances, we instead showcased all 150 entries in an online exhibition and presented a selection of photographs in a street poster display in Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville.

View the street poster exhibition catalogue.

One of the Picturing Footscray street poster exhibition sites, located in Footscray. Photographer: Brent Edwards

Picturing Footscray street poster exhibition site, photographed by Brent Edwards.

Past winners

2019

Test Shot at Westgay by Matto Lucas

First Prize: Test Shot at Westgay by Matto Lucas
Second Prize: Franco Cozzo by Oli Sansom
Third-prize: Footscray Drag Race by Xavier Smerdon
Student Prize: Barkly Street intersection by Mishka Winters

2018

Footscray Embrace by Nathan Stolz

First prize: Footscray Embrace by Nathan Stolz
Second prize: Advance by Pier Carthew
Third prize: Caleb by the Bunbury Street Bridge by Shannon McDonald
People's choice: Giraffes on the Serengetti aka Sunset over the Dock by Elwyn Davies