For 23 years, our Australian Life photography competition has shone a spotlight on creativity, perspective and the art of visual storytelling.
The competition encourages entrants to explore the many dimensions of life in Australia, from everyday moments, nature and portraits to abstract compositions, landscapes and urban environments.
Inclusive and accessible, the competition is open to photographers aged 13 and over, whether they shoot with professional cameras or smartphones.
A judging panel will select 20 images to feature in a free outdoor exhibition at Hyde Park from 25 September to 25 October.
Each finalist will receive a $500 exhibition fee plus GST for their featured image.
The winning image will be announced at the opening of the exhibition and the photographer will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize.
Visitors to the exhibition can vote for the people’s choice award, announced on 22 October. The photographer will take home an OM System camera pack valued at $5,298.
To be eligible in the competition, images must meet the technical criteria, including landscape orientation, JPEG format, a file size under 5MB, and no use of synthetic or artificially generated elements.
Submissions are open until 11:59pm, Sunday 17 May.
Published 13 April 2026
