About

Since launching in 2016, APA has become a celebration of the changing ways Australian photographers explore big ideas. Each year, we call for original and thought-provoking photography. Photographs can be made anywhere in the world, so long as the photographer resides within Australia or is an Australian citizen living overseas.

As an organisation which seeks meaning and hopes to promote understanding through photography, we endeavour to view imagery beyond its surface value, searching for layers and intent. We welcome experimental, new and artful approaches to photography alongside traditional forms of image-making.

What winners receive

Alongside a prize pool of cash and camera equipment valued over $40,000, the 2023 APA Event will provide the opportunity for selected photographers to have their work printed and exhibited at a major exhibition in Naarm/Melbourne. Additionally, finalists are invited to take part in artist talks and participate as guests at the central program. For a full list of prizes per category, please see here.

How to Enter

APA is a single image photographic award. Entrants are permitted to enter as many single images as they wish across all of our categories. We have no time restrictions on when an image was taken, we just can’t have seen it before in APA. Photos can be made anywhere in the world, just as long as the photographs are made by a person residing within Australia or any persons living outside of Australia with an Australian citizenship.

Each single image entry costs $28AUD. Entrants who enter eight or more images will receive a personal online feedback session with an APA Committee member to discuss your 2023 submissions.

Student and Junior entrants may opt into their respective categories by selecting the required check box during the submission process. At this point, their entries will be automatically submitted to the Student or Junior Awards alongside the chosen category. For example, an image entered into the People Category will cost $28AUD and will also go into the Student or Junior Category at no additional cost. Please note, entrants under 15 will be automatically submitted to the Junior Category, regardless of their student status.

ABOUT PHOTO COLLECTIVE

Photo Collective advocates for photographers, educators and curators working towards the collective goal of celebrating and contributing to the changing ecology of Australian photography. We achieve this through award recognition, publications, exhibitions, community engagement initiatives and educational programs.

We have composed a network of creative collaborators ranging from Australia’s most established visual artists to the emerging voices of the next generation. We work daily to continue to expand this network with the aim of ensuring all Australians feel represented within this space.

Judging Process

Once entries close, Photo Collective administration will consider all submissions through the Picter scoring system. During scoring the panel is free to discuss anything that may aid in judging. The highest scoring 50 submissions across each category will then be shortlisted for the next round of judging. All shortlisted entrants will be notified via a public announcement made via email, social channels and through our website. Following initial judging, the external APA committee members will discuss and review each of the shortlisted submissions. Each entry is then scored and deliberated over to determine the final outcome.

The winning entry from each category will be announced at the APA Awards Ceremony at Bodriggy Brewpub and through our social media platforms, email database and website. The top 10 submissions from each category will also be published in the 2023 APA Annual.