The National photographic portrait prize, now in its 18th year, attracts thousands of entrants from emerging and established artists across the country. This year, Hoda Afshar’s portrait of First Nations youth in far north Queensland was chosen from 48 entries as the winning portrait. The judges said that by handing agency over to her subjects, Afshar had given the young First Nations people ‘the rare opportunity to frame themselves on their own terms’. This is the second time the Melbourne visual artist and documentary maker has won the $30,000 prize. The exhibition is on show at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra until 12 October
