A PICTURE capturing Annette Baker’s “grief, hope and strength” is a finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
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The Albury mental health advocate, who lost her daughter Mary to suicide, posed for Chiltern photographer Natalie Ord in the Murray River, where she enjoys long-distance swims.
“It was just the right moment,” Ord said of the picture.
“When I look at her eyes we’ve connected and I can see her grief, but also her sense of hope and strength.”
The $25,000 prize will be announced on Friday night at Canberra’s National Portrait Gallery which will exhibit Mrs Baker’s image along with other finalists from Saturday to June 18.
Mrs Baker was pleased.
“I thought she captured the essence of grief or sadness, that’s how I see it,” she said.
More than 3000 entries were received for the prize with only about 50 photographers’ work chosen.
It is the first time Ord, who initially met Mrs Baker last June after being engaged to photograph her Winter Solstice mental health event, has entered the contest.