JUDGES
The judging panel for the 2026 Capture Awards will be announced soon. In the meantime, meet the panel from 2025, some of whom will be returning to judge this year's awards.
SARAH EDMUNDS |
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British-born photographer Sarah Edmunds specialises in wedding, portrait, and fashion imagery. Based in northern Italy, she holds Master honours with SWPP and Icon, alongside over 100 international awards – including multiple WPPI print trophies and four Photographer of the Year titles. A veteran educator featured in Rangefinder and Professional Photo, she presents for B&H, WPPI, and KelbyOne, and hosts tutorials for Godox.
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JANET TAVENER
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Working predominantly with photography and sculpture, Janet Tavener has exhibited internationally and throughout Australia. She has been a finalist in major art awards, including the Blake Prize, Sulman Prize, and 3 times in the National Photographic Portrait Prize. She has undertaken residencies with the Historic Houses Trust, Sydney, SIM Residencies and AARK. Her work is represented in the collections of Australian Parliament House, North Sydney Council, Hornsby Shire Council, Wagga Regional Art Gallery, and Western Sydney University. She holds a BA in Fine Arts and a Graduate Dip in Professional Art Studies.Website: www.janettavener.com
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CHRISTOPHER IRELAND
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Christopher Ireland is a photographer and film director creating emotionally grounded commercial campaigns, brand films, and documentary projects. With over two decades of experience, he has collaborated with global brands like Telstra and Uber, exhibited at Sydney Contemporary, and is held in the State Library of NSW. Beyond production, he consults with agencies early on to shape creative direction, story, and tone before shooting begins.Website: www.christopherirelandcreative.com |
MICHAEL WAYNE PLANT
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Originally from New Zealand and now based in London, Michael specialises in portrait, street, and social documentary work. He holds an MA in Photography and Urban Cultures from Goldsmiths College, where he developed his interest in connecting visual storytelling with urban life. A former Sony Global Imaging Ambassador, Michael’s career spans commercial, advertising, architectural, and fashion photography. Alongside his practice, he dedicated nearly a decade to education, serving as Head of Photography at one college and lecturing at four other London colleges, while continuing to focus on social documentary photography.Website: www.michaelwayneplant.com https://street-photography.net
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MATT WEDDIS
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Sydney-based photographer Matt Weddis creates portraits that sit comfortably between traditional sittings and collaborative, conceptual storytelling. Moving fluidly between high-end digital workflows and the deliberate, tactile discipline of large-format film, Weddis uses the latter to drive his experimental fine-art bodies of work. He is dedicated to industry education, teaching nationally recognised qualifications at a Sydney RTO and mentoring the next generation of emerging image-makers as they refine their craft.Website: www.mattweddis.com
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YAN ZHANG
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Yan Zhang is a highly regarded, award-winning landscape photographer and a mountaineering enthusiast. In recent years, Zhang has devoted his time and efforts to mountain and alpine landscape photography. Alongside the pursuit of capturing the sublime beauty of nature, Zhang hopes to use his photography works to inspire the conservation of our natural resources and environment.Yan is the winner of 2022 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (Landscape).Website: www.yanzhangphotography.com |
DIMPY BHALOTIA
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Dimpy is an award-winning photographer and creative director based in both London and Mumbai. She is widely known for her captivating street, portrait and documentary photography.Her work has received widespread acclaim and won over 24 prestigious awards globally. She was the first Indian to win the Grand Prize Award in the IPPAWARDS with her photo "Flying Boys". Her work has been exhibited internationally in New York, London, Berlin, Mumbai, and Venice, and featured in publications including The Guardian, The Washington Post, Forbes, and National Geographic."Website: www.dimpybhalotia.com |
CLAIRE DROPPERT
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Claire is based in Rotterdam and widely known by her Instagram handle @claireonline, where she has over 325k followers. Her work is recognised for its focus on serenity, simplicity, and silence.With a fascination for remote places and desolate landscapes, Droppert aims to uniquely capture the essence of natural elements. Her minimalistic subjects and distinctive editing style create a signature look that is dreamy and ethereal, designed to leave a positive, emotional impact on her audience.Website: www.claireonline.nl
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PAUL BLACKMORE
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Paul is an Australian-based photojournalist known for covering social and political issues in Australia and abroad. Blackmore’s books, work and essays have been exhibited and published widely.In his latest body of work Heat, Blackmore exposes a culture laid bare under an ever hotter sun. Against the backdrop of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Heat explores the intimate relationship between humanity and the ocean. Heat was published as a monograph and was featured in the exhibition 'Water' at GOMA.Website: www.paulblackmore.com
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