‘Calm and Peaceful’ Portrait Wins National Photographic Portrait Prize Art Handlers’ Award

The Art Handlers’ Award for 2022 went to Victorian photographer Adam Haddrick for his participation, Cordy in the Clouds, a portrait of an aboriginal elder, Cordy. Haddrick receives $2,000 courtesy of IAS Fine Art Logistics.

©Adam Haddrick. Cordy in the clouds. “I first saw ‘Cordy’ (meaning ‘Spirit of the Sunrise’ in the traditional language of the Tjungundji people of Far North Queensland) when he walked past me on my first day in Charters Towers. I was immediately mesmerized by his presence. Months later I had the good fortune to meet him. He shared his story and told me about a visit to India for an archeology conference where locals greeted him as a holy man. I had not seen clouds in the sky for weeks, but as taking his portrait they rolled behind him as if at the right moment.”

The image was chosen by collectors’ agents Jess Kemister and Jacob Potter as one of the 50 finalists for the 2022 National Portrait Photographic Award. “entangle perfectly with her beautiful hair. It’s a photograph that we feel conveys a sense of calm and peaceful energy,” Kemister said.

Potter said it’s a portrait that “you can look at this work for a long time and hold Cordy’s gaze and be mesmerized by it. And what looks like slow, steady clouds moving in the background. C It’s a quiet, still moment.”

Haddrick first met Cordy at Charters Towers and also says he was hypnotized by the man. “He shared his story and told me about a visit to India for an archeology conference where the locals welcomed him like a holy man. I hadn’t seen clouds in the sky for weeks, but taking his portrait, they came behind like the right time,” Haddrick said.

The winner of the National Photographic Portrait Award will be announced on July 1. They will take home $50,000 in prizes, including $30,000 in cash from the National Portrait Gallery and $20,000 in Canon gear.

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