The Walkley Foundation is pleased to announce the 2005 Nikon-Walkley Press Photo Exhibition at Blender Gallery, 16 Elizabeth Street, Paddington from November 3-22, 2005.

The annual Walkley Awards recognise excellence in Australian journalism across all mediums including print, television, radio, photographic and online media.

Over 50 years, more than 75 Australian press photographers have been awarded the prestigious Walkley Awards for their work with images from the anti-Vietnam protests of the 1960s, Darwin’s devastation in the wake of Cyclone Tracy, the 1980 Newcastle Star Hotel riot, the 1989 Kempsey bus crash, bushfires, floods, political highs and lows, Aboriginal deaths in custody and more recently the war in Iraq.

The exhibition of finalist news and feature photographic images will showcase in excess of 90 works by Australia’s best photojournalists, chronicling the news, events, elation and tragedy of the year in the media. The Press Photographer of the Year, chosen from the winners of the photographic categories, is regarded as the most prestigious press photography accolade in Australia today and will be announced at the Walkley Awards gala ceremony in Sydney on December 1.

The Nikon-Walkley Photographic Awards are today regarded as the most comprehensive and prestigious competition for press photographers in Australia. Every year more than 1000 photographs are judged for selection in the awards. Of more than 150 photographers, only 15 are selected on the shortlist for nomination for the illustrious Walkleys. The exhibition features news, sport, daily life, portrait and suburban/regional as well as photographic essay work.

The collection includes the work of Joe Armao, Brian Cassey, Tamara Dean, Craig Golding, Sahlan Hayes, Phil Hillyard, Megan Lewis, Lindsay Moller, Neil Newitt, Renee Nowytarger, Adam Pretty, Sandra Scheltema, Steven Siewert, Jason South, Andrew Taylor, Mick Tsikas, Craig Wilson and Andy Zakeli

The Walkley Awards winners will be announced at the annual gala ceremony at Luna Park, Sydney, on December 1.