CANBERRA photographer Sammy Hawker has won the $2000 first prize in the inaugural Canberra Contemporary Photography Prize for her work “Caterpillars in Metamorphosis”.

Hawker said she had found the caterpillars drowned in a trough, collected them in a jar, ground their bodies and turned them into a chromatogram through a photographic process first invented by botanist Mikhail Tsvet in 1900.

Celebrating both emerging and established talents in the realm of photo media, the resulting exhibition showcases photographs from 72 artists across Australia and internationally and the judges praised the winners’ – announced on Thursday – blend of “concept, process, and execution.”

NSW artist Claire Paul won the $1000 second prize for her piece “Bouddi Breeze”, which she said had been created by utilising long-exposure pinhole photography, foraging practices and screen-printing technologies. The resulting “slow” photographs, Paul said, captured longer moments of contemplation and connection within Bouddi National Park.

A People’s Choice Award of $500 will be given based on public voting.

Canberra Contemporary Photography Prize, PhotoAccess, Manuka Arts Centre, until October 14.