The portrait of Sean Kinchela’s partner that won him the Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship 2025. Photo: Supplied.
Bodalla-based photographer Sean Kinchela has won the Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship 2025 with a cultural portrait of his partner.
The winner of the $10,000 scholarship was announced today (10 July) at Murrook Culture Centre in Port Stephens.
Mr Kinchela’s talent is growing and becoming widely recognised. Last year he won the astronomy category for the Sony 12 Days of Lenses photography competition in Australia. He was also a finalist in the Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship 2024.
This year he has gone on to become a finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize. The competition attracts thousands of entrants from emerging and established talent from across Australia each year. The 48 finalists were selected by a panel of judges.
The finalists’ work will be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra from 16 August to 12 October, after which the winner will be announced. The works will then go on tour across Australia.
Mr Kinchela, like many in his family, also paints and he has a graphic design company. He has designed the Indigenous Round jerseys for the Parramatta Eels for four years.
The proud Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri man grew up in Nowra, although his family is originally from Moree. He moved to the Narooma area 10 years ago.
Sean Kinchela was a finalist in the Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship 2024. This year he won it. Photo: Supplied.
“Living in such a beautiful place it is kind of hard not to have a camera,” he said.
Mr Kinchela draws inspiration for his art and photography from the landscape, mountains, oceans and skies. The Far South Coast has many dark sky spots that are not polluted by artificial light and enable him to take his amazing pictures of the night skies.
“I use photography to tell stories and raise awareness to protect Country, the ocean, skies, animals and our people, along with keeping our culture alive and burning,” Mr Kinchela said.
Yet growing up there were not many family photos. His grandmother and her sisters were members of the Stolen Generations. He said taking photographs now was a good way to capture memories.
Mr Kinchela wanted to do a cultural portrait because it had not been done before on the South Coast.
“I made the floral headdress for my partner and her mother made the raffia skirt and other dress pieces to reflect her Torres Island heritage,” Mr Kinchela said.
Sean Kinchela’s photograph that won the astronomy category of last year’s Sony 12 Days of Lenses photography competition in Australia. Photo: Supplied.
There are other, more personal reasons behind the portrait.
“It was a week after my grandfather passed away,” he said.
The portrait of his partner radiates pride, determination and resilience.
“I called it Past, Present, Future because I have never experienced so much racism as I have since the Voice referendum,” he said. “We are hesitant to post anything on social media because of all the racist comments. Past, Present, Future is about us belonging here; we have been here for 70,000 years and we are still going to be here.”
Mr Kinchela will spend the $10,000 scholarship on more photography equipment so that he can continue taking professional photos and take it to the next level.
He will also keep entering competitions. The award he most covets is the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.
Mr Kinchela sees photography as a form of truth-telling.
“Photography is very subjective. What one person might see in a picture, another person might see something completely different,” he said. “It draws out the subconscious and how you relate to something.”
The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship is an initiative of Facon Magazine and supported by Greater Bank. Eight other finalists across dance, fashion design, writing, film, accessory design, painting, digital art and music received $1000 prizes and were paired with a leading Indigenous mentor in their field.
