2026 Students’ Photographic Competition winners

Photography

The 26th Annual Students’ Photographic Competition was again popular with students in years 3 to 12 from the ACT and interstate. We received a total of 380 photos from 178 students at 40 schools or colleges. There were 19 entrants at primary schools and 159 at secondary schools or colleges.

The award-winning entries are now on exhibition on the path above the Banksia Garden, where they will stay until late October.

A larger selection of entries is being shown on the video wall in the foyer outside the Theatrette. In the Visitor Centre, there are three digital photo frames which are showing all the entries.

Click on an image to see a larger version of the photograph.

Primary Colour First Prize - William He, Heathmont East Primary School - Jewel Beetle

Primary Colour Second Prize - Beatrix Jameson, Weetangera Primary School - Bower Bird's Favourite Find

Primary Colour Third Prize - Ainslie Couvée, Burgmann Anglican School - Spectacular Spinebill

Primary Colour Highly Commended - Ethan Newman-Smith, Gold Creek School - Colours in the Dark

Primary Colour Commended - Riku Kano, Ainslie School - Hungry Bee

Primary Colour Commended - Mako Takakusagi, Torrens Primary School - Tiny Purple Stars in Green

Primary Monochrome First Prize - Beatrix Jameson, Weetangera Primary School - Banksia Menziesii

Primary Monochrome Second Prize - William He, Heathmont East Primary School - Portrait of Water Dragon

Primary Monochrome Third Prize - Sri Ananya Muralidharan, Brindabella Christian College - Nature's Crown

Primary Monochrome Highly Commended - Caitlin Gray, Namadgi School - The Dragon's Death Stare

Primary Monochrome Commended - Noah Jeeawody, Marist College Canberra - A Delightful Day-sy in the Gardens

Altered Reality First Prize - Theo Spasov, Telopea Park School - Desert Pea Mandala

Altered Reality Second Prize - Zach Haynes, UC Senior Secondary College, Lake Ginninderra - Lost Droplet

Altered Reality Third Prize - Dahamdith Subasinghe Mudiyanselage, Canberra College – Momentum

Altered Reality Highly Commended - Courtney Lanza, UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra – Spiral

Altered Reality Highly Commended - Jade McKeon, UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra - Floral Reflections

Altered Reality Commended - Finn Eagles, Marist College Canberra - Warped Flower

Altered Reality Commended - Tia Blaylock, Melrose High School - Swirling Petals

Secondary Colour First Prize - Dahamdith Subasinghe Mudiyanselage, Canberra College - Fractured Light

Secondary Colour Second Prize - Poppy Henderson, Canberra College - Anthesis

Secondary Colour Third Prize - Zach Haynes, UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra - Hungry Wallaby

Secondary Colour Highly Commended - Ella Edwards, St Mary MacKillop College - Simply Spinebill

Secondary Colour Commended - Jordan Smith, Canberra College - The Silent Guardian

Secondary Monochrome First Prize - Jake Hughes, Marist College Canberra - Whispers of the Forest

Secondary Monochrome Second Prize - Eric Porter, Narrabundah College - In the Rough

Secondary Monochrome Third Prize - Jambay Loday, UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra - Seed Pods

Secondary Monochrome Highly Commended - Dahamdith Subasinghe Mudiyanselage, Canberra College - Echoes of Silence

Secondary Monochrome Commended - Oliver Cronin, Alfred Deakin High School - Sentinel of the Wild

Secondary Monochrome Commended - William Campbell, Canberra College - Mist

Rangers Award Winner - Eric Porter, Narrabundah College - Golden Beard

Previous competition prizewinners

Prize-winning and highly-commended photos from recent competitions are available here online –

2025          2024          2019          2018          

2017          2016          2015          2014          

2013          2012          2011