The portraits from all 40 finalists were revealed February 4.

Two Canberra photographers made the final cut out of 3113 entries, Toderas with “Black Dog” and Wouter Van de Voorde for “Celia inside a watchtower”.

Toderas first met former Sex Party candidate Steven Bailey in 2016, when he posed with an enormous grin on his face while his treasured female dog, Bruce, mimicked him.

“Two years later I photographed Steven again,” Toderas said.

“Steven was one to get caught up in life rather than staying in touch with his emotional state and he ignored signs of growing mental illness. After losing the election and having his marriage break down, his sense of purpose weakened.

“Sitting for me, he insisted on Bruce being included. The mental health advocate’s smile may be slightly diminished, but the black dog still holds the fort.”

Van de Voorde made his photograph during a recent visit to his home country, Belgium.

“On a nightly walk through the countryside, my wife Celia Hindmarsh discovered this watchtower and ascended to look out over the cornfields,” he said.

Now in its twelfth year, the National Photographic Portrait Prize is a perennial favourite amongst portrait gallery visitors. The prize reflects the distinctive vision of Australia’s aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects, attracting thousands of entries from all over the nation.

The portraits from the 40 finalists, including 2018 winner Lee Grant, formerly of Canberra, will go on display from February 23 until April 7 before embarking on a national tour.

Canberrans can get behind Toderas and Van de Voorde by voting for their portraits in the National Photographic Portrait Prize people’s choice award. Voting is easy and can be done online at nppp.portrait.gov.au from February 23.

In mid February the Arts Handlers’ Award is announced ahead of the overall winners and highly commended on February 22.

For more information visit portrait.gov.au