… always a rewarding experience to have a ’new’ image recognised and published nicely in a large format quality hard cover book. This portrait of “Snow” has just been selected at #8 of the Top 25 images in the 2026 Dodho Portrait Awards. The International awards recognises portraits that have “originality, visual impact, and compelling artistic vision”.
I met “Snow” whilst on assignment for Australian Geographic at the ‘Winds of Zenadth’ cultural festival on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait last September. Uncle Saila ‘Snow’ Savage is a Kaurareg Elder and the partner to Betty Mabo, daughter of the historic Murray Island legend Eddie Mabo. “Snow” … as the locals call him … is an utterly charming character and great visual subject matter.
The Dodho awards are the work of the people at Dodho Magazine … an independent International photography publication of some renown. based in Barcelona and “born with the vocation to promote the work and projects of photographers from all over the world”.
It’s the fourth year in a row that I’ve been fortunate enough to have scored a recognition and publication in their Portrait prize … whilst my work has also made an impression in their other category awards (Fine Art, Color and Monochromatic) regularly over the past years.
Top here below is this years Dodho Portrait selected work of “Snow” … whilst below are my three previous Dodho Portrait works … “Do Not Resuscitate – Peter “Potter” Thompson (2024), “100 Years & 3 Weeks – Alf Neal OAM” (2023) and “The Skin I’m In II – Carol Mayer” (2025).
Dodho also produce wonderful hard cover books showcasing the work of their selected photographers. Thanks Dodho … happy you are not extinct ! … and Thanks “Snow” !
The 2026 Dodho portrait publication “Portrait – The Best Photographs 2026” will be published and on sale in June.
Image © Brian Cassey
