ROSSANO HERNANDEZ, Remembrance Day Portraiture (PEOPLE 2026)

Remembrance Day is a significant occasion observed in Australia every November 11th, marked by a one-minute silence at 11:11 a.m. This year, a decorated World War II veteran honoured his grandfather, who sacrificed his life in World War I. Attendees included a granddaughter of another World War I veteran, who listened attentively as a soldier's diary was read aloud. The ceremony was skillfully led by the commander of the 2/14 Light Horse Brigade, who conducted the flag ceremony, while a female Royal Australian Corps of Transport (RACT) catafalque officer stood respectfully during the closing prayers. As a photographer who had been on furlough for 22 years, I found this event to be an excellent opportunity for growth. Although I felt a bit nervous using the Canon R6 Mark II for the first time, along with a borrowed Sigma EF 150-600mm lens to shoot the event, I embraced the challenge. Initially, I had intended to visit a wetland for bird photography, but stumbling upon the Remembrance Day celebration opened up a new avenue for creative expression. While human portraiture isn’t my strongest suit, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and experiment. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it taught me that even though the 150-600mm lens may not be ideal for portraits, the key is to experiment and learn throughout the process.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.