TITLE: Cause Unknown

Cause Unknown is a self portrait captured after I was released from hospital following an allergic reaction to an unknown cause, something that had been occurring frequently since December of last year. For me photography is an expressive outlet and a way for me to gain a sense of control where anxiety is high and portraits like this are spontaneous and opportunistic if you will. In this instance I was in the bathroom about to peel off the electrode stickers before getting in the shower and I just saw the photo in the mirror and had to take it.

AUTHOR: Natalie Arber (Australia)

Natalie Arber is a self-taught lifestyle and environmental portrait photographer based in Melbourne who practices mostly in black and white. She documents candid moments with an emphasis on emotions and human expression. In 2023 she was a finalist in the Head On Portrait awards where her self portrait, Scarred was on exhibit in Bondi as well as being exhibited by the Museum of Australian Photography as part of their 2023 LOOK! prize with her winning portrait Sleepy-Head. Natalie's image, Miss Apprehended was also exhibited in 2023 as a finalist for the Out From the Mist competition in Queensland. In 2024 Natalie has won the title of Portrait Photographer of the Year in the Australian Photographic Prize and won the Emotive Portrait category of the Better Photography Photographer of the Year. Natalie also is a semi-finalist in the Head On Portrait awards, was a finalist and exhibited in the Kingston Arts Optika awards, Australian Photography Awards and the Museum of Australian Photography LOOK! Prize. She recently placed 2nd in the Out From the Mist photography awards with her image Metamorphic.