Proud Gomeroi documentary photographer and filmmaker, Dean Saffron is a finalist in the 2026 National Photographic Portrait Prize with his photo of the famous photographer Uncle Mervyn Bishop. Dean wanted to honour Uncle Mervyn Bishop, who took the famous photograph of the then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pouring soil into Vincent Lingiari’s hand.

This year marks 60 years since the Wave Hill Walk-Off and 50 years since Uncle Mervyn took that iconic photograph that marked the end of the Gurindji peoples’ struggle for land rights.

We are asking you to go to the link below to vote for Dean Saffron’s beautiful photograph of Uncle Mervyn Bishop.

A beautiful exhibition of  Uncle Mervyn Bishop’s life and works,  Close UP, is currently showing at the  State Library NSW