Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer of the Year 2024

Canberra-based photographer originally from Brazil, Fernanda Pedroso moved to Australia in 2020, where at the age of 40 she transitioned from a 20-year career in advertising to a new life in photography.

Fernanda’s work is deeply inspired by her personal experiences, music, poetry, and the diverse cultures she has encountered. Drawing influence from notable photographers and artists, she merges their techniques with her own perspective to create powerful and emotive imagery.

She specialises in conceptual photography, often using studio lighting, theatrical setups, and constructed scenes to address social issues through visual storytelling.

Her work has gained international recognition, earning distinctions in The Monochrome Awards, Australian Photography Awards, Asia Pacific and Iris Awards. She has exhibited in the group show Terra (un)Becoming at Canberra’s Huw Davies Gallery and was a finalist in the Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize (2024, 2025) and semi-finalist in the Head On Photo Awards (2024, 2025).

Most recently, Fernanda was named Overall Winner of Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers 2024, and her series unBECOMING is part of the Head On Photo Festival Open Program 2025.