A Moment with Alida of The Nostalgia Series: From Winner to Judge

Alida Turton is an Australian documentary and conceptual photographer working across intimate observational storytelling and constructed narrative. Her practice explores family, identity, memory and the emotional undercurrents of human relationships.

When you look at a photo by Alida, you immediately feel a quiet pull of recognition. It’s like uncovering a memory you didn’t know you had: a moment so genuine and authentic that it feels like your own. Her work is a masterclass in finding the profound in the routine. She captures what she calls the "absolute truth" of the moments that make up our everyday lives.

A 2024 Grand Prize Winner who judged the same category last year, she's back this year to judge Family: Unique perspective at the 2026 Narrative International Photography Awards. We asked Alida what makes her stop on an image, the photograph that changed how she sees her own work, and what surprised her in last year's entries and what she hopes to see this year.

Tell us about one image, your own or someone else's, that changed how you see your work.

"I was scrolling on Instagram one day maybe three years ago, and happened upon a film photo of a sink filled with baby bottles, food scraps, coffee grinds and a used spoon. The details of the photo will stay with me forever. It was an image from an artist, Cara Mand, who has an ongoing series of still life on film centered on kitchen sinks.

It was an image that I would never, ever have thought to take myself. But it grabbed me and impacted me in a way I will never forget. It opened up a whole new world for my creativity. Something as simple as a kitchen sink could be so impactful on me.

Did she know it would have that impact on me? No, but it clearly meant something to her so she did it anyway. It changed how I viewed my work, my relationship with my 'why' and my drive to create photos that make people feel. I felt so much more curious with my own work and, in a way, less judgemental and demanding.

I will never know what will be grabbing about my work from person to person and why, and that's okay. It has to mean something to me first and foremost."

Photo by Alida Turton

What trends or stylistic shifts have you seen in the industry over the last couple of years?

"I think from a broader photographer's perspective we’ve seen a move away from a rigid structure and niching down. I have been witnessing other photographers and finding myself in the past couple of years start to have more of a focus on the creative freedom we have as artists and leaning into that, rather than boxing ourselves into a specific niche.

In terms of style, a directional shift from overly polished, curated imagery and towards something more raw. People are craving authenticity - both as artists and the people booking the sessions. Not just the picture-perfect highlights, but the grit and the messy, almost confronting moments too. There’s been a shift in valuing photographs that feel lived-in and real. That’s where I think narrative photography is at its strongest."

Editor's note: this answer is from her 2025 interview

Photo by Alida Turton

When you're judging Family: Unique perspective, what makes an image stand out for you, and what makes you move on quickly?

"Images that stand out to me are ones that feel so lived in they almost feel a little intrusive. You could be there. Photos that feel like you are getting such an intimate look into a set of lives, other people's worlds, that it could be a memory of your own. Photos that push back on the limits of what family photography is typically perceived to be are the ones that stand out. Grit, texture, unusual composition, humanity and feeling over polished and expected.

The main contributor that will make me move on quickly is images that don't invite the viewer to wonder and have some version of pause on what was going on, what was being felt, or make the viewer go WOAH and need to keep looking over the details of the image. If it isn't eliciting those responses in me, I tend to appreciate the photo for what it holds but keep moving."

Photo by Alida Turton

Having judged last year, what surprised you in the entries, and what are you hoping to see more of this year?

"I wasn't surprised by the talent, of course, but that was the wow factor for me. So many images that were all so interesting in their own way.

This year I am hoping to see even more abstract and bold choices for this category. Photos that show elements that aren't the typical family imagery you would expect to see. Photos that aren't all happiness and joy, perfectly packaged up. There's nothing wrong with happy and joy, of course, but what exists when a performance isn't happening? Don't be afraid to show family life outside of those confines in photography."

Photo by Alida Turton

Why do you think it's a good idea for photographers to enter awards like this?

"Because your work deserves to be seen. Sharing your story, your perspective, and your way of seeing the world is powerful - and awards like this create a platform for that. It’s not just about recognition, it’s about connecting with others who resonate with your story. It pushes you to put your work forward, to back yourself, and to be part of a bigger conversation happening in photography right now.

For me, winning in 2024 was not only extremely exciting and a beautiful surprise, but deeply affirming - not in a shiny, ego-driven way, but in that quiet, “keep going” kind of way. It reminded me that telling honest stories matters, even when it feels small or personal.

Don’t chase what you think will win. Submit the work that feels the most you, the work that scares you a little because it’s so close to your heart. That’s the work that will stand out."

Ready to enter?

Thanks to Alida for sharing her perspective. You can see more of her work at thenostalgiaseries.mypixieset.com and on Instagram at @the.nostalgiaseries.

Alida is judging Family: Unique perspective: a unique image you've captured from a family shoot, perhaps a unique location or an interesting perspective. Entries close at 11:59pm ET on October 31, 2026.

Enter the 2026 Narrative International Photography Awards