Sonja de Sterke migrated to Australia from the Netherlands in 1991 after a career in Advertising. She has travelled extensively in the Far and Middle East and has had the opportunity to experience many different cultures. Her photographic projects concern themselves with Community and Nature, she has covered the visit of the Dalai Lama to Australia in 2002 and the Paralympics in Sydney in 2000. One of her recent projects has been the documentation of the Wataboshi festival in Brisbane, an international festival for Artists with disabilities. She has a bachelor degree of photography from Griffith University in Brisbane and has recently finished her Masters of Visual Arts degree at the same University. She has been a photographer for Queensland University of Technology for the past ten years . Her personal interests are multiculturalism, people and the spirit in people and nature. She has currently finished a project that expresses Spirit in the Landscape. Over the past years she has been awarded different grants and awards that are listed below.

Selected Awards and Grants

AIPP Silver distinction Nature and Science 2007

AIPP Silver distinction Contemporary Portraiture 2007

Accredited member Australian Institute for Professional Photographers

Winner Spirit of Woodford Photography Award 2006

Winner "Energie" prize, Focus Magazine 2006, The Netherlands

Fashion Photographer of the year 2006, World Institute of Photographic Masters

Finalist Spirit of Woodford Competition 2005

Master of Visual Arts Photography, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University

Oustanding Staff Award and Contribution Grant, QUT.

Grant for Photography of Paralympic Games, QUT, Ansett, Australian Paralympic Committee.

Grant for Solo Exhibition Expressions of Spirit I, QUT

Grant for Solo Exhibition Paralympics Week, Riverside Center, Brisbane, fundraiser Queensland Paralympic Committee.

Golden Serif Award, Australian Institute of Professional Communicators

Bronze Serif Award , Australian Institute of Professional Communicators

Masters of Photography, National photography Awards, USA

Golden Serif Award, Australian Institute of Professional Communicators

Nomination for Outstanding Staff Award, QUT.

Silver Image Award, overall best image by graduating Student

Polariod Award, Best portrait by graduating Student.

Special Project Grant, Griffith University.

Silver Award, Australian Professional Photography Awards, AIPP

3x Bronze Award, Australian Professional Photography Awards, AIPP

1st Place Ilford National Tertiary Students Competition