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 , the Paralympics in Sydney in 2000 and the Wataboshi festival in Brisbane, an international festival for Artists with disabilities. Recently she has documented the Woodford Folkfestival which also recognised her with the Spirit of Woodford Award in Photography in 2006 .In 2010 her image Waterworld was printed and displayed for 4 months on a 45 meter outdoor billboard on a busy road in Brisbane. She has a bachelor degree of photography and a Masters of Visual Arts degree from Griffith University in Brisbane. She has been a full time photographer for Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane for the past thirteen years . Recently she was awarded the Queensland Photographic Artist of 2011 from Queensland Institute for Professional Photographers .Her personal interests are multiculturalism, people, Landscape photography and the spirit in people, animals and nature. Over the past years she has been awarded different grants and awards that are listed below.

Selected Awards and Grants

QAIPP Queensland Photographic Artist of 2011

Finalist Clayton and Utz Art Award 2011

Finalist Lethbridge Art Award 2011

1st Place "Natural Wonders" QORF It's better Outdoors Competition 2011

AIPP 1 Silver Distinction 2011

Featured Photographer on Frontpage website of Yaffa Publishing 2010

QUT Creative Industries Billboard grant winner. "Waterworld" 2010

,AIPP 2 Silver and 2 Silver Distinctions Landscape 2010

AIPP Queensland 5 Silver Awards Landscape and Illustration 2010

Sony World Photography Awards, Short listed in Commercial Category 2010

Finalist Lord Mayor Photographic Award 2010

AIPP 2 silver and 2 silver distinctions Illustration 2009

AIPP Queensland 2 Gold Awards Illustration 2009.

AIPP Queensland, Runner up Illustration category 2009

AIPP Associate Member 2009

Grant Wesley Hospital, Images for Health and Healing for New East Wing 2009

Speaker Hair of the Dog Conference , AIPP 2009

Winner Spirit of Woodford Award 2009

Finalist Lord Mayors Photographic Award 2008

AIPP 2 Silver Awards Advertising 2008

Epson Queensland AIPP Silver Award 2008

AIPP Silver distinction Nature and Science 2007

AIPP Silver distinction Contemporary Portraiture 2007

Accredited member Australian Institute for Professional Photographers

Joint Winner Spirit of Woodford Competition 2007

Solo Exhibition Spirit Landscape at Art House Gallery 2007

Joint Winner Spirit of Woodford Competition 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 2006

Oustanding staff service, QUT, Photography 2002

Outstanding Contribution Award, including Grant 2002

Grant for Photography of Paralympic Games, QUT, Ansett, Australian Paralympic Committee. 2000

Grant for Solo Exhibition Expressions of Spirit I, QUT 2000

Grant for Solo Exhibition Paralympics Week, Riverside Center, Brisbane, fundraiser Queensland Paralympic Committee. 2001

Golden Serif Award, Australian Institute of Professional Communicators 1999

Bronze Serif Award , Australian Institute of Professional Communicators 1999

Masters of Photography, National photography Awards, USA 1998

Golden Serif Award, Australian Institute of Professional Communicators 1998

Nomination for Outstanding Staff Award, QUT.

Silver Image Award, overall best image by graduating Student 1995

Polariod Award, Best portrait by graduating Student. 1995

Special Project Grant, Griffith University. 1994

Silver Award, Australian Professional Photography Awards, AIPP 1995

3x Bronze Award, Australian Professional Photography Awards, AIPP 1995

1st Place Ilford National Tertiary Students Competition 1994