This year’s Shoot the Chef competition, which invites professional and student photographers to snap their favourite food figures, attracted more than 100 entries.

Despite the competition title, entries were not limited to three-hat chefs. Rather, photographers were encouraged to capture any inspirational personality in the Australian food industry, including local take-away cooks and home-bakers.

Among the finalists are portraits of bakers, pastry chefs and small business owners decorating petit fours, arriving at work at 4am and foraging for local produce.

The finalists will be exhibited on level 6 of Westfield Sydney until October 31.