A couple of Darlinghurst stories made it into Hyde Park’s annual public photography show, Sydney Life, this year.

Roslyn Sharp took thousands of photos of local icon Theresa Kompara (otherwise known as Mrs Christmas) in front of her Victoria Street home (itself otherwise known as ‘the dollhouse’).

Theresa’s the most fascinating mix of eccentricity and sweetness you can imagine – I interviewed her a month ago for a profile, but so far noone has bitten for the feature so I may write it up here.

Another local, Diego Ibanez, has been haunting the streets lately, snapping people walking through the neighbourhood – including us – but it’s this picture that made it into Sydney Life.

Neither photograph won the Sydney Life Prize, though all 22 finalists are in the running for the people’s choice award – it’s open and on show in the Central Walkway of Hyde Park North, Sydney, until October 25, 2009.