Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i Australian Photography

Welcome to the February edition of Australian Photography, and in what has been a tradition now for the last nine years, our Photographer of the Year special issue. When it launched in 2013—it was just called Landscape Photographer of the Year back then—we knew people loved landscape photography and figured it would make sense to create a platform to promote Australian amateur landscape photographers. Today, Landscape is not even the most popular category in the competition (that would be Animal and Nature), and the comp has evolved to embrace new trends in photography – Mobile, Aerial and Creative are all genres we never imagined would have been popular enough for people to enter and shows just how far technology has come in nine short years. At the same time, some…

BLUE THIS MONTH’S WINNER BRUCE MCDONALD Skeletons in blue EDITOR’S COMMENT Bruce McDonald says when he arrived at this lake ‘well before dawn’ he was confronted with a relatively clear sky and not the foggy scene he was expecting. “Not long after, a fog blanket descended on the scene,” he says. I bet you were glad that happened, because it’s turned this already moody environment into something quite surreal. The stark, bare trees emerging from the fog gives this image a wonderful atmosphere, which you’ve enhanced with some sharp editing. I really like how none of the trunks have been over sharpened or sit out to proudly from the background - they just emerge like ghosts from the water. CANON 5D MARK IV, CANON EF 16-35 MM L III USM…

ANDY ROVENKO @rovenko ROCKET GIRL CHRONICLES Ukraine born and raised, and calling Australia home for more than 17 years, Creative Technologist Andy Rovenko’s gorgeous series The Rocketgirl Chronicles wowed our judges with its beautiful lighting, captivating subject, and sense of nostalgia to make it a clear winner of the 2021 Photographer of the Year. Captured with Andy’s trusty Mamiya RZ67 and Fujifilm PRO400H film, the series marks the first time a project captured on film has won the competition – proof that it’s not the gear, but the idea, that’s key for great imagery. “Interestingly, the series was never intended as a photography project,” explained Andy. “When the sixth Melbourne lockdown hit and our four-year-old was stuck at home with playgrounds closed and other entertainment options already exhausted, we needed…

HANNAH LE LEU @hannahmitchell_photography A TURTLE HATCHLING’S JOURNEY Hannah Le Leu captured these stunning, emotive and “extremely challenging” split-shots of Green Sea Turtle hatchlings on Heron Island. “I had to continuously submerge the lens before taking shots to prevent water droplets from ruining the images whilst attempting to keep track of the tiny and erratic hatchlings,” she explained. “Those first moments after hatching are extraordinarily eventful; from the first ever swim in the crashing waves, to evading a myriad of predators and beginning the hopeful journey into the vast ocean. This collection of images highlights the exquisite beauty and serenity of nature, but also the challenges hatchlings face with the odds stacked against them.” WHAT THE JUDGES SAID ALEX CEARNS: Hannah’s series is immediately eye-catching. The degree of difficulty and…

HEATHER MCNEICE @heather_mcneice SHARK BAY FROM ABOVE Born in Northern Ireland, Heather McNeice has called the Sunshine Coast home since 2006. Her award-winning images in her series Shark Bay from Above were taken from a fixed wing plane over the Shark Bay World Heritage site in Western Australia in May 2021, and remarkably, were captured on just her second attempt at aerial photography. “Luckily, the only available slot was in the late afternoon, with the sun low in the sky. The light was perfect, with the setting sun casting an orange glow over the sand hills, enhancing the contrast with the aqua blues along the Coral Coast,” she says. “As an aerial photography novice, I encountered a few challenges: the strength of the wind, having to lean out (but not…

WAYNE RILEY @waynerileyimages RODEO Perth’s Wayne Riley bought his first DLSR 10 years ago and has been a keen amateur photographer ever since. Today, he works as a FIFO mine surveyor, a job which comes with plenty of travel and is perfect for photography. “The mining lifestyle lets me take photographs on my breaks, and with my trusty laptop, I process all my photographs onsite after work,” he said. His Black and White category runner-up portfolio was captured on his R&R break in early 2021. “Rodeos provide non-stop action, and my camera was kept busy with my 70-200mm lens attached. The power of the bulls and horses with someone on their back is something to behold. With someone unwanted on their backs, it made for an exhilarating action shoot. Looking…

ALLA KUYUNZHI @kualla_alla NARCISSISM Alla Kuyunzhi says her life started all over again in 2009 when she immigrated to Australia from her native Russia. “In 2011 my son Ethan was born, and in 2014 my daughter Eva. It was the birth of my daughter that revealed my creative streak and a desire to create,” she said. Alla plunged herself into the world of selfportraits, with her Creative category winning image ‘Narcissism’ a call to look within yourself before blaming the world for cruelty. “I was walking along the beach when I began to notice the dry prickly bushes everywhere,” she explained. “I decided to take a few branches home, feeling an unconscious idea was generating somewhere deep inside. Having photographed myself in a dress and the dress full of thorns…

SARA BARRITT JUST LOOKING Raised in rural New Zealand, Sara Barritt says she has always felt close to nature. “I remember as a little girl using my dad’s camera and attempting to take photos of all my pet sheep, rabbits and horses,” she said. “I still like to incorporate nature into my shots and being in Tasmania gives me that opportunity.” “My photography is now largely of children of which I have three of my own. I take my opportunities with some of my shots and with my phone there is an improved chance of catching that moment when the light, colour and content collide.” Her image was created as she traversed the Launceston Cataract Gorge on a chairlift. “The Gorge had recently flooded, and the deluge of water had…

Not long ago, I spoke to Vicki Jesty, a fellowclub member of mine in the East Gippsland Photographic Society in Bairnsdale, Victoria. Vicki has been slowly developing her portfolio since she joined shortly after the club started in 2008. Recently she shared some of her own work on Facebook, writing, “I’m not someone that usually boasts of my achievements, but I am today,”. She was talking about er recently awarded AAPS Honours award from the Australian Photographic Society. It was something I was interested in hearing more about how she’d achieved it. As she explained, her decision to embark on Honours began during a dark moment in 2020 when opportunities to continue with photography were severely compromised. Victoria was hit by more successive Covid lockdowns than any other state…

THIS MONTH’S WINNER CONSIDER A CROP Cameras Hanks made this photo two years ago in the small ski town of Chamonix in the French alps. He writes, “coming from flat old Perth WA it was such an unreal feeling being surrounded by these enormous towering mountains.” This photo is made interesting by the tracks in the snow and those two hikers as they are just about wander past that rock face. The one problem I have with this image though, is that almost the entire top half of the image is literally white, with just two teeny little figures in it; if you were to cover the bottom half of the picture they could be literally walking over a frozen lake. All that white draws our eyes away from the…

A ‘BREATHTAKING’ image of a climber falling from a rock tower in Indian Creek, UT, USA, has won the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2021. US photographer Will Saunders was announced as the overall winner, with his shot of climber Jake Talley striking a pose as he took a lead fall voted by a panel of 53 judges from around the world. Saunders’ winning shot shows Jake Talley mid fall while climbing. “I’ve shot many whippers, but this time I wanted to try something a little different,” Saunders said. “A group of us rallied out to my favourite place in the desert to get some climbing in and make some imagery along the way. I asked Jake to really shape his body into more of a powerful movement rather than…

YOUR BEST SHOT IS OPEN TO AP SUBSCRIBERS AND APS MEMBERS. TO ENTER AN IMAGE IN THE COMP, CHECK THE COMPETITION THEMES AND INSTRUCTIONS BELOW AND EMAIL YOUR BEST IMAGE TO YOURBESTSHOT@AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM UPCOMING COMPETITION THEMES JULY ISSUE MOTION April 30, 2022 APRIL ISSUE GREAT OUTDOORS January 31, 2022 AUGUST ISSUE HIGH KEY May 31, 2022 MAY ISSUE SHADOWS February 28, 2022 JUNE ISSUE CONVERGING LINES March 31, 2022 YOUR ENTRY 1. Email your entry to yourbestshot@australianphotography.com with the name of the competition theme in the email subject line, for example: Weather, Abstract, Landscape, etc.2. The image file must be the same as your name, for example Jane Smith.jpg. If you enter multiple images, each new image file name should be appended with a unique number, eg Jane Smith2.jpg3. A maximum…

CAROLE MILLS NORONHA @carolemillsnoronha COVID LOCKDOWN WINDOW VISITS WITH DAD Carole Mills Noronha’s runner-up winning series is, she says, a gift for her dad – the subject of these stark, striking, and yet still hopeful images she captured throughout 2021. “My beautiful dad lives in a Melbourne Aged Care home,” she explained. “He is 89 years old and has Dementia and Alzheimer's. Dad spent ten months of 2020 in lockdown inside this building. Most of this year, 2021, has been the same.” “Without fail, on every window visit, dad would invite me inside. Each visit I told him why I couldn't: Covid. I visited dad at least twice a week. Every window visit was different. I watched dad’s many emotions from the other side of the glass, month after month.…

CHANDRA BONG @chandra_b87 FOUR PEAKS OF PATAGONIA Sydney-based photographer Chandra Bong’s breathtaking landscape category winning portfolio was captured during a visit to Chile and Argentina. He said he was graced with extremely dynamic and unique weather on his 17-day trip. “From an unexpected rainbow that appeared for just seconds at Mirador Base las Torres on our second sunrise hike, to 110kmh wind gusts sweeping across Lago Nordenskjöld that created a magical atmosphere around the fields of dead trees of Torres del Paine National Park, we experienced it all,” he said. Captured with a mix of wide angle and telephoto lenses, his magnificent portfolio stunned the judges with its dynamism and atmosphere. Truly a magnificent view. WHAT THE JUDGES SAID MATT PALMER: This series from Patagonia is undeniably impactful, showcasing the…

ALEX HAM @_alex_ham_ COLOURS OF THE PILBARA Perth based landscape photographer Alex Ham is no stranger to Photographer of the Year – he won the Photo of the Year category in 2019 with an aerial image, which is a genre of photography he’s continued to pursue in the years since. “I’m always amazed at the way recognisable features on the micro scale can be projected on a scale massive enough to be seen from the air,” he says. “Thousands of feet in the air is a very different perspective to view the landscape from, so I use this to search for abstract compositions that leave the viewer to interpret the scene for themselves, question the reality of what is being presented, and search for context in their own experiences. There…

LISA MURRAY @lisamurrayphotos ANTHROPAUSE Based on Wurundjeri Land in Melbourne, Lisa Murray created her winning image Anthropause in several steps. First, she photographed her son Griffin swinging out over Birrarung/The Yarra River using a panning technique, and then flipped the image upside down before cropping it to remove the source of the rope from the frame. “My intention was to create an illusion of sorts, to provide the viewer with a more accurate image of what I saw when I was watching him – a kid, free from the world’s worries flying through the sky and enjoying the effects of the Anthropause, 2020.” WHAT THE JUDGES SAID TIM LEVY: Flipping the image is a perfect artistic choice, and the overall look of the image is so painterly. The quality of…

GLENDA GORE @gore.glenda COTTESLOE MERMAIDS Glenda Gore’s decision to pick up a DSLR and join a camera club just four years ago was an astute one – today, she says she loves to immerse herself in learning new techniques while giving herself permission to be creative, experiment and ‘just have fun’. She says she was drawn to the pastel colours that ‘bounce’ on the morning sky, as the blues of the ocean and yellow sand form layers for her image Cottesloe Mermaids. The image is a stack of various methods to capture the scene. First, a basic layer that captured the detail of the iconic buoy of Cottesloe beach, then a filtered shot that provided a ‘dream like’ texture to the waves (and good timing to have three people swimming…

MATTHEW BARRETT @mb.urbn SUPERBOY 17-year-old Matthew Barrett is originally from Scotland, and having moved to Australia in 2015 has focussed on developing his photographic knowledge and skills. “I love the ability that photography gives me to document my experiences and adventures from around NSW and Australia,” he said. “My favourite genres are astrophotography, automobile, sports and adventure, and I gain great satisfaction from producing photographs that are visually crisp and clean with great composition.” His junior category winning image Super boy was taken at a popular jump rock in Sydney that overlooks the Sydney CBD skyline. “This was one of the first spots I had explored since coming out of lockdown,” he explained. “I had planned on getting photos of my friend jumping off the rock with the city skyline…

Payakumbah Provence in West Sumatra is home to a very unusual race. A series of unplanned events that included a grounded airline, two extra flights in the opposite direction of our intended destination, a five-hour car ride and a lot of ducks, and we found ourselves in the middle of an extraordinary event. According to our newly recruited and first-time guide Arset (who’s real job was as a journalist), we were the first tourists to ever participate in the Pacu Itiak. Duck racing in the Payakumbah Provence has been held continuously since the Dutch era in 1846 and is included on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. An entry fee of around 20 cents is paid, and a number sticker is placed on the duck’s beak. They are then…

Thanks to our great sponsors WD and SanDisk, Cameron Hanks has won a WD 8TB My Cloud Home Hard Drive valued at $479 and a SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD Black valued at $254. This WD My Cloud Home Hard Drive makes it easy to create your own cloud based storage space using your existing WiFi network. It’s easy to setup by simply connecting the My Cloud Home straight into your WiFi router, then you’re ready to copy your files across, setup automatic backups of your Mac or PC, and access it all remotely via the free app. The Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD is an ideal storage solution that you can take with you on the go, whether you’re transferring files at school, or storing photos you take on a…

SIMONE MATUCCI @simone_matucci BLACKWATER Simone Matucci is a PADI Master instructor who discovered underwater photography when he was working as an instructor and deckhand. The images in his series Blackwater were captured in the open ocean at night in Kona, Hawaii. “There are three primary types of blackwater dives; open ocean, near reef, and bonfire,” he explained. “We dive at an average depth of 10 metres, and the bottom is at 1500-2000 metres. During the night, thousands of organisms rise from the deep and you need to be lucky and skilled at the same time to find the most rare and beautiful creatures. What I love about this style of diving is that each dive is so different. It’s like flying in dark water surrounded by macro-organisms. Because of their…

NIALL CHANG @niallchang SHIFTING SANDS THROUGH TIME Niall Chang’s beautifully minimalist series was captured over two days at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, California. He says he is drawn by light, form, texture and the shape of the land. For our judges, his control of all these elements, paired with meticulous attention to detail, made this series a strong favourite. WHAT THE JUDGES SAID MATT PALMER: This series shows a sense of refinement and mastery by showing dunes of different shapes and colours, with a background that complements each composition and subject. Each image shows great subtlety and handling of tones and colour, and I could see these being exhibited as a body of work. LISA MICHELLE BURNS: The cohesive shapes, peaks, valleys, and shadows made…

JANINE DAWES @JanineDawesPhotography SINISTER BEAUTY Perth born and bred, Janine Dawes is a fulltime accountant and passionate hobbyist photographer. A runner-up in Photographer of the Year’s Black and White category last year, Janine’s work in Black and White rose to the top of the competition in 2021. “I enjoy editing in black and white as I love how it allows you to focus on a subject, its textures, its shapes or its patterns,” she said. Her portfolio, Sinister Beauty, originated from the idea of turning something that people generally love to loathe, into something lovely to look at – weeds. “Over the last year, I decided to explore this by using weeds as a subject for a portfolio. They were in abundance everywhere I looked, and it’s amazing when you…

HARMAN SINGH HEER @hshphotos WILDFIRE Harman Singh Heer’s striking image of a wildfire raging through a section of native bushland in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia is a true once-in-a-lifetime photo. It was captured during a doors-off helicopter flight near the King River in July 2021, and was both ‘mind-blowing and heartbreaking’, said Harman. “As we flew into the smoke, we were met with surreal scenes of wildfires burning away the flora and fauna below. In the chaos, I noticed the composition of this photograph and watched as the fire inched closer and closer to the tree. It was an extremely overwhelming experience but one that taught me how important it is that humanity starts collectively making changes to combat global warming and climate change.” WHAT THE JUDGES SAID…

TONY LAW 500px.com/tonylaw MAN IN THE DESERT WITH A FALCON Sydney photographer Tony Law’s Mobile Category winning photo was taken in the desert near Sharjah, UAE at the end of 2019. “I had always wanted to take photos of the Arabian desert landscape, so I contacted two other photographer friends to join me on a shoot,” he explained. “The original plan was to take a desert camel ride, but instead we took a falconer with his bird to the red desert dunes. This is a heroic portrait taken with a Huawei mobile phone during outdoor shooting. Nowadays, mobile photography is becoming increasingly powerful, with the potential to shoot incredible photos with a small and accessible device.” For our judges, the perfect lighting and intriguing subject matter made it a clear…

JACOB DEDMAN WHERE TO NOW? When he’s photographing, Jacob Dedman says he knows who he is and what he can do. “My life is full of challenges because I live with FASD, which effects everything in my life. It’s difficult to live in a world that often doesn’t allow for differences. But photography allows me to be different and I can be unique and creative, and experiment without worry of being judged,” he said. Jacob’s runner-up photo was created whilst on holidays with his parents in South Australia. “We were five days into the trip when we were plunged into a seven-day snap lockdown,” he explained. “We found a place we could wait it out, and where there were photo opportunities for me, which was the town of Quorn.…