Capturing the essence of spring

LANDSCAPES dominated the photographic entries in the Spring in the Shire competition.

Hung in the Dereel Soldiers Memorial Hall, 60 entries from shire residents showcased the plains, crops, livestock, flora and sunrise and sunsets.

At the launch and award ceremony last weekend, Golden Plains Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said the competition, which was open to amateur photographers, was a great way to bring the community together.

“Now days everyone has a camera in their pocket which can make artists of us all,” he said.

In conjunction with Inverleigh’s Sonny Café and Bannockburn Pharmacy, the municipality presented a prize of $300 to each of the winners of the three categories.

Cr Helena Kirby, who was on the judging panel, said the judges took their time in considering all the entries against the criteria of impact, subject matter and storytelling.

“We were looking for that image that catches the eye,” she said.

Twelve-year-old Noah Stanley, a pupil at St Mary MacKillop Primary School in Bannockburn, said he felt good when announced as the winner for the junior prize for his image Meredith Wattle.

“It was just a spur of the moment shot that I took,” he said.

The young adult prize was won by Luca Dal Bosco for his image taken at Bannockburn Station.

Although he is the official photographer for the Falcon GT Club of Geelong this was his first photographic competition he had entered.

Luca, 15, said he was very surprised when his name was called out.

“I didn’t think I have any chance of winning,” he said.

Cr Kirby said choosing the winner of the major prize, for residents 18 years and older, was very difficult which resulted in four highly commended awards being announced.

One of those highly commended nods went to Canola Fun by Bannockburn farmer Alison Altman and featured her thee-year-old daughter Charlotte.

“Every year since she was born I have taken a picture of Charlotte in our canola crop,” she said. “I enjoy photography but wouldn’t call myself an expert.”

Major prize winner Lyn Steele described herself as a very keen hobby photographer.

Living the dream was taken when Ms Steele was driving home past Dog Rocks at sunset.

Her image of a flock sheep back lit by the setting sun was captured almost by accident.

“I stopped when I saw the sheep and as the sun went down it lit up the animals and I knew it was a special shot,” she said.

She said she knew about the competition but didn’t have it specifically in mind when she captured the image.

The Shire, who mounted and framed all the entries plans to display the collection at two more venues before returning the images to the owners.