Capture Coolamon Winners Announced

The 190 images received in the inaugural Capture Coolamon Shire Photographic Competition were unveiled at the official Opening Awards Night on Friday evening, November 2.

Almost 100 people turned up to the Up-to-Date Store, Coolamon, to hear the winners announced with First and Second Prizes presented across five Categories in the two Sections (Open and Under 17 Years) as well as five Highly Commended and two Encouragement awards.

The following prints were awarded First Prize which put them in the running to win the major Max Robertson Prize awarded to the image voted by the judging panel as ‘Best in Competition’:

Landscape Category

$300 First Prize (Open): Robert Menzies, Coolamon, for the image Crop Lines

$100 First Prize (Under 17 Years): Adam Brill, Ganmain, for the image Grazing Time

Streetscape Category

$300 First Prize (Open): Greg Priestley, Sydney, for his train image titled 4520

$100 First Prize (Under 17 Years): Stephanie Hanlon, Leeton, for the image Old Rannock School

Nature Category

$300 First Prize (Open): Margaret Payton, Coolamon, for her galah print entitled Six O’Clock Swill

$100 First Prize (Under 17 Years): Lyndal Jennings, Coolamon, for the print Summer Sorghum

People/Portrait Study Category

$300 First Prize (Open): Stacey Taylor, Ganmain, for image Cha Cha Fun

$100 First Prize (Under 17 Years): Georgina Flanagan, Coolamon, for the print Beyond the Fence

Creative/Digitally Enhanced Category

$300 First Prize (Open): Thomas Parker, Wagga Wagga, for the print Coolamon Silos

$100 First Prize (Under 17 Years): Angus Allan, Coolamon, for his print Are We There Yet?

Judges, professional local photographer Jodie Harris, Harris Studios Ganmain, joined by award-winning professional photographing artists Patrick and Shannon Ronald congratulated all entrants stating, "The high standard of prints made some Categories very difficult to judge, a credit to all those who entered the Competition."

In the end it was black and white print Cha Cha Fun, taken at the Ganmain Show by Ganmain based photographer Stacey Taylor that took out the $1000 Max Robertson Prize. Citing great toning and framing of the shot as well as how Stacey captured the moment so perfectly in a hard to get action photo all judges agreed the impressive image was the deserving winner.

Mary Robertson, wife of the late Max Robertson, was also impressed, claiming Max would have loved to see a black and white print win the Competition as black and white photography was truly his passion. Mary attended the Opening Night with children Trent, Nicole and Shane who were honoured to present the major award provided by Coolamon Shire Council on the night.

With a total prize pool of $3650 (including second prize cash prizes) thanks to major sponsors Wagga Mutual Credit Union,  Ajanta, Crokers Grain, Mekah Electrical, Logan and Hitchens and Coolamon Lions Club, many entrants went home proudly with their prizes!

With such a great response, the Capture Coolamon Shire Photographic Competition is set to be an exciting annual event on the Coolamon Shire Calendar and Mayor John Seymour congratulated the hard working committee Sharon Kiss, Jodie Harris and Daniel Smith who worked on the competition supported by Council’s Youth & Community Development Officer, Bronwyn Hatty.

The Capture Coolamon Shire Exhibition will now remain on display in the Up-to-Date Store for two weeks, open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-4pm, with a $2 entry charge per person.

Left: The winning photo taken by Stacey Taylor.