Annette Blattman has won the January "Summer" Photo Competition. Blattman's image “Refreshing Swim”, an underwater shot taken with a GoPro Hero HD camera, won from a field of more than 300 entries.
The Summer-themed competition was judged by highly regarded Australian fine art photographer Joshua Holko.
"Each photographer has done a good job of interpreting the brief as each of the photographs says 'the Australian Summer' in its own unique way. I enjoyed looking over them and it was not an easy decision," said Holko.
Referring to Blattman's winning image, Holko praised the picture's colour, composition and overall feel.
"I love the dichotomy of both warm and cool in this photograph that comes through very strongly in the soft pastel colours of the water and sand. It is well captured, well framed and well exposed with a lovely sense of movement and motion. It also has wonderful gesture in the swimmers pose; particularly in the placement of her hands and the curve of her body that is nearly mirrored in the water surface overhead. It successfully conveys the feeling of a refreshing swim on a hot summers day."
"Dream Living" by Brandon Rooney also drew the judge's praise.
"I love the warm afternoon light in this photograph that really brings home the feeling of long summer days and warm evenings outdoors with family and friends. This is a quintessentially Australian summer scene that has been well exposed in difficult lighting conditions. It would have been very easy to end up with just silhouettes when shooting into the sun at this angle. A slightly tighter crop would have really elevated this photograph as it's a little busy at the moment with distracting elements protruding in and out of the frame."
Annette Blattman has won a Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW camera bag, valued at $219 from Maxwell International. The lightweight bag is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and features plenty of space for camera and personal gear.
A total of 12 images were shortlisted for final judging: “Mates” by Gary Beresford; “Refreshing Swim” by Annette Blattman; “Toy Icebergs” by James Breslin; “Summer Storm” by Fiona D'Alessandro; “Say Cheese!” by John Deer; “Summer in the Bush” by Daniel Everitt; “Lake of Fire” by Cory Kipa; “Sandstorm” by Gabriel Maciel “5.16am, Maroochydore” by Brandon Rooney; “Dream Living” by Brandon Rooney; “Shake” by Jeremy Somers; and “Summer Leap” by Marshall Ward.
The brief for the February competition is “Weather”. To enter an image click here.
To see more of Joshua Holko's images go to http://www.jholko.com
Winner: “Refreshing Swim” by Annette Blattman.
Highly commended: “Dream Living” by Brandon Rooney.
Shortlisted: “Toy Icebergs” by James Breslin.
Shortlisted: “Summer in the Bush” by Daniel Everitt.
Shortlisted: “Summer Leap” by Marshall Ward.
Shortlisted: “5.16am, Maroochydore” by Brandon Rooney.
Shortlisted: “Sandstorm” by Gabriel Maciel.
Shortlisted: “Shake” by Jeremy
Somers.
Shortlisted: “Say
Cheese!” by John Deer.
Shortlisted: “Summer Storm” by Fiona D'Alessandro.
Shortlisted: “Mates” by Gary Beresford.
Shortlisted: “Lake of
Fire” by Cory Kipa.