Photographic Arts Prize & Online Exhibition 2025

Congratulations to the Winners & Highly Commended

Best in Show

Sheree Gray – Bath time – Pets & Wildlife

Judges Notes: I awarded this photograph Best in Show because of the pure joy I feel in looking at it. The photograph stands out for its perfect timing , capturing the birds bathing with lively motion and huge personality. The composition is balanced yet dynamic, with each bird in a unique pose, freezing a moment of natural behaviour with technical precision. Soft light, crisp detail and a soft blurred background highlight their vivid colours and energy, creating an image that feels joyful, natural, and full of life. Beautiful.

First Prize Architecture

Kylie Henley – Venice Outlook

Judges Notes: This photograph beautifully frames layers of architecture to create depth and balance. The interplay of shadow, refection and symmetry draws the viewers eye through the scene to the water and buildings beyond. The clever use of light coupled with the grand architectural structure gives it a feeling of elegant peacefulness. I have awarded this lovely photograph first prize because the photographer was able to recognise this beautiful canvas and to execute the shot to perfection.

Highly Commended Architecture

Kim Jenkins – Homeward Bound Judges Notes: I love how this photograph captures the contrast between different eras. . The light streaming through the beautiful arches highlights the grandeur the structure, while the woman, who’s face is illuminated by her mobile phone, adds a human touch to the scene. A composition well recognised and captured and very well executed.

John Virm – Railway Hotel Nite Judges Notes: This photograph of the railway hotel is perfectly crisp and clear with beautiful light illuminating the building, highlighting its aesthetic structure. I love the way the shot was taken slightly off centre to the front of the building to allow the viewers eye to travel down the suburban streetscape alongside the building. The road gives off a beautiful reflection from the street light and your eye is naturally drawn down the street by numerous spot lights to the final blaze of light at the end. The photograph expertly represents the black & white genre.

First Prize Landscape

Catherine Beverley – Morning Tranquillity Lake Dunn QLD

Judges Notes: This is a very serene and moody photograph. The light and shadows are beautiful, creating a very tranquil scene. The colour gradients invites deep contemplation. The image captures an ethereal atmosphere . I have awarded this photograph 1st place because it is visually captivating, engaging the senses and evoking emotion.

Highly Commended Landscape

John Virm – Storm on the Plains. Judges Notes: This is a compelling photograph with its dramatic clouds and vast rural landscape, a storm looming in the distance. The black & white focusses on powerful contrast and structure. It has a bold interpretation of the landscape with sweeping skies and seemingly endless landscape. A thought provoking dramatic photographic.

Sheree Gray – Peace on the beach. Judges Notes: This is a beautifully balanced panoramic photograph depicting the sereneness of a beach sunset. The colours are so warm and comforting, evoking a strong feeling to the viewer of wanting to be there. The orange clouds are beautifully reflected in the water in such an artistic and balanced way . A very beautiful well executed photograph.

First Prize Pets & Wildlife

Elsa Marchenay – Pirouette

Judges Notes: This photograph is visually stunning. The horse literally pops out of the page. Capturing the moment has given the photograph such movement with the light illuminating the flowing mane and tail. The horse is cleverly grounded by leaving a small amount of grass illuminated at his feet. An ethereal image evoking heavenly and celestial feelings. I have given 1st place to this photograph because the photographer obviously has great understanding of the subject and is able to convey the image to its best advantage technically and emotionally in a supremely creative way.

Highly Commended Pets & Wildlife

Sharee Gray – Mr Brown hanging around. Judges Notes: This is such a pretty picture in its simplicity. The colours are serenely soft. The bird is beautifully captured in the moment of flight contemplation. The viewer is drawn to what the bird may be thinking. The vague soft background colours blend beautifully with the colours of the subject. A beautiful photograph.

Christine Rutter – Who Blinks First. Judges Notes: This is an amazing photograph. The illumination and sharpness is incredible. A true master in technique. A normally scary critter has been transformed into something rather comical and almost endearing. Very clever photography.

First Prize Portrait

Karen Davis – The Bushman from Wybong

Judges Notes: The image draws you into the subjects face, his eyes, texture of his skin, and subtle expression, conveying a sense of story and personality. The black and white enhances texture and emotional expression on his face. The background is softly blurred isolating the subject beautifully. I chose this photograph for 1st place because it totally encapsulates the meaning of Portraiture. It has been skilfully captured and it evokes a curiosity of wanting to know more about the story

Highly Commended – Portrait

Christopher Reichel – B Boy. Judges Notes: I really like this idea of a portrait because it is different. It has an arty graffiti flavour to it which is fun and clever. The photographer has stepped outside the box and has created an artful image of an alternative view in portraiture. I like it very much.

Christine Rutter – The Winning Feeling. Judges Notes: This photograph is a portrait of pure joy in playing the game. The expressions and movement have been beautifully captured. The colours pop out of the image. The youth is beautiful.

First Prize Under 18

Blair Haege – Swan Lake

Judges Notes: This is an amazingly well captured photograph for one so young. Usually years of experience bring together a photo as lovely as this. Here is a young photographer with natural instinct and a good eye for a great image .The photograph features warm golden light creating a serene atmosphere with beautiful colour gradients in the sky and water. Silhouetted swans add a focal point and emotional depth, enhancing the sense of tranquillity and connection with nature. I awarded this photograph 1st place for its exceptional brilliance in capturing an image that radiates such tranquillity and joy.

Highly Commended – Under 18

Blair Haege – Surfs Up. Judges Notes: This is another terrific shot for one so young. The photograph is vibrant and energetic, highlighting a busy coastline and city skyline. What takes this photo up a notch is the tiny silhouetted surfers on the rocks contemplating the waves. The day is sparkling , the sea is inviting and the rocks are glistening. If there were two spots for 1st place this refreshing photograph would have been alongside the moody sunset swans.

Kira-Lee Moore – Webster. Judges Notes: This photo of a spider is quirky and fun and very well executed . I love the way the little funny face is crystal clear and the fuzzy body is left to blur away. Being on an angle gives the image a certain cheekiness . A great fun photo with oodles of appeal.

Kira-Lee Moore – Glimmering Petals. Judges Notes: This is another beautifully executed photograph for one so young. The photo does justice to every single droplet of water on the exquisite flower. The black background really enhances the crispness of the paper thin petals. An extraordinary beautifully executed photograph. Bravo!

Photographic Arts Prize and Online Exhibition 2025