Warragul Camera Club national exhibition sub-committee chair Jane Woodcock (left) congratulates The Gazette and Roylaines Readers' Photographic Competition winners (from left) third placed Keith Ward, second placed Paula Walland and first placed winner Cameron Mann.
Cameron Mann took out first price in the Gazette's 2023 Readers' Photographic Competition with this shot.
Paula Walland's "Watchful Water Dragon" was awarded second place in the competition.
"Nina Really" by Keith Ward took out third place.
"Untitled Two" by seven-year-old Zeoy Jeffery was highly commended.
"Snaps" by Matisse Debnam was highly commended.
"Metres from Disaster" by Robert Lees was highly commended.
Cameron Mann has taken out The Gazette's 2023 Readers' Photographic Competition.
Cameron perfectly captured a Highland cow with a cheeky tongue in a monochrome photograph. It was one of 136 photographs entered.
In second place was Paula Walland's striking "Watchful Water Dragon", whilst stunning portrait "Nina Really" from Keith Ward was awarded third.
Highly commended awards went to Robert Lees' "Metres from Disaster", Matisse Debnam's "Snaps" and seven-year-old Zoey Jeffery's "Untitled Two".
Entries were displayed at the 50th Warragul National Photographic Exhibition at the West Gippsland Arts Centre over the weekend.
Attracting a high calibre of entries, this year's competition saw a slight dip in entries from last year but there was a strong number of entries from young, enthusiastic photographers with the youngest reader entries coming from five-year-old Logan Jeffery.
Local scenery, sunrises, people, pets and holiday locations formed the inspiration for many local budding photographers.
At the 50th national exhibition on Saturday afternoon, WCC vice president Russell Monson said the national exhibition began under the leadership and inspiration of the late Roy Berryman in conjunction with Warragul Rotary Club.
He said this year's exhibition attracted 1732 images of which 535 prints and digital images were accepted and judged by a panel of some of Australia's leading photographers.
Throughout its 50 years, Mr Monson said the national exhibition had received about 68,000 entries, with 17,600 photographs accepted into the annual exhibition.
Mr Monson acknowledged the work of club members who put in a lot of time and effort into bringing the exhibition together, led by sub-committee chair Jane Woodcock.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Annemarie McCabe said it was no easy feat to keep a club going for such a long time.
She said the annual exhibition showcased world class photography.
Cr McCabe said she hoped the creativeness and calibre of photography on display inspired photographers for generations to come.
Most successful Warragul Camera Club exhibitor in the national exhibition was David Woodcock.
All entries entered in this year's readers' competition will be posted to The Gazette Facebook page this week. We apologise for a technical issue that resulted in some entries not being displayed as part of the slideshow at the Camera Club's exhibition on the weekend.
