Budding photographers, seasoned snappers and nature lovers alike are invited to capture the beauty of nature and highlight the importance of our natural environment by entering the annual Macarthur Nature Photography Competition, which was launched at Riverfest today.
Entries close on Friday, September 25.
Hosted by the three Macarthur councils – Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly – the competition aims to raise awareness of the region’s pristine and unique environmental landscape.
Competition themes include Waterways, Flora and Fauna, Nature Up Close and Environmental Impact, with two age categories of Young People (15 years and under) and Open (16 years and over).
For the new generation of photographers, the Nature Snap category calls for images taken on a smart phone, tablet or iPod, with simple online entry making it the perfect way to share your favourite shots.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Lake, said that with more than $4,000 worth of prizes on offer, the competition was a great incentive to explore Macarthur’s natural assets and capture the beauty of nature through the lens of a camera.
“Photography is the perfect tool to celebrate nature and appreciate the diversity of the Macarthur region, and with so many categories and easy entry, the competition is also a great way to showcase your skills,” Cr Lake said.
Each year, the winners are announced at a special Awards Night, which this year will see TV celebrity Costa Georgiadis, from ABC’s Gardening Australia, as the guest speaker.
The Awards Night also provides the opportunity for people to select their favourite image from a shortlist of entries. The most popularly voted image will win the People’s Choice Award, which this year is a $300 prize, sponsored by Macarthur Camera House.
For the first time, schools are also in the running to win a prize. The Western Sydney University and Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living have jumped on board to sponsor a prize for the winning high school and winning primary school, with the two packages valued at more than $1500.
Entries opened today to coincide with Riverfest 2015 at Koshigaya Park and the competition closes at 4pm on Friday, September 25.
The Awards Night will be held at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School on Wednesday, November 4.
Entries can be submitted online, with a $10 fee per image to cover printing and mounting (excluding Nature Snap category), or entrants can print and mount their own photograph and submit it at their local Council.
To enter, or for more information on award categories, prizes and judging criteria, visit the website.
All entries will be exhibited at Macarthur Square from Monday, October 19 and until Sunday, November 1. Winning photographs will also form part of a travelling exhibition across the Macarthur region, with dates and locations to be determined.
♦ Meanwhile Riverfest, which ended a few minutes ago at 3pm today, was blessed with brilliant Spring weather as it attracted thousands of people to Campbelltown’s magnificent Koshigaya Park.
All the stalls were busy, including the food ones, which this year included German, Turkish, Belgian and Dutch fare.
The German stand was one of the most popular, serving its delicious pork sausages to the hungry hordes of Riverfest.
The Beekeepers of Macarthur Association also enjoyed a steady stream of customers, as did the Get Wild stand opposite it, with kids fascinated by the lizards and baby crocs on display.
As the South West Voice departed, super heroes such as Spiderman were getting on the stage to save the environment while entertaining the little ones.
If you didn’t attend Riverfest today, put it in your diary for next year, it’s a great day.
