Congratulations to our winners!
Alex Lewers
Elli
David Stone
A Slow Road
Melissa Hammond
Sinking Sorrows into Lukewarm Bathwater
Judge's Statement
From a simple idea to an exhibition of the best and most diverse range of subjects and skills, I have been so looking forward to this show. I see we have contributions from far and wide of all ages and experience. My challenge, of course, was to choose threed of the best. No simple task as I could confidently choose 10 works which have equally moved and impressed me. However, choose I must and I’ll resist the impulse to announce my picks and quickly leave town!
Also, due to the diverse range of photographic equipment we use to document our lives (phones and cameras), I concentrated on impact, mood, emotion, story and composition. I congratulate all three winners and remind everyone that all the finalist are winners here. You could easily have 10 qualified judges and they would all have different choices. In no particular order, here are my three winners.
A Slow Road by David Stone
This image knocked me over, heavy with atmosphere. The viewer is thrust into the dead of night with the town asleep, it is both haunting and unsettling yet strangely comforting. The subdued colours add to its mood and mystery. Why is the photographer there at this hour? What is the story?
Elli by Alex Lewers
This is a wonderfully stark image full of impact, with tension, drama and humour. A winning composition with all the nostalgia of youthful excitement and daring.
Sinking Sorrows into Lukewarm Bathwater by Melissa Hammond
This is a beautiful and lyrical portrait. It’s uncomplicated and emotionally relatable. It conveys the wistfulness and inertia of heartbreak tinged with despair. A simple and honest composition giving us a window into someone’s private pain.
Julie Slavin
Congratulations to the finalists!
(Some images have been cropped in the carousel due to website limiatations. Apologies)
Alex Lewers
Andrew Lister
Ben Hosking
Byron McLoughlin
Celia Ruiz de Castilla
Danny Dunne
David Stone
Deborah Warner
Diane A Willey
Isabella Carr
Janice Amato
Joel Frankham
Judith Conning
Kathy Majewski
Kay Armstrong
Kellie Howard
Kim Hamilton
Lara Flanagan
Margaret Giola
Mark Anning
Mark Davis
Melissa Hammond
Michelle Letherbarrow
Nadene Shepherd
Nicole McLeod
Noah Hazlewood
Orlando Luminere
Rinatte Campbell
Rudiger Wasser
Sallie Colechin
Samuel Bishop-Taylor
Sandi Lear Stanley
Sara Cooley
Simon Lew
Steve White
Tony Kemp
Tracey Keogh
A few stats
Entrants | 65
Images entered | 153
Entrants who are finalists | 37
Images from the finalists | 53
We'll email each finalist and let them know the good news and what's next for getting their artwork ready for exhibition.
About the Prize
We are a small group of volunteers at Hallidays Point NSW and we like to support the visual arts. When we thought about organising a photographic competition and prize, we didn't want to limit the entrants or their photographic interests to just our little patch of the coast. We decided to open the Prize to anyone in NSW or the ACT who's 16 or older. We also decided that we wouldn't limit the places from where images were captured or impose a theme.
We want to celebrate aspiring photographers, wherever their eye may take them. We also want to make the Prize worthwhile: the Judge will award three $1,000.00 prizes.
And here we are. Welcome to the inaugural Focal Point 2024 Photography Prize.
About Black Head Bazaar Inc
organiser of the Prize
organiser of the Prize
Black Head Bazaar Inc runs the popular Black Head Bazaar markets at Hallidays Point. We use the money we raise from the markets to undertake projects that improve the environment, and promote cultural activities, in Hallidays Point. The Focal Point 2024 Photography Prize is one of our projects.
We recently completed the Art Wall at the rear of the Hallidays Point Library that showcases work from several Manning Valley artists. We also support local groups and have partnered over many years with Midcoast Council on projects to improve the environment and community spaces at Hallidays Point.
During 2024, we will bring live music performances to the beautiful Chapel of Light at Tallwoods Village.