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2017 mEYE World photo competition

Posted By Michelle Hauschild On

Winners announced to mark World Diabetes Day

Macular Disease Foundation Australia today announced the grand finalist and category winners of the mEYE World Photographic Competition 2017, to mark World Diabetes Day.

The winning photographs were selected from wide ranging entries that celebrated the theme See My World – In Your Own Backyard.  

An initiative of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia, the competition is designed to raise awareness of macular disease, the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia.   

The high profile judging panel included Foundation Patron Ita Buttrose, internationally recognised photographer Rex Dupain, and one of Australia’s longest serving news photographers, Alan Pryke.  

“This competition is such a pleasure to judge. This year’s entries have been wonderfully creative and they captured our In Your Own Backyard theme perfectly,” said Ita Buttrose.   

Bettina Damme of Rathmines (NSW) is this year’s Grand Finalist. Her winning photograph entitled Pollen Face (above) is of a colourful rainbow lorikeet that visits her backyard.

Betttina says, “In Australia we’re very lucky to have so much wildlife in our backyards, I only have to step on my veranda to see these beautiful rainbow lorikeets”.  

Judge Rex Dupain said of the winning photo, “Pollen Face, is a striking portrait of a native bird with a spectrum of outrageous feathers, and while the parrot’s palette becomes an ornithologist’s delight, we are happy to admire it as a work of art”.  

The competition categories include:

  • macular disease community,
  • healthcare professional,
  • open, and
  • junior (under 18).  

Alan Pryke said, “I enjoyed the amazing range of images in all the categories. The entrant’s different ways of interpreting In your own backyard theme, from ocean waves to tiny insects, from family members to vast landscapes, makes judging the awards quite challenging”.  

“Macular disease affects Australians of all ages and we now know that early detection can save sight. The competition is an excellent way to remind people how precious their sight is and why they should never take it for granted,” said Ms Buttrose.  

Category winners

Open (General Public) – Bettina Damme, Rathmines NSW (Grand Finalist)

Image shows a rainbow lorikeet with a face covered in pollen. Photo by Bettina Damme.
“I only have to step on my veranda to see these beautiful rainbow lorikeets. We in Australia are very lucky to have so much wildlife in our backyard, especially when you know that in the last 40 years 50% of our planet’s wildlife has disappeared. If we are not careful then these beautiful birds will disappear as well.”

Macular Disease Community – Jen Stocks, Jemalong NSW

Image is in black and white and shows a young girl in ponytails. Photo by Jen Stocks.
“I watch the seasons roll by on the farm, and I watch my children explore their backyard and grow. The years become collections of moments, and tiny visions of seemingly small and unimportant moments are the ones that stick with me most.”

Healthcare Professional – Dr Edwin Lim, Elderslie NSW 

Photo shows six ducks taking off from a dam. There is a distorted pattern of trees on the water's surface.
“Startled by my approach a flock of ducks takes off from a dam in Camden on a frosty dawn, the zig-zagging shadows of Poplars guiding their flight paths.”

Junior (Under 18) – Zara Jozsa, Ormond, Victoria

Image shows a person standing beside a pool at night during an electrical storm. There are tall buildings in the background. The sky is purple and illuminated by lightning.
“Australia’s beautiful backdrop is my backyard wherever I may be locally or on holiday. This light show lit up the Gold Coast summer sky. Living in a townhouse with only a courtyard, my family and I get out and about as much as we can – the simple and priceless things in life.”

Posted: 14 November 2017

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