Bondi’s Kat Parker Takes Out #MySydney Photo Comp

By Dan Hutton on February 9, 2017 in News

There was an incredible response late last year to the #MySydney by WHTVR photo competition, proudly supported by The Beast, QT Bondi and Photoking Randwick, with over 1,000 entries piling in. There could only be one winner, though, and that was Kat Parker’s poignant shot of a retro Toyota wagon loaded up with surfboards down at Bondi Beach. We caught up with the photographer in question during the month…

Are you a professional photographer or a hobbyist?
I am a professional photographer.

How long have you been shooting for?
I started to get really inspired by photography while studying journalism at university. I took a photojournalism course and absolutely loved it, so I started mucking around with an old point and shoot film camera, shooting my friends. I never really considered it as a full time career until around four years ago.

What sort of content do you generally shoot?
I shoot across various genres, from food, fashion and still life, to documentary and travel.

Can you tell us a bit about your winning shot from the #MySydney by WHTVR photo competition?
My friend Jana is the owner of the car. His name is Dylan. We had planned to get out of Bondi to find some waves that morning, but after looking at the forecast and driving past and seeing the waves at Bondi we decided to just go out there because it looked fun. I saw that the light was looking amazing, so decided to take a few shots of the girls getting ready around the car before we jumped in the water.

What was the inspiration for your photograph?
There was no inspiration as such. I just love the ocean, the morning light, and rad old cars with boards on the roof.

Where was the photograph taken?
At the car park at Bondi Beach.

How many frames did it take you to get the right shot?
When I’m shooting I normally just shoot away and determine the selects and best images when editing.

Did you think you had a good chance of winning?
You gotta be in it to win it, right? There were lots of good entries and I really had no idea whether I was going to win, but I’m super thankful that I did!

What was it about your shot do you think appealed to the judges?
I think everyone can appreciate an epic old car and the morning light, especially at Bondi.

What is your favourite place/thing in the Eastern Suburbs to shoot?
We are so incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful place with so many epic locations to shoot. I love the beach at Bondi with its white sand and turquoise water, as well as the iconic houses on the hill. Then there’s the cliff tops, the sandstone rock formations, the ocean pools – the list is plentiful. Everything is just so special around here.

You can see more of Kat Parker’s work by following @katrinaparker on Instagram or going to www.katrina-parker.com.