Time for Local Photographers to Get Behind The Lens

By Tara Hayes on June 27, 2018 in News

David Magro’s stunning Field of Stars.

Budding, amateur and established photographers are encouraged to get behind the lens and capture spectacular images, as THE SPACE Gallery (located in The Cannery Rosebery) opens entries to its photography competition for the third year.
Behind The Lens, featuring submissions grouped into ‘Landscape’, ‘Seascape’ and ‘Nature’ categories, will be joined this year by the Sun Moment competition, sharing incredible sunrises, beautiful sunsets and everything in between.
“There are many talented photographers that take amazing shots but their work is hidden away on their computer or in the studio,” Pascale from THE SPACE Gallery told The Beast.
“This is a great opportunity for them to showcase their work in a new location, surrounded by a community of art lovers.”
Everyone is welcome to the three-week exhibition in October to see the entries, with the winners announced on the opening night.
Artists can submit up to three images in the Behind The Lens contest, and five in Sun Moment. Entrants are challenged to be creative and original, and capture a picture that tells a story.
“We have a lot of beautiful scenery here in Australia, especially in the Eastern Suburbs, and there are a lot of photographers who can connect with that,” she said.
“As an art lover, you want something that surprises you, so you keep coming back to it because there’s something that intrigues you.”
David Magro, last year’s Behind The Lens winner, certainly took our breath away with his amazing photo, Field of Stars. The stitched panorama, captured in the town of Merriwa, took two years to plan.
“It’s only a certain time of year the Milky Way is visible in that position, and then you’ve got the alignment of the planets: Venus, Saturn and Mars,” he told The Beast.
“You have to wait for a clear sky and for the canola fields to be in bloom, which is one month of the year. Then you’ve only got about a ten-day window to photograph the stars when there’s no moon.”
Mr Magro, who is currently travelling around Australia to teach his specialised form of photography, was surprised when he won the competition and encourages everyone to enter this year.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen until you actually give it a try; just spread your message as far and as wide as you can and you may just be the winner,” he said.
“It’s a good sense knowing that your artwork is being admired by others and it will push you to continue to create more and improve.”
All submissions must be taken in Australia or New Zealand, and drone photographs are accepted.
Talented and experienced judges Chris L. Jones and Simon Mottram will be back again this year to pick the winners, while you will be given the opportunity to have your say on your favourite Sun Moment image via Instagram.
This is a great opportunity for photographers to show their work in our community and win some top prizes. Entries close on August 31 for Sun Moment, and September 14 for Behind The Lens.

For more information, and to enter the competition, please visit www.behindthelenscontest.com.au. You can follow along on Instagram at @behindthelenscontest.