Youth Photography Competition a success!

Published on 20 December 2023

Colac Otway Shire Council is thrilled with the success of its Youth Photography Competition with 90 entries received and more than 1,600 votes submitted for the People’s Choice Award.

Young people from across the shire got creative with their interpretation of the competition theme, ‘Connectivity: Capturing the Threads that Bind Us’.

Manager Connected Communities Tamzin McLennan said Council was delighted with the response to the competition.

“This is the first year running a photography competition for young people of Colac Otway and we’re really pleased with the enthusiasm shown through the creativity of submissions and number of entries. Congratulations to everyone who submitted a photo.

“We received 90 entries from about 30 young people aged between 13 and 25 who live, work or study in the shire. Our Youth Engagement team hope to hold the competition each year and keep building on the number of young people submitting entries each year.

“The competition proved really popular with photos shared across social media and People’s Choice votes coming from all around Australia, and even the US. We received more than 1,600 votes for the People’s Choice Award, our young people should be really proud of their photographic skills and the attention the exhibition attracted.

“The photos are up on Council’s website, and you can see from the display the creative and imaginative interpretations of the theme, with our entrants sharing their unique perspectives on what connectivity means to them,” Ms McLennan said.

2023 Youth Photography Competition - Winners

People’s Choice Award - A Mother’s Love, Eloise Murnane (photo attached)

People’s Most Liked Photo on Socials - Lakeside Dreaming, Ruby Holland (photo attached)

Category Winners, 13-15 age group

1st Place - The Sunset, Layla Mcleod

2nd Place - Hidden Gem, Tayla Bertrand

Photographer’s Encouragement Award - Wings, Marissa Gibbs

Category Winners, 16-20 age group

1st Place - Stormy Lorne Skies, Eloise Murnane

2nd Place - Irrewarra Colac, Chelsea Peschel

Photographer’s Encouragement Award - Feline Human Bond, Clint Gibbs

Category Winners, 21-25 age group

1st Place - Hopetoun Falls, Angela Johnson

2nd Place - Apple Tree Flower, Robin Alford

Photographer’s Encouragement Award - Center of Flower, Robin Alford

View all competition entries: https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Youth-services/2023-Youth-Photography-Competition-Online-Exhibition