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Snow leopard photograph wows judges

Announcement posted by Thurnham Teece 09 Dec 2014

2014 National mEYE World Photographic Competition Winners Announced
Embargoed 9 December 2014
 
Macular Disease Foundation Australia Patron, Ita Buttrose, announced the winners of the 2014 mEYE World Photographic Competition today and said that she and her fellow judges agreed that the winning photograph had brilliantly captured the competition’s theme - ‘a sight worth saving’.
 
Leading Australian artist Ken Done, internationally renowned photographer Rex Dupain and one of Australia’s longest serving news photographers, Alan Pryke were on the judging panel.
 
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. Entrants submitted a photograph of ‘a sight worth saving’, along with a short description of how their photo captured this theme. 
 
Dr Kerry Boytell, of Mosman NSW, took out both the Healthcare category and Grand Finalist prize with an awe-inspiring photo of a snow leopard in the wild. “Good photography is all about timing,” said judge Alan Pryke. “If you can identify the perfect moment and capture it, you’ll have a great shot. I think we can all agree this is true of this year’s grand finalist winner.”
 
More than 1300 entries were received across the four categories of macular disease community, healthcare professional, open, and junior (under 18).
 
Ita Buttrose who has judged the competition for four years said, “Photography captures the world around us like no other medium. It gives a unique insight into the world of the photographer. The theme ‘a sight worth saving’ resulted in entries that were diverse in subject and deeply personal to the individual behind the lens.
 
“Macular disease affects Australians of all ages and we now know that early detection can save sight. The competition is a wonderfully creative way to remind people how precious their sight is and why we should do all we can to preserve it,” Ms Buttrose said.
 
Grand finalist winner Dr Boytell said “All big cats in their environment are difficult to see, but when I saw this magnificent snow leopard appearing on a ledge it was a sight to behold. I think it was just as amazed at seeing me, as I was seeing it. Our sight is precious, and being able to see nature in its glory is indeed wonderful.”
 
Category winners are:
  • Healthcare Professional – Kerry Boytell, Mosman NSW
  • Macular Disease Community – Yvonne Hill, Paralowie SA
  • Open (General Public) – Corinne Le Gall, Vincentia NSW
  • Junior (Under 18) – Mikayla McCubben, Kingscliff NSW
 
To find out more and to register for updates on the 2015 mEYE World Photographic Competition, visit www.meyephotocomp.com.au

 
mEYE World Photographic Competition 2014 – Winners
 
Grand Finalist and Category Winner
Category: Healthcare Professional
Name: Dr Kerry Boytell
Entry: All big cats in their environment are difficult to see, but when I saw this magnificent snow leopard appearing on a ledge it was a sight to behold. I think it was just as amazed at seeing me, as I was seeing it. Our sight is precious, and being able to see nature in its glory is indeed wonderful.
 
Category Winner
Category: Open (General Public)
Name: Corinne Le Gall
Entry: The savagery of a carnivorous animal having to kill another in order to survive. Witnessing and photographing two kites fighting over a leather-jacket meal is not something that I will forget in a hurry. There is not a day that goes by where I am not thankful for the gift of sight.

Category Winner
Category: Macular Disease Community
Name: Yvonne Hill
Entry: Because of his poor eyesight due to macular degeneration, my husband now uses a walking stick after taking several nasty falls as a result of lack of depth perception, no sight in one eye and very little in the other.


Category Winner
Category: Junior (Under 18)
Name: Mikayla McCubben
Entry: Staring through the branches I observed how paragliders imitate nature. The paragliders look like seeds, flying off the barren branches. Sometimes a new perspective brings a new life. The interplay between man and nature is truly a sight to behold.

 
Media contact:
Lyn Thurnham & Tara Fohmsbee
Thurnham Teece 
Ph: (02) 4961 6010
lthurnham@thurnhamteece,com.au
tfohmsbee@thurnhamteece.com.au 
 
About Macular Disease
Macular disease is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia. It includes macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and other conditions occurring at the macula, the central part of the retina at the back of the eye. This part of the eye processes all visual images in your central vision, such as your ability to see faces, read, drive, and distinguish colours clearly.
 
About Macular Disease Foundation Australia
Macular Disease Foundation Australia is committed to reducing the incidence and impact of macular disease in Australia through education and awareness programs, research, provision of support services and representing the best interests of the macular disease community. 
 
The Foundation is a national charity providing information, guidance and support on prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation. The Foundation is the voice of the macular disease community, building healthy communities through the development of effective public policy, a sound knowledge base and strong relationships and partnerships. 
 
The Foundation’s work encompasses macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions and a range of other macular diseases. 
 
To find out more visit: www.mdfoundation.com.au or call 1800 111 709
 
About mEYE World Photographic Competition
The mEYE World Photographic Competition was launched in 2011 and has now grown into a highly anticipated annual competition. In 2014, over 1,300 entries were received. The competition will run again in 2015. For further information and to register for updates visit www.meyephotocomp.com.au