By Alesha Capone
Teenager Georgia Whalan has been named the major winner of this year’s Way Out West (WOW) Youth Photography Competition.
Whalan, 18, has received the grand prize in the WOW competition, which is held annually by Wyndham’s council’s Youth Services and Library Services.
The competition is open to anyone aged between 12 and 25 years, who lives, works, studies or socialises in Wyndham.
Whalan said she was “stoked” to win the award.
The winning image was of Whalan’s friend Paige at the Rippon Lea Estate in Elsternwick.
Whalan said staff at Rippon Lea were “really helpful and so kind” to let them do a photo shoot at the heritage site.
She said the photo of Paige was staged, not an impromptu picture.
“I directed her to do a series of movements and she nailed the effortless look,” Whalan said.
“I feel so honoured that my work was recognised as something worthy of winning and it has inspired me to work even harder at shooting beautiful photos.”
Whalan, who is studying photography in her VCE Studio Arts class, said she has been “a super passionate photographer” for years.
“I love being able to create this beautiful world that makes people feel inspired and make something look so different from how it looks in real life,” she said.
Other winners of this year’s WOW awards include Elianah Bogoevska (the WOW Prize), Cameron Borg (best landscape), Lucy Formosa (best black and white image), Kenodh Gamanayake (best use of colour) and Keira Callaghan Hosemans (best portrait winner).
Details: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/wayoutwest
