Dog trial drama photo a national winner

7 May 2008

A sheep dog trial gone wrong set the scene for the best Australian rural photo for 2008.

The image captured by Mike Dugdale of the Geelong Advertiser has won the competition organised by the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ). It was previously selected as best photograph in the daily life category at the 2007 Rural Press Club of Victoria media awards.

National judge Jim Fenwick said the action photo was a clear winner in an outstanding field of entries.

“It was perfectly composed … a top shot,” said Mr Fenwick, a former Pictorial Editor at The Courier-Mail in Brisbane.

The image captures a sheep in a mid-air leap over a boundary fence, watched by the dog and its handler as spectators duck for cover.

Mr Fenwick said any one of four photos could have been placed second and third, such was the depth of quality this year.

In second place he chose an image of a helicopter mustering camels at dusk. This photo was taken by Townsville Bulletin photographer Evan Morgan, who won the competition in 2006.

Third place went to a photo of a dog and cattle sharing a drinking trough taken by Matthew Smithwick of The Border Mail at Albury.

All three photos will represent Australia in the prestigious 2008 Star Prize for Agricultural Photography which attracts entries from the best farm-sector photographers around the world. Winners will be announced at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists 2008 Congress in Austria and Slovenia in September.

The Australian winners were selected from finalists nominated by State-based rural media clubs affiliated with the ACAJ. Photos had to be published in 2007, in either print or electronic publications.

Ends

For further information, contact ACAJ President Gordon Collie
on 07 3856 3614.