An epic Newcastle sunrise breaking over the iconic Merewether Baths, shot by Megan Willis of Woodrising, has won the Newcastle Herald's 2021 Hunter Photography Prize. The stunning panorama captures a lone swimmer moments before slipping into the water, bathed in natural light.
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"I just love shooting Merewether," Ms Willis said. "It was just a really beautiful morning. I was lucky to capture it." Ms Willis has been behind the lens for around four years, and feels drawn to the Hunter's beaches. During an east coast low in 2019, Ms Willis was "hanging on for dear life" to capture the moment.
"I had the rock shoes on and all the protective gear, doing the right thing," she said, "I was hanging on for dear life. There seems to be always something happening and I just really enjoy shooting there ... If I go along and there's a great morning and it all just comes together, you come away with a bit of a buzz. It's a wonderful feeling.
"Nothing lasts forever, and so you have to get out and capture it while you can."
Ms Willis, a member of the Wangi Camera Club, has won the competition's major prize, a Canon EOS 200D Mark II camera kit with a 18-55mm lens (valued at $900) with 300 prints provided by Domayne @ Harvey Norman Kotara.
"I feel very grateful and very humble actually. I just love going out and taking photos so if I can capture something that's beautiful, then happy days."
Meanwhile, the people's choice category winner in this year's Hunter Photo Prize captured the dramatic moment a massive wave broke over the Nobbys break wall during an east coast low. 16-year-old amateur surf photographer Jack Dowler caught a once-in-a-million moment.
Jack's stunning photo was a clear favourite in the 2021 Hunter Photography Prize people's choice category and has won the photographer an Olympus E-PL8 with a 14-42mm lens and 200 prints, valued at $750, provided by Domayne @ Harvey Norman Kotara.
BEACHES FRONT AND CENTRE IN PEOPLE'S CHOICE CATEGORIES
In another nod to the Hunter's beaches, Edward Bassingthwaighte of Hamilton South was another clear popular favourite, taking out the people's choice category for the 2021 Herald short story competition. Mr Bassingthwaighte, a member of the Hunter Writers Centre, described himself as an amateur writer who struggles a bit with confidence and said he was excited to have received the encouragement.
"I spent a lot of time working on it and I got a lot of help from my wife and daughter. They're my editors, they're very tough and very honest." Mr Bassingthwaighte's story was reprinted in Saturday's Newcastle Herald.
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