Gabriella Vukman
From toadstools reaching up to catch final traces of the day’s sunlight, to isolated footsteps in the snow, the results of the Yarra Valley Calendar Competition are truly captivating.
Having announced the winners on September 8, the calendars for 2024 will be available at the Bendigo Bank’s community branches from late November.
Winner of the ‘Judge’s Choice’ category Pam Pajak shared the story behind her mystical submission.
“The title I gave it really encapsulated the moment I wanted the viewer to be transported to. We’re often out rushing around looking at big things and we sometimes forget to look down and appreciate the smaller things,” Pam said.
The photo was taken at the bottom of Pam’s garden. Describing how she was positioned close to the ground to capture the photo, Pam said she “was just there at the right time.”
“I was walking around the garden looking at what there might be to see. Those little toadstools come up every autumn. The sun was behind them and I was looking at the little things,” Pam said.
Depicting an otherworldly array of golden, green and tawny hues, the image transports the viewer to an Atlantis of toadstools, mulch and leaf litter.
“In that moment the toadstools just looked beautiful with the sun behind them and I was there with a camera to capture it,” Pam said.
Pam’s love for photography has been a long-lasting passion.
“I think it was my grandmother who bought me my first Kodak Brownie camera.and I guess that started me on the road to taking photographs,” Pam said.
For Pam, photography is a family affair.
“My husband and I love travelling and we go everywhere with our cameras,” she said.
Iterating her fondness of the competition, Pam said “it’s a wonderful opportunity for people to put their photographs on display. it’s lovely for everybody to share in those experiences and I’d really like to say thank you to everyone involved in running it.”
Pam said she is “really looking forward to seeing the calendar. The other photos look so beautiful.”
Warburton Photographer and one of this year’s competition judges Kate Baker said, “I love that they run this competition.”
“We had over 200 entries and that for me means people are feeling connected to it. It is an open opportunity for everybody, whether you’re an artist or not an artist, everybody has the opportunity to contribute. I really like that,” Kate said.
Kate shared the judging process as well as what she looks for when judging submissions.
“We are given the website with all of the images on it so that we get to see what everybody else gets to see. This year the three of us judges independently went through and selected our top twelve images. We gathered together and talked through our preferences and reached a consensus,” Kate said.
“In this particular competition there are two aspects that constitute a good photo. The artistic quality of the image itself and representation of the Upper Yarra region,” Kate said.
Moving on, Kate highlighted that this year “good photographs” that were not necessarily reflective of the Upper Yarra area did not meet the brief and therefore, had “less likelihood of being selected.”
Kate looks for images that represent the local area and connect others with the community in a relatable manner. The “artistic merit” and quality of the rendering are also considered.
Commending the competition, Kate said, “it brings a strong sense of belonging and pride when the calendar comes out. I particularly enjoy the way that it encourages other people, especially young people. As the competition progresses, the quality of the imagery is getting better.”
Kate notes this particular progress in the under 18s section of the competition.
“‘Nature’s Dance ‘, the winning image for the under 18s bracket stands up in any adult portfolio. It is very beautiful, the colours were gorgeous and it was perfectly composed,” Kate said.
“The young boy that came runner up, we chose that image because it showcases an alternate perspective. It showed he’d thought about it. And it gave a sense of people whereas normally the submissions we get are nature-based,” Kate added.
Winner of the under 18 Judge’s Choice segment Pearl Saurine said “photography has always been a passion but it is not something that I’ve ever taken seriously.”
Pearl’s achievements in this year’s competition are no new feat. This being the third year of her participation, Pearl was runner up in the U18s Judge’s Choice section in her first year and has won the U18s title in 2022 and 2023.
“This year I was surprised to win the under 18s . There were a lot of under 18 photos that were really amazing so I was definitely surprised that my photo won. I really was not expecting that,” Pearl said.
Whilst Pearl asserted that last year’s photo ‘(The Things We Do For Love)’ is her favourite photo that she has taken, her latest submission is not to go unnoticed.
Popping against a moody background of stone-grey and brown, the majestic creamy duck is caught entering the water. The arching of the duck’s neck and rear-facing position of its wings lends a pegasus-like grandeur, the droplets of water, adding an essence of turmoil to the calmness of the image.
Describing the moment the image was captured, Pearl said, “I was sitting by the river in Warburton and I was just watching these ducks. They were bathing, dipping and diving under the water. I was taking photos of them doing that because I thought that was really cool.”
When asked what purpose she had in mind for the prize money, Pearl assured she will “save it.”
“I’d like to be able to get a car in the next couple of years for when I turn 18,” Pearl said.
As a result of this competition, Pearl said “people come up to me and say “oh I noticed that you won that competition.””
The Calendar competition also provided a bonding opportunity for Pearl and her brother Finn Saurine, who was this year’s winner of the Community Bank Staff Choice prize.
“When my brother was living at home we would go out together and take photos and stuff for the calendar.”
Thanks to the contribution of photography students from the local Upper Yarra Secondary College and the growing publicity the competition is gaining, participation levels this year have sky-rocketed for the Upper Yarra Calendar Competition.
“It’s a really nice thing to be able to participate in the process of our community. I love our community so much and it feels really great to create something that’s of the community, created by the community and for the community,” Judge Kate said.
The winning images can be found on the Upper Yarra Calendar Competition website: https://upperyarra.net.au/upper-yarra-2024-calendar-competition-and-online-exhibition/
