Winner of the Primary School Category Kai Lowlett-Richards from Dungay Primary School NSW for his photo called: ‘Holding our future’.

Health and happiness captured in National Photographic Competition

Nov 24, 2023

The 2023 Your Health Link National Photographic Competition winners have been announced at the exhibition and awards evening at Port Macquarie overnight, selected from 980 entries received nationwide.

A whimsical photograph of a blissful moment captured by Samantha Wood from Western Australia took out the coveted Open category.

Samantha earned the judges’ praise for the “fairy tale quality” of her winning image titled ‘If you’re happy, if you’re feeling good, nothing else matters’.

Her image took the top prize for conveying a serene feeling using focus planes and delicate pastel tones.

The photo competition is an initiative of the Mid North Coast Local Health District to increase health literacy through images and encourage healthy eating and active living.

It showcases images depicting the “Healthy Life, Healthy You” theme across four categories – Open, Mobile, High School and Primary School.

First prize in the Mobile category was won by Amanda Clarke from Beaumont Hills in NSW for the image ‘Pre-game Stretch by the Water’, a snap of teammates laughing and warming up by a water bottle.

The judges liked how the image showed a connection between the three participants, instilling a feeling of fun and unity.

Shelley Morton from Woolooware in NSW won the High School category for her image titled ‘Music for the Mind’, which the judges said used lighting, mood, subject animation and feeling.

“It’s a still image, but it generates power and vibration you can feel within,” the judges said.

The Primary School prize was won by Kai Lowlett-Richards, from Dungay, for the image ‘Holding Our Future’.

“The simple elements of the hands from two generations holding new growth tell a powerful, symbolic message of cooperation, understanding and re-birth,” the judges said.

Junior photographers also explored the colourful world of healthy eating by creating a dish from their family’s kitchen and taking photos. The My Quick Healthy Family recipe subcategory winner earned an ultimate family cooking pack.

“The astounding standard of images impressed the judges and presented a challenge to narrow down the field to semi-finalists, finalists and ultimately the winners,” Ms Guichard said.

“Photographers nailed the theme of Healthy life, Healthy You by capturing a broad range of images in the web of life – food, animals, and the environment. The judges also looked at the narrative accompanying the images, which showed the theme exploration, creative process and technical skills used.”

The full gallery of the competition’s winners, finalists and semi-finalists across all categories can be browsed through at www.yourhealthlinkphotocomp.com.au

Since the competition began in 2016, more than 6,300 entries from all over Australia exploring health themes have been submitted.

The winner was Annalise Cox from Gin Gin in Queensland for her Meatballs and Chimichurri Sauce image.

Competition organiser Carolyn Guichard praised the quality of photographs received.

Click on the image below to scroll through the images from the presentation evening and winning photographs.