THE outback Queensland town of Winton, the 'home' of Waltzing Matilda and bush poetry, is offering $5000 in prizemoney to photographers who capture the best images of the Australian outback.
The BHP Billiton Cannington Waltzing Matilda Photographic Competition and Exhibition, now in its 16th year, is one of the best known photographic prizes in outback Australia.
Photographers are invited to enter framed monochrome and colour prints that epitomise the 'image of the outback' theme. The inaugural competition attracted 39 entries. Last year, 73 monochrome and colour prints were received from photographers throughout the country, with the major awards going to artists from the Northern Territory and Queensland.
The competition is hosted by the Outback Regional Gallery, an integral part of the modern Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton.
As well as being the world's only purpose-built complex dedicated to a song, the centre actively promotes artistic and cultural development with an outback focus, in particular photography, painting and bush literature.
Entries in the BHP Billiton Cannington Waltzing Matilda Photographic Exhibition and Competition will be publicly exhibited in the gallery from September 10 until November 9, 2012.
The first prizewinning entry in each section will be acquired by the Cannington SilverLeadZinc Collection, with all other entries available for sale.
BHP Billiton Cannington is the major sponsor, with assistance from Greyhound Australia, Winton Shire Council and Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund.
Entries will be judged by Ian Wilkinson, Brisbane.
Ian grew up in rural Queensland, has been photographing weddings since 1988 and has received more than 100 national and international awards, including AIPP National Travel Photographer of the Year, AIPP Queensland Wedding Photographer of the Year and AIPP Queensland Landscape Photographer of the Year.
Ian will announce the winners on Friday, September 14, and lead a photography workshop in Winton on Saturday, September 15, and Sunday, September 16.
Entries close on July 31.
* For more information contact Catherine Mims at imageoftheoutback@gmail.com or visit www.matildacentre.com.au/gallery
