A spectacular night sky photo titled Where Two Rivers Meet has been awarded first prize in West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s (CMA) photo competition.
The celestial image was chosen for its unique perspective of West Gippsland’s rivers. The image was taken by Sale resident Iryna MacMillan and perfectly reflects the theme of rivers being much more than just water.
“I was chasing the Milky Way at Swing Bridge. In the image we can see the Milky Way, the planet Venus and a pink Aurora on the left. It was a beautiful night and very inspiring,” Iryna, who moved to Australia from Ukraine over 20 years ago, said.
With her flair for photography, it’s the second time Iryna has entered the competition coming runner-up in 2024.
“I’m an amateur nature photographer. I love nature, but mostly I love the night sky. I love taking night photos of our Milky Way Galaxy and unpredictable Aurora too,” she said.
“I call this my night sky therapy because I’m alone with all these stars around me. But when I get reflection of the stars in a river it’s an extra bonus.”
Colin Cook took out second prize for his vibrant image of Lower Latrobe Wetlands shot during a memorable visit to Heart Morass with the Latrobe Valley Camera Club.
“The Heart Morass project is a shining example of how human intervention can restore the natural balance of ecosystems,” he said.
“This ambitious initiative has successfully transformed degraded farmland back into its original wetland state, benefiting both the environment and local communities,” said Colin.
Spoilt for choice, the judges also nominated two special mentions to Paula Welland for her photo titled Fishing and Kylie Jackson for her image Durt’Yowan.
“I remember my dad handing me his camera at Marlo with a 24 exposure film and l used the entire film on taking photos of the pelicans. More than just water, the Latrobe River not only provides recreational value in the form of fishing and peaceful moments in nature but also serves as a powerful reminder of the vital connection between water, food and life. With fishing, relaxation and lessons learned, what more could you want from water?” Paula said.
Kylie’s image Durt’Yowan captures the rich, ancient beauty of rivers at their headwaters where they start their journeys.
“This photo symbolises life, representing growth, renewal, and nourishment. It conveys peace and tranquillity,” Kylie said.
Judges were impressed with the number and quality of images submitted in this year’s competition.
“It was very difficult to choose the winners – and we thank everyone for taking the time to submit and to share their reasons why West Gippsland’s waterways are much more than water to them,” chief executive officer of West Gippsland CMA, Martin Fuller, said.
“The photos showcase the many ways, places and times that people connect, respect and enjoy the region’s rivers and wetlands.”
