In the 2025 Australian Photographic Prize competition, from her five entries, Bruthen photographer Kelly Coleman was awarded two silver with distinction awards, two silver awards and a highly commended in the macro category.
Her well-known macro photo, titled Saps Eye also took out third place overall in the macro category of the Australian Photographic Prize.
This was the first time the Australian Photographic Prize, a national and international competition, had included a macro category.
Ms Coleman is hoping that the competition will continue to include macro in the 2026 competition along with the broad range of other categories.
“I am thrilled to receive awards for all of my photos entered in the Australian Photographic Prize,” she said.
“I want to thank members of East Gippsland Photographic Society for the support and encouragement they have given me”.
Another member of East Gippsland Photographic Society, Kelly Asmus Albornoz, owner of Albatross Photography and Design, based in Bairnsdale, has also done very well on the national scene.
With her photo Spoonbill on a Foggy Morning Kelly won the birds in landscape category of the Birdlife Photo Awards and the photo was published in the Birdlife Magazine.
Kelly described taking the photo at Lake Broadwater in QLD last year; “I was up earlier than everyone else in our camp, just as the sun started getting ready to peek over the horizon.
“It was quiet and a little chilly due to the thick fog blanketing the lake. Once the sun came up above the horizon, the fog started to glow.”
Kelly and Albatross Photography and Design have also won other awards and are well known also for portrait photography, “specialising in empowering women and children” in their new studio in Bairnsdale CBD.
Both are active members of the East Gippsland Photographic Society and regularly place in the club’s photographic competitions.
The East Gippsland Photographic Society has a monthly meeting at 7pm on the fourth Wednesday at The Hub, 27 Dalmahoy Street, Bairnsdale. (Room 16 U3A Building)
The club always welcomes and supports new members of all abilities, be it using a phone, point and shoot cameras, full frame or micro 4/3rds.
Every month there is a day excursion.
In September they will visit Fairy Dell and in October Raymond Island, while November’s excursion will be a weekend at Cape Conran.
For further information, contact the club via email.
