Focus of contest to attract visitors to region

Familiar places and faces were in the spotlight at the weekend during the opening of a Shire of Manjimup photography competition.

The Places and Faces competition tied in with the council’s desire to build up its library of images to be used for marketing.

There were 60 entries into the competition, which was held in conjunction with the Manjimup Photography Club.

Opening the exhibition at the Manjimup Art Gallery on Saturday night, shire community services director Gail Ipsen-Cutts thanked everyone who participated.

“It’s important we get those photos that hook visitors,” she said.

“We lack quality photos to promote coming to the region, so this is about selling the region.

“There is nothing about the competition that generates commercial interests, it’s about people experiencing what the region has to offer.”

Ms Ipsen-Cutts also thanked the members of the photography club for their “invaluable assistance” in running the competition and putting on the exhibition.

There were 18 winning works across the competition, broken down into first, second, third and merit prizes.

Lyn Neal won three first place prizes, Tim Gamblin won one first place and two second places, Ariana Svenson won a second and a third place, Rebecca Wallace won a second place, Daniel Pinelli won a third place and a merit, Lee Fontanini won a third place and a merit, Norman Talavera won a third place and a merit and Katrina Zemke, Amelia McLeod and Brad Hanrahan also won merit prizes.

The Places and Faces exhibition is open until November 11 at the Manjimup Art Gallery.

Ms Ipsen Cutts said council staff were considering holding the competition again next year.