Stunning snaps put Pilbara photogs in running for international award

Two Pilbara-based photographers are on the short list for the US$5000 International Landscape Photographer of the Year award.

The snaps of Matt Hutton, of Wickham, and Sheldon Pettit, of Port Hedland, are among 101 photographs in line for the top prize.

Mr Hutton’s entry was taken on a trip to Karijini National Park earlier this year.

“Hamersley Gorge is a place that is hard to shoot as it has been done so many times before, but I went with the traditional forward-facing shot, ” he said.

“As a place I have been to so many times before, this trip I was prepared with a new camera and was determined to get a great shot.

“I was lucky enough to make the top 101 in the International Landscape Photographer of the Year.”

Mr Pettit’s photo is an abstract aerial shot of exploration tracks on Lake Lefroy, near Kambalda.

“I enjoy getting up there and getting a different view of the place, whether here in Hedland, Kalgoorlie or Broome, ” he said.

“For this one, I did a bit of a trip around the Super Pit area, then went out to Kambalda, where there are a lot of exploration roads. I didn’t make the cut last year so I submitted another 12 this year and luckily one of them was picked.”

Mr Pettit said his grand ambition was to do an aerial shoot over the delta systems in Iceland.

Both photographers have already made the grade to appear in the International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2015 book.

An ILPOTY spokesman said winners were due to be announced early this week.