A RELATIVE newcomer to the Australian Army Public Relations Service (AAPRS) has won the 2002 Damien Parer Military Photographic Competition.

The biennial competition, now in its 10th year, is an opportunity for ADF public affairs photographers to gain recognition and prestige from some tough critics – other military photographers.

WO2 Gary Ramage	Cpl Ashley Roache
Cpl Sean Burton	Cpl Ashley Roache
Amateur photo awards open Are you a keen photographer, do your mates comment you should enter your photos in competitions? Here’s your chance to show the ADF what you are capable of with a camera in your hand. Army, Navy and Air Force newspapers are looking for Defence’s best amateur photographers through their inaugural ADF Amateur Photography Competition. The rules are simple. It is open to all members of the ADF, including Defence civilians, excluding members whose trade, rating, or ECN is as a photographer. It also excludes members of PACC. Photographs must depict an aspect of life in the ADF and must be suitable for publication in a family newspaper. There are four categories: best photo (three prizes), best black and white photo, best digitally created photo and best sports-adventurous training photo. Significant prizes have been provided by Nikon and supplied by Nikon on Broadway in Sydney. They include an F80 kit, three F65 kits, a F55 kit and a Nikon Coolpix 2500. There is also a special people's choice prize from Reuters to commemorate Australian cameraman Harry Burton, who was killed in Afghanistan. Entries close on November 10. The winning photographs will be published in the service newspapers on December 5. For further information contact (02) 6265 2151
	Cpl Jason Weeding
	Sgt Troy Rodgers
	Sgt Troy Rodgers
	Cpl Sean Burton

Cpl Ashley Roach, 1JPAU(P), who has only been with AAPRS for 20 months, won the top photographer, best portfolio and best news pictures categories in the competition.

The former 1RAR soldier missed the awards ceremony, as he was on deployment in Afghanistan, but said it was a magnificent surprise when he found out he had won.

“It was a great honour and achievement, particularly as I was the youngest member of the unit at the time.”

He puts his results down to good use of light and knowing when to interact with his subjects.

His advice to aspiring military photographers is to be bold and have a go.

“Have confidence in yourself, be proud of what you shoot and shoot what you want to see in a picture.

“Don’t be afraid to get in close to your subject but you have to know when to step back and get candid pictures.”

Another winner was WO2 Gary Ramage, 1JPAU(P), for his photographic feature on military helicopters in EM.

The highly recommended category was won by Cpl Sean Burton, 1JPAU(P), with his images of 4RAR in EM.

The photographers put their work up for scrutiny and judgement by an independent panel of experts in civilian photojournalism.

A tour of the Damien Parer competition entries is being planned around military bases and state airports in the future.

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