Pte Jamie Osborne - winner of two categories in the ADF Amateur Photography Awards. Photo by Cpl Balinda Mepham, 1JPAU(P)

Army's hot phots on top

By Cpl Sean Burton
AMATEUR Army photographers applied their marksmanship principles to new targets and shot all the winning placings in the 2002 ADF Amateur Photo Competition, outshooting 140 other tri-service photographers.

The overall best photo award went to Pte Ray Khoo, RMC, for his black and white image of a 4RAR(Cdo) soldier remaining disciplined while being provoked by an instructor acting as an angry demonstrator during unit training.

Pte Khoo said the photograph was taken while he was a student on the Operational Support photographer's course and it always got a reaction when people saw it.

"Everyone usually laughs first but then they want know why it was happening, it always get a reaction," he said.

One of the three tri-service judges WO2 Gary Ramage, 1JPAU(P), said the picture had three winning qualities.

"It was a great news picture that caught a great expression and had good exposure," he said.

Other winners in the category were Pte Jamie Osborne, 1RAR, and LCpl Neil Ruskin, 5/7RAR, came second and third respectively.

Pte Osborne has been identified as an ADF asset with potential - he also won the best sports/adventurous training category and the Harry Burton Memorial Award picture.

The former Australian champion gymnast said that winning the awards meant his Army career was progressing as planned.

"One of my career goals is to become an Army photographer so I hope these awards are a step in the right direction," he said.

The ADF Amateur Photo competition was conceived this year as an opportunity for ADF amateur photographers to gain some recognition and prestige from their unit's and peers.

The competition has received invaluable support and acknowledgement from Nikon and Reuters.

• Visit the winners' circle in our special competition website here.

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