Canberra photographer Tracy Ryan has won a major international award with an image she took in her Belconnen backyard on a summer’s day.
Her stunning image of a bee resting on a sunflower took out third prize in the Nature, Flower category in the International Photography Awards, USA.
The competition attracted almost 14,000 entries from 120 countries.
Tracy, a landscape, nature and commercial photographer, was thrilled to be recognised, for the photograph, taken back in January.
“Amazing, it’s been amazing,” she said.
“I was the only female from the ACT and one of only three female photographers in Australia to win anything, so it’s pretty amazing. I’m really, really chuffed.”
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The technical details were: Shutter speed 1/250, ISO 400, Aperture F8, Cropped Sensor – Nikon 7100.
But it was the bright beauty of the sunflower that attracted her eye.
“I love sunflowers and I always have a patch every summer and this one was one of about 10 or 12 and I went out every day at the same time to see what photograph I could get of the sunflowers,” Tracy said.
“I actually did a series that went from the very beginning to all the way to dying. But I liked that one because of the nice colours in it and the bee.
“It was taken on January 31, before lockdown, when everything was all bright and shiny and I’d submitted it ages ago.
“So the other morning when I found the email that said that I had won the prize, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s really lovely to have come through all of this and receive that prize’.”
“I haven’t really put anything in for a few years but I really liked this one [of the sunflower], so I thought I’d put it in and see what happens,” she said.
A Belconnen High alumnus and former public servant, Tracy also has a business called Canberra Virtual Tours where creates virtual tours for local businesses and attractions.
All winning images have been posted online on IPA Winners Gallery will be published in the IPA Annual Book of Photography.
All first, second and third prize winners will be considered by a guest curator for inclusion in the annual IPA Best of Show Curated Exhibition.
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