For Immediate Release
17 April 2010
Trainspotting photo winners announced
Saturday 17 April 2010, Maitland, NSW: Powerhouse Museum Director Dr Dawn
Casey announces the overall prize winner and six category winners of the
international Trainspotting photographic competition at one of Australia’s major
steam events, the annual Hunter Valley Steamfest.
David Hill from the United Kingdom is the overall winner for his photo, ‘The Pit’, of
North China’s Zhalai Nouer coal mine taken in December 2006. The atmospheric
image was selected by a panel of judges for capturing a moment in time.
The photo is a bird’s eye view of several locomotives and their signature plumes of
steam rising high above the horizon over the vast open-cast coal mine. David Hill
took the photo in December 2006 and has by chance captured a piece of history
because from August 2009 trucks have replaced the steam locos in hauling coal out
of the mine pit.
According to the judges there is a sense of wonderment about the image and a
sense of beauty amongst the grit and dirt of the coal mine. There is a distinctive
quality about the smoke and steam which is highlighted by the light behind.
The six category winners, including four Australians, are:-
Adrian Roberts from Sydney, winner of the steam trains category for his photo
of the Zimbabwe Railways with dawn light catching a 15th class Garratt, taken July
2007.
Mark Morris from Melbourne, winner of the diesel and electric train category
for his photo ‘Sunset over the Victorian Railways’ of the Victorian Railways Diesel
Y159 waiting in the yards as the sun sets in the west and the moon rises in the
cloudy east, taken June 2007.
Robert Parnell from Sydney, winner of the night shot category for his photo that
captures time exposure of a LED signal shining in the cool winter air, with an
approaching freight train, Stuart Town, in New South Wales, taken August 2007.
Dominik Giemza from Marrickville, Sydney, winner of the train spotting
category for his photo ‘Waiting at Wattamondara’, which features two train spotters
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observing a Lachlan Valley Railway Steam Special in the far distance, taken March
2008.
Travis Aberle from Washington, USA, winner of the railway infrastructure
category for his photo ‘Washington DC Metro’ which demonstrates the beautiful
symmetry of the station architecture, taken September 2006.
Andrew Gorrie from New Zealand, winner of the railway workers category for
his photo of a worker doing an engine check in the morning at the Silverstream
Railway in Wellington, New Zealand, taken August 2009.
Major prize winner David Hill is awarded AUD$5,000 and the six category winners
each receive AUD$2000. The winning photos will feature in an exhibition at the
Powerhouse Museum from 7 May 2010.
More than 2,500 entries were received from amateur and professional
photographers around the world to the inaugural photo competition launched by the
Powerhouse Museum in January this year.
The judges were Robbie Buck, 702 ABC Radio presenter and a keen amateur
photographer; Tali Udovich, Director of the Blender Gallery in Sydney which
showcases many local and international artists including photographers; and Mark
Goggin, General Manager of Marketing, Programs and Commercial Services at the
Powerhouse Museum.
‘The judges were amazed by the technical expertise and emotive quality found in so
many of the photos. It is wonderful to see such a deep passion for photography and
love of trains flowing through the entries,” said Dr Dawn Casey, Director,
Powerhouse Museum.
and don’t miss them in print at the Powerhouse Museum exhibition from May. The
seven winning photos will also be on display at Maitland Regional Art Gallery from
23 April.
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For media information, interviews and images contact: Mandy Campbell, Powerhouse
Museum tel: (02) 9217 0551/0422 929927 or mandyca@phm.gov.au
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