A stunning series of Japanese winterscapes has won Anthony Lawrence the overall title of Australian Photography magazine’s 2019 Photographer of the Year, Presented by Panasonic.
To qualify for the competition, amateur photographers from Australia and New Zealand submitted a portfolio of four images across eight categories – Landscape, Wildlife and Animal, People and Portrait, Black and White, Travel, Action, Photo of the Year and Junior.
For winner Anthony Lawrence, a Melbourne obstetrician and gynaecologist, “Winter in Biei Japan” was a tribute ‘to the simple elegance inherent in Japanese culture.’
The images portray a sense of peace and zen in a freezing environment, with minimal hints of colour creating an almost monochrome mood. Lawrence was also the winner in the 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year category.
Anthony Lawrence, ‘Landscapes of Biei, Japan’
Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
As overall winner, Lawrence takes home a prize pack valued at more than $10,000, including a Panasonic LUMIX S1R camera and lens kit valued at $6,899, a Wine Country Camera 100mm Starter Filter and Holder kit valued at $1,299 and $2,000 cash.
The annual competition is in its seventh year, with stunning winning portfolios submitted across every category.
Other impressive entries included Ethan Mann, ‘The Wild Backyard’, Winner, Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year, featuring creatures from a snake to a native frog and a long-nosed bandicoot; Alice Mariette, ‘The Many Shadows of Mr 4’, Winner, People and Portrait Photographer of the Year, capturing her son in golden silhouette; Jakob Kennedy, ‘Snowshowmen’, Winner, Action Photographer of the Year, with his inspiring snowboarding images; and Allen Koppe, ‘Sails in the Sky’, Winner, Black and White Photographer of the Year, with a beautiful new angle on the Sydney Opera House.
“To win Photographer of the Year is a real challenge because not only do photographers need to submit a portfolio of four images that work together cohesively, they also have to produce a series that excites and inspires. For our judges, it’s a competition that only gets harder to judge each year.”
– Mike O’Connor, Editor, Australian Photography
Ethan Mann, ‘The Wild Backyard’
Winner, Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
Alice Mariette, ‘The Many Shadows of Mr 4’
Winner, People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
Jakob Kennedy, ‘Snowshowmen’
Winner, Action Photographer of the Year.
Allen Koppe, ‘Sails in the Sky’
Winner, Black and White Photographer of the Year.
The competition was judged by leading professional photographers from Australia and New Zealand, Petra Leary, Alex Cearns, Rohan Kelly, Shannon Wild, Helen Whittle, Anthony McKee, Steve and Ann Toon, Drew Hopper, Lisa Michele Burns, Douwe Dijkstra, Tanya Stollznow, Keren Dobia, Nick Rains, Jacques Van As and Richard I’Anson.
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2019 Photographer of the Year presented by Panasonic: The winners