MACLEAY ISLANDS GREGORY J ABBOTT WINS MAJOR HUMAN IMPACT PHOTO COMPETITON
Macleay Island’s Gregory J Abbott received a major surprise just prior to Christmas.
He had entered a picture he took down at the ferry jetty construction site a few months ago in a photo competition, and proceeded to forget all about it.
There were more than 6000 entries in nine categories to the 2023 Birdlife Australia Photography Awards, and Gregory didn’t presume he had a chance of winning.
The picture was of a sole curlew observing the jumbled worksite mess at night.
He had gone down to the ferry to pick up a passenger off a late ferry at the Macleay jetty (then still under construction).
The site was deserted save for Greg and his camera phone and the attentive bush stone-curlew.
It was titled ‘Curlew Construction Consideration’.
He entered the photo in the competition and thought that was the end of it.
However, just prior to Christmas, Greg was on island ferry and ran into a friend who advised him that he had ‘won’ the Human Impact’ Award.
Greg told The Friendly Bay Islander: “I went and checked my e-mails and, yes, the win was there.”
Nikon Australia and the Lake Cowal Foundation were the sponsors.
The winner of each category were to receive a cash prize of $1,000.
Greg added: “I was notified that the photo (above) which I took in April at the Macleay Island jetty had been declared winner of the category ‘Human Impact’.
The Birdlife Website features Greg’s phot and states the Human Impact section involves “Photographs that show the relationship between humans and birds, both positive and negative.”
Well done Greg!
• Gregory J Abbott’s winning photograph
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