The Best Sport Photograph – Jessica Whitting, who has a bright future in golf.
Camera IconThe Best Sport Photograph – Jessica Whitting, who has a bright future in golf. Credit: Supplied/443703b

Mandurah Coastal Times photographer’s keen eye wins two PANPA awards

Vanessa SchmittMandurah Coastal Times

Mandurah Coastal Times photographer Jon Hewson has done it again.

Our talented snapper won two Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association awards on Friday night. This followed another PANPA Award last year.

“I was taking photos at the Eagles’ game at Domain stadium when the news came through,” Hewson said.

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“I couldn’t believe I’d won two awards and found it hard to concentrate on the task at hand.

“The Eagles’ win just topped off what was an unbelievable night.”

Hewson won Best Sport Photo in the Community category for a photo of Secret Harbour golfer Jessica Whitting after she was selected as the captain of the WA Girls’ team.

“I shot this photo so Jessica was walking into the light,” he said.

“She is just 17 years old and her golfing career is just starting.

“You never know where she’ll end up.”

Hewson said he liked the way the light hit the corrugated steel.

He also won the Portrait Photo in the Community category for his photo of Ocean Road Primary School principal Dean Finlay.

Mr Finlay was a Principal of the Year finalist.

“The focus was on Dean, so he was in the middle of the shot,” Mr Hewson said.

“I was at the top of a ladder and used a handheld camera at a slow exposure.”

Hewson thanked the people in the community who he had photographed.

“They’ve been patient and understanding, allowing me to get creative and capture the shot that complements their story. It’s great when it all comes together,” he said.

The PANPA awards are open to entries from around Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific nations.