Jessica Whitting has a bright career ahead of her.
Camera IconJessica Whitting has a bright career ahead of her. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Weekend Courier photographer wins two prestigious PANPA awards

Vanessa SchmittWeekend Kwinana Courier

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

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

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

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

Hewson won Best Sport Photo in the Community category for a picture 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 whom 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.

They are the biggest newspaper awards in the country.