Environmental Photo Competition

Environmental Photo Competition

Each year, Council runs this photo competition to celebrate Biodiversity Month  and National Water Week.    

Entries for the 2017 Environmental Photo Competition are now closed. You can view the winners below.

Did you know?

  • The total length of all waterways within the Penrith area is about 1,500 km
  • Wetlands are biodiversity ‘hotspots’
  • 17 locally indigenous fish species occur within the Penrith area
  • Over 12.5 million cigarette butts are littered across Penrith each year, with many ending up in our waterways
  • There are over 40 species of threatened animals in Penrith
  • Up to 40% of a household's water use can be replaced with rainwater
  • Stormwater flows untreated to our creeks and rivers and is not connected to sewer
  • Stormwater runoff carries chemicals, minerals, and nutrients into our creeks
  • More than 83% of original bushland in Penrith has been cleared

Caring for Penrith's environment and our precious water and biodiversity resources is everyone's responsibility. Council is committed to improving and maintaining the health of our waterways, and raising community awareness about water use, biodiversity and water conservation.

Photo Competition 2017 Winners

Council received some amazing entries in the 2017 Environmental Photography Competition. Over 120 entries were submitted covering the theme "Water – the heart of our community". Special guest judge and wildlife photographer Mark Fuller selected the winning images. Congratulations to all our winners - see cropped versions of their entries below.

Open Category

First Place - Laura Payne (Title: Forest Tunnel)

First Place - Laura Payne (Title: Forest Tunnel)

Second Place - Donna Morgan (Title: Sunrise)

Second Place - Donna Morgan (Title: Sunrise)

Third Place - Brett Pascoe (Title: Golden Nepean)

Third Place - Brett Pascoe (Title: Golden Nepean)

Youth Category

First Place - Letisha Hopton (Title: Overflow)

First Place - Letisha Hopton (Title: Overflow)

Second Place - Giorgia Apap (Title: Amongst the ferns)

Second Place - Giorgia Apap (Title: Amongst the ferns)

Third Place - Jessica Kinsella (Title: Serenity)

Third Place - Jessica Kinsella (Title: Serenity)

Kids Category

First Place - Darcy O'Brien (Title: Building Nature's Community One Egg at a Time)

First Place - Darcy O'Brien (Title: Building Nature's Community One Egg at a Time)

Second Place - Billy Hutton (Title: Sunset Over Nepean Bridge)

Second Place - Billy Hutton (Title: Sunset Over Nepean Bridge)

Third Place - Olivia Barrett (Title: Sunny Saturdays)

Third Place - Olivia Barrett (Title: Sunny Saturdays)

Photo Competition 2016 winners

Council received some amazing entries in the 2016 Environmental Photography Competition. Over 165 entries were submitted covering the theme "Water – Life - Growth". Special guest judge and professional photographer Katrina James selected the winning images. Congratulations to all our winners - see cropped versions of their entries below.

Open Category

First Place - Tim Searle (Title: Mystic Dawn)

First Place - Tim Searle (Title: Mystic Dawn)

Second Place - Melanie Beattie (Title: 7:10 Commute)

Second Place - Melanie Beattie (Title: 7:10 Commute)

Third Place - Tracy Middelton (Title: Small Things)

Third Place - Tracy Middelton (Title: Small Things)

Youth Category

First Place - Luke Fenech (Title: Window to the World)

First Place - Luke Fenech (Title: Window to the World)

Second Place - Cooper Hill (Title: Pods)

Second Place - Cooper Hill (Title: Pods)

Third Place - Jessica Murray (Title: Take-off)

Third Place - Jessica Murray (Title: Take-off)

Kids Category

First Place - Alyssa Warren (Title: Curiosity)

First Place - Alyssa Warren (Title: Curiosity)

Second Place - Amba Korvemaa (Title: Left One Out)

Second Place - Amba Korvemaa (Title: Left One Out)

Third Place - Trent Hopton (Title: Family Swim) 

Third Place - Trent Hopton (Title: Family Swim)  

Photo Competition 2015 winners

Council received a number of fantastic entries for our 2015 Environmental Photography Competition.

There were over 140 entries submitted in response to the theme Our Water, Our Future and all photographs were taken in the Penrith area. Special guest judge and award winning local photographer Matthew Everingham selected the winning entries.

Open category

First place – Dong Vuong (Title: Sunset)

First place – Dong Vuong (Title: Sunset)

Second place – Robert Pearson (Title: Rowing Lake Pelican)

Second place – Robert Pearson (Title: Rowing Lake Pelican)

Third place – Melanie Beattie (Title: Flow)

Third place – Melanie Beattie (Title: Flow)

Youth category

First place – Callum Meney (Title: Barricade)

First place – Callum Meney (Title: Barricade)

Second Place – Rose-Marie Rech (Title: Water Explosion)

Second Place – Rose-Marie Rech (Title: Water Explosion)

Third Place – Sofie Schenk (Title: Bridge)

Third Place – Sofie Schenk (Title: Bridge)

Kids category

First Place – Sofia Fasitsas (Title: Hidden Water Dragon)

First Place – Sofia Fasitsas (Title: Hidden Water Dragon)

Second place – Piper Spackman (Title: Dawning of a New Day)

Second place – Piper Spackman (Title: Dawning of a New Day)

Third place – Holly Munday (Title: Rowers)

Third place – Holly Munday (Title: Rowers)