The ‘Human eye window to the world’ category winner was Mostafa Mozaffari, winning $2,500 with ‘Worried eyes’.
Western Australia’s photographers were celebrated at the Lions Eye Institute’s inaugural Eye to Eye Photographic Competition Awards.
The competition aimed to raise awareness of eye health and was part of the Lions Eye Institute’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
The creative challenge for photographers was to artistically interpret eyes and what we see, as well as draw attention to vision impairment and eye health.
The ‘Eagle eye’ animal category winner was Ross Gudgeon, winning $2,500 with a submission entitled ’Map pufferfish eye’.
‘Seeing through a child’s eye’, for photographers under the age of 18, was won by Sam Bayes, for ‘The eye of a gloomy octopus’. Gloomy octopus is the name of the species and he said he “thought that a black and white photograph captured the moody aspect”.
The Lions Eye Institute is thrilled to provide a platform to showcase our state’s talent while commemorating 40 years of saving and restoring Western Australians’ sight.
The ‘Human eye window to the world’ category winner was Mostafa Mozaffari, winning $2,500 with ‘Worried eyes’.
The ‘Seeing with the mind’s eye’ category winner was Beth Baker, winning $2,500 plus a holiday package, with ‘A blurred world – beach towel hide and seek begins!’.
Ms Baker said the blurred photograph represented a personal struggle.
“Finding your towel when everything’s a blur is difficult and you don’t know it’s a blur until you get your eyes tested,” she said. “Winning this category has made all those times I haven’t been able to find my beach towel very worthwhile.”
All shortlisted entries are on display until 3 April at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Nedlands. A further People’s Choice Award will be voted on by the public while the Eye to Eye Photographic Exhibition is open.
Lions Eye Institute Managing Director Professor Bill Morgan said he was delighted the awards were such a success and paid tribute to Western Australia’s talented photographers.
“We were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from right across Western Australia. The Lions Eye Institute is thrilled to provide a platform to showcase our state’s talent while commemorating 40 years of saving and restoring Western Australians’ sight.
“In addition, 2023 marked a significant milestone with one million patient visits since the Institute first started treating patients in 1983,” Prof Morgan said.
