Through the Lens: Seniors Card photographic competition and exhibition

Through the Lens is part of International Day of Older Persons celebrations. The competition and exhibition promote ageing well by celebrating the skills of older South Australians through the art of photography and demonstrate that people can learn and create at any age.

2020 competition

All South Australian Seniors Card members were invited to enter Through the Lens, the Seniors Card photographic competition. Entries are now closed.

More than 600 entries were received! The judges have shortlisted and all finalists have been advised.

Competition and exhibition terms and conditions

Finalists and winners in six categories were invited to an exclusive event at the City Library in Rundle Mall on 1 October 2020, where winners were announced. Winners and finalists had their work featured in an exhibition at the City Library for public view.

Overall winner

Kay Jamieson’s photo, ‘Crossing the line’ has taken out the top prize in the 2020 Seniors Card Through the Lens photographic competition.

Kay said, “What’s a couple of oyster lines between friends? Especially when a breakfast of fresh seafood is on offer! A 62 year old friend manages the tricky boat-to-boat transfer under the watchful eye of Pristine Oyster Farm’s CEO, Brendan Guidera during a bespoke outing at his Coffin Bay leases in July 2020”.

Image: Kay Jamieson's winning photo, 'Crossing the line'

People's Choice Award

Shortlisted and eligible photo entries were available to view in an online gallery where members of the public voted for the photo they like best. Voting has closed. The photo with the most votes won the People’s Choice Award.

People's Choice Award 2020 voting terms and conditions

Sue Mauger’s Weddell Seal, Antarctica took out the 2020 People’s Choice Award.

Sue said, “After being caught up in the COVID-19 pandemic while on a boat in the Antarctic, the photos I took have become extra special. This one was one of the first I took on our landings on the South Shetland Islands. These Weddell Seals (named after British Sealing Captain James Weddell) have such large eyes and this one was particularly cute with its curly whiskers”.

Category winners

Category	Winner	Photo title
Active ageing and overall winner	Kay Jamieson	Crossing the line
People's Choice Award winner	Sue Mauger	Weddell Seal, Antarctica
Artistic photography	Peter Phillips	Iron Quartet
Portrait	Martin Newland	Burnt Out
Landscape and nature	Grant Hugo	Drones and Kites
Meaningful connections	Susan Belperio	Easter Dancing

View all of the 2020 finalist and winning photos PDF 2.8MB

2020 Through the Lens category winners

Image: 2020 Through the Lens category winners

Exhibition

The exhibition is now closed. Winners and finalists had their work featured in a special exhibition at the City Library in Rundle Mall for public view until 28 October 2020.

About Through the Lens

Seniors Card members love to share their stories, and other members love to hear them. Photos speak a thousand words. Through the Lens is a wonderful opportunity for Seniors Card members to share photos that they have taken, that reflect their lives and interests.

Age is no barrier to creative expression and as this popular annual competition shows, there are avenues through which senior South Australians can learn new skills, develop new interests and discover new ways to express their individuality.

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting so many aspects of our lives, the 2020 Through the Lens competition is no different. Whilst you might not have been able to get out and about to take photos for submission in this year’s competition, you can go back through your catalogue and choose suitable photos, or get creative in your home, garden or local community.

Through the Lens is sponsored by Atkins Photo Lab, Diamonds Camera, Video and Digital, Claymore Wines and JamFactory.

Keep an eye on this website, WeekendPlus (the digital magazine for seniors) and the Seniors Card SA Facebook page for updates.

Prizes

The overall winner of Through the Lens received great prizes including:

a custom-designed trophy, thanks to JamFactory
a large ready-to-hang framed print of their photo thanks to Atkins Photo Lab
a $1,000 Diamonds Gift Card thanks to Diamonds Camera, Video and Digital
and their winning image will appear on the cover of the 2021 Seniors Card Discount Directory.

Each category winner received:

a large ready-to-hang framed print of their photo thanks to Atkins Photo Lab
a bottle of premium wine thanks to Claymore Wines.

The author of the People’s Choice photo won a large ready-to-hang framed print of their photo thanks to Atkins Photo Lab and a DJI OSMO Action camera (valued at $479), thanks to Diamonds Camera, Video and Digital.

A People’s Choice voter was chosen at random to receive a DJI Tello Drone (valued at $169), thanks to Diamonds Camera, Video and Digital.

Categories

Entries were judged in the following categories:

Active ageing

Seniors on the go – in the great outdoors or in an indoor setting. Wisdom, experience, sportiness, playfulness – just some of the qualities that can be portrayed in an image. Whether it’s something you’ve snapped on the spur of the moment, or a more strategically composed photo, images should convey a story. What does ‘ageing well’ look like in your world?

Artistic photography

Images may include abstract expressions, unusual close ups, angles, patterns, motion, or perspectives, black and white photography, images created using scientific imaging tools and artistic effects resulting from digital manipulation. Artistic images make good use of graphic elements of design. They highlight line, shape, pattern, form, texture and perspective in their subjects. This category is appropriate for digital art – images created or drastically altered in software like Adobe Photoshop®.

Landscape & nature

This year, we have combined the landscape and natures categories to make entries more flexible for photographers. Landscape photography captures scenes that deeply resonate with us. They may be powerful visages devoid of humans and their habitations or show people or animals interacting with their landscapes. Images showing flora and fauna will also be welcomed. Judges will be looking for timing, use of colour and texture, lighting, detail and composition.

Meaningful connections

Connections that create meaning and purpose in our lives are one of the greatest determinants to living a happy and healthy life. It’s the quality, not quantity, of our connections that really matters. Interacting with family and friends, intergenerational moments… think outside the box and be creative. Judges will be looking for images that capture a moment or tell a story about a person’s life.

Portrait

The beauty of a portrait is its ability to tell a story – using the language of the body (not always the face). It can be a well-staged group photo or a more singular study that moves us through its expression and mood. A candid snippet in time that conveys a story and portrays emotions, thoughts and feelings.

Previous winners

2019 winner

A photo depicting a striking lionfish won the 2019 Seniors Card Through the Lens photographic competition. Ian Patterson was awarded the top prize for his photo taken during a night dive off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.