Despite many professional photographers calling Canberra home, the ACT photographer of the year lives in Queanbeyan.
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At the recent Australian Institute for Professional Photography (AIPP) ACT awards, Hilary Wardhaugh took home both the documentary category and the coveted photographer of the year prize. Fellow Queanbeyan local, Lib Ferreira, was voted ACT family photographer of the year.
Ms Wardhaugh is no stranger to the awards however, having won photographer of the year in 2000 and 2001 and is a five time winner of the wedding photographer category.
The awards are voted on by a panel of five judges selected by the AIPP who have distinguished themselves within the industry.
Despite her previous success, Ms Wardhaugh was not expecting the result.
“I was so shocked,” she said.
“When you look at the calibre of the other category winners, there’s very highly polished images, it was fantastic to even be considered.”
It was even more special for the two women to share honours at the awards as Ms Ferreira credits Ms Wardhaugh for mentoring her when she began taking photos only seven years ago.
Beyond the irony that two of the ACT’s best photographers aren’t even from the territory, both women are proud of their town and have worked to represent Queanbeyan in their art.
Ms Ferreira created the Facebook page I am Queanbeyan, which has more than 2000 likes, after travelling overseas.
“I would often come home and be in a real slump,” she said.
“But I thought if I looked at Queanbeyan the same way as when I travelled it would give me a new perspective and interest in everyday life.”
“It’s helped me to gain real pride in the town I live in.”
Queanbeyan locals may also be familiar with Ms Wardhaugh’s previous work including the #visitqueanbeyan charity dinner in 2015 that raised money for children with special needs.
Ms Wardhaugh said she was always amazed by the diversity in Queanbeyan.
A point reinforced in 2009 when tasked to create a series of photographs exploring social inclusion for which all her subjects were from Queanbeyan.
According to Ms Wardhaugh there are a number of up and coming photographers and artists in the area that signal an exciting future.
A few more of Queanbeyan’s best may yet sneak some more trophies across the border.
Both Ms Ferreira and Ms Wardhaugh will enter the AIPP national awards in August.