The 2010 Canon Australian Professional Photography Awards

It`s always hard to pick just 4 photographs that I love from the last year to put up to be judged. A mixed bag this time round and as usual even though I vowed and tried to be more organised, it came down to the last minute to finalise decisions, print and matt and send down to Melboune. Why is it always like that! The judging is open to the public and held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre - Jeff`s shed - this weekend (4-6 June) at the Digital Life Expo. For the first year I am also going to judge, just for a little bit, a newbie tryout for the AIPP.

So, here are my 4.

The first is a portrait of my father-in-law who insists that swimming in diving goggles is the way forward, but has so far pursuaded no other regular to take it up. This was taken on his way in to Murwillumbah swimming pool - our local.

The second is a landscape - after a fire had gone through a casuarina forest. I was in shorts, ankle deep in ash, still warm, thanking myself for leaving my bike boots (old blunnies) in the boot so I didn`t have to wade in havaiianas (or whatever the spelling is).

The third entry is a wedding photograph (photojournalistic). Flower girls midway through a flower dance. I love these unplanned moments.

My last shot I took while on holiday in Paris last year with my 9 year old son. We stayed in La Pigalle, next door to the Sex-O-Drome complete with animatronic scenes in the windows - 4 or 5 storeys. A great part of Paris though - just walk up the hill, you`re in Montmatre with the Sacre-Coeur church at the top and the best view over Paris (which is flat everywhere else). I had one of those toy lenses (Lensbaby) and could only shoot as I moved to avoid Jarrah saying "C'mon Dad!" I pressed my luck with this scene for a few minutes to wait for the right time - it looks like the artist is drawing a self portrait.