Aspiring photographers from across Australia had the opportunity to submit their favourite images to an online Show Stopper photography competition hosted by Kloud Photography and Viable Ag Marketing.
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Unleashing their creativity and pulling out their camera to snap images suitable for the six sections, over 150 entries were submitted by novice photographers, aged seven to 24.
With a number of online shows replacing the normal livestock exhibitions, Kate Loudon of Kloud Photography and Laura Lockhart of Viable Ag Marketing, created the competition to provide for those that don't own their own livestock.
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"A photography competition is something that kids could easily enter as most phones have good cameras these days, and it got them out and about during the school holidays and helped to fill in their time," Ms Loudon said.
"Photography is great, even as a hobby and we wanted to help get as many kids involved as possible and help them unleash their creative side."
The categories they created were focused on satisfying their own audience and following, while having a large livestock and agricultural influence.
"The 'sell or show your animal' was focused on getting a great standup shot to be used for marketing ... the 'other' category gave those without a large agricultural background an opportunity to enter - we received skiing, ballet shoes, dogs, cats, flowers, crops and beaches," they said.
Champion photo went to Abbie Carolan (nee Robertson) of Wongwibinda near Ebor, who captured a landscape image on her family farm, Fishington, in the New England during the Bees Nest Fire in 2019. She also won the black and white section with a second image.
Both images show the impact both fire and drought had on farmers in her region.
"I entered to competition to spread awareness of the fires and the drought," Mrs Carolan said.
Taking photos just for fun, Mrs Carolan always tries to have her camera or iPhone on hand.
"You never know what you'll come across," she said.
Nineteen-year-old Alicia Trovatello of Kyneton, Vic, placed in four categories with her images, and received reserve champion photo with a landscape photo of cattle taken at the Casterton saleyards.
Taking photos for about four years, Ms Trovatello usually takes photos for her family's Glendan Park Herefords and Adamleuca Angus studs and wanted to use the platform to showcase her photos to a wider audience.
"I mainly take cattle and landscape photos ... professional photography and marketing in general is a pathway I'm considering after I finish university," she said.
Entering the competition not only got her photos noticed in Australia, but put them under the eyes of American judge Allan Browarny of Show Champions Livestock Photography.
"It was an opportunity to showcase my photos to judge Allan Browarny - I've looked up to his photography for a while," she said.
Section winners include; Tayla Miller (show or sell your animal), Abbie Carolan (black and white, landscape and champion), Alicia Trovatello (hero and reserve champion with a landscape), Indy Smith (show ring or chute side) and Josephine Green (other).
Sponsors were Top Line Show Stock.
