Charlotte Varcoe
A PASSION for capturing moments has landed Mount Gambier student Maggie McKinnon in esteemed company at the 2021 Mono Awards.
Ms McKinnon is listed in the animal photography category’s top 30 – shortlisted down from 720 entries of black and white photos from across Australia and New Zealand.
The competition will announce the winner of its three categories next month, followed by a People’s Choice competition.
The 17-year-old photographer said she was happy to be a part of the competition, the latest in a string of entries at various levels.
“I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have a camera in my hands and it’s strange because my family aren’t into photography so I am not sure where I picked it up in the first place,” Ms McKinnon said.
“I think I just started taking photos one day and realised this was something I was interested in.”
Typically armed with a Nikon camera, the young photographer also uses her mobile phone camera if inspiration strikes.
“For the photo I entered in the competition, I just saw the opportunity when I was on the farm with my family and just snapped the picture as best I could with my phone,” Ms McKinnon said.
“I really like subjects that tell a story naturally and I don’t like to use too much technicality because I want them to be as natural as possible which is just what happened here.
“There is no need for photos to be technical or photoshopped either because anyone can take a photo and manipulate it to look like a good photo and I think if someone was good at taking photos they shouldn’t need too much editing either.”
Hoping to pursue a career in photojournalism, Ms McKinnon said she was eager to study the subject further in the future and travel across the globe, covering humanitarian issues.
“Ultimately I just want to contribute to the wider conversation of issues across the world because that is what I think needs to be done,” she said.
Ms McKinnon said those exploring photography should believe in themselves and communicate with other photographers.
“Through communication that is how you find opportunities and how you are going to get your work noticed,” she said.
“But believing in yourself is also important because you will never know what you can do until you do it.”
