Mystery Destination Grand Final

Winner Announced

The 2017 Light Awards Live Grand Final Winner has been crowned.

Nicole Marie from Melbourne took out the spot top prize, in a competition that was neck and neck.

Throughout the year, nearly 1,000 photographers competed over two rounds for one of four spots in the grand final.

On Saturday, four finalists arrived at their local airport, ready to compete. It was then they found out they were heading to Tasmania — a photographers’ dream destination — where they were met by judges, Peter Eastway and Tony Hewitt.

Upon touchdown they were given keys to a car and their photography brief. Their challenge was to shoot, print and submit their series of photographs within the next 24 hours for the chance to WIN the ultimate prize: a Photo Safari Trip to South Africa with the Canon Collective.

The Brief:

"Create an engaging visual feast of four photographs that share the 'spirit' of a Tasmania less well-known, in an offbeat, seductive and unexpected way"

The judges were blown away with photography technique and the emotional storytelling from each finalist. The level of work was of such high caliber it took hours of deliberating and debate to finally agree on the overall winner. Congratulations Nicole. You can see her winning series below, along with the other three competitors.

Winner, Melbourne

"Photography is a massive part of my life"

Nicole Marie, mother and photography teacher at a Melbourne design school.

Follow Nicole on Instagram

"Tasmania has an unassumingly strange beauty. There is a particular pride here; they know they’ve got something quite special."

"The locals guard their island carefully as though a precious, secret gem – but, with the widest, most welcoming arms."

"There’s an air of 'anything is possible', a freedom from the usual boundaries, that feels unexpected and effortlessly refreshing."

"Unique spirits are fostered. Neat but wild. Fecund yet fierce. Curiously extraordinary; it favours the fearless."

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Finalist, Brisbane

"Photography has been a major part of my life since I was a teenager"

Selena Huf, forensic photographer

Follow Selena on Instagram

"The part of the brief I really latched onto was the ‘offbeat’, I wanted to show shots of Tasmania that are less well known."

"While I had some great locations in mind, it wasn’t until I got there that you really decide on what you want to shoot."

"I kept my eyes open, trying to let the landscape talk to me and find those unexpected stories to tell."

"I made sure I had fun, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and I’d do it all again."

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Finalist, Sydney

"Photography is a hobby and my passion"

Tom Elliott, I.T specialist

Follow Tom on Instagram

"I wanted to show the rugged Tasmania, a place untouched by man."

"I chose black and white to highlight the raw, rugged beauty of Tasmania."

"There were so many locations to pick from, I really needed to think about what to capture."

"I was pushed out of my comfort zone, it challenged me to think beyond the norm."

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Finalist, Adelaide

"Passionate photographer who likes environmental work and fine art"

Sarah Sturm, Bachelor of Visual Arts student specialising in photography

Follow Sarah on Instagram

"Personally i like shooting people more than environmental, but I challenged myself to try landscape and do it differently."

"As photographers we need to be able to adapt to certain situations, and while the weather was tricky I managed to find the groove in it."

"I brought a prism with me that I used to create a reflection, a double exposure look that I wanted to translate as the ‘spirit’ of Tasmania "

"There was a struggle of making sure I captured images I’d be proud to put my name to while being authentic and true to myself"

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