Kirstenbosch photo competition winners announced

The winners of the Botanical Society’s Kirstenbosch 100 Photographic Competition were announced recently.

An ecstatic Kevin Shields, who was overall winner in the Open Category with his picture entitled – Helmut the Frog, said “I’m in shock because it’s the first time in my life I have entered a competition and I have no professional camera”.

Bruce Lee who won the Under 18 section was too excited to say much more than “I’m feeling great”.

The competition was focused on the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and all photographs entered into the competition had to be of fauna, flora and landscapes in the garden. The photos could be taken with any camera or device.

Fantastic response

“The response was fantastic,” said Claude Felbert, a Botanical Society volunteer who was responsible for coordinating the competition. The competition, which included Open and Student categories, had a total of 831 entries including 65 entries in the Under 18’s Section B, with each entrant being allowed to enter up to three images per month.

“It was such a success that we are hoping it will become a regular feature on the Botanical Society calendar,” he said. “We loved the fact that the competition inspired people to come back to the garden again and again.”

The top 51 photos from both categories are on display at the Botanical Society Conservatory at Kirstenbosch until the 5th of December.

“We are extremely grateful to ORMS Pro-Photo Warehouse, who sponsored the printing and a prize for the photographic club with the most entries, as well as to Canon South Africa which sponsored the grand prize of a Canon 60D camera for the Section A winner and a Canon G1X for the Section B winner” Felbert said.

Monthly prizes were provided by some of Kirstenbosch’s Big Six partners, including Groot Constantia, the Waterfront and Table Mountain Cableway co, as well as by StruikNature and Wine of the Month Club. The memorable evening was rounded off with a beautiful selection of wines very generously sponsored by Groot Constantia.

Complete list of winners

• Overall Section A Winner:

Kevin Shields – Helmut the Frog

• Runner up:

Jeanette du Toit – Gently Stroked With Sun’s Rays

• Section B Winner:

Bruce Lee – I Got You

• Monthly winners:

May:

Section A: Kevin Shields – Helmut the Frog
Section B: Jamie Gregory – Up Close and Personal

June:

Section A: Mike Wrankmore – Transformed
Section B: Lily van Rensburg – Flutterby

July:

Section A: Jeanette du Toit – Praying Mantis Feeding
Section B: Nicole Shand – Nowhere to Hide

August:

Section A: Jeanette du Toit – Waratah
Section B: Caroline Koen – Soft and Fuzzy

September

Section A: Mike Wrankmore – The Pollinator
Section B: Philip Nel – Untitled

October

Section A: Jeanette du Toit – Face to Face
Section B: Bruce Li – I Got You

Photos:

1. Jason Ormrod from ORMS photo warehouse and Bruce Li who won the Under 18 category for his picture I Got You. Claude Felbert, a Botanical Society volunteer who was responsible for coordinating the competition is in the background.
2. Jamie Gregory who was a winner for the month of May in Section B and Mike Gregory.

See more photos on Facebook.